India

Overview

India or Bharat, in Hindi, is the world's largest democracy, and is home to the descendants of the world's oldest civilization, the Indus Valley civilization which is in fact situated in the province of Sindh , Pakistan . It is a country showing many contrasting shades in every aspect of life. Right from snake charmers to farmers to high-tech engineers there is oppulence of variations. If in one part rice is staple diet than a few thousand miles away, it might be wheat bread. If there is desert in the west then the world's rainiest place lies in the east. The country has rich natural resources, a civilized history, and now acclimatizing to the growing technology. To know about this country for traveller, let us divide it into 5 regions and throw some insight about each region. If on one side we have snow clad mountains, to the other there is a hot desert and if on one side we have the mountain ranges then we have coastal plains too.

If one can look beyond the dirt, pollution and the poverty,one can find that it is a country of profound vibrations with centuries of austerities practiced, a thirst quencher for the spiritual seeker, the nature lover, and for those, who come here for a beautiful, yet, a unique experience.

First to the North, we have Jammu & Kashmir , Himachal Pradesh , and Uttaranchal which are at the foot of Himalayas. Known for scenic beauty, flowers, gardens, lakes, snow covered hill stations...more

History

The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world, dates back at least 5,000 years. Aryan tribes from the northwest invaded about 1500 B.C.; their merger with the earlier Dravidian inhabitants created the classical Indian culture. Arab incursions starting in the 8th century and Turkish in the 12th were followed by those of European traders, beginning in the late 15th century. By the 19th century, Britain had assumed political control of virtually all Indian lands. Indian armed forces in the British army played a vital role in both World Wars. Nonviolent resistance to British colonialism led by Mohandas GANDHI and Jawaharlal NEHRU brought independence in 1947. The subcontinent was divided into the secular state of India and the smaller Muslim state of Pakistan. A third war between the two countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. Despite impressive gains in economic investment and output, India faces pressing problems such as the ongoing dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir, massive overpopulation, environmental degradation, extensive poverty, and ethnic and religious strife.