Sunrise on the Ganges

SUNRISE ON THE GANGES

India, 1998 Sunrise on the Ganges

Many Indians, who are Hindus, believe the Ganges is a sacred river. Ganga (or Ganges) is the daughter of Himavan, the mountain god. Bathing in the river is said to cleanse away one's sins. The river water is used in religious rituals.

India is the world's largest democratic republic. It is a country with a very diverse population, geography and climate. Tourist facilities varying in degree of comfort and amenity are widely available in the major population centers and main attraction areas. Tourism industry analysts estimate that India is one of the world’s fastest growing tourism markets with an annual growth rate of about 8.8 percent. Annual tourist inflows range between 2 and 2.5 million people, but tourism has proven to be susceptible to issues such as communal conflict between Hindus and Muslims and occasional spikes in tensions between India and Pakistan.