A Brief Description

The ancient diamond-shaped country of India, the largest part of the Indian Subcontinent, extends from the Himalayan Mountains in the north, south into the tropical reaches of the Indian Ocean. It's the second most populous country on the planet, and certainly one of the most intriguing.

This diverse and fertile country, which once included the lands we now call Bangladesh and Pakistan, was plundered over eons of time.

It was subsequently colonized and controlled by Britain during much of the 19th and 20th centuries. Then, in 1947, India declared independence and formed its own country.

It's home to some of the most significant natural and man-made wonders on the planet, and thus, a powerful exotic tourism magnet. The modern open-door policies of India have put the tourist industry here on the fast-track, as luxury hotels and beach resorts are constantly under construction.

With numerous major languages (hundreds of dialects), dozens and dozens of large cities and over 700,000 villages - somehow India works, both in the classic, traditional methods of its many cultures, and in the fast-moving world of the 21st century.

Read more about India here.

The Taj Mahal, India
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Facts and Figures

Name India

(long form) Republic of India

Population 1,080,264,400

Population & Density (all countries) here

Capital City New Delhi (10.8 million)

Currency Indian Rupee (INR)

Currency Converter
here

Languages
Hindi, Bengali and 13 other (official) languages, including Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi, Assamese, Kashmiri, Sindhi, and Sanskrit. Hindustani is widely spoken in the north, and English is, for the most part, the language of modern business.

Flag here

National Day January 26

Religions Hindu (80%), Muslim (13%), others

Geographic Coordinates

Latitude/Longitude (Capital City)
28º 37' N, 77º 13' E

Relative Location India is in both the eastern and northern hemispheres. It's positioned on the Indian subcontinent in south-central Asia. It's bordered by the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Gulf of Mannar, Indian Ocean, and the countries of Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Burma (Myanmar).

Land Statistics

Coastline 4,350 miles (7,000 km)

Land Areas

(land) 1,147,955 sq miles (2,973,190 sq km)

(water) 121,390 sq miles (314,400 sq km)

(TOTAL) 1,269,345 sq miles (3,287,590 sq km)

Land Area (all countries) here

Landforms
The Himalayas form the highest mountain range in the world, and slope southward into a large fertile plain that covers much of India.

Three mountain ranges extend from the Indus River in the northwest, to the Brahmaputra River in the east, including the Himadri, Himachal and Shivaliks - all with deep canyons gorged by the fast-flowing water.

The land rises slightly into two plateaus, bordered in the central and south by lower mountains (Ghats), that gently slope into narrow coastal plains.

Numerous rivers drain the land, and without question, the Ganges is the heartbeat of India and one of the most significant rivers on the planet.

Highest Point Kanchenjunga - 28,208 ft. (8,598 m)

Lowest Point Indian Ocean - 0 ft. (0 m)

Land Divisions 28 states, including Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, , Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, , Punjab and Rajasthan.

In addition, there are 7 union territories; including Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra, Nagar Haveli, Daman, Diu, Delhi, Lakshadweep and Pondicherry.



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Maps

India (large color) Map here

India Outline Map here

India CIA version here

India Maps at UT here

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Asia Continent (printable) here

Asia Outline Map here

Asia (Southeast) Outline Map here

Asia (Name the Country) Map Test here

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Indian Subcontinent Map here

Kashmir Region Map here

Middle East Landforms here

Middle East Map here

Middle East Outline Map here

Middle East Rivers here

Tsunami Map (December 2004) here

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World Outline Maps (printable) here

World Time Zone Map here


Recommended Links

India (Complete) info on the (GDP)
economy, imports and exports, natural resources, government, population, military, transportation, and more here!

India Embassy (Washington, D.C.) here

India history and politics here

India major cities here

India tourism here

India travel here

India photos at TrekEarth.com here

Ganges River photos here

Travel the World through Poster Art!

Time and Weather


Climate
In the north and central parts of India (during winter months), cooling winds from the Himalayas generate mild and dry conditions.

In the far south and along the Arabian Sea coastline, conditions remain hot, humid and sunny for most of the year.

The spring months are very hot as winds from the Indian Ocean blast the country. Summer (is generally) the monsoon season, with most of the country receiving much-needed heavy rain.


Traveler Info

Attractions On a very short list, India presents a mesmerizing collection of pulsating mega-sized metropolises, colorful towns and villages, stunning beaches, countless fairs and festivals, forts, lakes, monasteries, monuments, mosques, museums, palaces, shopping bazaars, temples, wildlife parks, many UNESCO World Heritage sites, and of course, an infinite variety of cultures and people.

In a place so varied and so interesting, it's difficult to provide a brief list of things to see and do, however, not to be missed (if possible) are the Taj Mahal, one of the premier destinations on the planet; nearby Agra Fort; Delhi, and the charms of both the old and new mixing together; the beaches and churches of Goa, and the beautiful Himalayan region.

In India, visitors are warned to exercise caution when in the vicinity of government installations, popular tourism sites, or when attending any public event throughout the country. In particular, the disputed region of Kashmir has experienced a number of terrorist incidents in recent years.

Kerala Hotels, Tours and Travel Information

Country Dialing Code 91

Electricity India uses 240 volts AC (50 Hz)

Electrical adapters, products and tips here

Travel Warnings
here

Visa Information
here

PLEASE
NOTE:
Before making travel plans for any worldwide destination, we strongly recommend you authenticate important details regarding visas, local health care, customs, etc. We always find it helpful to contact the nearest consulate of any country before beginning a journey into a foreign land.

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Afghanistan

Bahrain

Bangladesh

Bhutan

British Indian
Ocean Terr.

Brunei

Burma (Myanmar)

Cambodia

China
º Hong Kong
º Macau

East Timor

India
° Andaman Is.
° Nicobar Islands

Indonesia
° Bali

Iran

Iraq

Israel

Japan

Jordan

Kazakhstan

Kuwait

Kyrgyzstan

Laos

Lebanon

Malaysia

Maldives

Mongolia

Nepal

North Korea

Oman

Pakistan

Philippines

Qatar

Russian Fed.

Saudi Arabia

Singapore

South Korea

Sri Lanka

Syria

Taiwan

Tajikistan

Thailand

Turkey

Turkmenistan

U.A.E.

Uzbekistan

Vietnam

Yemen
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