About India
India is the largest democracy and sixth largest country in the world. India has a total area of 3,287,590 sq. km (1,269,346 sq. mi) and a population of 1.12 billion people. It is home to the famous Taj Mahal; one of the seven wonders of the world.
| National Symbols of India | |||||||||
| Flower | Fruit | Animal | Bird | Tree | Sport | Flag | Emblem | Anthem | |
| Jana Gana Mana | |||||||||
Geographical Location
India lies in the Indian subcontinent in south Asia. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the west, and the Bay of Bengal on the east. It borders Pakistan to the north-west; China, Nepal, and Bhutan to the north-east; and Bangladesh and Burma to the east. In the Indian Ocean, India is in the vicinity of Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Indonesia. It is bordered to the north by the world's highest mountain range; the Himalaya's. India has a coastline of 7,517 kilometers (4,671 mi). It is made of mighty mountain ranges, flowing rivers, arid deserts, and beautiful beaches.
History
India has a long and illustrious history. It was first settled in 3,200 B.C. by the Aryans which later developed into the Indus Valley Civilization, and the birth of Hinduism. Indian scientists and scholars have been credited with many significant discoveries in academia. The number system including the zero digit was invented in India by Aryabhatta, an Indian scientist. Algebra, Trigonometry, and Calculus are studies which originated in India. Chess was also invented in India.
India has had its fair share of rulers. It has been ruled by the Hindu Sultanate, the Mughal Emperors, and the British Empire. A couple of other European nations like Portugal, France, and the Netherlands also had colonies in the country.
Culture
On par with the country's staggering topographical variations is its cultural diversity; the result of the coexistence of a number of religions as well as local tradition. From the tea plantations in Darjeeling to the towering temples of south India each part of India has its own distinct identity. This is visible in the languages, architecture, music, dance and cuisine of the regions. French is a widely spoken language in southern India owing to the French colonization of the region.
In the desert of Kutch, Gujarat, on the other hand, a scattering of villages pit themselves against the awesome forces of nature, resulting in Spartan lifestyles made vibrant by a profusion of jewelry and ornamental embroidery used to adorn apparel and household linen. Yet another facet of Indian culture is observed in the colorful tribal lifestyles of the north eastern states of Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura and Manipur with their folk culture.
In the central Indian states of Orissa and Madhya Pradesh tribal village life has resulted in a variety of artistically executed handicrafts and ornaments.
The south-western state of Goa is well know for its breath-taking beaches, magnificent cathedrals, and trademark cuisine, all of which bear a distinct Portugese influence. It is no suprise that Goa is one of the tourist hot-spots of the country.
Diversity
India is a melting pot of different religions and cultures. Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism are the religions practiced in the country.
There are 29 languages that are officially recognised by the Government of India and numerous others that are spoken throughout the country. English, Hindi, Tamil, Punjabi, Marathi, Bengali, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada are the major languages.
Every religion in India has its own customs and traditions, and thus its own festivals. The major festivals celebrated in India are Diwali(festival of light), Holi(festival of colours), Navratri(festival of dance), and Christmas.
This page was last modified on: October 10, 2008. 03:18 pm