India

India This is country of diversity,you will either love it or hate it. The northern part borders to countries like Pakistan, the rest is all coastline. Due to special climate conditions, this is a country where you have to be aware of, when you are going. You will find everything from beaches to mountains to cities of sacred calm and a facinating history with sights such as the Khajuraho temples beeing a fine example of Indo-Aryan Architecture. Bands of stonework will show you the aspects of indian life, all from warriors to gods and mythological animals.

Area: 3.166.414 Km² (3.287.263 Km² with China and Pakistan occupated territories)
Population: 1.028.610.000
Density: 324 pop/Km²

System of government: Federal republic
Capital: New Delhi (9.820.000 pop., 12.790.000 urban aggl.)
Major cities: Mumbai (Bombay) 11.915.000 pop. (16.370.000 urban aggl.), Kolkata (Calcutta) 4.580.000 pop. (13.215.000 urban aggl.), Bangalore 4.290.000 pop. (5.685.000 urban aggl.), Chennai (Madras) 4.215.000 pop. (6.425.000 urban aggl.), Ahmadabad 3.515.000 pop. (4.520.000 urban aggl.), Hyderabad 3.450.000 pop. (5.535.000 urban aggl.), Pune 2.540.000 pop. (3.755.000 urban aggl.), Kanpur 2.530.000 pop. (2.690.000 urban aggl.), Surat 2.435.000 pop. (2.810.000 urban aggl.), Jaipur 2.325.000 pop., Lucknow 2.265.000 pop., Nagpur 2.125.000 pop., Patna 1.705.000 pop., Indore 1.640.000 pop., Vadodara 1.490.000 pop., Bhopal 1.455.000 pop., Coimbatore 1.445.000 pop., Ludhiana 1.395.000 pop., Kochi 1.355.000 pop., Visakhapatnam 1.330.000 pop., Agra 1.320.000 pop., Varanasi 1.210.000 pop.
Ethnic majority: Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid 3%
Border countries: Pakistan WEST, China, Nepal and Bhutan NORTH, Burma and Bangladesh EAST

Principal mountains: Kanchenjunga 8598 m
Principal rivers: Brahmaputra 2900 Km (total, with chinese and bangladesh tracts), Gange 2125 Km (indian tract, total 2510 Km), Godavari 1465 Km, Yamuna 1400 Km, Krishna 1400 Km, Narmada 1310 Km
Principal lakes: Hirakud 1100 Km²
Principal islands: Andaman Islands 6408 Km² (Middle Andaman 1536 Km²), Nicobar Islands 1841 Km² (Great Nicobar 1045 Km²), Lakshadweep 32 Km²
Climate: Tropical - temperate

Language: Hindi (national language), Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu (all officials), English
Religion: Hindu 82%, Muslim 12%, Christian 2,5%, Sikh 2%
Currency: Indian Rupee (INR)

Fixed public holidays: 1/1, 26/1, 15/8, 2/10, 25/12
Dialling code: 0091
GMT: +5.30

World Heritage List:

• Agra Fort (1983)
• Ajanta Caves (1983)
• Ellora Caves (1983)
• Taj Mahal (1983)
• Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (1984)
• Sun Temple, Konarak (1984)
• Kaziranga National Park (1985)
• Keoladeo National Park (1985)
• Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (1985)
• Churches and Convents of Goa (1986)
• Fatehpur Sikri (1986)
• Group of Monuments at Hampi (1986)
• Khajuraho Group of Monuments (1986)
• Elephanta Caves (1987)
• Great Living Chola Temples (1987, 2004) 9
• Group of Monuments at Pattadakal (1987)
• Sundarbans National Park (1987)
• Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (1988, 2005)
• Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989)
• Humayun's Tomb, Delhi (1993)
• Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi (1993)
• Mountain Railways of India (1999, 2005)
• Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya (2002)
• Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (2003)
• Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park (2004)
• Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) (2004)