Folk Dance	State
Dollu Kunitha	Karnataka
Lambadi	Telangana
Kuchipudi	Andhra Pradesh
Jhumar	Jharkhand, West Bengal
Thang-ta	Manipur
Kalbelia	Rajasthan
Raasleela	Uttar Pradesh
Ojapali	Assam
Nongkrem	Meghalaya
Sambalpuri	Odisha
Fugdi	Goa
Thirayattam	Kerala
Bardo Chham	Arunachal Pradesh
Hojagiri	Tripura
Phag	Haryana
Bagurumba	Assam

Key PointsChinese scholar Hiuen Tsang (also referred to as Xuanzang):

• Travel to India: Hiuen Tsang travelled to India in the 7th Century CE, during the reign of Harshavardhana. His main objective was to acquire Buddhist texts which were not available in his homeland, China. He also intended to study the language and culture of India, something he was deeply fascinated with.


• Length of Stay and Travels: Hiuen Tsang was in India for approximately 15 years. He travelled widely, visiting regions such as present-day Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and even travelling as far south as Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.


• Learning and Observations: During his stay, he spent a significant time at Nalanda University, an ancient centre of learning in Bihar. He wrote extensively about the teachings and practices he observed, providing valuable details about the workings of the educational system at Nalanda University.


• Record of his Journey: After returning to China, he wrote a detailed chronicle of his journey called "Great Tang Records on the Western Regions" (Da Tang Xiyu Ji), which provides a comprehensive account of his voyage and observations. This text is considered an insightful resource for understanding India's history, social structure, and cultural practices during the 7th Century CE.


• Relations Between India and China: Hiuen Tsang's journey is often seen as marking a significant interaction between the two ancient civilizations of India and China, particularly in the exchange of knowledge and culture.


• Harsha's Rule: Hiuen Tsang's description of Harsha's rule is instrumental in our understanding of this period. He praises Harsha's governance, his religious tolerance, patronage of Buddhism, and his efforts in holding religious assemblies.

  Additional Information

  Name	Regime and Influence	Major Accomplishments
  Ashoka	He succeeded to the Mauryan throne in 269 BCE and his rule extended until 232 BCE. His empire stretched, at its zenith, from present-day Afghanistan in the west to Bangladesh in the east.	He is best known for his conversion to Buddhism and the propagation of its teachings, both throughout India and abroad. Ashoka codified and made these principles accessible to ordinary people by having them inscribed on rocks and pillars throughout his kingdom, a practice that represents the earliest decipherable corpus of written Indian language. His policy of Dhamma is a reflection of his principles.
  Chandragupta II	Chandragupta II, also known as Vikramaditya, was a ruler of the Gupta Empire around 375–415 CE.	Chandragupta II is remembered for his notable victories, strong leadership, prosperity, and patronage of art and literature. It was during his reign that Kalidasa, the famous Sanskrit poet and playwright, lived. He also established diplomatic relations with the Western world after a meeting with a Roman delegation. His military success, particularly his victory over the Shaka-Ksatrapas, led to the political unity of most of India.
  Samudragupta	Samudragupta, son of Chandragupta I, ruled the Gupta Empire from around 335 – 380 CE. His realm expanded across Northern, Central, and parts of Southern India.	He is known for his military campaigns, and medieval Indian poets referred to him as the "Indian Napoleon." He was a great patron of arts and literature and was known to be a gifted musician. His court was filled with learned scholars. Coins minted during his reign, which depict him playing the veena, are a testament to his patronage of the arts. The inscription of his qualities and achievements on the Ashoka Pillar, known as the Allahabad Inscription, gives a thorough account of his reign.