On a modern map, it is worth first determining what exactly is considered as such. The overwhelming majority of modern scientists are inclined to recognize the Harappan culture as the first Indian civilization, which arose in the northwest of the Indian subcontinent in the Indus River valley. The oldest traces date back to 3300 BC.

Geography of India

When answering the question of where India is located, it is worth starting with its place on the continent of Eurasia. The country is located in the southern part of Asia, and most of its territory is located on the Indian subcontinent, which is washed by the Bay of Bengal in the southwest and the Arabian Sea in the southeast.

The geological history of India, which began more than seventy-five million years ago, contributed to the formation of a rather distinctive geological, geographical and biological region, which is today called the Indian subcontinent.

The separation of the subcontinent is facilitated not only by the waters washing it on both sides, but also by the mountain ranges of the Himalayas, which are the highest mountains of the planet. It is in the Himalayas that the "peak of the planet" is located - Mount Chomolungma, also known as Everest. The hill plays the role of a natural border between India and China.

Ancient history of India

The region where India is located has become one of the centers of origin of the most ancient civilizations of the East. In age, he is second only to the Sumerians and Egyptians. The culture arose in the northwest of the subcontinent, but by the 6th century, many independent principalities emerged in the entire north of India, which went down in history as the Mahajanapada.

By the 3rd century BC, the Mauryan Empire appeared on the territory of India, which rather quickly subjugated almost all of South Asia: from Afghanistan to modern Banladesh. The empire did not last long, but it was replaced by other, successive governments. So there were: the Greco-Indian, Indo-Scythian, Parthian-Indian and Kushan kingdoms.

Each of these states not only brought elements of their culture to the Indian, but also contributed to the spread of elements of Indian culture to neighboring regions. Traces of the cultural influence of this ancient civilization can be found in Iranian culture, in Roman and, of course, in Greek.

Foreign conquest

In the 10th century AD, passionate Islamic conquerors invaded the peninsula where India is located, who quickly conquered most of the peninsula and established the hegemony of Islam over a vast territory.

The first Islamic dynasty in the region was the Delhi Sultanate, which existed from 1206 to 1526. The Sultanate was replaced by the Mughal Empire, which managed to maintain the dominant position of Islam for another two centuries, but it also fell into decay, and was replaced by the Hindu Maratha Empire, created in 1624.

However, already in the 16th century, European merchants began to penetrate into the region where India is located, extremely interested in trade with a huge rich country. Portugal, France and the Netherlands made their own attempts. However, the greatest success was achieved by Great Britain, which by the middle of the 19th century subjugated most of the country, starting its conquest from small fragmented principalities.

However, the Portuguese colonists also managed to achieve certain successes. They conquered the territory in India where Goa is located. Portuguese administration existed on the site of the modern state until December 18, 1961, when Indian troops suppressed the resistance of the Portuguese and occupied the territory of the former Portuguese colony. However, Portugal recognized the annexation of Goa to India only in 1974.

Another Portuguese possession in South Asia was the coast of Kerala in India. Today it is the state with one of the highest population densities in the entire country. And it is located on the Malabar coast.

East India Company

To conquer India, Britain chose an already proven technology - it attracted private capital and technology that could effectively capture new markets and bribe local rulers.

For this purpose, the British East India Company was established. The name of this large corporation indicates that the monopoly was engaged in trade in eastern India, that is, on the Indian subcontinent.

In this case, it is necessary to clarify where the West Indies are located in order to avoid traditional confusion.

Historically, the West Indies are the islands located off the coast of South America in the Caribbean Sea and in the Gulf of Mexico. First of all, we are usually talking about Cuba and Antigua.

Towards decolonization

Despite the fact that the liberation of India from foreign oppression and the beginning of decolonization was a positive event, it turned out that it could have extremely negative consequences.

In 1946, a series of military insurgencies demonstrated to the British authorities their inability to control the vast overseas territories in India any longer, and the parliamentary elections that followed once again demonstrated the need to start moving towards the independence of a huge country.

The first active participants in the forceful resistance to the British military were Muslims, who proclaimed the day of direct action in 1946. As a result of this action, a series of bloody clashes between Hindus and Muslims swept across the country. The need to divide India along religious and ethnic lines became apparent not only to the local population, but also to Her Majesty's government.

Partition of India

On August 15, 1947, Great Britain announced the creation of the dominion of Pakistan, and the very next day it became known that the Indian Union had proclaimed independence. This decision led to extremely bloody events and clashes, the victims of which were about a million people, and another eighteen million were forced to leave their homes and move to other regions.

The decision to divide the British possessions before India's declaration of sovereignty was made so that the creation of Pakistan did not look like its separation from sovereign India. Thus, both countries had equal rights and should not have claims to each other. However, such a solution to the issue did not help to avoid territorial disputes in the future.

As a result of such large migration flows, a huge number of problems have emerged. The city of Delhi has experienced the greatest burden, in which from one to two million people have settled. A large number of people could not find a permanent home and were forced to settle in refugee camps.

However, the government of the new country soon began an active program to build permanent houses in place of tents.

India Economy

The part of the world, where India and China are located, is of great importance for the modern international economy. Both countries are among the three largest economic powers in terms of GDP, second only to the United States. However, the size of the economy should not be misleading, as over the past decades India has accumulated numerous problems that have not yet been resolved.

Natural conditions The geographic conditions of India are extremely complex and varied. India is a huge peninsula, almost a continent, cut off from the entire surrounding world by two oceans and the world's greatest mountain range of the Himalayas. The central part, the so-called Deccan, is the oldest part of the peninsula, which may originally have been an island. This plateau, reaching 2, 5 thousand meters in height, includes mountain and steppe regions, jungles and savannas, which are not well suited for human life, especially in those places where severe droughts often occur. The most convenient areas for human settlement are the regions of northwestern India, the large alluvial plains of the Indus and Ganges. The abundance of water, fertile soil and mild climate contributed to the creation of vast states here in ancient times. The seashores of India are either too high and steep, or, conversely, too low. Only in the south there are lagoons convenient for the construction of harbors. The most settlement-friendly part of southern India is the southwestern Malabar.

The population of India is extremely variegated and diverse. According to a 1911 official report, there were 220 distinct languages ​​registered in India. The indigenous population of India is the Dravidians (Melano-Hindus), who form an extensive and complex group of short and dark-skinned tribes, inhabiting mainly the middle and southern parts of India. But the most ancient ethnic layer of India is the tribes speaking the Munda languages. These tribes live in the central provinces of India, in the Himalayas and in Chota Nagpur.

Periods of the history of Ancient India: Harappan civilization in the valley of the Indus river (III millennium XVII century BC) "Vedic period" or Aryan-Vedic civilization (the arrival and settlement of Aryan tribes in the valleys of the Indus and Ganges rivers of the 13th-VI centuries BC) AD) Buddhist period, Mauryan dynasty (V-III centuries BC) "Classical era", Gupta dynasty (II century BC. IV century) Harappan civilization (III millennium XVII century BC) (centers in the cities of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro ("Hill of the Dead"), in which more than 100 thousand people lived. culture ")

The oldest monuments that allow us to speak of the existence of cultural states in India were found in northwestern India, in the Indus basin in Harappa (Punjab) and in Mohenjo-Daro (Sindh province). The streets were straight, parallel, and intersected at right angles. At intersections, the corners of the buildings were rounded to avoid obstructing traffic. The whole of Mohenjo-Daro is built of bricks. Clay was used as a material for bricks, which they, unlike the Sumerians and Egyptians, did not mix with straw. A muddy solution was used as a binder, in special cases - gypsum. The appearance of the two-storey houses of the Mohendjodar people was rather nondescript: high blank walls without windows and only tiny holes under the roof itself. bust of a priest (18 cm) from Mohenjo-Daro

But in every house there was an entrance hall, living room, courtyard, stairs, benches, and in almost all dwellings - toilets with showers. Carefully designed sewerage system. Many objects of material life and works of art were found in the ruins, in particular, various types of earthenware, made without a potter's wheel. Along with painted ceramics, terracotta figurines of people and animals, rings of blue glass paste, bones and checkers for the game were found here. Of particular interest are stone tools made of horn and stone and a very small number of metal items. Found in abundance, seals of hard stone, soft steatite, ivory and clay. These seals are covered with religious images of sacred animals (especially the bull), and the Mohenjo-Daro Excavation also has inscriptions.

Great Bath III millennium BC NS. from Mohenjo Dar The Indus Valley contains ruins of Bronze Age cities (2500–1500 BC) with strict street layouts, water supplies, palaces and public buildings.

The main occupation of the population of the Indus Valley was agriculture. Findings of a huge number of grain graters testify to the importance of agriculture. Agricultural products were stored in special barns. Excavations indicate the cultivation of two varieties of wheat, barley, millet, peas, sesame, sesame, cotton, melon, and the development of horticulture. They raised cows, sheep, goats, zebu, pigs, and also kept chickens. In the settlements there were dogs, domestic cats, donkeys. Fishing played a significant role. Tools and weapons were made from copper and bronze: knives, axes, mirrors, razors, daggers, swords, arrowheads and spearheads, maces. The Harappans knew well the smelting, forging and casting of metals. In addition, gold, silver, and lead were used. Various ornaments were made of gold, and vessels were also made of silver. In addition to metals, stone was still widely used on the farm.

Indo-Aryan period XIII-VI centuries BC e with the arrival of the Aryan nomads, who became farmers and pastoralists. The Vedas are the main source of information about their lives, they were written in Sanskri te (the ancient literary language of India). Castes numbering more than two thousand play an important role in life. Castes were formed on the basis of four varnas: brahmanas (priests); kshatriyas (warriors); vaisyas (farmers, artisans, merchants); sudras (slaves and prisoners of war). The first religion of India is Vedism - the religion of the Vedas. It is characterized by polytheism and the endowment of animals and objects with human qualities (anthropomorphism).

Religion Brahmanism formed in the 1st millennium BC. NS. This is a more harmonious teaching about the world, many gods are reduced to a trinity. Gradually, Brahmanism turns into Hinduism, which is the most widespread religion in India, grabbing more than 80% of the believers. Hinduism exists in the form of directions: - Vishnuism; - Shaivism; - Krishnaism. Many cults are included in Hinduism through the concept of Vishna's avatara (incarnation). That is, Vishna descends into the world, transforming into various images (assuming the forms of Rama, Krishna and Buddha). The Bhagavatgita is the scripture of Hinduism. The basis of Hinduism is the doctrine of the eternal transmigration of souls (samsara), taking place in accordance with the law of retribution (karma) for everything done in life.

Basic practices and beliefs Drachma - moral and ethical duty Samsara - cycle of birth and death Karma - belief that actions affect the quality of rebirth Yoga - a set of physical and spiritual (meditative) exercises The sacred books of Hinduism Mahabharata Ramayana

God Brahma - (one of the Aryan gods) is the creator and ruler of the world. He gave people the laws. Responsible for the eternal kaleidoscope of natural forms. God Shiva is a formidable carrier of cosmic energy, which both creates and destroys. Shiva can destroy, and can save.

God Vishnu - the guardian saves people from various calamities, for example, from a flood. Vishnu repeatedly took earthly incarnations, avatars, every time in order to save the Universe from catastrophe.

Mother Goddess III millennium BC NS. from Mohenjo-Daro Terracotta Goddess of the Ganges River V c. North India Terracotta

Khajuraho in Central India is home to a huge temple complex. It was built in 950-1050. and includes over 80 structures. Temples (only 24 of them have survived) were erected by the will of the powerful rulers of the Chandella dynasty.

The mystical counterpart of the sacrifice body and the mountain is a Hindu temple such as the Shiva Kadarya Mahadev temple in Khajuraho.

The largest and most famous building is the Kandarya-Mahadeva temple, dedicated to Shiva - one of the three supreme gods. It was built in the XI century. 31st in height, the Shiva temple personifies the sacred mountain Meru, surrounded by columns-spiers (84 in total). In the sanctuary there is a special image of the god - Shiva-Linga, made of marble.

The conquest of India by Alexander the Great In 327 BC. NS. Alexander the Great, at the head of a hundred thousandth army, moved east with the aim of conquering all Asian countries known to the Greeks. His army moved from Nicaea, passed through Sogdiana and Bactria, then, going along Kabul, penetrated northwestern India, reached the Indus and the Pyatirechye region. The Gandhara tribe, formerly under the rule of the Persian kings and falling to some extent under the influence of Hellenistic culture, joined Alexander. Particularly stubborn resistance was put up by Alexander Por, the king of the state of Puru. Por opposed Alexander with a large army of 30,000 infantry, 4,000 horsemen, 300 chariots and 200 elephants. However, Alexander won a great victory over him and utterly defeated his troops, who lost about 12 thousand people in killed. Having won a number of brilliant victories, Alexander the Great with his army reached the Gyphasis River, but due to the army's refusal to continue the campaign, he was forced to return. Part of the Macedonian army, led by Nearchus, was sent back by sea, and Alexander himself, with small remnants of the other half of the army, returned through the waterless desert of Gedrosia and soon died (in 323).

Chandragunta (321-297 BC) Chandragupta, founder of the new Maurya dynasty. According to some sources, Chandragupta was a young kshatriya, according to others, he was the illegitimate son of the last king from the Nanda dynasty and even came from a sudra family. In 318, Chandragupta captured all of northern India up to Narbada and formed a new large and powerful state in India. After overthrowing the last member of the Nanda dynasty, Chandragupta continued the activities of his warlike predecessors. After the death of Alexander the Great, one of Alexander's commanders, Seleucus, entrenched in Syria, attempted to re-conquer northern India in 305 BC. NS. However, in starting a war with Chandragupta, Seleucus failed. He was forced not only to retreat, but even to yield to Chandragupta in exchange for 500 war elephants a number of areas of his state: Aria, Arachosia, the eastern part of Gedrosia and the country of the Parapamisads.

Mauryan Empire (IV-III centuries BC) Mauryan Empire. IV-III c. BC NS. the creation of the all-Indian state of the Mauryas (317 -180 BC), with the capital in Pataliputra (it was described by Megasthenes, who arrived at the court of Chandragupta). The struggle for influence between the nobility from the state of Magadha, the Nand dynasty, and Chandrogupta (Sandrakott), who led the anti-Macedonian movement during the conquest of Alexander the Great. The Mauryan power reached its heyday in the middle. III century. BC NS. with the grandson of Chandrogupta Ashoka. Ashok united many territories (from Kabul to the Deccan in the South / did not include the southern regions of Hindustan /), from the mouth of the Indus to the mouth of the Ganges. The conquest by the provinces did not destroy the previous dynasties in them. The tsar's power was limited to the tsar's council, consisting of the tsar's relatives and representatives of the most noble families. The Mauryas patronized Buddhism, a then non-traditional religion. The priests of the Brahmins were traditional.

Ashoka (272-232 BC) Ashoka, son and successor of Bindusara. From his father and grandfather, he inherited a large and powerful state. Even during the life of Bindusara, Ashoka performed the duties of the governor of the king in northwestern, and then in western India, thus receiving good training to govern the entire state. Ashoka ascended the throne as a very young man in 272. There is almost no information about the first years of his reign. It is only known that in 261, Ashoka began a war with the kingdom of Kalinga, which he conquered after a stubborn struggle. With this, he completed the unification of almost all of India, begun by Chandragupta, within one state.

Buddhism appears in India in the 6th century BC. NS. Its creator is Sidtshartha Gautama, who at the age of 40 reached the state of enlightenment (nirvana) and received the name Buddha (enlightened). In the III century. BC NS. Buddhism reached its greatest distribution, supplanting Brahmanism, but at the beginning of the II millennium AD. NS. he dissolves into Hinduism. Today Buddhism is widespread in China, Japan and other countries. The foundation of Buddhism is the doctrine of the "four noble truths." The path to salvation lies through the rejection of worldly temptations, through self-improvement. The highest state of nirvana is a borderline state between life and death, which means complete detachment from the external world, the absence of any desires, complete satisfaction, inner enlightenment.

Buddhist temples In India, the most common stupas are burial structures. It is believed that the sacred relics of the Buddha are kept in the stupas. Around the Stupas there is often a fence dotted with reliefs that describe the life of the Buddha.

Ajanta Cave Monastery The creation of this monastery dates back to the 3rd-6th centuries. Consists of 29 caves carved into the rocks and connected by a wide path. The ceilings of the caves are supported by carved and painted columns. This cave gained fame precisely thanks to the paintings on the themes of Buddhist legends.

The first centuries of the new era - the predominance of the Kushan state. Numerous finds of Kushan coins testify to the breadth of economic ties in the Kushan period. IV-V centuries n. NS. - In northern India, the territories were united again by the rulers of Magadha (Gupta dynasty). The heyday of the Gupta state - Chandrogupt II (380 -415 AD). But internal strife and the invasion of the Huns-Hephthalites in the end. V - early. VI centuries. led to the collapse of the state. Socio-economic relations in the Classic period. The Indians learned how to melt steel, which was also known to the Greeks. There is an iron column with the inscription of King Chandra (probably Chandrogupt II) - for one and a half thousand years, almost no rust has appeared on it. Fortresses were no longer built of wood, but of stone. In this era, the art of coinage reaches. with images of rulers and inscriptions in various languages

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 to themselves. There is a desire to visit the territory where India is located - the country of the ancient Vedas. This is a country in which the beauty and grandeur of temples amaze, and music and a magical atmosphere immerse you in the world of mystery and sensuality.

India on world map

Where is India located on the world map? Geographically, the country is adjacent to South Asia and occupies a significant part of the Indian subcontinent. India has a lot of neighbors - states. In the northwest, the country is bordered by Pakistan and Afghanistan. In the northeast - with China, Nepal and Bhutan. The India-China border is the longest and runs along the main Himalayan ridge. In the east, it borders with the states of Bangladesh and Myanmar. India has sea 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 amounts to 3.3 million square meters. km. In the east, south and west, the peninsula is washed by the Bay of Bengal, the Laccadive and the Arabian seas. The major rivers of India are the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Godavari, Indus, Krishna, Sabarmati.

Since the territory of the country is distinguished by its large size and different topography, the climate in different regions is different.

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 parts of the country, and the Thar Desert adjoins it from the west.

State name

Where is India, whose name has changed several times? In ancient times it was called "the land of the Aryans", "the country of the brahmanas", "the land of the sages." The modern name of the state of India comes from the name of the Indus River, the word "Sindu" in translation from 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 era of the Mughal Empire, but it has not been given official status. The Republic of India is the official name of the country, it appeared in the 19th 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 valley of the Indus River. The second period is the Aryan civilization associated with the emergence of Aryan tribes in the valleys of the Ganges and Indus rivers.

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, as evidenced by the construction of cities with a harmonious layout and drainage system. Writing was developed, small plastic arts developed in artistic culture: small figurines, seals with reliefs. But the Harap culture has declined due to climate change, flooding and epidemics.

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

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 birthplace and development of religious and philosophical teachings. The culture of the ancient country is closely related to the secrets of the universe. Since ancient times, people have been asking questions of the Universe, trying to figure out the meaning of life. A separate place is occupied by the teaching 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 to any event or event. The originality and diversity of culture is largely due to the fact that both local peoples and aliens participated in its formation.

The culture of Ancient India dates back to the middle of the 3rd 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 survived. This is due to the fact that the building material of that period was wood, which has not survived to our time. And starting from the III century. BC. stone is being used in construction. Architectural buildings from this period have survived to this day. The main religion of this period was Buddhism, and therefore characteristic structures were erected: stupas, stambhi, cave temples.

The culture of Ancient India occupies an important place in world history. She has had a greater impact on 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 Mughals, 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 flavor. Here you can see and learn the traditions of the Indian 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 spa centers in Asia, Kaya Kalp.

Taj Mahal

India has one of the seven wonders of the world. The Taj Mahal, home to the mausoleum of one of the most beloved wives of Shah Jahan, Mumtaz Mahal, is one of the landmarks of Agra, which has not been seen in the past 400 years.

Taj Mahal is a monument of love and translated from 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 semiprecious stones, although when viewed from afar, the color of the mausoleum seems white. The proportions of the structure are perfect. Even the fact that his minarets were rejected is not accidental. This was done so that in the event of an earthquake, minarets would not fall on the mausoleum.

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

Going to India, having heard about tropical diseases, I took with me a bunch of pills, the names of which I do not even remember. I was also strongly advised to get several vaccinations against all types of tropical fever, which I never did ... At the end of my story, I will tell you how it all ended.

Location of India

Geographically, India is located on one of the largest peninsulas of Eurasia - Hindustan... In the north, India is protected from cold arctic winds by the Tibetan plateau, in the south - washed by warm waters Indian Ocean... Bordered by India with Pakistan- in the northwest, China, Nepal and Bhutan - in the northeast. Bangladesh and Myanmar are located east of India. In addition to three dozen states, India includes a network of islands and two disputed territories.

Language and population

Population of India exceeded 1 billion and is "in accuracy" the 2nd place in the world, after China. According to the list of nationalities, India is among the leaders. There are so many of them that "the devil will break his leg." All that I remember from the names of these nations is the frequent endings "tsy" in the names. As for the languages, there are several thousand of them. But you are in no hurry to get upset about this. More or less passable Hindus (Indians) speak English: India not so long ago (by historical standards) was a colony of Great Britain.

Tourists - here

There are places in India that I advise every person who comes here to visit:

As for tropical diseases: I have not been able to catch any of them. Either it was not the season, or just washing my hands with soap and water ...

India is one of the largest countries in South Asia. Most of its territory falls on the Indian subcontinent. The southern part of the republic is washed by the Indian Ocean. The northern and northeastern parts are surrounded by the highest mountain system of the planet - the Himalayas. The northwestern region falls on the Thar desert.

Physical map

The physical map of India (schematically shown) shows the settlements, the main rivers of India and the routes of communication.

The satellite, on the other hand, clearly demonstrates the features of the country's relief.

Contour map

To organize the information received, below is a contour map, with borders and major cities indicated on it. Here, you can see where India is located on the world map and how its borders pass.

The economic map of India is another good assistant in getting to know the country. The economic map of India shows which regions and in what volumes are occupied by various types of industry and agriculture. But the main income of the country comes from the service sector.

Today the Republic ranks second in the world in terms of population. But according to forecasts, the number of the population of India, by 2028, has every chance of catching up with the number of its neighbors from the Middle Kingdom.

A detailed map of India will show the location of the largest cities:

• Mumbai;
• Delhi;
• Bangalore;
• Calcutta;
• Chennai.

The history of the settlement of some of them begins after the end of the 16th century (in the 16th century, European countries began to fight for the colonization of the territory). And some of them began their development even before our era.

One cannot ignore the places of the most ancient cities of India:

• Madurai;
• Varanasi;
• Patna;
• Pushkar;
• Ujjain.

Each ancient Indian city has its own customs and traditions, legends and beliefs.

Goa on the map of India is located in the southwestern part.

Another popular tourist destination is Kerala. On the map of India, Kerala is located in the very south. Its largest national park, tiger sanctuary, Vishnu temple and butterfly garden make this a highly attractive tourist destination.

For those interested in a variety of beaches, unique resorts are indicated below - on the map of India.

Airports of India on the map are indicated below.

Rivers and Ocean

The Indian Ocean is one of the largest and deepest on the planet - it ranks third. All the seas, straits and bays of its constituent, amount to 11.68 million square kilometers. The shores of the country are washed by the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.

Large rivers flow into the latter:

• Ganges;
• Godavari;
• Brahmaputra;
• Kaveri;
• Krishna;
• Mahanadi.

The main rivers are the Indus and the Ganges.

India map

Among the most popular hotels are:

1. The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai;
2. Courtyard Agra, Agra;
3. The Lalit New Delhi, New Delhi;
4. ITC Rajputana, Jaipur;
5. Abhimaani Vasathi, Bangalore.

It neighbors Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, China and Pakistan on the eastern, northeastern and western borders, respectively. The state of Jammu and Kashmir in the northern part has an autonomous status, partially under the control of Pakistan and China.

Climate and weather

Most of the territory is characterized by three periods with their own climatic features:

1. From June to October - the rainy season and rather high air temperatures;
2. November to February - cool, windy weather;
3. March to May is a very hot period.

Road map

The national roads map shows:

• The Golden Quadrangle (yellow-orange line) is a highway connecting the main cultural, industrial and agricultural centers of the country;
• North-South Transport Corridor (orange line);
• West-East Transport Corridor (green line);
• Gray lines are national backbone networks.

Areas and regions

Administratively, the Republic is divided into states (today there are 29 of them), union territories (there are six of them) and the capital district of Delhi (the capital of India is New Delhi). On the map of India, the states are indicated in different colors.

The next type of administrative division is districts, or counties. Now there are 642 districts, but new ones are constantly appearing.

In turn, the districts are subdivided into smaller territories called taluks.

Regionally, the following territories can be distinguished:

• North;
• Western;
• Eastern;
• Northeast;
• South.

The most exotic beaches in India include South India. The northeastern part of the country is for adventure lovers. The western region is a place with beautiful landscapes, milder climate and unique historical monuments. The population density is the highest here.

Having absorbed many different cultures and traditions, with unique and diverse natural sites, India is the ideal place for an unforgettable vacation.

Interesting Facts:

1. Chess, the number pi and the decimal system appeared here;
2. At a time when most of the world's population was nomadic, the Harappan civilization was already flourishing here;
3. The button to notify the driver about a stop in public transport (buses) is replaced by a rope with a bell tied to it;
4. The number of official languages ​​is 21. Plus, "auxiliary" English;
5. In addition to the main four seasons, there are two more: pre-spring and monsoon;
6. More than a quarter of the country's population does not have writing and reading skills. Half of the total population lives in houses without sewage and running water;
7. Traffic on the roads is not regulated in any way;
8. The world's first school of medicine, as well as a university, appeared here;
9. Thousands of years ago, they already used cane sugar here and possessed knowledge of anesthesia, genetics, and the immune system;
10. The largest amount of whiskey is produced and consumed here too.