| Although India, officially the Republic of | | | | Indonesia. |
| India, is the seventh-largest country by | | | | |
| geographical area or the second most populous | | | | Climate in India varies from tropical in the |
| country in the world, the most prestigious | | | | south to more temperate in the Himalayan |
| fact for this large South-Asian country is | | | | north, with elevated regions in the north |
| being the most populous democracy in the | | | | receiving sustained snowfall in winters. |
| world. | | | | India's climate is strongly influenced by the |
| | | | Himalayas and the Thar Desert. The Himalayas, |
| The Indus Valley civilization, where it is | | | | along with the Hindu Kush mountains in |
| originated from, is one of the oldest in the | | | | Pakistan, provide a barrier to the cold winds |
| world, dates back at least 5,000 years. Aryan | | | | from Central Asia. This keeps most of the |
| tribes from the northwest infiltrated onto | | | | Indian subcontinent warmer than most |
| Indian lands about 1500 B.C.; their merger | | | | locations in similar latitudes. The Thar |
| with the earlier Dravidian inhabitants | | | | Desert is responsible for attracting the |
| created the classical Indian culture. Those | | | | moisture laden southwest monsoon winds that |
| of European traders, beginning in the late | | | | provide most of India's rainfall between June |
| 15th century, followed Arab incursions | | | | and September. |
| starting in the 8th century and Turkish in | | | | |
| the 12th. By the 19th century, Britain had | | | | India is the second-most populous country in |
| assumed political control of virtually | | | | the world with an estimated 1.1 billion |
| all-Indian lands. In the early twentieth | | | | people in 2006. Language, caste and religion |
| century, a nationwide struggle for | | | | are determinants of social and political |
| independence was launched by the Indian | | | | organisation within the highly diverse |
| National Congress, largely led by Mahatma | | | | population. Although 80.5% of the people are |
| Gandhi and during Second World War by Indian | | | | Hindus, India is also home to the |
| National Army led by Netaji Subhas Chandra | | | | third-largest population of Muslims in the |
| Bose. Millions of protestors would engage in | | | | world (13.4%), after Indonesia and Pakistan. |
| mass campaigns of civil disobedience with a | | | | Other religious groups include Sikhs (2%), |
| commitment to ahimsa or non-violence. | | | | Christians (2.04%), Buddhists (0.76%), Jains |
| Finally, on 15 August, 1947, India gained | | | | (0.40%), Jews, Zoroastrians, Ahmadis, and |
| independence from British rule. Three years | | | | Bahá'Ãs. The national average literacy |
| later, on 26 January, 1950, India chose to be | | | | rate is around 64.4%(with males-75.6% and |
| a republic, and a new Constitution came into | | | | females-54.2%). |
| effect. | | | | |
| | | | India has a rich and unique cultural |
| India is divided into twenty-eight states, | | | | heritage, and has managed to preserve its |
| and seven union territories (or territories | | | | established traditions throughout history |
| owned by the Central Government). All states | | | | whilst absorbing customs, traditions and |
| and the union territories of Delhi and | | | | ideas from both invaders and immigrants. Many |
| Pondicherry have elected governments. The | | | | cultural practices, languages, customs and |
| remaining five union territories have | | | | monuments are examples of this co-mingling |
| centrally-appointed administrators. The | | | | over centuries. Famous monuments, such as the |
| states and territories are further divided | | | | Taj Mahal and other examples of |
| into 602 districts. | | | | Islamic-inspired architecture have been |
| | | | inherited from the Mughal dynasty. These are |
| India's northern and northeastern states are | | | | the result of a syncretic tradition that |
| partially situated in the Himalayan Mountain | | | | combined elements from all parts of the |
| Range. The rest of northern, central and | | | | country. |
| eastern India consists of the fertile | | | | |
| Indo-Gangetic plain. In the west, lies the | | | | The nation also produces the world's largest |
| Thar Desert. The southern Indian Peninsula is | | | | number of motion pictures every year. The |
| almost entirely composed of the Deccan | | | | most recognisable face is that of cinema |
| plateau, which is flanked by two hilly | | | | production based in Mumbai, which produces |
| coastal ranges, the Western Ghats and Eastern | | | | mainly commercial Hindi films, often referred |
| Ghats. India is home to several major rivers, | | | | to as "Bollywood". There are also strong |
| including the Ganga, Brahmaputra, Yamuna, | | | | cinema industries based on the Malayalam, |
| Godavari, Kaveri, Narmada, and Krishna. India | | | | Kannada, Tamil and Telugu languages. There |
| has three archipelagos - Lakshadweep off the | | | | were five Miss World winners from India. This |
| southwest coast, the Andaman and Nicobar | | | | is the highest number of winners in Miss |
| Islands volcanic island chain to the | | | | World as of 2005. |
| southeast, and the Sunderbans in the Gangetic | | | | |
| delta in West Bengal. India has a coastline | | | | The cuisine of India is diverse, as |
| of over seven thousand kilometres, and | | | | ingredients, spices and cooking methods vary |
| borders Pakistan to the west, Nepal, the | | | | from region to region. Rice and wheat are the |
| People's Republic of China and Bhutan to the | | | | staple foods in the country. The country is |
| north-east, and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the | | | | notable for its wide variety of vegetarian |
| east. In the Indian Ocean, it is adjacent to | | | | and non-vegetarian cuisine. Spicy food and |
| the island nations of Sri Lanka, Maldives and | | | | sweets are popular in India. |