Indien 2009

The Republic of India is comprised of 28 states, six union territories and the National Capital Territory of Delhi. India’s first major civilization surfaced nearly 5,000 years ago, along the Indus River valley. In 1947, India gained its independence from Britain after an extensive struggle led by Mahatma Gandhi. Since, the country has made great strides in the areas of industry, agriculture and government.

India is bounded by the Bay of Bengal to the east, the India Ocean to the south and the Arabian Sea to the west. This subcontinent is set apart from the rest of Asia by the Himalayas and is the seventh-largest country. It is bordered by Pakistan, the People’s Republic of China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. 

From tropical rain forest in Arunachal Pradesh to snow-capped mountains in the Himalayas to the arid Thar Desert, it is possible to find any type of landscape within the vast geography of India. The well-known and sacred Ganges River flows through northern India.

India is the second most populous country in the world, and the people are as diverse as the geography that surrounds them. Lifestyle is heavily influenced by geography: culture, beliefs and traditions, clothing and language differ from region to region. The country also releases the world’s highest number of films annually; the most well-known are produced by Bollywood.