A Brief Description The ancient diamond-shaped country of India, the largest part of the Indian Subcontinent, extends from the Himalayan Mountains in the north, south into the tropical reaches of the Indian Ocean. It's the second most populous country on the planet, and certainly one of the most intriguing. This diverse and fertile country, which once included the lands we now call Bangladesh and Pakistan, was plundered over eons of time. It was subsequently colonized and controlled by Britain during much of the 19th and 20th centuries. Then, in 1947, India declared independence and formed its own country. It's home to some of the most significant natural and man-made wonders on the planet, and thus, a powerful exotic tourism magnet. The modern open-door policies of India have put the tourist industry here on the fast-track, as luxury hotels and beach resorts are constantly under construction. With numerous major languages (hundreds of dialects), dozens and dozens of large cities and over 700,000 villages - somehow India works, both in the classic, traditional methods of its many cultures, and in the fast-moving world of the 21st century. Read more about India here. The Taj Mahal, India Travel the World through Poster Art! Facts and Figures Name India (long form) Republic of India Population 1,080,264,400 Population & Density (all countries) here Capital City New Delhi (10.8 million) Currency Indian Rupee (INR) Currency Converter here Languages Hindi, Bengali and 13 other (official) languages, including Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi, Assamese, Kashmiri, Sindhi, and Sanskrit. Hindustani is widely spoken in the north, and English is, for the most part, the language of modern business. Flag here National Day January 26 Religions Hindu (80%), Muslim (13%), others Geographic Coordinates Latitude/Longitude (Capital City) 28º 37' N, 77º 13' E Relative Location India is in both the eastern and northern hemispheres. It's positioned on the Indian subcontinent in south-central Asia. It's bordered by the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Gulf of Mannar, Indian Ocean, and the countries of Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Burma (Myanmar). Land Statistics Coastline 4,350 miles (7,000 km) Land Areas (land) 1,147,955 sq miles (2,973,190 sq km) (water) 121,390 sq miles (314,400 sq km) (TOTAL) 1,269,345 sq miles (3,287,590 sq km) Land Area (all countries) here Landforms The Himalayas form the highest mountain range in the world, and slope southward into a large fertile plain that covers much of India. Three mountain ranges extend from the Indus River in the northwest, to the Brahmaputra River in the east, including the Himadri, Himachal and Shivaliks - all with deep canyons gorged by the fast-flowing water. The land rises slightly into two plateaus, bordered in the central and south by lower mountains (Ghats), that gently slope into narrow coastal plains. Numerous rivers drain the land, and without question, the Ganges is the heartbeat of India and one of the most significant rivers on the planet. Highest Point Kanchenjunga - 28,208 ft. (8,598 m) Lowest Point Indian Ocean - 0 ft. (0 m) Land Divisions 28 states, including Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, , Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, , Punjab and Rajasthan. In addition, there are 7 union territories; including Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra, Nagar Haveli, Daman, Diu, Delhi, Lakshadweep and Pondicherry.

Maps India (large color) Map here India Outline Map here India CIA version here India Maps at UT here - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Asia Continent (printable) here Asia Outline Map here Asia (Southeast) Outline Map here Asia (Name the Country) Map Test here - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Indian Subcontinent Map here Kashmir Region Map here Middle East Landforms here Middle East Map here Middle East Outline Map here Middle East Rivers here Tsunami Map (December 2004) here - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - World Outline Maps (printable) here World Time Zone Map here Recommended Links India (Complete) info on the (GDP) economy, imports and exports, natural resources, government, population, military, transportation, and more here! India Embassy (Washington, D.C.) here India history and politics here India major cities here India tourism here India travel here India photos at TrekEarth.com here Ganges River photos here Time and Weather Time Zone (UTC + 5.30) Note that UTC is also known as GMT, or Greenwich Mean Time. Conversion details and additional info: here Climate In the north and central parts of India (during winter months), cooling winds from the Himalayas generate mild and dry conditions. In the far south and along the Arabian Sea coastline, conditions remain hot, humid and sunny for most of the year. The spring months are very hot as winds from the Indian Ocean blast the country. Summer (is generally) the monsoon season, with most of the country receiving much-needed heavy rain. Traveler Info Attractions On a very short list, India presents a mesmerizing collection of pulsating mega-sized metropolises, colorful towns and villages, stunning beaches, countless fairs and festivals, forts, lakes, monasteries, monuments, mosques, museums, palaces, shopping bazaars, temples, wildlife parks, many UNESCO World Heritage sites, and of course, an infinite variety of cultures and people. In a place so varied and so interesting, it's difficult to provide a brief list of things to see and do, however, not to be missed (if possible) are the Taj Mahal, one of the premier destinations on the planet; nearby Agra Fort; Delhi, and the charms of both the old and new mixing together; the beaches and churches of Goa, and the beautiful Himalayan region. In India, visitors are warned to exercise caution when in the vicinity of government installations, popular tourism sites, or when attending any public event throughout the country. In particular, the disputed region of Kashmir has experienced a number of terrorist incidents in recent years. Kerala Hotels, Tours and Travel Information Country Dialing Code 91 Electricity India uses 240 volts AC (50 Hz) Electrical adapters, products and tips here Travel Warnings here Visa Information here

The following notes are available for your viewing pleasure!

Go to Specialized Issues Section

Go to French India Section

Go to Portuguese India Section

Return to the Asia and Middle East directory

Return to the main homepage

Map images provided by Graphic Maps

Banknote reference numbers obtained from the Standard Catalogs of World Paper Money published by Krause Publications

Patrick Kennedy's World Currency Homepage
This page created by: Patrick Kennedy
Creation date: March 2007
Last update: 18 November 2009
URL: http://www.patricksworldcurrency.com/countries/india.html