India- a country that everyone dreams of going to since childhood, a country of contrasts, where poor shacks and palaces of maharajas, beggars on the streets and quite successful businessmen, impenetrable jungles and deserts, a forbidden, but in spite of everything, a valid caste system and a modern government system inherited from the conquering British, tough Puritans and “red light” areas...

Here are also the royal Himalayas, the famous Ganges River, tiger reserves, the “golden triangle”, many coastal resorts, priceless monuments of bygone eras, rivaling in antiquity Egyptian pyramids– all this attracts a lot of tourists to India.

General information

India located in the South, mainly on the Hindustan Peninsula. Its area is 3.3 million km 2, in terms of size India is in 7th place in the world, coastline stretched for 7000 km.

From the east, India is washed by the Bay of Bengal, to the south is the Indian Ocean, and to the west lies the Arabian Sea, in which the Indian and Nicobar Islands are located.

To the north, India borders with China, to the east, its neighbors are Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar (formerly Burma), and finally, to the west, it borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Travel agents usually take mass Russian tourists to the state, the smallest Indian state on the coast of the Arabian Sea. This state was once a colony of the Portuguese for 450 long years and still retains its European touch. Sometimes Goa is called little Portugal.

The highest point in India, slightly lower than the world's highest Mount Everest, is Mount Kanchenjunga, 8586 meters high, located in the state of Sikkim, near Nepal.

The capital of India is New Delhi.

In terms of population - about 14 million people, the capital ranks second in the country, after Mumbai, and is the largest industrial center. Old Delhi is full of mosques, monuments, forts, inherited from the times when it was the Muslim capital, and New Delhi was built by the British, as new capital all over India.

Religion in India.

The main religion in India is Hinduism, which originated in the third millennium BC; Hindus in the country make up about 80 percent. They worship a whole pantheon of Gods, headed by Vishnu and Shiva. In total, there are 3.5 thousand castes and sub-castes in the country, subordinate to each other, headed by Brahmins.

Although according to the constitution, since 1950, castes have been recognized as equal, Indians themselves continue to adhere to their customs.

As before, caste can be determined by surname; parents still organize the weddings of their children, who meet for the first time only during the wedding.

The British, forced to leave in 1947, still managed to annoy, using the “divide and rule” principle, splitting India along religious lines into Pakistan, Bangladesh and, in fact, Hindu India.

However, India has about 90 million Muslims, who predominate in Kashmir. Islam is practiced by about 11% of the population, with Christians, Sikhs and Buddhists occupying a small proportion.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, representatives of one of the sects of Hinduism began to practice religion with one God and denial of caste. These were the Sikhs, by far most concentrated in the Punjab.

Near Varanasi in Deer national park“Sarnath” is a temple with a golden Buddha; at this place, according to legend, Buddha first gathered his first followers, to whom he outlined his teachings.

Hinduism is a fairly peaceful religion, and all others coexist peacefully with it, and the equality of religions is supported by law.

Official language

There are 14 official languages ​​in India, like nowhere else. Almost half of the population speaks Hindi, the rest speak Bengali, Tamil, Urdu and many others. English is widely spoken since India for a long time was a British colony. In practice, Hindi and English are mainly used, and in total there are at the moment about 250 dialects.

According to the census, India has about 1.3 billion people, of which 28% live in cities. The country is multinational, the majority are Hindustani, Telugu, Bengali, Tamil, Bihari, Punjabi, and about a quarter of the population are Dravidians.

Public administration:

India is ruled parliament, which consists of 2 houses: the upper - the Council of States, called the Rajya Sabha and the lower House of the People, called the Lok Sabha.

The head of state is president elected for a five-year term.

Executive power is exercised by the Prime Minister, nominated by the most influential party of the People's Chamber.

India is divided into states, created by linguistic community the people inhabiting them. The states are governed by their own legislative assemblies, the executive function is carried out by local governments.
There are a total of 29 states in India, governed by governors, the capital is allocated separately national territory In addition, there are 6 territories of central subordination.

The capital of Sapnath of King Ashoka, who founded ancient India. The song “Jana-gana-mana”, written by Rabindranath Tagore, is used as an anthem.

Climate of India
In the main territory of the country three seasons can be distinguished:

• June-October. The southwest monsoon prevails and is quite hot and humid.
• November - February. The northeast trade wind prevails, and it becomes relatively cool and dry.
• The transition period between them is from March to May, at this time it is hot and dry.

It is most comfortable for tourists to come from October to May.

Time:

Differs from Moscow in summer + 1.5 hours, in winter, respectively, + 2.5 hours.

Money:

The Indian rupee has 100 paise.

Mains voltage

230-240 Volts, frequency 50 Hz., sockets are different from ordinary European ones, moreover, they are different in different states. Before connecting your gadgets, you should consult the hotel staff about the electrical parameters.
Visa
To visit the country, a tourist will have to apply.

It is quite difficult to list Indian holidays, because there are about 360 of them. In addition to holidays accepted in one or several states, there are Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh and even Zoroastrian holidays.

We can mention the national ones celebrated throughout India: Republic Day, celebrated on January 26, with a parade of troops and a procession of elephants, Independence Day, celebrated on August 15 since 1947, when the Indians expelled the colonialists, and October 2 - the birthday of the much revered Mahatma Gandhi.
It is worth mentioning Holi, one of the most significant festivals celebrated in February to mark the end of winter.

Tourists will be interested in the water festival in Kerala, held in January, with the participation of elephants, the peasant festival of Lohri and the kite festival, held in the same month, and the national festival of Shivratri Natyanjali, taking place in February-March.

And since the bulk of tourists are concentrated in Goa, they will be pleased with the spring festival of Shigmo, celebrated in this state in March.

1. EGP, territory, general information about the country .

India belongs to South Asia, to a triangle fenced off by the Himalayas from the rest of Asia. This is one of ancient states peace. Before 1950, India was colony of England, and now is part of the Commonwealth led by Great Britain. By state system India - federal republic(territory divided into 25 states) with a strong central government. The territory of the country stretches from North to South for 3200 km, from West to East - for 2900 km. Area - 3 million 288 thousand km 2 .

EGP of India, in general, favorable. The country is located on trade routes from Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean (this is the busiest trade route in the World Ocean). India also has a long land border, but it does not play a role in trade.

2. Population: numbers, natural movements, national composition, etc. .

The population of India in 2009 was 1 billion 137 million people This 2nd place in the world! Characteristic fast reproduction rate population (29-9=20), as a result of which the state is trying to limit natural increase through family planning and demographic policy. The main slogan of demogr. policy: “Every family has two children!”

India - the most multinational country in the world: about 300 ethnic groups, 22 main languages. The most common language is Hindustani, it is spoken in Hindi. The main language of interethnic communication is English(this is a legacy of the colonial period). 80% of Indians practice Hinduism, 10% - Islam. Hinduism implies the division of society into castes. Not uncommon separatist sentiments in India (the state of Punjab wants to secede and form an independent state).

Population of the country unevenly placed. Level urbanization - 28%(this is a very low figure). 250 million people live in cities. (this is 2nd place in the world after China). Most of the population lives in villages (there are about 600 thousand villages in the country).

3. Farming: general features .

The country is characterized multi-structure(pre-capitalist remnants along with the capitalist way of life). The country has passed a stage industrialization, there is its own space program. Recently, through the efforts of Indian scientists, the country “acquired” its own nuclear weapons.

In India, as once in Russia, there are still 5 year plans and state order. The country is big domestic market.

Great contrasts: 11th in world economic output, but 102nd in per capita income; The country produces 750 feature films annually, but 50% of the population is illiterate, and 40% generally live below the poverty line; abundance and cheap labor, But high culture labor; 1st place in Asia in terms of the length of railways, but half of them are narrow-gauge railways on which steam locomotives run!

The country ranks 3rd place in the world in terms of number of scientists(after Russia and the USA), but the problem of “brain drain” is very acute.

Industry of India .

It's busy here 20% economically active population .

Developed heavy industry: production of machine tools, cars, railway locomotives, agricultural equipment. The newest industries are also developed: production of TV, computers, equipment for nuclear power plants, space equipment, nuclear equipment. Light industry consists of three parts: cotton industry, clothing industry, jute production.

Deccan Plateau- a large combination of natural resources (coal, iron ore, manganese ores), this area heavy industry, iron and steel industry (Bhilai city). On eastern outskirts The Deccan plateau is the main coal and metallurgical base country, “Indian Ruhr” (city of Bokaro).

Agriculture in India .

It's busy here 60% of economically active population countries.

The country is actively using the achievements "green revolution". Arable land makes up half all agricultural lands. India is self-sufficient in grain.

In India stand out 2 main and 1 secondary agricultural zones: 1) southeastern states - rice farming(the rain of the Kharif season is used, and artificial irrigation is carried out during the Rabi season, due to which 2-3 crops are harvested per year); 2) northwestern states and Punjab - home wheat zone, main commercial farming area(Wheat is mainly harvested during the Rabi season under artificial irrigation); 3) secondary foci cultivation of fiber, oilseeds, sugar and tonic crops.

6. India Development Centers .

In the country there is no single dominant center, although there is 4 major cities affecting the entire country.

The quadrangle of these cities looks like this: in the North - Delhi (capital, major transport, industrial, cultural, political and administrative center); in the East - Calcutta (the second industrial city and port after Bombay, the administrative center, the processing and export of jute is developed, the largest area of ​​poverty and slums); in the South - Madras (large industrial center, port, economic capital Indian south); in the West - Bombay (largest city, industrial, commercial, financial center, port, mechanical engineering, petrochemistry, nuclear energy, cotton and paper industry are developed). These 4 cities are connected by transport routes.

India is the seventh largest country and the second most populous country in the world. This land is all about contrasts - whether we are talking about its inhabitants, languages, customs, religions or landscapes. India is the land of the crowned eternal ice and snow-covered massive mountain ranges, criss-crossed by wide rivers, vast plains, arid deserts, dense tropical forests and palm-fringed beaches.

Location:

India is a state in southern Asia, which stretches from the peaks of the Karakoram in the north to Cape Kumari in the south, from the deserts of Rajasthan in the west to Bengal in the east. In the south, east and west, the country is washed by the Arabian, Laccadive and Bengal seas and the Bay of Bengal. Indian Ocean. India borders on Pakistan in the west and northwest, in the north the Himalayas separate the state from China and Bhutan, in the northeast from Nepal and in the east from Bangladesh.

Story:

At the beginning III millennium BC in the Indus basin, one of the oldest civilizations on Earth arose - the Harappan culture, Mohenjo Daro, which existed until the middle of the 2nd millennium BC. In the VII-VI centuries. BC in the Ganges valley the states of Magadha, Kashi, Koshala and others arose. mass movement Aryan peoples from Western Asia to the Indo-Gangetic basin. Experts note the closeness of the ancient Aryan and Slavic cultures. This is evidenced by huge amount convergences in Sanskrit and Slavic languages. The villages were located along the banks of the rivers of the Indo-Gangetic basin and in the deltas of Kaveri, Krishna and Godavari, Mahanadi, and the Brahmaputra valley - places most favorable for agriculture. What does it have to do with Dravidian South India and its distribution zone? Indo-European peoples The Indo-Gangetic basin extended into the territory of Central India, inaccessible for agricultural development, which long time played the role of an “isolating space”. By the 13th century. In Hindustan, Muslim dynasties achieved political dominance, sometimes extending their influence all the way to Madura. extreme south. In the 16th century The Muslim dynasty of the Great Mongols (descendants of Timur) settled in Delhi, extending its power over the entire Hindu subcontinent. The Mongol Empire reached its greatest size under Aurangzeb (1658-1707), when it extended from Kabul to Kaveri. However, torn apart by internecine struggle, the huge state of the Mongols collapsed at the beginning of the 18th century. into separate warring principalities. From the discovery of Vasco da Gama, sea ​​route in India (1498), widespread penetration of Europeans begins. From the second half of the XVIII V. direct colonial conquests of Europeans began. The British gained a foothold east coast in strategically important areas where Calcutta and Madras later grew, and in west bank- Bombay. The British colonial conquest of India lasted about a century and ended in mid-19th V. annexation of Punjab lands. It is characteristic that these areas, which fell under colonial rule later than others, retained the greatest prosperity. The powerful rise of the national liberation movement after World War II, which was led by outstanding politicians- Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and others forced the British to part with their largest colony. In 1947, India achieved the declaration of complete political independence from Great Britain. The declaration of India as a republic and the adoption of the constitution on January 26, 1950 marked complete liberation countries. However, according to religious principles, the country was divided into two states: the Indian Union, inhabited mainly by adherents of Hinduism (Hindus), and Muslim Pakistan. Bengali national resistance led to the formation in 1971 in the east People's Republic Bangladesh. India has tense relations with its western neighbor, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. In 1950 and 1971 armed conflicts occurred between them. One of the main reasons for tension in relations between the two countries is the lack of agreement on the status of Kashmir. Relations between India and China are complicated by Chinese claims to the border areas of the state of Arunachal Pradesh in the far northeast of India. In 1959, the Dalai Lama, the Buddhist spiritual and secular leader of Tibet, and his many followers immigrated to India, which also left its mark on Indo-China relations.

Culture:

Indian civilization has been developing for more than 4,500 years. These millennia were filled with struggle, ups and downs, which manifested themselves in the rise and fall of dynasties, in the spread, prosperity and decline of religious teachings; More and more new schools emerged in philosophy, architecture, sculpture, music and dance.

• The name “India” comes from the Indus River, which sheltered the very first settlements around it. The Aryans called the Indus River "Shindu".
• The Persians invaded the territory of India, after which the name “Hindustan” appeared, which comes from “Shindu” and “Indu”, and is one of the names of the lands of India.
• Interesting fact about medicine: Ayur Veda is the first school of medicine in human history. Ayur Veda appeared about 2500 years ago in India. Knowledge of anesthesia (pain relief) was available to doctors in ancient India.
• Evidence of knowledge was found in ancient scriptures ancient civilization India in anatomy, digestion, metabolism, physiology, etiology, genetics and immune system.
• More than 5,000 years ago, the teaching of yoga originated in India.
• India has more post offices than any other country.

When is the best time to go:

The tourist season lasts from October to March, and the best months to travel around India are November and December.

Attractions:

In Delhi - Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Raj Ghat, Jantar Mantar, Lakshmi Narayan Temple, Qutab Minar, Indian Gate, Secretariat building, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament House, National Museum, National Gallery contemporary art, J. Nehru Museum, Museum of National Crafts, zoo, Safdarjung's tomb, Great Mosque, Mughal Public Reception Hall, Rang Mahal Palace, Pearl Mosque, 12th century tower. Qutub Minare, a metal column that has not rusted for centuries, is one of the wonders of the world. In Bombay - St. John's Church, Prince of Wales Museum, St. Thomas Cathedral, Taraporeva La Aquarium, Museum of Western India, Victoria Gardens Park with a zoo, Kanheri Caves with bas-reliefs of the 2nd-9th centuries, several temples of the 7th century. The Malabar Hills are home to picturesque Hanging Gardens and Kamala Nehru Park, Mahalaxmi Temple, Haji Ali Tomb and Mosque, Nehru Planetarium, Elephanta Islands, National Park Krishnagiri Upavan, Manori Beach, Monplaisir, Jogesh-vari caves and swimming pool.

The state of India is located in South Asia. It borders with Burma and Bangladesh in the east, with China, Nepal, Bhutan and Afghanistan in the north, with Pakistan in the west.

On the southern side it is washed by the Palk Strait and, on the eastern side by the Bay of Bengal, and on the western side by the Arabian Sea.

Today, India partly consists of territories of Kashmir and Jammu, which are disputed by Pakistan. The country's area is 3,165,596 square kilometers.

India can be roughly divided into 4 regions: the northern river valleys, the Himalayas, the Western and Eastern Ghats, and the Deccan plateau.

The Himalayas are the highest mountain system in the world with a width ranging from 160 to 320 kilometers, which stretches along the eastern and northern borders for 2400 km.

The highest mountain peaks that are entirely or partially located in India:

• 8598 m – Kanchendzhanga;
• 8126 m – Nanga Parabat;
• 7817 m – Nanda Devi;
• 7788 m – Rakaposhi;
• 7756 m – Kamet.

Parallel to the Himalayas in the south is the region of the northern river valleys - this region is a flat strip reaching a width of 400 km. This region occupied most of the plain region along which the Brahmaputra, Ganges and Indus flow. Western and central India receives water from the Ganges and the Ganges Valley (its tributaries).

The Brahmaputra flows into Bangladesh and originates in the northern Himalayas– it is from this that the Assam region receives water. The Indus flows into Pakistan, originating in Tibet.

The region of the northern river valleys is the most populated region of the country, and this is due to its fertile lands and abundance of water. It was in this region that Indian civilization began.

The Deccan plateau, which has triangular shape, located south of of this region and occupies almost the entire area of ​​the Indian Peninsula. The height of this plateau varies from 300 m to 900 m, but sometimes you can find chains with a height of up to 1200 m. The plateau is crossed in many places by rivers. From the west and east, the plateau is framed by the Western Ghats (rising to a height of up to 900 m) and the Eastern Ghats (rising to a height of up to 460 m).

As of 1998, India's population is estimated to be over 984 million, with an average population density per square kilometer of 311.

Ethnic groups:

If we talk about India as a whole, more than 1,600 languages ​​and dialects are used in this country.

Religion:

• 80% are Hindus;
• 14 percent are Muslim;
• 2.4 percent are people of Christian religion;
• 2% are Sikhs;
• 0,7% — ;
• 0,5% .

The capital of India is New Delhi

The largest cities in the country with their population:

• About 10 million people - ;
• More than 7 million people - ;
• 4.4 million people - Kolkata ()
• 4.2 million people - Hyderabad;
• 4.1 million people - Bangalore;
• 3.8 million people - Madras;
• Another 12 cities have a population of more than 1 million people.

Indian government - federal republic . The monetary unit is the Indian rupee. Average duration The lifespan of both men and women is 60 years. The mortality rate per thousand people is 8.7, the birth rate per thousand people is 25.9.

India is one of the oldest civilizations in the world. Until the middle of the 3rd century BC, the Dravidian civilization successfully developed on the territory of India, which was not only not inferior, but even in some respects superior to the civilizations of Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt.

Between 2500 and 1500 BC, Indo-Aryan tribes conquered India, displacing the Dravidians.

Various kingdoms, predominantly with Hinduism at the head of the religious factor, developed on the territory of this country until the 8th century AD. Afterwards, Muslim conquerors brought Islam to the country. Muslim rule continued until 1398 in the largest part of India, until the arrival of Tamerlane's armies in the country. However, the Mongols did not stay in India for long and soon left the country, so that until the end of the first quarter of the 16th century, India was ruled by the Muslim dynasties of the Saids and Tughluks.

Babur, a descendant of Tamerlane, conquered almost all of India in 1526 and founded the Great Mongols Empire on its territory, which lasted until 1857.

The Portuguese established several trading posts on the coast in 1498-1503, and their example was immediately followed by the British and Dutch. In 1603, the British East India Company gained the right to trade textiles and spices from the Mongols, and as a result of sound trade policies, the British gained and political influence.

In 1828-1935, the UK took over complete political leadership, and India became a British protectorate in 1857.

Gaining independence

India gained independence on August 15, 1847, but the country was divided into two - Pakistan (later Bangladesh separated from it) and modern India along religious lines.

There is still a conflict between India and Pakistan, which began back in 1947 (at first the conflict had an open form, now it is more hidden). The conflict concerns the issue of ownership of the territories of Kashmir and Jammu, which are divided state border and are located in both states (two thirds of the territory belongs to India, one third belongs to Pakistan).

India is a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations, UNESCO, the World Bank, the IMF, and the UN.

Climate of India

Due to the size of the country and regions differing in topography, the climate varies widely. India, with the exception of the mountainous regions, has a tropical climate with two seasons - dry and wet, lasting from June to September. At this time, the monsoons bring heavy rains (up to 10,800 mm per year in the Khasi Hills region). The hot season begins in March and reaches its peak in May. At this time, the thermometer can rise to 49 degrees Celsius.

In Kolkata, the air temperature in January varies from 13 to 27 degrees, and in July it rises to 32 degrees. In Madras, the thermometer in January shows from 19 to 29 degrees, and in July up to 36 degrees. In Bombay, January is 19-28 degrees, July is 26-36 degrees.

Flora

The arid areas that border Pakistan boast only fairly sparse vegetation. Palm and bamboo grow in some areas.

The Ganges Valley is rich in a wide variety of vegetation types, because it receives quite a significant amount of rainfall. The most vegetation is located in the southern part of the region, with many hardwood trees and mangroves.

In the northwest of the Himalayas there are dense coniferous forests, and in the east of the region – sub tropical forests. The slopes of the Western Ghats and the coastal region of southwest India are rich in dense tropical forests - teak, bamboo and other evergreen trees grow here.

The Deccan Plateau has sparse vegetation, but forests with deciduous trees, bamboo and palm trees can be found here.

Fauna of India

Representatives of felines: panther, tiger, snow leopard, leopard, clouded leopard, cheetah. Other large mammals include rhinoceros, Indian elephant, antelope, wolf, jackal, buffalo, black bear, deer and several species of monkeys.

There are quite a lot of mountain goats in mountainous areas. India is especially rich in poisonous snakes, such as the scalefish, cobra and others. Reptiles also include crocodiles and pythons. Among the many birds, especially noteworthy are the heron, peacock, kingfisher and parrots.

Museums and reserves

There are more than 460 different museums in India, among which the main ones are the Madras museums - the National Art Gallery and the Government Museum. In Varnassi - the Sarnath Museum, in New Delhi - the National Museum. In Bombay - the Museum of Western India, in Calcutta - the Birla Technological Museum, the Museum of India.

In addition to museums, India is rich in architectural and historical monuments. In Calcutta there is a Victoria Memorial in the Maidan Park, and in the same city there is botanical garden, St. Paul's Cathedral. There are several Hindu temples in New Delhi, among which Lakshminarasi and Balkesh are considered the main ones. In Agra - Pearl Mosque, Marble Mausoleum Jahangri Mahal.

Varanasi has 1,500 temples, including the Golden Temple. In Bombay - Kanheri caves with rock bas-reliefs, Victoria Gardens Park (it houses a zoo). In Delhi - the Great Mosque, the Red Fort, the Rang Mahal Palace, the Public Reception Hall of the Great Mongols.

In Patna there are many Sikh temples and a mosque built in 1499. In Armitsar there is the Golden Temple, which is surrounded by a reservoir of immortality (Sikhs bathe in it to gain spiritual purification).

India(in Hindi Bharat ), the Republic of India, a state in South Asia, on the Hindustan Peninsula, includes the Laccadive, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It borders China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. The border with China in the Himalayas is unmarked. Area 3.3 million km2 (7th place in the world). In terms of population, it ranks 2nd in the world (after China) - 1 billion 49.7 million people (2003). Member of the Commonwealth. The capital is 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 consisting of both houses of parliament and legislative bodies states for a 5-year period. The legislative body 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 state and territory legislatures) and the People's Assembly (545 seats, 543 elected by popular vote, 2 appointed by the president). Executive power is exercised by the government, headed by the prime minister, appointed by the president.

Administrative divisions of India

28 states and 7 union territories under central control.

Population of India

The largest nations: Hindustani, Telugu, Marathi, Bengalis, Tamils, Gujaratis, Kannaras, 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 western Uttar Pradesh. The remaining religious communities: Christians (mostly Catholics) are concentrated in the North-East of the country, Bombay and the South; Sikhs - in Punjab and adjacent areas, Buddhists - in Jammu and Kashmir, the Himalayan regions.

The national languages ​​are Hindi and English; states have official national languages. Of the 18 languages ​​recognized as state languages, 13 belong to the Indo-Aryan, 4 to the Dravidian language groups and 1 to the Tibetan. Hindi is the most widely spoken language: it is spoken by more than 300 million people. Hindi recognized 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 North and South India. In the regions of Gujarat bordering Pakistan, the Sindhi language is spoken (emigrants who fled 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: Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil and Telju. Manipuri and others Tibetan languages distributed 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% live in cities. India is one of the most densely populated countries. Average density 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 part of the Himalayas and Karakoram. OK. 3/4 of the country's territory is plains and plateaus. Almost the entire Hindustan is occupied by the Deccan Plateau (decreases to the east from 900 m to 300 m). In the west and east, the Deccan turns into mountains (Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats), the outer slopes of which drop steeply to the ocean. In the south of the peninsula there are isolated table massifs up to 2698 m high (Anaimudi). To the north of the Hindustan Peninsula, in a vast foothill trough, is the alluvial Indo-Gangetic Plain. The highest mountain system on Earth - the Himalayas (height in India up to 8126 m, Nanga Parbat) and the Karakoram Mountains with alpine terrain and glaciers in the ridge zone limit India from the north. Deposits coal, ores of iron, manganese, chromite, bauxite, diamonds.

The natural vegetation of the Deccan Plateau and Indo-Gangetic Plain is highly modified; Savannas, xerophytic woodlands, and in some places deciduous forests predominate; in the north-west there are shrubby semi-deserts and deserts. On the windward slopes of the Western Ghats, in the delta of the Ganges and Brahmaputra, in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas there are evergreen tropical forests. At the foot of the Himalayas there are terai (swampy jungles), higher up there are monsoon forests, mountain mixed and coniferous forests, mountain meadows and steppes. Forests cover approx. 1/4 of the territory of India. National parks Kaziranga, Girsky Forest, 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 also considered sacred. Elephants have been trained since ancient times. India has a number of endemic species of mammals and birds.

Climate of India

The climate is predominantly tropical, with tropical monsoon in the north. During the wet summer monsoon, which plays a huge role in Indian agriculture, 70-90% of precipitation falls, winter is dry and cool, from March to May is a dry and hot season. Annual rainfall varies from less than 100 mm in the western Indo-Gangetic Plain to 12,000 mm at Cherrapunji on the Shillong plateau (the wettest landmass globe). Main rivers: Ganges, with its tributary Jamna, Indus (upper reaches), Brahmaputra (lower reaches), Narmada, Godavari, Krishna. The rivers are full of water in the summer (there are floods) and are widely used for irrigation.

Economy of India

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, absence of class hatred and respect for wealth, characteristic of Hinduism and Buddhism, protect India from social conflicts.

2/3 of the population is employed in agriculture, which makes the largest contribution to GNP (1/3). Hindustan was the birthplace of a number of crops - rice, cotton, sugar cane. In the 1960s India experienced a “green revolution”: thanks to the spread of hybrid varieties of wheat, rice and other crops, not only the problems of providing food for its population, but also the export of food grains were solved. In the 1970s–1980s. India also experienced a “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 (approx. 35 million hectares are sown twice a year). Irrigated approx. 3/5 agricultural area. The main agricultural regions are the Indo-Gangetic plain and the coastal lowlands. India occupies one of the first places in the world in the production of sugar cane (harvest in terms of raw sugar is 16-18 million tons; more than 1/2 - in the northern part of India), peanuts (5-7 million tons, hl . sample in the southern part of India) and tea (about 600 tons; 3/4 of the harvest - 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 beans ( southern part India), cotton (1.2–1.5 million tons: main areas - eastern part states of Maharashtra and Gujarat). In the southern part of India - tea, coffee, rubber, coconut palm, spices (pepper, ginger, cardamom, etc.). Numerous livestock (1/5 of the world; 1996, million) of cattle 196 (including 80 buffaloes; mainly used as draft power), 120 goats and 45 sheep; They raise pigs, camels, and poultry.

India has significant mineral and energy resources. The reserves of coal and iron ore are among the largest in the world; there are also bauxite, oil, manganese, etc. India ranks one of the first places in the world in the export of manganese ore and mica. Most of the heavy industrial enterprises in India after independence 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 ones are being created in previously backward inland areas. industrial centers(Bhilai, Bokaro, Rourkela, Durgapur.

The public sector occupies a leading position in the defense industry, nuclear energy, railway and sea transport, aviation, communications. Private sector currently prevails in mechanical engineering, agriculture, light, food and medical industries, construction, trade, and road transport.

Light industry represented by both handicrafts and modern enterprises. Indian natural silks, Kashmiri 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 famous center for silk weaving production, as well as bronze products; Mirzapur is famous for its carpets; Muradabad is famous for its metal utensils; India's largest production of locks and iron chests is concentrated in Aligarh; Firozabad is the country's largest center for the production of glass bangles - cheap jewelry. World famous handicrafts southern city Mysore (the former capital of the princely state of the same name), especially items made of ivory and sandalwood, as well as natural silks. India is a major supplier to the world market of leather and leather products, as well as footwear. Most of the jute mills are located in the Hooghlyside region, a chain of towns on the Hooghly River north of Kolkata. Agricultural and mineral processing plants are usually located close to where raw materials are extracted. These are factories for ginning cotton, processing peanuts, sugar cane, freezing and drying foods, and primary processing of metals. The production of consumer goods is concentrated in major cities. State governments strongly welcome the development of industries: for this purpose, industrial parks are being created - small free zones characterized by lower taxes and low land prices.

In recent years, India has also emerged as a manufacturer of medicines and pharmaceuticals that are quite competitive in comparison with Western products, but much cheaper.

Such a traditional industry as cutting diamonds and other precious stones also maintains a high share in exports.

The country's government has placed its main emphasis 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. According to 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 the number of qualified scientific and technical personnel and in second place in the number of professional programmers. The monetary unit is the Indian rupee.

History of India

The most ancient civilization - Harappan or Indus (Indus River valley; second half of the 3rd millennium - first half of the 2nd millennium BC) - was created by the people of the Dravidian family, possibly the ancestors of the Tamils. It is one of the first agricultural civilizations on Earth, along with Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. Harappan civilization was familiar with the smelting of bronze and precious metals, but did not know iron. The Aryan tribes, who came from the north approximately in the middle of 2 thousand BC, knew how to make iron. e. The main source of the period 1500-800. BC e. are the Vedas. At this time, a caste system arose and took shape, which consolidated the dominant position of the descendants of the Aryans.

Today not enough is known about the states of the Aryans; their dating is also problematic. Magadha in the Ganges Valley is apparently the oldest of them (7th century BC). The kings of Magadha accepted Buddhism and supported its spread. In the 4th century. BC e. Magadha became part of the Mauryan Empire, whose founder (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), who united almost all of Hindustan, the Mauryan empire fell into decline. In the 4th-6th centuries. n. e. almost all Northern India united 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 Mughal state covered almost the entire territory of India.

From the 16th century First, Catholic missionaries began to penetrate India (the first Christian community was founded, according to legend, by the Apostle Thomas), and then colonialists. The Portuguese founded a colony in Goa. In the 18th century The Mughal Empire collapsed into separate principalities. English trading East India Company from the 17th century. created a network of its trading posts-fortresses on the coast (from which the cities of Calcutta, Bombay, Madras, etc. subsequently grew). The company's agents, pursuing a policy of “divide and rule,” subjugated the Indian principalities by bribery and force. England's main rival was France. As a result of the Anglo-Mysore, Anglo-Maratha and Anglo-Sikh wars 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 no longer to trade, but to the management of territories, the collection of land taxes, and the reform of agrarian relations. India became not only a source of raw materials, but also a huge market for Britain, where the era began industrial revolution. The entire established system of local crafts was undermined, and poverty intensified. In 1783-1784. The company's activities were placed under government control. Throughout the 19th century. The company's rights were repeatedly curtailed, and since the suppression of the sepoy uprising the company was dissolved. India became a colony.

The British did not touch the caste system (by that time there were already about 3,500 castes); in religious practice they limited only extremes (human sacrifices, the custom of sati - self-immolation of widows). But they contributed to the introduction of new relations and the development of capitalism. The Indian National Congress party emerged in 1885. Mahatma Gandhi, who headed the Indian National Congress in 1915, developed the tactics of nonviolent struggle against the colonialists, which implied a boycott of British goods, refusal to cooperate with the British, etc. Against the backdrop of the difficulties and wars of the 20th century. this struggle was successful, but Britain divided the country (1947) into 2 dominions - the Indian Union (with a predominant Hindu population) and Pakistan (with a predominant 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 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 achieved great success in the implementation of the space program. India - nuclear power. National holidays- August 15 (Independence Day (1947)) and January 26 (Republic Day).