Briefly about India. Territory and borders

Distant India is of great interest to tourists. This country has thousands of ancient sights that will be of interest to any traveler. India is the birthplace of such religions as Buddhism and Jainism. However, millions of foreign tourists annually come to India not only, for example, to visit the places where the Buddha preached. India now has a large number of attractions, spa resorts, as well as ski and beach resorts.

India is located in South Asia. India borders Pakistan to the west, China, Nepal and Bhutan to the northeast, and Myanmar and Bangladesh to the east. In the south, India is washed by the Indian Ocean, in the southwest - by the Arabian Sea. The Bay of Bengal is located in the southwest of the country. total area this country - 3,287,590 sq. km, including the islands, and the total length of the state border is 15,106 km.

India owns several islands. The largest of them are the Laccadive, Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Indian Ocean.

The Himalayas stretch across India from north to northeast. The highest peak in India is Mount Kanchenjunga, whose height reaches 8,856 meters.

There are several very large rivers in India - the Indus (its length is 3,180 km) and the Ganges (its length is 2,700 km). Among other Indian rivers, one should also highlight the Brahmaputra, Yamuna and Koshi.

The capital of India is New Delhi, which is now home to about 350 thousand people. New Delhi became the capital of India at the beginning of the 20th century. The "old" city in New Delhi was built in the middle of the 17th century by Emperor Shah Jahan, the ruler of the Mughal Empire.

The official language in India is Hindi. In turn, English is the "auxiliary state language" in India. In addition, 21 more languages ​​​​have official status in this country.

Over 80% of India's population is Hindu. More than 13% of the inhabitants of this country are Muslims, more than 2.3% are Christians, about 2% are Sikhs, and 0.7% are Buddhists.

Under the current Constitution of 1950, India is a parliamentary republic. Its head is the President, elected by a special collegium for 5 years (this collegium consists of deputies of parliament and members of state assemblies).

Parliament in India is bicameral - the Council of States (245 deputies) and the House of the People (545 deputies). Executive power in this country belongs to the President, the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers.

The main political parties in India are the Indian National Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Socialist Party, the Communist Party of India, the National People's Party, etc.

The climate in India varies from tropical monsoon in the south to temperate in the north. The Himalayas, the Indian Ocean, and the Thar Desert have a great influence on the climate in India.

There are three seasons in India:
- from March to June - summer
- from July to October - monsoons
- from November to February - winter

The average annual air temperature in India is +25.3C. The hottest month in India is May, when the average maximum air temperature is +41C. The coldest month is January, when the average minimum temperature is +7C. The average annual rainfall is 715 mm.

Average air temperature in New Delhi:

January - +14С
- February - +17С
- March - +22C
- April - +28C
- May - +34С
- June - +34С
- July - +31C
- August - +30C
- September - +29С
- October - +26C
- November - +20C
- December - +15C

In the south, India is washed by the Indian Ocean, in the southwest - by the Arabian Sea. The Bay of Bengal is located in the southwest of the country. The total coastline in India, including the islands, is more than 7.5 thousand km.

Average sea temperature near Goa, India:

January - +28С
- February - +28С
- March - +28С
- April - +29С
- May - +30С
- June - +29С
- July - +28С
- August - +28С
- September - +28С
- October - +29C
- November - +29С
- December - +29C

In India, there are two river systems with different "feeding" regimes. These are the Himalayan rivers (Ganges, Brahmaputra, etc.) and the rivers flowing into the ocean - Godavari, Krishna and Mahanadi.

One of the longest rivers in the world, the Indus, also flows through India, with a length of 3,180 km.

As for the lakes, there are not very many of them in India, but, nevertheless, there are very beautiful ones among them. The largest Indian lakes are Chilika, Sambhar, Koleru, Loktak, and Wular.

Neolithic human settlements on the territory of modern India appeared about 8 thousand years ago. In the years 2500-1900 BC. in Western India, there was the first urban culture, which formed around the cities of Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa, and Dhalavira.

In 2000-500 BC. Hinduism spread in India, and at the same time a caste system began to take shape there, consisting of priests, warriors, and free peasants. Subsequently, castes of merchants and servants were formed.

Around the 5th century BC. India already had 16 independent states - Mahajanapada. At the same time, two religions were formed - Buddhism, founded by Siddhartha Gautama Buddha, and Jainism, founded by Mahavira.

In the VI century BC. some territories of India were conquered by the Persians, and in the 4th century the troops of Alexander the Great conquered some northwestern parts of this country.

In the II century BC. The Mauryan kingdom reaches its peak, conquering several neighboring Indian states.

In the 1st century BC. Indian kingdoms traded with ancient Rome. In the 7th century, most of the Indian kingdoms were united by King Harsha into a single state.

In 1526, the Mughal Empire was founded on the territory of modern India, the rulers of which were the descendants of Genghis Khan and Timur.

In the XVII-XIX centuries, the English East India Company, which even had its own army, was in charge of the territory of modern India.

In 1857, the so-called. "Rebellion of the sepoys", whose dissatisfaction was just caused by the East India Company. After the suppression of the Sepoy Rebellion, the British liquidated the East India Company, and India became a colony of the British Empire.

In the 1920s, a massive national liberation movement began in India against British rule. In 1929, Great Britain gave India the rights of a dominion, but this did not help the British. In 1947, the independence of India was declared. Part of the Indian territories after some time became the independent state of Pakistan.

India was admitted to the UN back in 1945 (however, then this country was still British India).

India is a country with a huge cultural heritage. Indian culture has had (and continues to have) an impact not only on neighboring countries, but also on other states located far from it.

Until now, India has a caste system of society, thanks to which Indian culture retains all its traditional values.

The expression of Indian traditions is music and dance. There is nothing like it anywhere else in the world.

Tourists in India, we recommend that you definitely see the local festivals and parades, of which there are a lot. Elephant processions, musical performances, "tiger dances", fireworks, sweets distribution, etc. often take place during festivals. The most famous Indian festivals are the Onam festival (dedicated to the memory of the mythical king Bali), the Tea Festival in Kolkata, Diwali, Ratha Yatra (Chariot Festival), Dussera in Delhi, Ganapati Festival in honor of god Ganesh.

It should also be noted interesting holiday sisters and brothers "Raksha Bandhan", celebrated every year in July. On this day, the sisters wrap their brothers' wrists with handkerchiefs, ribbons that protect them from evil forces. In return, the brothers give their sisters various gifts and swear to protect them.

Indian cuisine is known throughout the world for its use of spices. It is thanks to the Indians that various seasonings and spices, including black pepper and curry, have become widespread in the world.

India is a very large country, and therefore it is not surprising that each of its regions has its own culinary traditions. However, all regions of India are characterized by the use of rice. This product is the basis of Indian cuisine.

It is generally accepted that the inhabitants of India are vegetarians, as required by their religious teachings. However, in fact, meat dishes are also quite popular in India, because there are also Muslims in this country. The most famous Indian meat dish is "tandoori chicken", when the chicken is marinated in spices and then baked in a special oven. Other famous Indian meat dishes are biryani (chicken with rice), gushtaba (meatballs stewed in yogurt with spices).

In general, meat dishes are most often included in the diet of the inhabitants of northern India. Fish and seafood are popular in coastal areas, while vegetables are popular in southern India.

We also recommend that tourists in India try dal soup puree, naan wheat cake, sabji vegetable stew, chapati and samba rice cakes, kichari (stewed rice with mung bean and spices), jalebi "(fritters in syrup), "rasgulla" (balls of cottage cheese), "gulab-jamun" (yogurt with flour and almonds).

Traditional non-alcoholic Indian drinks - "dhai" (yogurt or yogurt), "raita" (yogurt with mint and grated cucumber).

There are so many attractions in India that it is difficult for us to single out the most interesting ones. Perhaps the top ten Indian attractions, in our opinion, may include the following:

Red Fort in Delhi

The construction of the Red Fort in Delhi began in 1638 and ended in 1648. This fortification was built by order of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Now the Red Fort is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Mausoleum-mosque Taj Mahal in Agra

The Taj Mahal was built in 1653 by order of Shah Jahan, Emperor of the Mughal Empire. This mausoleum was built by 20 thousand people over 20 years. The Taj Mahal is now on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Minaret Qutub Minar in Delhi

The height of this brick minaret is 72.6 meters. Its construction lasted from 1193 to 1368.

Elephant Cave near Mumbai

In the Cave of the Elephants there is an underground temple of Shiva with her sculptures. It was built several thousand years ago. The Elephant Cave is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Virupaksha Temple in Hampi

The first small temple on the territory of the modern city of Hampi was built in the 7th century AD. Gradually, other religious buildings were built around it, and after a while there was already a huge beautiful temple complex in Hampi.

Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar

Harmandir Sahib is more commonly known as the Golden Temple. This is the most important religious building for the Sikhs. The construction of the Golden Temple in Amritsar began in the 16th century. In the 19th century, the upper floors of this temple were covered with gold.

Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra

Buddhist monks began to build their Ajanta caves around the 2nd century BC. These caves were abandoned around 650 AD. Only in 1819 did the British accidentally stumble upon the Ajanta Caves. To this day, unique frescoes have been preserved in these caves, telling about the life of people in the distant past.

Jaigarh Fort

This fort was built near the city of Amber in 1726. According to legend, once upon a time the largest cannon in the world was placed in Jaigarh Fort (it can still be seen now, because the ancient fort is now a museum).

Raj Ghat Palace in Delhi

Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi were cremated in this palace.

Pearl Mosque in Agra

This mosque in Agra was built in the middle of the 17th century under the emperor Shah Jahan. No, there are no pearls in this mosque, just its domes shine very strongly in the sun.

The largest Indian cities are Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Surat, and Kanpur.

In India there are many beautiful sea ​​resorts with great beaches. The sand on Indian beaches is white and fine. The most popular beach resort in India is Goa. Among other Indian beach resorts, the following must be mentioned: Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, as well as beaches on the Andaman, Nicobar and Laccadive Islands.

There are several ski resorts in India that are considered the best in Asia. Of course, the winter resorts of India cannot be compared with the ski slopes of Austria, Italy and Switzerland. However, for those travelers who love to ski, and who at the same time want to get to know the unique India, holidays in Indian ski resorts will be remembered forever.

The most popular ski resorts in India are Auli, Dayara Bugayal, Mundali, Munsiari, Solang, Narkanda, Kufri, and Gulmarg. By the way, the skiing season in India lasts from mid-December to mid-May.

Many foreign tourists come to India to relax in the spa resorts. Indian spa centers offer clients various Ayurvedic programs. Among such spa resorts, first of all, Beach & Lake, Ayurma, and Ananda should be named.

Before you go to India think about what you want to buy there. Otherwise, the Indian merchants in the bazaars and shops will sell you a lot of different unnecessary goods, and you will lose thousands of rupees. We recommend tourists from India to bring Indian tea, various incense, bracelets (glass, metal, precious metals), amulets, talismans, marble souvenirs (for example, a small marble Taj Mahal), scarves, shawls, saris (traditional Indian dress), leather shoes, sets of Indian dry spice mixes, henna paint, carpets, musical instruments(for example, drums or an elegant wooden flute).

The report about India grade 3 is summarized in this article. From it you will learn about the country with ancient culture, rooted far into the abyss of millennia.

Message about India

India is one of the developed countries of the third world. India is located in the southern part of Eurasia on the Hindustan Peninsula. The country is washed by the Indian Ocean. It borders such countries as Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Speaking of India as the richest country, they do not mean the standard of living of the population, but precisely its richness in various natural resources. It is no coincidence that in colonial times India was called "the jewel in the crown of the British Empire."

Capital of India— New Delhi.

This unique country ranks second in terms of population (1.326 million people), and seventh in terms of area (3165.6 thousand km).

Climate of India predominantly subequatorial, monsoonal. During the summer monsoon, 70-90% of precipitation falls, winters are dry and cool.

The nature of India is amazing. In a few hours you can move from the snows of the Himalayas to the tropics and numerous beaches of the Indian Ocean.

Relief of India quite diverse - from flat areas in the south of the country, to glaciers in the north, from the desert lands of the West, to the eastern tropical forests.

India is rich in minerals, the main part of which is located in the northeast of the state. Among them are iron ore, manganese ore, coal, bauxites, brown coal, magnesites, chromites, graphite, diamonds, mica, gold, ferrous metals, monocyte sands, uranium ores.

Rivers and lakes of India

The largest rivers are Ganga, Brahmaputra, Koshi, Yamuna, Mahanadi, Godavari, Kaveri, Krishna, Tapti, Narmada. But there are few lakes in India, but still they are - Lake Sambhar is the largest of them.

Population of India

The bulk of India's population lives in rural areas, while the urban population is only 26%. 25% of urban residents live in 12 million-plus cities of the country. Big cities- Millionaires of India- these are Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad. Mumbai has 13 million people.

Industry of India

Industry India is concentrated in large cities and their suburbs. It is an interweaving of old traditional industries: the production of metal, fabrics, processing of precious metals and stones - and the manufacture of new products: electronics, aviation equipment

Most of the country's population is employed in agriculture. Here grow up rice, wheat, cotton, vegetables, peanuts, peppers and jute- a fibrous culture used to produce durable fabrics.

India is one of the world leaders in tea production, the main growing area of ​​which is the humid regions in the west of the country. Due to religious traditions, animal husbandry has not received much development.

Flora and fauna of India

Hindustan Peninsula- this is a whole continent, the geographical and climatic originality of which contributes to the prosperity of the animal and plant world. In India, there are about 45 thousand plant species, and 15 thousand are found only there. Forests in India occupy almost 20% of the entire territory of the country. Animal and plant world India is extremely diverse. There are 75 national parks and more than 420 nature reserves in the country.

Wild elephants and rhinos can still be found in the forests of Arissa and Assam, and lions live in the forests of Gir. In the jungle you can meet tigers, panthers, monkeys. India is the only country where you can find almost all types of snakes, and some of them live not only in nature reserves, but also close to people. The number of bird species found in India is enormous, over 1600 species. The richness of the river and sea fauna is also great.

Landmarks of India

A short report about India can be completed with places worth visiting. These are the Taj Mahal, Hampi village, Avralem waterfall, Little Tibet, the city of Delhi, the Qutub Minar minaret, the Mongolian tomb - the tomb of Humayun, the Gandhi Smirti Museum, the national museum, the Crafts Museum, the Indira Gandhi Museum, the national gallery of modern art.

We hope that the report on the topic "India" helped you in preparing for the classes, and you learned a lot of useful things about this country. And you can leave your message about India through the comment form.

It is one of the most colorful and original in the world. The variety of spiritual and philosophical teachings, ancient architecture, the beauty of nature attract. There is a desire to visit the territory where India is located - the country of the ancient Vedas. This is a country where the beauty and grandeur of the temples amaze, and the music and magical atmosphere immerse you in the world of mystery and sensuality.

India on the world map

Where is India located on the world map? Geographically, the country adjoins South Asia and occupies a significant part of the Hindustan peninsula. India has a lot of neighbors - states. In the northwest, the country borders with Pakistan and Afghanistan. In the northeast - with China, Nepal and Bhutan. The Indian-Chinese border is the longest and runs along the main Himalayan range. In the east it borders on the states of Bangladesh and Myanmar. India has maritime borders in the southwest with the Maldives, in the south with Sri Lanka and in the southeast with Indonesia.

The area of ​​the country is quite large and is 3.3 million square meters. km. In the east, south and west, the peninsula is washed by the Bay of Bengal, the Laccadive and Arabian Seas. The major rivers of India are the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Godavari, Indus, Krishna, Sabarmati.

Since the territory of the country is different big size, different topography, then the climate in different regions- various.

Where is India covered with snow? In the northern part of the country are the Himalayas - one of the highest mountain systems. Here the mountain tops and valleys are covered with snow. In the east of the country is the Ganges valley. The Indo-Gangetic Plain is located in the eastern and central part of the country, adjoining it from the west

State name

Where is India, whose name has changed several times? In ancient times, it was called the "country of the Aryans", "the country of the Brahmins", "the country of the sages". The modern name of the state of India comes from the name of the Indus River, the word "Sindu" in ancient Persian means "river". The country has a second name, translated from Sanskrit it sounds like Bharat. This name is associated with the history of the ancient Indian king, which is described in the Mahabharata. Hindustan is the third name of the country, it has been used since the reign of the Mughal Empire, but it has not been given official status. Republic of India - official name country, it appeared in the XIX century.

ancient india

On the territory where ancient India was located, one of the oldest civilizations in the world was born. Its history includes two periods. The first is the period of the Harappan civilization, which began its development in the Indus River valley. The second period - the Aryan civilization associated with the appearance in the valleys of the Ganges and Indus rivers Aryan tribes.

In the Harappan civilization, the main centers were the cities of Harappa (modern Pakistan) and Mohenjo-Daro ("Hill of the Dead"). The level of civilization was very high, this is evidenced by the buildings of cities with a harmonious layout and drainage system. Writing was developed artistic culture small plastic has been developed: figurines small size, seals with reliefs. But the Harappan culture has declined, due to climate change, river flooding and epidemics.

After the Harappan civilization ended its existence, Aryan tribes came to the valleys of the Ganges and Indus rivers. Their appearance breathed new life into the Indian ethnos. From this period begins the Indo-Aryan period.

The main asset created by the Aryans of that period was a collection of texts - the Vedas. They are written in the Vedic language - the oldest form of Sanskrit.

Culture of Ancient India

The territory where India is located is the place of origin and development of religious and philosophical teachings. The culture of the ancient country is closely connected with the secrets of the universe. Since ancient times, people have been asking questions to the Universe, trying to unravel the meaning of life. Separate place occupies the teachings of yoga, where self-immersion into the world of the human soul takes place. The uniqueness of culture also lies in the fact that music and dance are a companion of any event or event. The originality and diversity of culture has largely developed due to the fact that both local peoples and newcomers participated in its formation.

The culture of Ancient India refers to the period from the middle of the III millennium BC. and up to the VI century. AD

The architecture of this period has its own characteristics. Not a single monument of ancient Indian culture has been preserved. This is caused by the fact that building material of that period was a tree that has not survived to our time. And since the III century. BC. stone is being used in construction. Architectural buildings of this period have survived to this day. The main religion of this period was Buddhism, and therefore characteristic structures were erected: stupas, stambhas, cave temples.

The culture of ancient India in world history occupies important place. She rendered more influence for all world development.

Agra

The ancient city of Agra was founded in the 15th century. It is located on the banks of the Yamuna River. The city of Agra is very large, and in order not to get lost, you need a map. Where is India during the reign of the Moghuls, the walls of the ancient city will tell. In the capital of the Mughal Empire there were many palaces, parks, beautiful gardens.

Agra is an ancient city saturated with national color. Here you can see and get to know the people, plunge into the world of national cuisine, buy souvenirs made using the Florentine mosaic technique - Pietra Dura, which has been a national craft since the time of the Great Mughals.

The center of Agra, like many Indian cities, is a huge market. The city is home to one of the largest spas in all of Asia, Kaya Kalp.

Taj Mahal

India has one of them. The Taj Mahal, where the mausoleum of one of Shah Jahan's most beloved wives, Mumtaz Mahal, is located, is one of the attractions of Agra. Such an architectural structure has not been seen in the last 400 years.

Taj Mahal is a monument to love and in Hindi means "Crown of Palaces". He became the last gift for his beloved. The palace was built for 22 years, marble for it was mined for 300 km. The walls of the tomb are decorated with mosaics of precious and semi-precious stones, although when viewed from afar, the color of the mausoleum seems white. The proportions of the building are perfect. Even the fact that his minarets were rejected is not accidental. This is done so that in the event of an earthquake, the minarets do not fall on the mausoleum.

Taj Mahal is a pearl of Indian culture, which embodies the love and wealth of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.

India is a truly fabulous country, after visiting which any traveler will have amazing memories for life. Once acquainted with this country, everyone will become its prisoner and forever lose peace. In this unique country, everything is unusual, different, everything is new and special. India captivates guests with its exoticism, rich culture and magnificent nature. There are a large number of various kinds animals: nimble monkeys, vociferous peacocks with bright plumage, tigers and crocodiles. Gorgeous beaches, gentle waters indian ocean, ancient monuments of one of the most ancient civilizations and a spicy smell on the streets, a large number of various saints and nosy rickshaws, distinguished by colorful saris and white-toothed smiling locals - these are all signs of India, full of mysteries and open to guests!

Official name of the state: Republic of India.

Location - South Asia. The northern border separates the country from Afghanistan, China, Nepal and Bhutan, the eastern border from Bangladesh and Myanmar, and the western border from Pakistan.

The form of government is a federal republic. Part of the British Commonwealth.

The total area is 3.29 million square kilometers.

The capital of India is the city of New Delhi.

Geography

Geographically, India is located in three large orographic regions: the Himalayan mountains, the Indo-Gangetic plain and the Deccan plateau (Hindostan peninsula). The Deccan is a vast ancient land mass composed of Precambrian crystalline rocks, predominantly gneisses, shales and granites. Much of the surface is covered by volcanic lava, highest power cover of which is observed in the northwest. Once the Deccan was part of the ancient continent of Gondwana, in which Africa, India and South America. About two hundred million years ago, this mainland broke up into several separate blocks. Between the Himalayas and the Deccan lies the vast Indo-Gangetic plain.

In the part of the Eastern Himalayas located in India, there are great heights, however, the very structure of the mountains is relatively simple. To the north of the Ganges valley, a swampy strip of terai covered with jungle (as the locals call its natural vegetation cover) stretched out. Merging proluvial plumes gradually rise above it at the foot of the Sivalik Mountains. In the northern direction rise the ridges of the Lesser Himalayas (up to 3000 m). The next highest step is the Great Himalayas (up to 5800), the brightest heights of which are Everest in Nepal (Chomolungma - 8848 m), and in India - Kanchenjunga (8598 m).

Animal world

According to the fauna presented in India, this country is considered to belong to the Indo-Malay region. The most widely represented mammals here are monkeys (gibbons, thin-bodied macaques), antelopes, deer (black, spotted and sambar), bulls (pygmy and Indian buffaloes, gaur), panthers, tigers, Indian elephants, Himalayan bears. To date, leopards, lions, and Kashmir deer have been almost completely exterminated. The fauna of India is very rich in reptiles, birds and fish.

There are 47 national parks and reserves on the territory of India, the largest of which are the Gir Forest located in Gujarat (under the protection of the Asian lion), in Assam - Kaziranga and in West Bengal - Jaldapara (under the protection of the Indian rhinoceros).

Climate

South India has a predominantly tropical climate, while the northern part of the country is characterized by temperature fluctuations from below zero to 50°C. In addition, the northern part of the country has distinct seasons. Here winter lasts from December to February, March and April are considered to be spring months, May and June are considered to be summer months, monsoon period is from July to September and October and November are considered to be autumn months.

Timezone

The time zone of India is UTC + 5:30, the time is 1.5 hours ahead of Moscow (when switching to winter time the difference is 2.5 hours).

Currency

The official currency is the Indian rupee, which is equal to 100 paise. Coins of 1 rupee, 2 rupees and 5 rupees are widely used. The denomination of banknotes is 5-10-20-50-100-500-1000 rupees.

Population

In terms of the number of citizens, India is in second place in the world ranking after China, with a population of 1.2 billion people. Most Indians (almost 70%) live in rural areas, although in the last 10-20 years migration to large cities has greatly intensified, due to which the number of urban population has increased dramatically. The largest cities in the country are Delhi, Kolkata (former Calcutta), Mumbai (former Bombay), Hyderabad, Chennai (former Madras), Bangalore, Ahmedabad. The Indian population has an average literacy rate of 64.8%. In India, there is an excess of the number of males over the number of women. The annual population growth in the country is on average 22 children per thousand people. Average age citizens of the country defined about 25 years.

Language

According to the Constitution of the country, the official languages, that is, the languages ​​in which the national government operates, are Hindi and English. English language ubiquitous in business and administration, its status is ancillary official language It also plays an important role in the education system, especially in secondary and higher education.

Religion

The majority of Indians (more than 80%) profess Hinduism. Islam (believers - 13.4% of the population) and Christianity (2.3%) are also distinguished by a significant number of followers. There are also adherents of Sikhism (1.9%), as well as Buddhism (0.8%) and quite a bit of Jainism (0.4%). In addition, a small number of believers in India are represented by Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Baha'is and some other religions. In addition, animism is widespread among the population belonging to the natives of this area (8.1% of the population).

Administrative division

India is a federation of republics, it consists of the National District of Delhi (capital), 6 union territories and 28 states. Own government in all states, the National Capital Territory of Delhi and the Union Territory of Puducherry is elected, the remaining 5 Union Territories are governed by administrators who are appointed by the central government, so they are directly subordinate to the President. All union territories and states, in turn, are divided into administrative units - districts. In total, the country includes 600 such districts, each of which consists of even smaller administrative units - taluks.

State structure

This country belongs to the sovereign, socialist, secular liberal democratic republics. Government consists of three branches, which include legislative, executive and judicial.

The head of state of India is the president, who is elected by an electoral college through indirect voting for a term of 5 years. The head of government of India is the prime minister, who controls the executive power.

The legislative branch of government in India is represented by a parliament consisting of two chambers: the upper, called the Council of States (Rajya Sabha), and the lower house, called the People's House (Lok Sabha).

The executive branch includes the President and Vice President, as well as the Council of Ministers (headed by the Prime Minister). Each of the Ministers must go to either House of Parliament. In the republic, the executive branch is subordinate to the legislative branch.

India is characterized by a three-stage unitary judiciary, consisting of the Supreme Court, twenty-one High Courts and an incalculable number of smaller judiciaries.

Economy of India

Currently, certain sectors of the Indian economy are opening up to private business, as well as to foreign capital. The past three decades have seen annual GDP growth averaging nearly 5.5%, making the Indian economy one of the fastest growing in the world. Among the important resources of India is the second largest labor force in the world. The distribution of employees by areas of activity is as follows: 60% are involved in agriculture, 28% in services, and 12% in industry. The main crops include rice, potatoes, wheat, sugarcane, tea, and cotton. Major industries include automotive, cement, chemicals, engineering, consumer electronics, food processing, pharmaceuticals, petroleum, textiles, metalworking, and mining. Among the countries of the world, India is in sixth place in terms of oil consumption, and in terms of coal consumption, it is in third place.

India is characterized by a significant social stratification of the population. Although the country is experiencing economic growth, a quarter of the population of India is forced to live below the subsistence level set by the state.

India is an exporter software, technological and financial services, jewelry and textiles. The main imports are oil, chemicals, fertilizers and machinery. Among the main trading partners are the USA, China and the European Union. To the main natural resources India includes arable land, diamonds, iron ore, manganese, chromites, coal, bauxite, micas, limestone, titanium ores, natural gas and oil.

culture

Indian culture is remarkably diverse. All the historical development of this country is preserved in the ancient cultural traditions, in addition, some new traditions were borrowed from other countries and peoples. The cultural influence of India is quite strong in other regions of Asia as well.

Honoring elders and other traditional family values ​​are especially respected in this country, which is mainly due to socio-economic relations established according to the extended family system corresponding to traditions.

Indian Cuisine

Indian culinary traditions are considered one of the most ancient and popular in the world. Local cuisine is based on a variety of "sabji" vegetables (most Indians do not eat meat, and it is better for guests to wait until home with meat-eating), rice, fish, various flour products, puri cakes and a wide variety of dairy products. Count how many in Indian national cuisine probably no one will succeed in original dishes. The hallmark of Indian food is spices, added to almost any dish, even salty, even sweet, and in the most unpredictable combinations for other peoples. The well-known curry in this country is big choice a wide variety of recipes, which, when used, make it possible to turn even the most banal dish into an unusual one.

Especially popular here is tea, which is traditionally drunk with spices or hot milk, as well as coffee, fruit waters and fresh juices. Drinking alcohol at the table is not accepted here, most of the dishes are washed down with cold clean water. It is worth noting that in India it is strictly forbidden to drink alcohol on trains and public transport.

Vaccinations

Travelers do not have any obligations regarding vaccinations before visiting India. So, to do or not not is a personal matter for everyone. Of course, some vaccinations will not be superfluous, especially if you are going to India for a relatively long term(at least three months) and are going to go to ecologically disadvantaged areas of the country, but there is no urgent need for these vaccinations. One has only to follow elementary hygiene and safety measures, and this will most likely allow tourists to avoid any diseases.

Airports

India has a fairly developed network of domestic airlines, and there are airports in almost all major cities and regional centers. Most often, tourists arrive at the airports of Delhi, Goa, Bombay, Calcutta or Chennai. As a rule, airports have toilets, restaurants, banks, bus stops and taxis. Some airports have equipped lounges. It is also worth considering that small airports, as a rule, close at night.

Useful information for tourists about India, cities and resorts of the country. As well as information about the population, currency of India, cuisine, features of visa and customs restrictions in India.

Geography of India

The Republic of India is a state in South Asia, occupying most of the Hindustan peninsula. It borders with Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. It has sea borders with the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

Most of the country is occupied by the Deccan highlands, bounded on both sides by the Eastern and Western Ghats, and the entire territory of India is crossed by 7 mountain ranges, among which is the highest mountainous country in the world - the Himalayas. Between the Deccan and the Himalayas, the vast Indo-Gangetic lowland (Jamno-Gangetic plain) stretches in a wide arc, the coasts are also framed by a narrow ribbon of plains.

State

State structure

Federal Republic. Included in the Commonwealth.

The head of state is the president. The legislature is a bicameral parliament (Council of States "Rajya Sabha" and People's Chamber "Lok Sabha"). Executive power is exercised by the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister.

Language

Official language: Hindi, English

Languages ​​other than two state languages: Urdu, Bengali, Telugu, Tamil, Kannara and about 10 more languages ​​used as state languages ​​in various states. In total, more than 1600 languages ​​and dialects are spoken in India.

Religion

Hindus - 80%, Muslims - 14%, Christians - 2.4%, Sikhs - 2%, Buddhists - 0.7%, Jains - 0.5%.

Currency

International name: INR

One Indian rupee is divided into 100 pise.

History of India

Already in the 3rd millennium BC, statehood arose here, in the Indus Valley, and in the 2nd millennium BC, important ethnic changes took place. From the north, in the interfluve of the Indus and the Ganges, tribes of tall, fair-haired Aryans (Aryans) invaded and subjugated the local peoples. In the 1st millennium BC, the Aryans created their own state, one of the princes of which was Gautama (Buddha) - the distributor of a new religion. At the same time, India waged exhausting wars of independence, now with Persia, now with Alexander the Great. With the collapse of the Macedonian state, the Indian kingdom experienced its first flowering. By 236 BC, the great Magadhian Empire was formed, which managed to unite almost the entire territory of the modern states of Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. However, already from the second century BC, the formidable empire fell into decay. A significant part of its lands was seized by neighboring states. One of them was the kingdom of the Kushans. After its collapse in the first centuries of our era, the Magadha empire began to gain strength again, which in the 4th-5th centuries already controlled most of the Hindustan peninsula.

Short-term association (since the 6th century) was replaced by feudal fragmentation, which stopped only to XIII century in connection with the emergence of a strong Delhi Sultanate. Its rulers entered into a struggle with Buddhism and began to spread Islam. The sultanate repulsed the raids of the Mongols-Tatars, but could not cope with the separatism of large feudal lords, who ruined the country at the end of the 14th century. The economic backwardness increased, there was no defense capability, and opportunities for new conquests of India opened up. At the end of the 15th century, the first European colonizers appeared on its shores. In the 16th century, almost the entire peninsula became the prey of the Mongol conqueror Babur. In the 17th century, France and Great Britain fought for the possession of South India. In the first half of the 18th century, the power of the Mongol dynasty weakened so much that it could no longer protect the Indian people from other invasions. An attempt by local princes to organize an alliance capable of resisting the conquerors did not bring success.

By the middle of the 19th century, Great Britain had colonized all of India; the liberation uprising of 1857-1859 failed. The dominion of the British crown remained until 1946, when, under the pressure of the Indian public, led by M. Gandhi, she was granted the right of dominion (self-government). At the same time, the first government headed by J. Nehru was formed. The next year (1947) the British finally left India. However, the country could not maintain unity. The sectarian war split it into three states: Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.

On January 26, 1950, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted a constitution declaring India a parliamentary republic. But at the same time, India remained in the British Commonwealth of Nations.

Being a multinational and multireligious state, India is experiencing strife and confrontation on religious grounds in different parts countries. However, India has always presented itself as a secular state with liberal democracy, except for a brief period from 1975 to 1977, when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency with limited civil rights.

In the second half of the 20th century, India regularly had problems with neighboring states due to disputes over borders. The dispute with China has not been resolved so far, in 1962 it turned into a short war. India fought Pakistan three times: in 1947, 1965 and 1971. The last conflict between India and Pakistan broke out in 1999 in the state of Kashmir.

Already in the 3rd millennium BC, statehood arose here, in the Indus Valley, and in the 2nd millennium BC, important ethnic changes took place. From the north, in the interfluve of the Indus and the Ganges, tribes of tall, fair-haired Aryans (Aryans) invaded and subjugated the local peoples. In the 1st millennium BC, the Aryans created their own state, one of the princes of which was Gautama (Buddha) - the distributor of a new religion. At the same time, India waged exhausting wars of independence, now with Persia, now with Alexander the Great. With the collapse of the Macedonian state, the Indian kingdom experienced its first flowering. By 236 BC, the great Magadhian Empire was formed, which managed to unite almost the entire territory of the modern states of Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. However, already from the second century BC, the formidable empire fell into decay. A significant part of its lands was seized by neighboring states. One of them was the kingdom of the Kushans. After its collapse in the first centuries of our era, the Magadha empire began to gain strength again, which in the 4th-5th centuries already controlled most of the Hindustan peninsula ....

Popular Attractions

Tourism in India

Where to stay

Hotels in India has a standard classification - from five to two categories. In addition, here you can find quite modern and high-level hotels that are not marked with stars. As a rule, such hotels are owned by high-ranking officials or families of the highest Indian caste. In India, you can also find hotels of famous world chains, for example, Marriott, Hyatt.

As for five-star hotels, in India, these are not just beautifully furnished hotels with a high level of service, but real palaces. As a rule, such hotels are located on the coast, in the most popular places among tourists. The hotel has Ayurveda centers, yoga centers, massage services, beauty treatments, as well as numerous entertainment programs.

It is worth considering that hotels of the same category, for example, four stars, can differ significantly from each other. So, if in a hotel in one of the resort areas or located in a wealthy area of ​​​​a big city, you will be offered really good service, clean comfortable rooms and special health programs, then in other cities of India, the stars are more likely to decorate the facade of the hotel building. Therefore, be careful when choosing a place to stay for the night. The same applies to the category of three and two stars. Their owners may have their own concept of service, so it is better to stay in hotels that you have found positive reviews from tourists who have already been there.

It is noteworthy that India is famous not only for its coast, but also for its ski resorts. In the mountains you will be offered to stay in one of the small but very cozy hotels. They will offer you good service, cozy interior and, as a bonus, excursions around the area and entertainment in the evenings.

Vegetable food is the basis of the nutrition of the peoples of India. Rice, corn, dal, peas, lentils and other legumes, as well as flatbreads made from lower grades of flour (chapati) and vegetables are an integral part of Indian cuisine....

Tips

Leave a tip only in expensive establishments. In hotels and restaurants, a service charge (10%) is often included in the bill. In more modest places, you can leave a few rupees. Doormen - 5-10 rupees. In India, baksheesh is common - an advance payment for services (for example, for baksheesh at the hotel they will find the letter you need, give you the necessary information, etc.).

Visa

Office Hours

Banks are open on weekdays from 10:00 to 14:00, and on Saturday from 10:00 to 12:00.

Souvenirs

In India, high-quality and inexpensive fabrics: silk (in Varanasi), cotton (in Rajasthan, Chenai), wool, brocade, cashmere, chiffon. Carpets are the cheapest and most common commodity in India. Cheap to buy silver jewelry, gems: diamond, ruby, sapphire, pearl (in Hyderabad), aquamarine and moonstone.

According to tourists, the best gift from India is excellent Indian tea. And often the highlight is not in the variety - they are all excellent, but in the fact that the tea is packed in elegant satin bags.

The usual ground pepper, turmeric, saffron, cloves, cinnamon, as well as spices unknown to us, which are indispensable for curry preparation, are of excellent quality in India and, by our standards, practically free. Experienced tourists recommend trying a delicacy - cashew nuts fried with Indian pepper. Attention: spices can only be carried in those bags that you check in as baggage.

The medicine

High risk of contracting hepatitis A. Pre-vaccination is highly recommended. Avoid raw water and unpeeled vegetables and fruits.

Emergency Phones

Police - 100, fire brigade - 101, Ambulance - 102.

National features of India. Traditions

Tips for women: legs should be covered with clothes, but not tight. It is not customary to hug and kiss in public. Greet by joining the fingers at the level of the forehead. Do not try to be the first to shake hands and even more so to kiss. Go around all the buildings, especially religious buildings, on the left side. If you are served tea, wait until you are invited to a tea party. If you leave, empty the cup and leave it.

Questions and opinions about India

Kerala - Q&A

Question answer