Important Information about India

In a country as diverse and complex as India, it is not surprising to find that people here reflect the rich glories of the past, the culture, traditions and values relative to geographic locations and the numerous distinctive manners, habits and food that will always remain truly Indian. According to five thousand years of recorded history.

INDIAN HISTORY

The history of India begins with evidence of human activity of Homo sapiens as long as 75,000 years ago, or with earlier hominids including Homo erectus from about 500,000 years ago. The Indus Valley Civilization, which spread and flourished in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent from c. 3300 to 1300 BCE, was the first major civilization in India. A sophisticated and technologically advanced urban culture developed in the Mature Harappan period, from 2600 to 1900 BCE. This Bronze Age civilization collapsed before the end of the second millennium BCE and was followed by the Iron Age Vedic Civilization, which extended over much of the Indo-Gangetic plain and which witnessed the rise of major polities known as the Mahajanapadas. In one of these kingdoms, Magadha, Mahavira and Gautama Buddha were born in the 6th or 5th century BCE and propagated their sramanic philosophies..

 

INDIAN CULTURE

Hinduism is a religion with various gods and goddesses. According to Hinduism, three Lords rule the world. Brahma: the creator; Vishnu: the preserver and Shiva: the destroyer. Lord Vishnu did his job of preserving the world by incarnating himself in different forms at times of crisis.
The three Lords that rule the world have consorts and they are goddesses. Consort of Brahma is Sarasvati; goddess of learning. Vishnu's consort is Lakshmi; goddess of wealth and prosperity. Shiva's consort is Parvati who is worshipped as Kali or Durga.

Along them there are a number of other gods and goddesses. To name a few of them, there is Ganesh, who has an elephant's head and he is also a son of Shiva and Parvati. Hanuman, who is an ape. Surya, Lord of sun. Ganga Ma, goddess of river Ganges. Samundra, Lord of the sea. Indra, king of the gods ( but he isn't an important god). Prithvi, goddess of earth. Shakti, goddess of power. The Hindus call their goddesses 'Ma' meaning mother.

 

RELIGION AND LANGUAGES

India - a land as large as a sub continent is bound to have many languages and the number of languages in India justifies its size. There are 15 official languages and hundreds of local dialects. Such a plethora of languages make an average Indian a linguist. On an average, every Indian speaks two languages and in cosmopolitan cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore people can speak up to three languages. All the Indian languages are written left to right except those written in Persian scripts (Urdu & Kashmiri). 

 

 

ECONOMY

The Economy of India is the tenth largest in the world by nominal GDP and the fourth largest by purchasing power parity. The country's per capita GDP per capita is $3,608 (IMF, 129th) in 2010. Following strong economic reforms from the post-independence socialist economy, the country's economic growth progressed at a rapid pace, as free market principles were initiated in 1991 for international competition and foreign investment.

 

 

Places of Interest in India:-

India's rich history is evident from the various landmarks that dot the country. The numerous architectural wonders in India have a story of their own and are not to be missed. There are many interesting places in India which are worth a visit.

Udaipur
Udaipur is known as the Venice of the east. It is also called the city of lakes. The Lake Palace on Jag Niwas Island in the middle of Pichola Lakes is the finest example of its architectural and cultural explosion. The grand City Palace on the banks of the lake compliments the palace along with the Monsoon Palace (Sajjan Garh) on the hill above. Udaipur is also the centre for performing arts, craft and its famed miniature paintings.


Srinagar
The summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir, Srinagar is the jewel that shines in the whole of North India with its sparkling lakes. Scenic snow capped mountain peaks form the backdrop and flowers picturesquely adorn the gardens. A treasure trove of beauty legendary for its houseboats, Srinagar is also renowned for its traditional handicrafts and dry fruits.

Ooty
Ooty, the 'queen of hill-stations' of India, is a hill-resort standing at 7,349 ft above sea level. Also known as Udhagamandalam or Ootacamund, it is situated in the Nilgiri mountain ranges in Tamil Nadu. It is known for it's salubrious climate and scenic beauty. There are breath-taking views of tea-plantations, and undisturbed grassy meadows. For the more adventurous, there are trekking and hang-gliding.


Agra
A major tourist destination, Agra has the distinction of housing one of the Seven Wonders of the World: Taj Mahal. Apart from the Taj Mahal, Agra is a city filled with forts and palaces that are reminiscent of the colorful culture of the bygone eras.


Bangalore
Located 1000 mt above sea level, this bustling capital city of Karnataka, has a perpetual holiday atmosphere. Founded in 1537 by a local chieftain Kempe Gowd, Bangalore has seen much and imbibed even more.


Goa
Goa, a city of happiness and joy that welcomes all. An island with sun kissed beaches, old churchesand temples has attracted tourist from all over the world.