Destination India Introduction

guideontravel — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:56:33 +0100

India, officially Republic of India (Hindi Bharat), country in southern Asia , located on the subcontinent of India. It is bounded on the north by
Afghanistan, China, Nepal, and Bhutan; on the east by Bangladesh,
Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), and the Bay of Bengal; on the south
by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannār (which separates it from Sri
Lanka) and the Indian Ocean; and on the west by the Arabian Sea and
Pakistan. India is divided into 28 states and 7 union territories
(including the National Capital Territory of Delhi).New Delhi is the
country’s capital.

National Flag

The world’s seventh largest country in area, India occupies more
than 3 million sq km (1 million sq mi), encompassing a varied landscape
rich in natural resources. The Indian Peninsula forms a rough triangle
framed on the north by the world’s highest mountains, the Himalayas,
and on the east, south, and west by oceans. Its topography varies from
the barren dunes of the Thar Desert to the dense tropical forests of
rain-drenched Assam state. Much of India, however, consists of fertile
river plains and high plateaus. Several major rivers, including the
Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Indus, flow through India. Arising in the
northern mountains and carrying rich alluvial soil to the plains below,
these mighty rivers have supported agriculture-based civilizations for
thousands of years.

With more than 1 billion inhabitants, India ranks second only to
China among the world’s most populous countries. Its people are
culturally diverse, and religion plays an important role in the life of
the country. About 83 percent of the people practice Hinduism, a
religion that originated in India. Another 12 percent are Muslims, and
millions of others are Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains.
Eighteen major languages and more than 1,000 minor languages and
dialects are spoken in India.

India’s long history stretches back to the Indus Valley civilization
of about 2500-1700 bc. For hundreds of years, India was home to massive
empires and regional kingdoms. British rule in India began in the ad
1700s. Foreign domination engendered Indian nationalism, which
eventually led to India winning its independence in 1947. Split from
Pakistan at independence, India struggled with its Muslim neighbor over
border differences and Hindu-Muslim relations. India and Pakistan still
conflict over the Jammu and Kasmir

region,
parts of which are also occupied by China. India’s federal political
system, a democracy for more than 50 years, has demonstrated a
remarkable resilience in resolving domestic and international crises.
India has grown since independence to have great influence on Asia and
a massive world presence. The country is a member of the Commonwealth
of nation , an association of political entities that once gave or
currently give allegiance to the British monarchy.

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Destination India Introduction