The report on India Grade 3 is summarized in this article. From it you will learn about a country with an ancient culture rooted far into the depths of millennia.
India Post
India is one of the developed countries of the third world. India is located in the southern part of Eurasia on the Indian subcontinent. The country is washed by the Indian Ocean. It shares borders with such countries - 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 pearl 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 in terms of area (3165.6 thousand km) - seventh.
Climate of India predominantly subequatorial, monsoon. During the summer monsoon 70-90% of precipitation falls, winters are dry and cool.
The nature of India is amazing. In a few hours, here you can move from the snows of the Himalayas to the tropics and the 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 bulk of the origin of which is located in the northeast of the state. Among them are iron ore, manganese ore, coal, bauxite, brown coal, magnesites, chromites, graphite, diamonds, mica, gold, ferrous metals, monocyte sands, uranium ores.
Rivers and lakes of India
The largest rivers are the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Koshi, Yamuna, Mahanadi, Godavari, Kaveri, Krishna, Tapti, Narmada. But there are not many 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%. The 12 millionaire cities of the country are home to 25% of urban residents. Big cities-millionaires of India- this is Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad. Mumbai is home to 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, the processing of precious metals and stones - and the manufacture of new products: electronics, aviation technology
Most of the country's population is engaged in agriculture. Here grow rice, wheat, cotton, vegetables, peanuts, peppers and jute- fibrous culture used for the production of durable fabrics.
India is one of the world leaders in tea production, the main cultivation area for 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 Is a whole continent, the geographic and climatic originality of which contributes to the prosperity of flora and fauna. In India, there are about 45 thousand species of plants, and 15 thousand are found only there. Forests in India cover almost 20% of the entire country. Fauna and flora India is extremely diverse. There are 75 national parks and more than 420 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 find 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 reserves, but also next to people. The number of bird species living in India is huge, more than 1600 species. The richness of river and marine fauna is also great.
Sights of india
A short talk on India can be ended with places worth visiting. These are Taj Mahal, Hampi village, Avralom waterfall, Little Tibet, Delhi city, Qutub Minar minaret, Mongolian tomb - Humayun's tomb, Gandhi Smirti Museum, National Museum, Crafts Museum, Indira Gandhi Museum, 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.
short info
Far India is of great interest to tourists. This country has thousands of ancient attractions that will be of interest to any traveler. India is home to religions like Buddhism and Jainism. However, millions of foreign tourists annually come to India not only, for example, to visit the places where Buddha preached. India now has a large number of attractions, spa resorts, as well as ski and beach resorts.
Geography of India
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 of this country - 3,287,590 sq. km, including islands, and the total length state border- 15 106 km.
India owns several islands. The largest of them are the Laccadive, Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Indian Ocean.
The Himalayan mountain system stretches across the territory of India from north to north-east. The highest peak in India is Mount Kanchenjunga, whose height reaches 8,856 meters.
India has several very big rivers- Indus (its length is 3,180 km) and the Ganges (its length is 2,700 km). Other Indian rivers include the Brahmaputra, Yamuna and Koshi.
Capital
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 mid XVII century by the emperor Shah Jahan, the ruler of the Mughal empire.
Official language
The official language in India is Hindi. In turn, English is the "auxiliary state language" in India. In addition, in this country, another 21 languages have official status.
Religion
More than 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.
Government of India
According to the current Constitution of 1950, India is parliamentary republic... Its head is the President, elected by a special board for 5 years (this board consists of parliament members and members of state fees).
Parliament in India is bicameral - the Council of States (245 deputies) and the House of the People (545 deputies). The executive power in this country belongs to the President, the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers.
Major political parties in India - Indian National Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, Socialist party, Communist Party of India, National People's Party, etc.
Climate and weather
India's climate ranges 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. Average annual precipitation is 715 mm.
The average air temperature in New Delhi:
January - + 14C
- February - + 17C
- March - + 22C
- April - + 28C
- May - + 34C
- June - + 34C
- July - + 31C
- August - + 30C
- September - + 29C
- October - + 26C
- November - + 20C
- December - + 15C
Seas and oceans of India
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 - + 28C
- February - + 28C
- March - + 28C
- April - + 29C
- May - + 30C
- June - + 29C
- July - + 28C
- August - + 28C
- September - + 28C
- October - + 29C
- November - + 29C
- December - + 29C
Rivers and lakes
In India, there are two river systems with different feeding regimes. These are the Himalayan rivers (Ganges, Brahmaputra, etc.) and 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, some of them are very beautiful. The largest Indian lakes are Chilika, Sambhar, Koleru, Loktak, and Vular.
History
Neolithic settlements of people on the territory of modern India appeared about 8 thousand years ago. In the years 2500-1900. BC. Western India had the first urban culture that developed around the cities of Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa, and Dhalavira.
In 2000-500. BC. in India, Hinduism spreads, and in the same period a caste system began to take shape, consisting of priests, warriors, and free peasants. Subsequently, the castes of merchants and servants were formed.
By about the 5th century BC. in India there were already 16 independent states - Mahajanapada. At the same time, two religions were formed - Buddhism, which was founded by Siddharta Gautama Buddha, and Jainism, which was founded by Mahavira.
In the VI century BC. some territories of India were conquered by the Persians, and in the IV century the troops of Alexander the Great conquered some of the northwestern parts of this country.
In the II century BC. the kingdom of the Mauryas reaches its heyday, having conquered 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 empire of the Great Mughals was founded on the territory of modern India, the rulers of which were the descendants of Genghis Khan and Timur.
In the 17th-19th centuries, the British East India Company ruled on the territory of modern India, which even had its own huge army.
In 1857, the so-called. "The revolt of the sepoys," which the East India Company was just causing discontent. After the suppression of the Sepoy Revolt, 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 endowed India with dominion rights, but this did not help the British. In 1947 the independence of India was declared. Some of the Indian territories after a while became independent state Pakistan.
India was admitted to the UN back in 1945 (however, then this country was still British India).
The culture
India is a country with a huge cultural heritage... Indian culture has influenced (and continues to have) not only neighbouring countries, but also to 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.
Music and dance are an expression of Indian traditions. Nowhere else in the world is there anything like it.
For tourists in India, we recommend that you definitely see local festivals and parades, of which there are a lot. During the festivals, there are often elephant processions, musical performances, tiger dances, fireworks, candy distribution, etc. The most famous Indian festivals are the Onam festival (dedicated to the memory of the mythical king of Bali), the Tea Festival in Calcutta, Diwali, Ratha-yatra (Chariot Festival), Dussera in Delhi, the Ganapati Festival in honor of god Ganesh.
Also worth noting is the interesting festival of sisters and brothers "Raksha Bandhan", celebrated every year in July. On this day, the sisters tie the wrist of the brothers with scarves, ribbons that protect against evil forces... In return, the brothers give their sisters various gifts and vow to protect them.
Indian cuisine
Indian cuisine is renowned worldwide for the use of spices. It is thanks to the Indians that various seasonings and spices have spread throughout the world, including black pepper and curry.
India is a very large country, and therefore it is not surprising that each of its regions has its own culinary traditions... However, rice is common in all regions of India. This product forms 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 quite popular in India, because there are also Muslims in this country. The most famous Indian meat dish is "tandoori chicken", when chicken is marinated in spices and then baked in a special oven. Other famous Indian meat dishes are “biriani” (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 the north of India. Fish and seafood are popular in coastal areas, while vegetables are popular in southern India.
For tourists in India, we also recommend trying the dal soup, wheat cake“Naan”, vegetable stew “sabji”, rice cakes “chapatis” and “samba”, “kichari” (stewed rice with mash and spices), “jalebi” (pancakes in syrup), “rasgulla” (balls of cottage cheese), Gulab jamun (yoghurt with flour and almonds).
Traditional Indian non-alcoholic drinks - dhai (curdled milk or yoghurt), raita (yoghurt with mint and grated cucumber).
Sights of india
There are so many attractions in India that it is difficult for us to single out the most interesting ones. Perhaps, in our opinion, the following can be included in the top ten Indian attractions:
Red Fort in Delhi
Construction of the Red Fort in Delhi began in 1638 and ended in 1648. This fortification was built by order of the Emperor of the Mughal Empire Shah Jahan. Now Red Fort is included in the list world heritage UNESCO.
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 for 20 years. Now Taj Mahal is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Minaret of Qutb 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. Now the Elephant Cave is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Virupaksha temple in Hampi city
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 known as the "Golden Temple". This is the most important religious building for the Sikhs. 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, these caves have preserved unique frescoes that tell 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 the Jaigarh fort (it can be seen even now, since the old fort is now a museum).
Raj Ghat Palace in Delhi
In this palace, Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi were cremated.
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.
Cities and resorts
The largest Indian cities are Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Surat, and Kanpur.
India has a large number of beautiful seaside resorts with gorgeous beaches. The sand on Indian beaches is white and fine. The most popular beach resort in India is Goa. Other Indian beach resorts include the following: Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, as well as beaches in the Andaman, Nicobar and Lakkadiv Islands.
India has several ski resorts 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 skiing, and who at the same time want to get to know the unique India, holidays in Indian ski resorts will be remembered forever.
Most Popular ski resorts in India - 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 spa resorts. Indian spas offer clients a variety of Ayurvedic programs. These spa resorts should be called Beach & Lake, Ayurma, and Ananda.
Souvenirs / shopping
Before going to India, think about what you want to buy there. Otherwise, Indian traders in bazaars and shops will impose many different unnecessary goods on you, and you will lose thousands of rupees. For tourists from India, we recommend bringing Indian tea, various incense, bracelets (glass, metal, from precious metals), amulets, talismans, marble souvenirs (e.g. small marble Taj Mahal), scarves, shawls, saris (traditional Indian dress), leather shoes, sets of Indian dry spicy mixtures, henna paint, carpets, musical instruments(such as drums or a dainty wooden flute).
Opening hours of institutions
India(in Hindi Bharat ), The Republic of India, a state in South Asia, on the Indian subcontinent, includes the Lakkadiv, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It shares borders with China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. The border with China in the Himalayas is unmarked. Area 3.3 million km2 (7th in the world). In terms of population, it ranks 2nd in the world (after China) - 1 billion 49.7 million people (2003). Part of the Commonwealth. Capital Delhi (New Delhi). Largest cities: Kolkata, Bombay, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Pune, Kanpur, Nagpur, Jaipur, Lucknow.
Government of India
Federal Republic. The head of state is the president. Elected by a college of voters made up of both houses of parliament and state legislatures for a 5-year term. The legislature is a bicameral parliament. Consists of the Council of States (no more than 250 seats, of which 12 are appointed by the president, the rest are elected from the legislatures of the states and territories) and the People's Assembly (545 seats, 543 are elected by popular vote, 2 are appointed by the president). Executive power is exercised by the government headed by the prime minister, who is appointed by the president.
Administrative divisions of India
28 states and 7 union territories of central subordination.
Population of India
The largest peoples: Hindustans, Telugu, Marathi, Bengalis, Tamils, Gujarati, Kannara, Punjabis, etc. Hindus make up 80% of the population, Muslims 14%, Christians 2.4%, Sikhs 2%, Buddhists 0.7%. The Muslim population is concentrated in the states of Jammu and Kashmir, West Bengal, and the western part of Uttar Pradesh. The rest of the religious communities: Christians (mostly Catholics) are concentrated in the North-East of the country, in Bombay and in the South; Sikhs - in Punjab and adjacent regions, Buddhists - in Jammu and Kashmir, regions of the Himalayas.
The national languages are Hindi and English, the states have official national languages... Of the 18 languages recognized as state, 13 belong to Indo-Aryan, 4 to Dravidian language groups and 1 to Tibetan. The most widely spoken language is Hindi: it is spoken by more than 300 million people. Hindi is recognized as the official language in the northern states of India. Other Indo-Aryan languages: Bengali, Gujarati, Assami, Kashmiri, Konkani, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi. Urdu is the main language of Indian Muslims in the North and South of India. The Sindhi language is widespread in the Gujarat state border areas with Pakistan (emigrants who fled from the Pakistani province of Punjab after the partition of the country in 1947 live here). A quarter of India's population speaks Dravidian languages. The languages of this group are spoken mainly in southern India, partly in the central part of the country, in eastern Bihar. Four Dravidian languages are recognized as official languages: Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil and Teluju. Manipuri and other Tibetan languages are spoken in northeastern India. The languages of international communication are Hindi and English. 74.3% of India's population lives in villages and only 25.7% are urban dwellers. India is one of the most populous countries. The average density of its population, which was at the beginning of the 20th century. about 70 people per 1 km2, by the beginning of the 21st century. amounted to 319.3 people. per 1 km2.
Nature of india
India is located mainly within the Hindustan Peninsula and the Indo-Gangetic Plain, including parts of the Himalayas and Karakorum. OK. 3/4 of the country's territory is plains and plateaus. Almost all of Hindustan is occupied by the Deccan plateau (it decreases to the east from 900 m to 300 m). In the west and east, the Deccan passes into the mountains (Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats), the outer slopes of which abruptly drop off to the ocean. In the south of the peninsula there are isolated canteens up to 2698 m high (Anaimudi). To the north of the Indian subcontinent, in a vast foothill trough, is the alluvial Indo-Gangetic plain. The highest mountain system of the Earth - the Himalayas (height in India up to 8126 m, Nangaparbat city) and the Karakorum mountains with alpine relief and glaciers in the ridge zone border India from the north. Deposits of coal, iron ores, manganese, chromite, bauxite, diamonds.
The natural vegetation of the Deccan Plateau and the Indo-Gangetic Plain is greatly altered; Savannahs, xerophytic light forests, deciduous forests in places, prevail in the northwest - shrub semi-deserts and deserts. On the windward slopes of the Western Ghats, in the Ganges and Brahmaputra deltas, in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas - evergreen rainforests... At the foot of the Himalayas - terai (swampy jungle), above - monsoon forests, mountainous mixed and coniferous forests, mountain meadows and steppes. The forests cover approx. 1/4 of the territory of India. Nat. parks Kaziranga, Girsky Les, Manas, etc .; numerous reserves. India is the only place on Earth where a tiger and a lion live side by side (both are currently protected). Monkeys are numerous not only in the jungle, but also in cities, as they are considered sacred animals. Some other animals, both wild and domestic, are considered sacred. Elephants have been trained since antiquity. There are a number of endemic species of mammals and birds in India.
Climate of India
The climate is predominantly tropical, with a tropical monsoon in the north. During the wet summer monsoon, which plays a huge role in India's agriculture, 70-90% of precipitation falls, winters are dry and cool, from March to May there is a dry and hot season. Annual precipitation ranges from less than 100 mm in the west of the Indo-Gangetic Plain to 12,000 mm in Cherrapunji on the Shillong Plateau (the wettest land the globe). The main rivers are the Ganges, with the Jamna tributary, Indus (upper reaches), Brahmaputra (lower reaches), Narmada, Godavari, Krishna. The rivers are full in summer (there are floods) and are widely used for irrigation.
India Economy
GNP per capita is $ 450 (1999). 2/3 of the world's poor live in India, although the standard of living of the population is gradually increasing and the share of the poor is decreasing. Tolerance, lack of class hatred and respect for wealth, inherent in Hinduism and Buddhism, protect India from social conflict.
2/3 of the population is employed in agriculture, which makes the largest contribution to GNP (1/3). Hindustan was home to a number of crops - rice, cotton, sugar cane. In the 1960s. India experienced a green revolution: thanks to the proliferation of hybrid varieties wheat, rice and other crops were solved not only the problem of providing food to its population, but also the export of food grains. In the 1970s-1980s. India also experienced the White Revolution, which resulted in self-sufficiency in dairy products. 145 million hectares are cultivated (over 2/5 of the territory), under crops - approx. 180 million hectares (about 35 million hectares are sown twice a year). Irrigated approx. 3/5 s.-x. area. The main agricultural regions are the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the coastal lowlands. India occupies one of the first places in the world for the production of sugar cane (harvest in terms of raw sugar 16-18 million tons; over 1/2 - in the northern part of India), peanuts (5-7 million tons, hl . sample in the southern part of India) and tea (approx. 600 tons; 3/4 of the collection - plantations of the Assam Valley and the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas), as well as for the production of jute (1-1.3 million tons; 2 / 3 - West Bengal), castor oil plant (southern part of India), cotton (1.2–1.5 million tons: the main regions are the eastern part of the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat). In the southern part of India - tea, coffee, rubber plants, coconut, spices (pepper, ginger, cardamom, etc.). Numerous livestock (1/5 of the world; 1996, million) of cattle 196 (including 80 buffaloes; mainly used as draft force), 120 goats and 45 sheep; pigs, camels, poultry are bred.
India possesses significant mineral and energy resources. The reserves of coal and iron ore are one of the largest in the world, there are also bauxite, oil, manganese, etc. In terms of the export of manganese ore and mica, India occupies one of the first places in the world. After gaining independence, most of the enterprises of heavy industry in India were nationalized or created by the state itself. Heavy industry enterprises are concentrated mainly on the Kota-Nagpur plateau, where coking coal deposits are adjacent to iron ore deposits. New industrial centers (Bhilai, Bokaro, Rourkela, Durgapur) are being created in the previously backward inland regions.
The public sector holds leading positions in the defense industry, nuclear energy, rail and sea transport, aviation, and communications. The private sector currently dominates in mechanical engineering, agriculture, light, food and medical industries, construction, trade, and road transport.
Light industry is represented by both handicraft and modern enterprises. Indian natural silks, Kashmir shawls, wood carvings, papier-mâché products, saffron, furs, and jewelry are world famous. Every Indian state, many cities and localities are famous for their handicrafts. For example, in the largest state of Uttar Pradesh, the city of Varanasi (Benares) is a well-known center for silk weaving and bronze products; Mirzapur is famous for its carpets; Muradabad is famous for its metal utensils; the largest production of locks and iron chests in India is concentrated in Aligarh; Firozabad is the country's largest center for the production of glass bracelets - cheap jewelry. World famous handicrafts of the southern city of Mysore (the former capital of the principality of the same name), especially ivory and sandalwood, as well as natural silks. India is a major supplier to the world market of leather and leather goods, as well as footwear. Most of the jute processing facilities are located in the Hoogleside, a chain of towns along the Hooghly River north of Calcutta. Enterprises for the processing of agricultural products and minerals are usually located near the places where raw materials are extracted. These are factories for refining cotton, processing peanuts, sugarcane, freezing and drying products, primary processing metals. Consumer goods manufacturing is concentrated in large cities... State governments in every possible way welcome the development of industries: for this, industrial parks are being created - small free zones characterized by low taxes and low land prices.
India in last years it has also come to the fore as a manufacturer of medicines and pharmaceuticals, quite competitive in comparison with Western products, but much cheaper.
The traditional industry, such as cutting diamonds and other precious stones, also retains a high share in exports.
The government of the country has made the main stake on the development of education and the cultivation of highly qualified personnel. In 1950 there were 25 universities and 700 colleges, and in the mid-1990s. there were already 172 universities and 7,000 colleges. In terms of the number of specialists with higher education, India has taken one of the leading places in the world. The country is in third place in terms of the number of qualified scientific and technical personnel and in second place in terms of the number of professional programmers. The monetary unit is the Indian rupee.
History of India
The most ancient civilization - the Harappan or Indus (valley of the Indus River; second half of the 3rd millennium - the first half of the 2nd millennium BC) - was created by the people of the Dravidian family, possibly the ancestors of the Tamils. This is one of the first agricultural civilizations on Earth, along with Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. The Harappan civilization was familiar with the smelting of bronze and precious metals, but did not know iron. Iron was made by the Aryan tribes who came from the north about the middle of the 2nd millennium BC. NS. The main source of the period 1500-800. BC NS. are the Vedas. At this time, a caste system arose and took shape, which consolidated the dominant position of the descendants of the Aryans.
Not enough is known about the Aryan states today; their dating is also problematic. Magadha in the Ganges valley is apparently the oldest of them (7th century BC). The kings of Magadha adopted Buddhism and supported its spread. In the 4th century. BC NS. Magadha became part of the Mauryan empire, the founder of which (Chandragupta) met with Alexander the Great. Alexander annexed the Indus Valley to his vast empire, but not for long. After the reign of the great Ashoka (3rd century BC), which united almost all of Hindustan, the Mauryan empire fell into decay. In the 4-6 centuries. n. NS. almost all of Northern India was united by the Gupta state. With the spread of Islam, Muslim states arose, the largest being the Delhi Sultanate (early 13th century - 16th century). The sultanate fell under the onslaught of the conqueror Babur, the founder of the Mughal dynasty. During its heyday (17th century), the state of the Great Mughals covered almost the entire territory of India.
From the 16th century. First Catholic missionaries began to penetrate into India (the first Christian community was founded according to legend by the Apostle Thomas), and then the colonialists. The Portuguese established a colony in Goa. In the 18th century. the empire of the Great Mughals disintegrated into separate principalities. English East India Trading Company from the 17th century. created on the coast a network of its trading posts-fortresses (of which the cities of Calcutta, Bombay, Madras, and others later grew). Agents of the company, pursuing a policy of "divide and rule", through bribery and force subjugated the Indian principalities. The main rival of England was France. As a result of the Anglo-Mysore, Anglo-Maratha and Anglo-Sikh wars, the East India Company by the end of the 18th century. conquered all of India, from the second half of the 18th century. paying special attention not to trade, but to the management of territories, the collection of land tax, and the reform of agrarian relations. India became not only a source of raw materials, but also a huge sales market for Britain, where the era of the industrial revolution began. The entire system of local crafts was undermined, and poverty increased. In 1783-1784 the company's activities were brought under government control. Throughout the 19th century. the company's rights have been curtailed more than once, and since the suppression of the sepoy uprising, the company has been disbanded. India became a colony.
The British did not touch the caste system (by that time there were already about 3500 castes), in religious practice they limited only extremes ( human sacrifice, the custom of sati - self-immolation of widows). But they contributed to the introduction of new relations, the development of capitalism. The Indian National Congress Party was formed in 1885. Mahatma Gandhi, who headed the Indian National Congress in 1915, developed tactics of nonviolent struggle against the colonialists, which implied a boycott of British goods, refusal to cooperate with the British, etc. Amid the difficulties and wars of the 20th century. this struggle was crowned with success, but Britain divided the country (1947) into 2 dominions - the Indian Union (with a predominantly Hindu population) and Pakistan (with a predominantly Muslim population).
Due to unresolved territorial issues (especially in Kashmir), relations between India and Pakistan remain tense. In 1950 the Indian Union became the Republic of India. Gandhi's associate J. Nehru became the prime minister. His only daughter, I. Gandhi, was prime minister four times. The caste system was abolished by law in 1950. Modern india plays important role in the Non-Aligned Movement. With the help of the USSR, great success in the implementation of the space program. India is a nuclear power. National holidays- August 15 (Independence Day (1947)) and January 26 (Republic Day).
India is truly Dreamland, after visiting which any traveler will have amazing memories for a lifetime. Once having become acquainted with this country, everyone will become its captive and will lose their peace forever. In this unique country everything is unusual, in a different way, everything is new and special. India captivates guests with its exoticism, rich culture and magnificent nature. A large number of different species of animals live here: nimble monkeys, vociferous peacocks with bright plumage, tigers and crocodiles. Luxurious beaches, gentle waters of the Indian Ocean, ancient monuments of one of the most ancient civilizations and a spicy smell in the streets, a large number of various saints and sneaky rickshaws, distinguished by the colorful saris and smiling white teeth locals- these are all signs of India, full of mysteries and open to guests!
The 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 separates from Bangladesh and Myanmar, and the western border separates 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 New Delhi.
Geography
Geographically, India is located in three large orographic regions: the Himalayan mountains, the Indo-Gangetic plain and the Deccan plateau (Indian subcontinent). The Deccan is a vast ancient land mass composed of Precambrian crystalline rocks, predominantly gneisses, shales and granites. Most of the surface is overlain by volcanic lava, the thickest of which is observed in the northwest. The Dean was once part of ancient continent Gondwana, which united Africa, India and South America. About two hundred million years ago, this continent disintegrated into several separate blocks. The vast Indo-Gangetic plain is located between the Himalayas and the Deccan.
In the part of the Eastern Himalayas located on the territory of India, great heights are noted, but the very structure of the mountains is relatively simple. To the north of the Ganges Valley, there is a jungle-covered marshy strip of Terai (as the locals call its natural vegetation cover). Merging proluvial trails gradually rise above it at the foot of the Sivalik mountains. To the north, the ridges of the Lesser Himalayas (up to 3000 m) rise. The next highest step is represented by the Great Himalayas (up to 5800), the brightest heights of which are in Nepal Everest (Chomolungma - 8848 m), and in India - Kanchenjunga (8598 m).
Animal world
According to the fauna represented in India, this country is considered to belong to the Indo-Malay region. The most widely represented mammals here are monkeys (gibbons, tonkotels, macaques), antelopes, deer (black, spotted and sambar), bulls (pygmy and Indian buffalo, gaur), there are 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, the largest of which are the Gir Forest located in Gujarat (under the protection of the Asiatic lion), in Assam - Kaziranga and in West Bengal - Jaldapara (under the protection of the Indian rhinoceros).
Climate
South India has a predominantly tropical climate, and the northern part of the country is characterized by temperature differences from below zero to 50 ° C. In addition, the northern part of the country has distinct seasons. Here, winter lasts from December to February, the spring months are March and April, the summer months are May and June, the monsoon period is from July to September and the autumn months are October and November.
Timezone
The time zone of India is UTC + 5: 30, the time is 1.5 hours ahead of Moscow time (when switching to winter time the difference is 2.5 hours).
Currency
The official currency is the Indian rupee, which is equal to 100 pais. 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. Most of Indians (almost 70%) live in rural areas, although in the last 10-20 years migration to large cities has increased greatly, due to which the number of urban population has increased dramatically. The largest cities in the country are Delhi, Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), Mumbai (formerly Bombay), Hyderabad, Chennai (formerly Madras), Bangalore, Ahmedabad. The Indian population has an average literacy rate of 64.8%. In India, there is an excess of the male population over the female population. The annual population growth in the country is on average 22 children per thousand people. Average age the citizens of the country are defined for about 25 years.
Language
According to the Constitution of the country state languages, that is, the languages spoken by the national government are Hindi and English. English is widely spoken in business and administration, its status is an auxiliary official language, also big role he plays in the education system, especially in middle and high school.
Religion
Most of the inhabitants of India (over 80%) are Hindu. Islam (believers - 13.4% of the population) and Christianity (2.3%) also have a significant number of followers. There are also adherents of Sikhism (1.9%), as well as Buddhism (0.8%) and very few adherents of Jainism (0.4%). In addition, a small number of believers in India are represented by Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Bahá'ís and some other religions. In addition, animism is widespread among the population belonging to the aborigines of this area (8.1% of the population).
Administrative division
India is a federation of republics, it consists of the Delhi National District (capital), 6 union territories and 28 states. Own government in all states, National Capital District of Delhi and Union Territory of Puducherry - elected, the remaining 5 Union Territories are governed by administrators who are appointed central authority 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 - taluk.
State structure
This country belongs to the sovereign, socialist, secular liberal democratic republics. State power consists of three branches, which include legislative, executive and judicial.
India is headed by a president elected by an electoral college through an indirect vote for a term of 5 years. The head of the government of India is the prime minister, in whose hands is the executive branch.
The legislative branch of government in India is represented by the parliament, which consists 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 any of the houses of parliament. In the republic, the executive branch is subordinate to the legislative branch.
India is characterized by a three-tier unitary judiciary, consisting of The Supreme Court, twenty-one High Courts and an uncountable number of smaller courts.
India Economy
Currently, certain sectors of the Indian economy are opening up for private business, as well as for foreign capital. The past three decades have seen an average annual GDP growth of almost 5.5%, making the Indian economy one of the fastest growing in the world. Among the important resources of India - the second largest in the world work force... The distribution of workers by spheres of activity is as follows: agriculture employs 60%, services - 28%, and industry - 12%. The main crops are rice, potatoes, wheat, sugarcane, tea, and cotton. Major industries include automotive, cement, chemicals, mechanical engineering, consumer electronics, food processing, pharmaceuticals, petroleum, textiles, metal and mining. Among the countries of the world, India is in sixth place in terms of oil consumption, and in terms of coal consumption - in third place.
India is characterized by a significant social stratification of the population. Although the country is experiencing economic growth, a quarter of India's population 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. Major trading partners include the United States, China and the European Union. To the main natural resources India includes arable land, diamonds, iron ore, manganese, chromite, coal, bauxite, micas, limestone, titanium ores, natural gas and oil.
The culture
Indian culture is amazingly diverse. Everything historical development of this country has been preserved in ancient cultural traditions, in addition, some new traditions were borrowed from other countries and peoples. India's cultural influence is quite strong in other regions of Asia as well.
The veneration of elders and other traditional family values, which is mainly due to the socio-economic relations established according to the traditions of the extended family system.
Indian cuisine
Indian culinary traditions are considered to be among the most ancient and popular in the world. The local cuisine is based on various vegetables "sabji" (most of the Indians do not eat meat, and it is better for guests to wait home with meat-eating), rice, fish, various flour products, puri cakes and a wide variety of dairy products. Count how much in Indian national cuisine Probably no one will succeed in original dishes. The hallmark of Indian food is spices added to almost any dish, be it salty or sweet, and in the most unpredictable combinations for other nations. The popular curry seasoning in this country is big choice a wide variety of recipes, which, when applied, make it possible to turn into an unusual even the most banal dish.
Especially popular here is tea, which is traditionally drunk with spices or hot milk, as well as coffee, fruit waters and fresh juices... It is not customary to drink alcohol at the table here, most dishes washed down with cold clean water. It is worth noting that in India, the use of alcoholic beverages on trains and public transport is strictly prohibited.
Vaccinations
Travelers do not have any responsibilities regarding vaccinations before visiting India. So, whether or not to do is a private matter for everyone. Of course, some vaccinations will not be superfluous, especially if you are going to India for a relatively long period (at least three months) and are going to go to ecologically unfavorable areas of the country, but there is no urgent need for these vaccinations. One has only to observe elementary measures of hygiene and safety, and this, with the maximum degree of probability, will 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, Kolkata or Chennaia. Typically, airports have toilets, restaurants, banks, bus and taxi stops. Some airports have equipped lounges. It should also be borne in mind that small airports are usually closed at night.
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Cities, resorts and interesting places in India: Agra, Andaman Islands, Varanasi, Jaipur, Jodpur, Khajuraho, National park Pench, Lakshadweep Islands, Ranthambore, Rishikesh (Himalayas), Udaipur, Hyderabad, Shimla (Himalayas).
State languages: Hindi, English.
Population: about 1.1 billion people.
The currency of India is the Indian rupee, which consists of 100 paise.
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India a huge, triangle-shaped country in the southern part of Asia, which is enclosed by the Himalayas in the north, the Arabian Sea in the south-west, and the Bay of Bengal in the south-east, forming a natural border. It is bordered by Pakistan to the northwest, China, Nepal and Bhutan to the north, and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east. The island of Sri Lanka is located off the northern coast of India. India is the seventh largest country in the world. It covers an area of 3,287,000 sq. km, although this figure is not entirely accurate, since some sections of the border are disputed by China and Pakistan.
India is a federal republic. The head of state is the president. Elected by a college of voters made up of both houses of parliament and state legislatures for a 5-year term. The legislature is a bicameral parliament. Consists of the Council of States (no more than 250 seats, of which 12 are appointed by the president, the rest are elected from the legislatures of the states and territories) and the People's Assembly (545 seats, 543 are elected by popular vote, 2 are appointed by the president). Executive power in India is exercised by a government headed by a prime minister appointed by the president.
Population of India.
India is one of the oldest cultural centers on the planet. Its inhabitants were, apparently, tribes of the proto-Mongoloid and Mediterranean type. In the middle of the 2nd millennium BC. began a long process of migration to India of Indo-Aryan tribes, the so-called Aryans. All these peoples entered into various contacts, peaceful and military, there was a mixing of blood and a synthesis of cultures.
Among the population of India, there are adherents of a number of religions, and the problem lies in identifying their numerical ratio and in determining the historical roots of different religions and the degree of their influence on people's lives. In India, Hinduism is the most widespread (over 82% of the population), the next step is Islam (about 12%), after these main confessions should be indicated Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism (in the form of neo-Buddhism), Christianity, Zoroastrianism and the so-called tribal cultures ... All of these religions, with the exception of Christianity, are rooted in deep antiquity.
Climate of India.
When it comes It is very difficult to characterize the climate in general about such a huge country in terms of area and different natural conditions. Here you will find the cold of the highlands of the Himalayas, and the moderate temperatures of the coasts, and the continental climate of the interior regions. The Tropic of Cancer, passing through India, divides it into two zones: northern temperate and southern subtropical. However, monsoons have an even more significant impact on the climate of India. The southwest monsoon season begins on the west coast at the end of May. It brings a pleasant respite from the heat. The movement of the monsoon over the rest of the country - in June-September, is accompanied by precipitation. There are especially heavy rains in the northeast.
During the winter months, from October to March, it does not rain in the continental north of India, and the weather is clear and sunny, but the nights are cool. it the best time years on the Indian subcontinent. In some areas in the south and east, there are small periods of rain brought in by the northeast monsoons, while the days remain warm, as is the case in the subtropics. Summer lasts from April to June. In most of the country, it is hot and dry, but humid along the coasts. This time of year is especially good in Kashmir and in the mountain resorts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The highest temperature (over 40C) occurs during the summer months in the continental north of India. In April, the temperature starts to rise, and in June, before the arrival of the monsoon, it reaches its highest point. The coastal areas and the south are humid and tropical throughout the year. For all areas of India, the ideal tourism season is from October to March, and in the south, from January to April.
Transport and taxi in India.
Traveling in India is most comfortable and fastest by plane, the cheapest is by train (long distances) or by bus (short). Since a first class train ticket sometimes costs a little less than a plane ticket to the same destination, it is wiser to travel in second class with air conditioning. There are two types of such cars: 4 and 6 people per compartment. The bus network in the country is well developed: state transport companies and big number there are private companies in every state. All types of public buses are quite suitable for travel, the only difference is in the level of comfort and cost.
Taxis in India are easily distinguished by their particularly yellow and black colors. It is imperative to bargain with the driver about the price, and it is better to do this before departure. If you are going on a long trip, it is better to find out in advance its approximate cost from the hotel administration - they rarely drive "by the meter" in India. Rickshaws and pedicabs can be hired in the same way as taxis. Rickshaws - although exotic, but quite fast and convenient way to get around the city, costs about half the price of a taxi.
Customs and office hours.
Import and export of previously imported currency is not limited, national currency is prohibited. Cash in the amount of more than 3000 USD, as well personal computers and laptops are subject to mandatory declaration. Permitted duty-free import of up to 200 cigarettes, or up to 50 cigars, or up to 250 g of tobacco, alcoholic beverages up to 0.95 liters, jewelry, food, household items and things - within the limits of personal needs. The export of skins of tigers, wild animals and plumage of birds, skins and products from the skin of rare reptiles and ivory, live plants, gold and silver in bars, jewelry worth more than 2,000 Indian rupees (except for those bought in duty free), items is prohibited antiques and antiques made over a hundred years ago.
Government agencies work from Monday to Friday from 9.30 to 18.00, with a lunch break from 13.00 to 14.00. Banks are generally open Monday through Friday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, except on public holidays. Shops and markets are open from 10.00 to 19.00. Although Sunday is officially considered a day off, there are shops with different opening hours in major cities in India, so it is not difficult to find working outlets on Sundays. The restaurants can be accessed until 23.00. Some nightclubs close much later. In hotels, cafes work around the clock.
Shopping and Tipping in India.
Fabrics
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The name cashmere comes from the Indian province of Kashmir, but besides cashmere in India, you should pay attention to silk and Rajasthani cotton. Indian fabrics are used to sew magnificent saris, scarves, skirts, shawls and blouses, embroidered with small mirrors, so familiar to us from Indian films.
Tea
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According to reviews of tourists, best gift from India - excellent Indian tea. Yes, the same one, but without the elephant. Moreover, 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.
Figurines and figurines
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Indians are masters of carving interesting figurines from different materials: clay, copper, glass, sandalwood, bamboo, rosewood and Indian walnut. Elephants and Indian gods can be found almost everywhere.
Spices
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The usual ground pepper, turmeric, saffron, cloves, cinnamon, as well as spices unknown to us, which are indispensable for making curries, are of excellent quality in India and, by our standards, are practically free. Experienced tourists recommend trying a delicacy - cashew nuts fried with Indian pepper. Note: Spices can only be carried in the bags you check in as checked baggage.
Decorations
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Women's jewelry made of copper, brass, bronze, silver and gold with inlay, bright enamel, semi-precious and precious stones will be a wonderful gift from India for the fair sex. And let the men pay attention to the weapon.
Souvenirs
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Their choice is endless: bronze, silver, miniatures, silk, carpets, decorative wood ornaments, coconut, skin and bones of a camel. A good souvenir would be, for example, a clay bottle of coconut hair dryer.
Tips
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In India, it is customary to tip for various services: in restaurants - within 10% of the bill, in hotels - 10-15 rupees to a porter. Taxi drivers are usually not tipped.
The customs of India.
Be sure to remove your shoes before entering a temple, mosque or gurdwar (Sikh temple). Sometimes, for a nominal fee, you can be offered special shoe covers, usually allowing you to walk in socks. You should not take any leather goods with you to the temples, this is considered an insult. In most cases, photography is prohibited inside temples, so ask permission before doing so. The attitude towards tourists in India is usually friendly, sometimes they are allowed to attend religious rituals... You should watch out for clothes when visiting sacred places: dress modestly (shorts, tops and short skirts should not be worn). You should also be covered with your head in Sikh temples, and in mosques, women are required to cover their shoulders and heads, and be in long skirts... In the donation box, according to tradition, put some money.
Namaste - palms folded in greeting - is a traditional form of Indian greeting, and if you use it, Indians will appreciate it. However, men, especially in cities, do not hesitate to shake your hand if you are a man. A handshake will even be appreciated as a gesture of exceptional friendliness. For most Indian women, free morals in communication between men and women, adopted in the West, are unacceptable, therefore physical contact with women should be avoided. Do not greet a woman by the hand (unless she is the first to reach out) and do not put your hand on her shoulder.
In private homes in India, tourists are welcomed as guests of honor, and your ignorance of Indian customs will be treated with understanding and condescension. If you feel like trying to eat with your hands, remember to use only the fingers of your right hand.
Try not to point the soles of your shoes in someone else's direction, as this can be viewed as a sign of disrespect. Do not show forefinger, use arm or chin gestures. When talking with Indians, try to never shout, otherwise they simply will not communicate with you.
Smoking and photographing.
India has enacted a law restricting smoking areas. Public places where smoking is now prohibited include streets, markets, trains, restaurants and cafes, as well as train stations and airports. For violation, the police can fine.
Landmarks photography in India usually costs money, and using a camcorder is much more expensive. Flashlights are not permitted in temples.
