The Beauty of India: 50 Amazing Photos
Today we’d like to publish something completely different for a change. India, the country of mysterious paradoxes; the land where civilizations and times intermix, a mysterious place which attracts people from all over the world. In today’s showcase we are presenting a little showcase of this astonishing contrast between wealth and misery, contemporary technologies and ancient historical monuments, plenty of languages, cultures and traditions.
We present people, places, traditions, culture and a broad overview of the incredible beauty of India — something different and inspirational for a change. Please let us know if you are interested in seeing more similar posts on Smashing Magazine in the future in the comments below.
The Beauty of India
10 Interesting Places to Visit Before You Die
A glance inside, a glimpse outside
Taj Mahal, the other side. Agra
Silent Prayer / Amritsar, India
sri meenakshi sundareswara temple
Tata Ace – The True India Truck!
rajasegar
March 21st, 2010 10:56 amGreat pics, fabulous post, i never thought smashingmagazine has such a huge fan base from India, this is what we are, unity in diversity,
“Bharath Matha ki jai!!”
Kyle
March 21st, 2010 11:21 amI actually just got back from India a month or two ago, and it really is an incredible place.
I put up a few galleries here.
http://www.brandknewme.com/?cat=4
Alejandra Herrera
March 21st, 2010 11:28 amMe parecen fantasticas, deseo me sigan enviando este material
Christopher Anderton
March 21st, 2010 11:35 amGeeez. All those comments complaining of not showing the “modern” india. Get over it. It’s a post about beautiful photographs. Not a documentary post about every single aspect of India.
Le Marquis
March 21st, 2010 12:18 pmNo wonder Steve McCurry loves to photograph in india too.
http://www.stevemccurry.com/main.php
Steve McCurry is well known by the Afghan Girl Photo and has
a full portfolio of breathtaking photographs form beautifull places and people around the world.
CGrrr
March 22nd, 2010 8:26 amAt least one of the photos in this slideshow was stolen from Steve McCurry, the men on the train.
Ashish Chauhan
March 21st, 2010 12:28 pmThis is just so much of me…beautiful colours evyday around…yet rarely noticed…thnx a lot
Sara
March 21st, 2010 12:42 pmThese are incredible and so inspirational thanks! Would love to see more posts like this – you can draw inspiration from anything. Makes the world seem like a smaller place too. I’m off to play with some of these beautifully vibrant colours!
Halcyon
March 21st, 2010 1:48 pmHello,
My name is Charles I come from Paris. I studied photography in Beaux Arts and now I am a webdesigner in a web agency. Of course I continue to produce some work in photography, and I am a little bit shocked about this post.
I will explain: I consider that kind of photo is meaningless, this is just a serie of images without any information. For me it is just some “beautiful images” around a theme. I understand the philosophy of Smashing Magazine and that kind of post have a good place in your blog because you linked the image together to give an idea about the theme.
I am just shocked about the “no sequence” there is no continuity and I am lost in the middle of this image flow. Because in photography an image alone has no sens.
But if you well mixed together and if there is like “a story”, of course it is very important to well selected the photography with the same way to take the picture, you have a sequence. And in your serie, this is the reason why I am shocked, there is too many style mixed together.
Yogi
March 21st, 2010 7:56 pmI totally agree with this…
and I felt title was not justified…
( this is the + and – of india )
anyways .. keep going one day you definitely catch the beaty of INDIA. (one my favorite site smashing magazine, first time … disappointed me, may be because i am an indian)
Anurag Upadhaya
March 21st, 2010 2:06 pmOne of the best collection of Indian pics that I have ever seen. Truly amazing.
Feels good to be part of such an amazing place. Proud to be an India :)
Veronica
March 21st, 2010 5:44 pmJust wonderful!!
I’d love more posts like this!
thank you very much.
Bassem
March 21st, 2010 5:47 pmI understand this is not a photography website, but it would be very interesting to put some details about the camera with which these pictures were taken with! Amazing article =) Very inspiring.
Neeraj Kumar
March 21st, 2010 7:28 pmAwesome Post and worth bookmarking…
One thing thought, Some photos of ‘Modern India’ along with these would have made a bigger impact on me… anyways a cool collection
Malcolm
March 21st, 2010 7:39 pmAmazing Pictures !!
Thank you Smashing :) :)
inpixie
March 21st, 2010 7:44 pmI really want to go there some day
Jac
March 21st, 2010 7:51 pmThey’re beautiful images! I just went to Calcutta, Shillong (2 days after we left, there were protests there!), Kaziranga National Park and Guwahati back in December. I fell sick, twice! And that’s in addtion to my runny stomach upsets that seems to be the norm for delicate foreigners. Yet, i cried as the plane take off from India. It’s truly a rich and wonderful experience, an eye-opener that the amount of happiness does not equate to what you hv in ur bank account or how many friends u hv.
Bea Litao
March 21st, 2010 7:51 pmI’d love to see more of collections like this. And well, with their counterpart inspired artworks.
Mithun P
March 21st, 2010 8:01 pmfabulous!
East or West India is the Great!
Hastimal Shah
March 21st, 2010 8:09 pmGreat Pic. Collections.
I proud to be an Indian.
Abhilash S
March 21st, 2010 8:24 pmI love my India.I am proud to be an Indian………..
Koushik Banerjee
March 21st, 2010 8:55 pmawesome collection of My India… I am proud to be an INDIAN and will be alwayz for it’s rich culture, tradition and the deep root it has. Thnx for sharing the pics… :)
Claiton
March 21st, 2010 9:06 pmReally nice pictures..
Even though something missing,apart from these lots & lots of beauty is here…
Jai ho!!!!
ITFT College
March 21st, 2010 9:12 pmThere’s melancholy, there’s abundance, and there’s grandeur. Every picture has a dash of glory and it was certainly pleasant to view them. Felt like revisiting India. Thanks for sharing.
awesh
March 21st, 2010 9:12 pmFantastic photos of India, thanks for sharing…..
REN
March 21st, 2010 9:23 pmGreat Sharing!.. Love it!
Pranav Ainavolu
March 21st, 2010 9:24 pmsoooooo cute!
great snapshots!!
Krunal
March 21st, 2010 9:36 pmLoved it…
Thx
KM
KC Rajput
March 21st, 2010 9:37 pmSo nice and lovely India. I lv india.
Rahul
March 21st, 2010 9:43 pmVery Nice Picture!
India is best country of the world.
JingalalaDesigns
March 21st, 2010 9:43 pmThank you for showing such breathtaking stories of my country.
Rajeesh
March 21st, 2010 10:04 pmKerala is a beautiful place….
watch:
vythirivillage.com
Damodaran K
March 21st, 2010 10:19 pmAmazing pictures of country’s diversity. Thanks for posting
Venkat
March 21st, 2010 10:22 pmIf they don’t know anything about Indian culture, traditions, history & heritage there is no point in giving critics or comments about Country.
These is India these how we live. And I’m proud to be an Indian!
Absolutely Smashing!!! Thanks for sharing this photos.
saurabh
March 21st, 2010 10:27 pmthanks for visual treat…
Mohnish
March 21st, 2010 11:02 pmNow that is My Country, India, for you! Proud of my country :)
kozeyar
March 21st, 2010 11:15 pmfantastic! I’ll go visit someday
Cheers! SM
Selvamani
March 22nd, 2010 5:57 amWhenever you wish to visit INDIA.
We all are welcome the newcomers
I am sure that you gonna enjoy the new world. and i proudly says i am an INDIAN.
Jai ho..!!
Saifu
March 21st, 2010 11:18 pmGreat Pics…….. I am proud to be an Indian………
vinod
March 21st, 2010 11:20 pmHello all,
this is to those who waste their time talking about whether or not they are proud of the nation & try to defend their nation (India)
Me: Guys, it doesn’t matter. That’s not what the post is all about. It’s about great photography. Leave your comments & stop discussing how good or bad your nation is.
This is to SmashingMagazine:
Me: Thanks for sharing such a great collection Indian Photography.
sajeerstarline
March 21st, 2010 11:23 pmThank you for presenting the up and down of my country….the pictures speak themselves the stories.
Thank you once again.
Naga
March 21st, 2010 11:23 pmThanks to “Juliya Izgiyeva” for showing the beauty of India. Keep up the good work. Looking forward to see more.
Thanks for smashing magazine who ‘ve thought of posting this.
Thanks again
rajesh
March 21st, 2010 11:28 pmGreat pics really! Thank you. Would love to see more of these.
Ivan
March 21st, 2010 11:40 pmAmazing photos. Incredible India!
sathya
March 21st, 2010 11:56 pmWonderful India……….:) nice photos
dhaval shah
March 22nd, 2010 12:04 am@juliya-izgiyeva
Great Post!
You awake all Indians!!
now please focus on Indian Designers!
AB Apana
March 22nd, 2010 12:12 amExcellent stuff!
@smashingmagazine: why did you leave out our amazing wildlife?
Munawar Khan
March 22nd, 2010 12:13 amI would like to see some posts of Pakistan pictures as well
Pooja
March 22nd, 2010 12:18 amAbsolutely amazing pictures, takes you in. Thanks for the wonderful post.Cheers.
akshay
March 22nd, 2010 12:21 amYou made the ordinary look inspirational. Beautiful. Thanks!
Chris
March 22nd, 2010 12:30 amI also managed to get one great shot in India, of the Golden Temple in Amritsar:
http://christophsfotoblog.de/index.php?/P0/
Taha Khan
March 22nd, 2010 12:32 amcolors from the indus valley..
v interesting !
shall
March 22nd, 2010 12:34 amindia Unleashed :)
Pommezed
March 22nd, 2010 12:41 amAmazing shots ! The beauty of landscapes and people makes this pictures magic…
Tejendra Shandilya
March 22nd, 2010 1:09 amGr8 Photography
adelacreative
March 22nd, 2010 1:22 amGreat culture!
Nikunj
March 22nd, 2010 1:50 amAmazing to See Indian Pics at smashing magazine
Bim
March 22nd, 2010 1:55 amSuperb shots. Awesome. I want to go back!!
Some more
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bimma/sets/72157622863585802/show/
Abhay Bora
March 22nd, 2010 1:57 amThe mind is its own place.. it can make a heaven out of hell or a hell out of heaven!!!… Likewise… some ppl prefer to focus on the negative rather than the extraordinary ……. and its more of a reflections of ourselves when you make that choice…
More to the point.. amazing pics…… truly captured the essence of India..!!
Sunil
March 22nd, 2010 2:03 amThe photos were amazing! But, you should have included South India too. Also you could have shown a bit of modern India. India is far more beautiful than that in the photos. Anyway I loved the photos and I would suggest you to keep posting photos of other countries too.
Callum Chapman
March 22nd, 2010 2:06 amWonderful. Would like to see India one day, looks like a great place!
Dilip Kr. Shukla
March 22nd, 2010 2:20 amJust loved It. Great!
SIRROD
March 22nd, 2010 2:20 amGorgeous! Makes me miss my time in Northern India in 2005!
Siddeshwar
March 22nd, 2010 3:01 amWOW! Wonderful Colorful collection!
gattawar
March 22nd, 2010 3:03 amamazing photos…. great captured. my fav
Dark eyes. Pushkar
Feet. Jaipur
Aishwarya Rai in the making
A Dreamer Among the Humblest
Smiling.Pali
Prayer at the Temple
colors-of-india
buddha from bodhgaya
India Wedding
Tata Ace – The True India Truck!
l’homme de mehrangarh
Lal baba
India
though all are good, but these the best…. :)
sudhir
Ram
March 22nd, 2010 4:18 amauthor of this post have shown only worst side of india. what is her motto, i don’t know. The author try to show only dirty pictures to world that india is poor n dirty country.
Baeze
March 22nd, 2010 4:26 amWhat’s next? 150 impressive pictures of dead birds? Useless post.
IndRag
March 22nd, 2010 4:33 amI AGREE THAT THESE ARE ALL WELL PHOTOGRAPED AND PHOTOSHOPPED PICS. BUT I DON’T AGREE YOUR DEFINITION – “BEAUTY OF INDIA”. APART FROM FEW PICTURES ALL I SEE IS GARBAGES, MESSED WIRES, SOME HANDS, OLD PEOPLES FACES ETC. I CAN’T SAY IT IS A GOOD COLLECTION OF PICTURES. IT DOESN’T SHOW THE REAL BEAUTY OF INDIA.
Sunil
March 22nd, 2010 10:07 pmI felt the same. You could have showed the “REAL” beauty of India not the garbage. I feel like Smashing Magazine is making fun of India.
Tiago
March 22nd, 2010 4:55 amWell first let us define what is dirt!
I live in Germany, such a developed country, and I guarantee you that Germans, unlike most people would think (because they don’t know them) are more dirty than indians!
Beautiful pics ! Can’t wait to visit it and wallow in it’s dirt!!!
Rajesh Balakrishnan
March 22nd, 2010 5:36 amSupreb! Supreb!! Supreb!!! Collections… 1st rank goes to “buddha from bodhgaya”
Selvamani
March 22nd, 2010 6:01 amThe people who says the pictures are showing dirty India and poor India .. blah blah.
I wish that please come only once to India and i am sure that you people know the difference b/w the other countries to INDIA. All the countries in the world had some traditions with them. But India is the mother of all.
That made me proud to say I am an Indian and I love India..:)
Have a nice day. Keep up..
Venkat
March 22nd, 2010 6:02 amJayaho…… India…. Jayaho… Proud to be an Indian, Great stuff Juliya Izgiyeva but you shown only worst side of India, Not the real beauty of India, anyway thank you so much for this post.
Walker
March 22nd, 2010 6:11 amAll I can see is Ugly, Poor and Dirty People. Don’t know how indians can be proud of that. Even if you see the Taj Mahal it shows garbage aside, so what’s the magic?
castro
March 22nd, 2010 6:14 amAwesome…..great artistic photos..
thekumar
March 22nd, 2010 6:29 amI feel the comments are more interesting than actual pictures. very few are talking about photography aspect of it, camera, lenses etc..
this post shows:
1. active Indian community on the net
2. their emotional attachment towards the country (especially when they live abroad)
3. that they can make issue out of nothing, discuss it and finally thrash each other (last laugh is important.)
4. look at the number of comments people- so beautiful.
Andre
March 22nd, 2010 6:31 amTo me these photocollection topics are always a wonder how lightly copyrights of others are trampled on. And not even the lightest of names are just brushed on a heap and presented as a collection of own fabrication. See how one would appreciate it when your photos are published without payment or even a name citation.
Then there is even further the status of shown files. Many if not most would not be considered photographs by most newspapers and magazines photo-editors. There has been to much souping with photoshop and the like. Only the old ones are photographs in the sense that the image existed at one specific moment of time in the past.
Adam
March 22nd, 2010 7:11 amNice photos.. But > Never call yourself a photographer while using the HDR method. It’s boring and unreal…
Mike
March 22nd, 2010 7:56 amThe HDR technique is a valid process to compensate for the limitations of the digital medium. If overdone, it looks manipulated, but if correctly used, it represents the vision the photographer had at the time the picture was taken.
Gaurav Chaudhary
March 22nd, 2010 7:26 amI am an Indian and i must say u have presented a beautiful India, it’s traditions, cultures people they all are true (and very beautiful as i see) but India is such a diversified country so modern India is also you might wanna showcase!
Congrats on such a great post! Hope to see more…
Gaurav
nlahaise
March 22nd, 2010 8:08 amGreat pics! Really makes me want to go back to India again. Love the people there!!
George
March 22nd, 2010 8:10 amWhatever it may be…. These whole pictures belongs to India. The one who feels shame or pity should realize that this is the reality. These are our surroundings. Everyone in every country cannot be wealthy. The matter to be considered here is they are still enjoying their colours of life. I yet not seen anyone in those pictures holding placards saying that they need help from anyone of us. Everyone has the right to live. and who said they are poor? They are really enriched with freedom, happiness, enjoyment and that is the true wealth that a man can achieve from his life. Feel Jealous with them and think how many of those rich people are able to share those with others ?
AnggaRifandi
March 22nd, 2010 8:24 amI’m waiting for Smashing Magazine displays a collection of interesting photos from Indonesia :)
Jexweber
March 22nd, 2010 8:37 amBeautiful pics! It’s the most beautiful version of india!
AK
March 22nd, 2010 8:54 amThese photos have certainly stirred up the Indian community of SM followers. Without doubt, the photos are “photogenic” in the true sense and therefore been selected; whether they represent the” true India” will be debated for aeons. The reason being defining Indian culture itself is very difficult, and, in my opinion, even a thousand photos will not suffice to represent “true Indian culture.” There’ll always be one more.
CGrrr
March 22nd, 2010 9:23 amYou should credit the photographers. It bothers me that you’re taking these photos from them without compensation or credit of any kind.
ram mohan
March 22nd, 2010 11:15 amNice photos but what I can’t understand is why we Indians can’t keep cheap nationalism out of it. What I’m trying to understand is what prompts people to say “I’m proud to be an Indian” by looking at these photographs. It can’t be the poverty, dirt and hard life that this photos capture. Probably it is the beauty and colour. Most Indians who have commented here are from the middle-class, well-off sectors of society and are sort of ashamed of the seamy side of India and would like to brush it under the carpet, as it were. As some have been quick to comment why the “modern” India has been left out of this collection. The thing is that we Indians lack self-confidence and are always seeking approval from others and always trying to look good in the eyes of the world. Ours is an ancient country with rich history and culture and we have much to be proud of but our understanding and appreciation of it is superficial and utilitarian, and that’s what make us trumpet our nationalism by seeing a motley collection of photos. People grow up. You’re not really proud to be an Indian, this is just another opportunity for you to say to the world “we are no less”. As if the world cares. Agreed India is unique but so are other cultures and countries. They all have their place.
Niubi
March 22nd, 2010 11:16 amSome wonderful photos here. I’m currently planning a trip across Asia from Turkey and I’ve been wondering whether to go via Central Asia (the ‘Stans) or down through India. These photos are really swinging it for me with the magnificent photography and just all-round awesomeness! Even better than DubLi!
pushpendra pal
March 22nd, 2010 11:20 amBeautiful collection of Indian cultural, festivals and faces images.
Thanks for shearing images.
Ashu Joshi
March 22nd, 2010 11:38 amFeel like hopping on the next flight to India … good collection.
EMMANUEL
March 22nd, 2010 12:21 pmThanxu so much From Mexico really amazing photos
the flicks are just uncanny thanx for sharing these awesome moments from India
Canela
March 22nd, 2010 12:26 pmThe beat of my heart became faster after saw them (:
Hugs.. from Chile.
http://www.flickr.com/azucarycanela
John Carr
March 22nd, 2010 12:38 pmGreat pictures, really does capture the magic of India. Please take a look at my own photos of India – http://www.shotbyjohn.co.uk/travel.html – I fell in love with the country on this trip.
Afzal
March 22nd, 2010 12:48 pmGreat Pics! There’s lot more in India to show. A regular monthly India pics post would be great.
Thanks for this though!
Cheers
Neil
March 22nd, 2010 2:00 pmThanks you so much really insightful. I miss home :(
breeze
March 22nd, 2010 4:45 pmSuperb compilation of snaps.. Really colorful.. n heavily inspiring..
S
March 22nd, 2010 4:47 pmI’d like to see Pakistan–many people think Pakistan and India are the same kind of culture, but they’re really not at all. I’d also like to see other Muslim countries represented, too. :)
Kelly
March 22nd, 2010 5:51 pmBeautiful images. Beautiful country. Beautiful people. I love the images portrayed – I see nothing but a wealth of spiritual health in these images. How blessed the people of India. Thanks for sharing. :)
Deepak
March 22nd, 2010 9:13 pmReally Fabulous post … waiting for another post for BEAUTY OF INDIA!!
Ravikumar V.
March 22nd, 2010 9:24 pmNice collections!!! can we expect the photos of Modern India
Sunandini
March 22nd, 2010 9:39 pmReally nice to c d bunch of “The Beauty of India”. Lot more things in India to see……
Yagnesh Ahir
March 22nd, 2010 10:26 pmI wish if i had a very huge brush and very huge white paint bucket, i would have painted the GLOBE with that, no india, no america, no pakistan, no london, no australia, nothing. Just enjoy and feel the essence of the post.
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My blog: yayeps.wordpress.com/
jali
March 22nd, 2010 11:14 pmSuperb compilation thanks for sharing !!
Cubism Designs
March 22nd, 2010 11:38 pmThanks for showing Incredible and colorful India.
rameshkennedy
March 23rd, 2010 12:12 amGreat Pictures