Location & Description
India is the largest country in South-East Asia and seventh largest in the world by area.
By population it is the second largest after China.
But population or size is not any of its distinctive features. Rather, India stands special in its Diversity, Unity in diversity and Deep religious and cultural heritage.
Indian Diversity in Geography, Climate, Culture, Ethnicity and Language
In the North, India has its protective wall of the great Himalayas and in West, East and South two oceans form its very long coastal line. The North and Central India are relatively dry and arid whereas the rest gets good amount of rainfall from fair to intense. A number of mighty glacial and inland rivers feed most of the areas in the country, Gangetic plains being one of the more prominent ones.
Its number of living languages is more than 400 as well as it hosts almost all major religions of the world accompanied by corresponding colorful festivities.
Kolkata Durga Pujas spanning four days is considered as the largest open-air Art Exhibition in the world.
Though deteriorating, India still has large tracts of forest land at various altitudes and climates, the home of bewildering variety of flora and fauna. Seeing and understanding India cannot be finished in one lifetime.
Unity in diversity in India
India's overarching unity in spite of onslaught of modern civilization and extreme diversity is enchanting. People, especially common folks in all regions, are humble, religious and welcoming in general. In India a guest is considered equivalent to God, embodied in the philosophy “अतिथि देव भव” (Atithi devo bhava).
India's deep religious and cultural heritage
India’s cultural and religious heritage form a rich mix of past and present fascinating seeking visitors over ages.
Main attractions
We consider the top destination categories for India travelers as, its heritage, temple and pilgrimage sites, and its vast expanse of Himalayan adventures.
Modern India is confident and thriving and its true beauty lies in its culture, festivals, temples, heritage sites and Himalayan destinations, apart from its forests, wonderful beaches, mighty rivers and a large number of inland hill destinations.
Indian States and Union Territories
India is composed of 29 States:
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, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal,
and 7 Union Territories: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Lakshadweep, National Capital Territory of Delhi, and Puducherry.
Each has its own set of attractions.
Summing up
For enjoying the main Himalayan destinations, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Sikkim and partly West Bengal are the States one needs to explore.
North East States hold even today pristine verdant forests as well as mysteries of mighty rivers such as Brahmaputra.
Heritage sites though are spread all over, some of the States have more concentration.
We find India becoming slowly more tourism minded and new tucked away destinations are coming up frequently, especially among forests, wilderness and mountains.
To sum up, with all its blemishes, India is a breathtakingly beautiful country that can keep seeking visitors from all walks of life as well as all world regions fascinated.
The capital of India is in New Delhi.