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Mexico is a dazzling land with an extensive cultural heritage that spans many centuries - an urban miracle where native markets thrive amidst a backdrop of colonial churches and sophisticated buildings. The vibrant synthesis of ancient relics and modern towns that bustle with activity and balmy beach resorts, invites you to a seaside rendezvous.

Mexico beckons with a truly astounding range of travel alternatives, from the cultural and historic to the adventurous and scenic. The intrepid traveller is well advised to try a little of each. Soak in sun and sand, dance through a Mexican fiesta, drool over turkey mole. Or simply float through Gothic churches and marvel at the splendours of Indian architecture that has survived the ravages of centuries. Whether rambling through ancient Mayan ruins or musing through Spanish churches, you are infused with the charm of this land, its native Indian culture and its glorious colonial heritage.

The smallest volcano, albeit inactive, in the world the Cuecomate is only 43 ft tall and happens to be in the mexican city of Puebla. One can actually climb down a spiral staircase into the bottom of the volcano!

Chocolate was introduced to the world by Mexico as was Caesar's salad!

Historically Speaking

Mexico’s present is deeply entrenched in its fascinating history of Indian roots and Spanish domination. Many centuries ago, the Olmec Indians of Mexico built grand cities amidst rugged terrain. Their civilization was advanced, and they had developed a form of writing, a calendar and a workable counting system that saw them through the first half of the second millennium. Mexico’s history changed dramatically when the last Indian empire of the Aztecs fell to Spanish invaders in 1521. This marked the beginning of 300 years of colonial rule in Mexico, till she got back her independence in 1821.

The early Mexican settlers were unknown tribes of Indian migrants from the north, who hunted and lived a pastoral life. They soon settled down to farming and other occupations like pottery, weaving and preaching. The fertile valley around Lake Texcoco was home to large farm villages that traded with other communities. The villagers built temples on flat-topped pyramids, to worship the forces of nature. Large villages grew into towns, which developed into Classic Indian Civilizations.

During the Classic period, between

A.D. 250 and 900, religious centers flourished. Massive pyramids were dedicated to the sun and moon. The classic Indian tribes of the Mayas and Zapotecs, built stone and limestone monuments engraved with pictograms. The two great cities of Teotihuacan and Cholula, a religious center near Puebla had emerged. The Indian civilization grew to its height under the Toltecs who had their capital at Tula, and the Aztecs.

In the early 1500s, the Aztec emperor Montezuma resisted the Spanish invaders fiercely, but surrendered finally before the cannons and horses of Hernando Cortes in 1521.

The Spaniards became global colonizers, making Mexico their most treasured territory. They introduced truly European conventions of government, industry, farming and religion. While the Indians remained poor and uneducated, the Spaniards advanced culturally and financially. Local culture and native traditions were suppressed. Catholicism was accepted, as was an exacting economic system that enriched the colonizers.

The Spanish impact on Mexico was so tremendous, that decidedly Spanish towns sprang up to replicate European culture. This is still evident in the Spanish traditions of art and architecture that dominate the nation more than in any other country in the world. Colonial cities were built over Indian civilizations, nearly obliterating them. Colonial era monuments, buildings, churches and museums survive to give an impressive glimpse into Mexico’s cultural past.

It took Mexico many years and many wars to achieve independence in 1821. There was a brief period of stability under the first President, Guadalupe Victoria, while the Republic of Mexico was officially recognized. But in 1847, Mexico surrendered half its territory to USA and the country staggered under debt. Benito Juarez, the most popular president of the country, was a Zapotec Indian who struggled hard to stabilise Mexico when he was elected in 1861. After several revolutions and coups, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) came into power till the mid 1970s.

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Habitat

The Mexican peninsula lies at the southern extremity of North America. Its neighbour in the North is the US, while Guatemala and Belize make up the Southern border. The land is washed by the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea in the east, and the Pacific in the west.

The disparity of Mexican landscapes and climates is unique and unparalleled elsewhere. This is a remarkable feature, considering the startlingly short distance between magnificent snow-capped volcanoes and rolling plateaus. While cities like the capital, Mexico City, are teeming with millions, there are parts of the rugged landscape that remain unexplored on foot.

About 60% of the landmass is the central plateau or “mesa central.” The Sierra Madre Oriental mountain ranges border the plateau on the east, and the Sierra Madre Occidental hugs it on the west.

A chain of tall volcanic mountains extends east-west across southern Mexico, south of Mexico City. These include awesome volcanoes with tongue twisting names such as Popocatepetl, Nevado de Roluca, Orizaba, Cofre de Perote, Metlalcueyetl and Ixtaccihuatl. An impressive crest of

mountains is formed by lower chains of mountains that extend northwestward from each end of the volcanic chains. The central landmass of North Mexico is a high plateau rimmed by these mountain ranges.

Splendid beaches and tangled forests dot the 6000 miles of coastline. The Gulf Coastal Plain and the Yucatan Peninsula on the east, are crowned by tall canopies of the tropical rain forests. This tree canopy is so dense that sunlight rarely reaches the forest floor. In the South, the pacific Coast is rugged with dense forests. The Baja California Peninsula in the northwest is mainly desert sprinkled with intermittent mountains.

The forests, mountains and deserts of Mexico are home to some of the most magnificent varieties of birds and animals. Exotic birds inhabit the forests – from the brilliantly hued quetzals, to flamingos, hummingbirds, herons, parrots and pelicans.

The coastal waters, lakes and rivers are swarming with exotic varieties of fish and shellfish. The coral reefs along the Caribbean Coast are animated by tropical marine life. Marlin, swordfish and tarpon are big game off the coast.

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