India

A Land of Prehistoric society, Colourful Culture and Stunning Landscapes

The seventh-biggest nation in the world and the second-most populated nation, India is a world that is full of contrast and diversity. Running through South Asia, India is an old country with amazing history, live cities and natural beauty combined. Whether you climb the majestic mountains in the Himalayas Lures, bask on the fine sands of the Thar Desert, explore the tropical, green lands of Kerala or visit the contemporary, crowded streets of Mumbai, India has plenty to offer to all kinds of a traveler.

This ultimate guide tells you all about the geography, history, culture, the economy, and the places to visit in India, giving you an in-depth insight into why this awesome country is so unique.

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Geographical Location

India is located in the South Asia region with Pakistan at the west side, China and Nepal on the northern side, Bhutan at the north-east, Bangladesh and Myanmar at the eastern side. India sits to the southeast of the Indian Ocean and as such has a long coastline totaling more than 7,500 kilometers. The nation is separated into 8 Union Territories and 28 states each with distinctive geographical conditions, culture and traditions.

India is the seventh-largest nation in the world and the second-most populous country with an overall area of approximately 3.287 million square kilometers. India as a whole, North with the Indo gangetic plain to the south with the coastal plains, is a land of wide diversity, both in terms of her population as well as in terms of her landscapes.

For an in-depth travel guide, visit the Official tourism guide for India

Landforms and Natural features

The geography of India is very diverse, so we may meet mountains, rivers, deserts, and fertile plains. The largest mountain system is that of Himalaya which lies at the northern extremity of India and is a place where the state of Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are located. The fertile land cored by the river Ganges, Yamuna, and other rivers is called the Gangetic plain which had been the birthplace of Indian civilization over millennia.

In the south we have the Deccan Plateau with volcanic hills, fertile soils, and cultivable lands. India is also blessed with beautiful coastlines such as Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Sundarbans mangrove forests at bay of Bengal and the desert land of the Thar Desert of Rajasthan in the west.

India has many national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and biosphere reserves that preserve the various tigers and flora and fauna like Bengal tiger, Indian elephant and one horned rhinoceros.

Ancient Civilizations

The Indian subcontinent appears in one of the earliest urine cultures of the world, the Indus valley civilization (c. 33001300 BCE), based around the cities of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa. This civilization is attributed to first-time achievements in urban planning, drainage systems as well as writing by its people.

The following Vedic Period (1500 BCE) resulted in Hinduism emergence and Vedas, early divine texts of Hinduism, being created. It also gave rise to different philosophies and spiritual practices which are still powerful to date, like Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism.

Empires and Kingdoms Soar

India has brought forth some of the most dominant empires in our world. Ashoka the Great was one of the most honored rulers of India; he lived in Maurya Empire (c. 322185 BCE) and was the founder of that state by Chandragupta Maurya. Ashoka was a supporter of Buddhism and has left a legacy of rock edicts which told his message of non-violence and toleration.

One of the rulings of Indian history that can be regarded as a golden age is the Gupta Empire (circa 320 550 CE) that experienced advances in science, mathematics, art, and literature. This is the time when Aryabhata and Brahmagupta also contributed a lot to mathematics and astronomy.

Medieval Period and Islamic influence

Islam in India The 12th century saw the arrival of Islam in India and the subsequent rise of powerful Muslim empires including the Delhi Sultanate (1206 to 1526) and an Indian Muslim Mughal Empire (1526 to1857). The Mughal era stands out in particular because of the creation of such iconic structures as the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort, and the Qutb Minar and the development of a rich hybrid of the Persian, Central Asian and Indian civilizations.

British Rule and the Fight against Independence

British colonies The mid-18 th century saw India becoming a British colony resulting in British Raj (1858 1947). British rule was accompanied by extreme social, political, and economical changes in India as well as exploitation, inequality, and resistance movements.

The Independence movement in India was in highest mode early on in the 20th century and was spearheaded by national leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose. Freedom struggle in India came to an epitome, thanks to Gandhi, who led a nonviolent civil rebellion. At last, it became independent and India was joined with Pakistan on August 15, 1947, which became independent of Britain.

Modern India

After independence, India had to encounter various problems, such as those caused by partition, reconstruction of the economy, and poverty, social inequality. Nevertheless, the nation progressed gradually and turned out to be the largest democracy in the world and a fast-rising economy.

The economic liberalization in early 1990s saw India expand in terms of economic growth especially in the spheres of information technology, manufacturing and services making India to be one of the largest economies in the world.

Religious and Ethnic Diversity

India is a country of huge ethnic and religious differences. Most of the population professes Hinduism, yet Hindu India has very high Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Jain Arabs. One of the main features of the cultures of the country is the religions tolerance and pluralism.

India is divided into a lot of linguistic groups with the official language being Hindi, and the common one English is spoken. The nation has 22 official languages which require no written policy- Bengali, Telugu, Tamil, Marathi, Gujarati.

Culture Practices and Tradition

India is associated with rich traditions and festivals as well as rituals. Throughout India Diwali, the festival of lights, takes place, whereas Holi is the festival of colors that brings the spring. The great festivals of Eid, Christmas, Navratri and Sikh festivals such as Baisakhi are also strongly celebrated.

There is great emphasis on family values in the Indian culture and friendship between generations, as well as, respect to elders. This dharma (duty) and karma (action) concept has influenced the moral and ethical philosophy of this country.

Cuisine

Indian food is overwhelming with its numerous species and unique delicacies of every separate territory. Indian cuisine is founded on the use of spices where cumin, turmeric and cardamom, garam masala and chilies feature in vegetarian and meat delicacies.

The favorite foods are:

Biryani (penetrating mix of rice and meat)

Butter chicken

Dosa (burnt rice crepes)

Samosas (fried pastries filled)

Rogan josh, dal and chutneys.

India also has street food which is also famous e.g. pani puri, chaat and bhel puri.

Agriculture

India is an agricultural country and agriculture forms a major livelihood to millions of people. It is a huge rice, wheat, sugarcane and cotton producer in the world. In addition, India leads the production of milk in the world.

Industry and Manufacturing

The manufacturing industry of India is fast developing especially in textiles, automobile industry, steel and chemicals. One of the major exports of the country in the world market is pharmaceuticals and information technology services. The car and electronic markets have boosted a great deal during the previous years.

Technology and Services

Across the world, India is a market leader in information technology (IT) with other cities such as Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Chennai as hubs of information technology. The economy of the country is quite high at software development and outsourcing. India is also spending a lot in the area of renewable energy and space exploration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) housing many successful missions.

Indian Sites You Can Not Afford to Miss

Taj Mahal- This place, being situated in Agra, is considered one of the most famous sites worldwide as well as the symbol of love and Indian architecture.

Red Fort-It is a masterpiece of Mughal architecture and a very important heritage of India and the Red Fort is located in Delhi.

Qutub Minar-This is a minaret of Delhi and arguably the tallest brick edifice in the world. This is also a UNESCO site.

City Palace- The City Palace that is located in Jaipur is a beautiful piece of architecture portraying both the Rajasthani and Mughal architecture.

Natural Attractions

Kerala Backwaters-A relaxing travel experience is what Kerala is famed to have since it has calm waters, lovely boats and beautiful natural settings.

Himalayas- It is a blessing to the adventure seekers and spiritual searchers because the Himalayas is one of the most trekking, mountaineering and meditating regions in the world.

Ranthambore National Park- This is a national park in Rajasthan which is famous due to its Bengal tigers and greenery.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands – A tropical island of excellent beaches, pure waters and a special marine life.

Healthcare System

The Indian healthcare system is a mixed healthcare system comprising both the public and the private healthcare providers. Urban India is also endowed with good quality of private healthcare and hospitals like Apollo and Fortis provide top-world medical facilities. The government is also striving to make healthcare more accessible and affordable to people.

Education System

Education in India is powerful as primary, secondary and higher education forms a major part of growth in the country. Universities such as IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology), AIIMS (All India Institutes of Medical Sciences) and IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management) are most prestigious institutions that have made valuable contributions to the knowledge economy of India.

Ideal Seasons

The ideal season to visit India would be in winter ( November to March) as the weather is very pleasant and cool to sight see. Spring times (April to June) may be very hot, particularly during the northern and central parts, whereas the monsoon season (July to September) is characterized by heavy rains especially along coastal states.

Festivals and Events

When you come here in India, you can also feel the richness that happens during religious festivals, Diwali, Holi and Durga Puja, that are both marked by elaborate rituals, fireworks, and feasts.

In conclusion- India- A Land of Miracles and Variety

India is a country of unimaginable diversities where the cultures, old civilizations, and new innovations come as one. Be it the spiritual heritage, its gastronomic delights or its historical monuments, India is bound to give you an experience of a lifetime. India has all the good things which include amazing landscapes, different customs, and friendly people.

Frequently asked questions

When is the most appropriate time to visit India?

During the months of winter of the year (November to March), the weather in India is perfect and it is then the best time to visit the country to see the sights.

What are the most popular attractions of India?

The Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Kerala Backwaters and Himalayas are the biggest attractions.

Which are the languages spoken in India?

The number of official languages used in India is 22 and the most commonly spoken language is Hindi. On the one hand, English is also utilized in commerce and education.

Is India a tourist safe place?

India is relatively safe to visit, but certain precautions should be taken especially in major cities and some of the rudimentary safety principles had to be adhered to.

Which cultural festivals must I attend in India?

Have a slice of India through Diwali, Holi and Durga Puja festivals.