With an area of 3.3 million square kilometers, India is the
seventh-largest country in the world. Lying on the
sub-continent, the country is separated from the mainland
Asia in the north by the Himalayan Ranges. India's northern
borders are shared with Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal,
Bhutan, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. The lower part of the
country is bordered by the Bay of Bengal in the east,
Arabian Sea in the west and Indian Ocean in the south.
The vast land of India embraces varied geography which
can be roughly divided into three parts ranging from the
towering mountain range of the Himalayas in the north, the
great Indo-Gangetic Plain, and the extensive Deccan Plateau
in the south. Topographic diversity can be also seen in the
Rajasthan State, the west of the country where the huge
desert of Thar is located. South of the Thar Desert, Kutch
is a site of unique marshlands while the eastern region
where the Ganges flows creates world's largest delta and a
fertile mangrove forest. Several important rivers drain the
vast plain of India including the Indus, the Ganges, the
Yamuna and the Brahmaputra.
India also possesses the diversity of climate due to its
vastness. The country's climate varies from region to
region. The north enjoys cold climate in the winter months
which start from November through March. The coastal areas
are dominated by the tropical climate throughout the year
while the plains and most of central and southern regions of
the country are hot in the summer months, between April and
June. The monsoonal season dominated most of the country
from July through October.
India's total population of 1,029,991,145 (July 2001
est.) is composed of diverse ethnic groups, including
Indo-Aryan (72%), Dravidian (25%), Mongoloid and other 3%.
With this diversity of ethnic groups, there is a great
variation in languages spoken in different parts of the
country. There are 17 major languages and 844 dialects in
India, among which Hindi is the national language, spoken by
45% of the total population. English plays as a language for
official communication.
Some world's important religions, Hinduism, Jainism,
Buddhism, and Sikhism, also have their roots in India. Islam
and Christianity also enjoy their unrestricted practice in
the country. Of the total population, 81% practice Hinduism,
Islam 12%, Christianity 2.3%, Sikhism 1.9%, and other groups
including Buddhism, Jainism, and Zoroastrianism. Hinduism
has played a significant role in Indian tradition and daily
life even today, creating the uniqueness of the national
character.
There are a few countries in the world that endow more
diversity than India. This vast land is then a magic
enticing all visitors to explore through each of its windows
leading to the core of the nation. The juxtaposition of old
and new- the ancient Indus civilization which rubs shoulders
with the computer age-is also of its fascinations. So open
your eyes and mind to discover this enchanting land, India.
|
