Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Facts about India



Facts about India From sarees to spicy food, beautiful beaches to heavy snowfall; India has it all! Here are some interesting and amazing facts about India which give a quick glance of the various cultures and lifestyles followed out here. India boasts of a rich culture and various traditions that vary as per region. This seventh largest country (in terms of geographical area) has seen major growth in various fields and is home to people belonging to different religions and cultures. Currently, India remains to be the world's 12th largest economy and although, this magnificent place is growing in large proportions; poverty and illiteracy remain to be the major problem areas in this country. India has had a glorious history and is known for its diversity; the people from India are particularly known for their hospitality and friendly nature! There are many things, which make India a unique place in itself. Here, we shall read all about many interesting facts about India and other details associated with this very diverse land. Interesting Facts about India: India is surrounded by the Indian Ocean on the southern side. To the west, lies the Arabian Sea where as the Bay of Bengal lies on the eastern side. India shares its border with Pakistan on the west. To the northeast, lie China, Bhutan and Nepal. Bangladesh and Burma lie on the eastern side.
The earliest signs of human life in India can be traced to the Bhimbetka rock shelters in Madhya Pradesh. Experts say that the earliest settlements in India were seen during the Indus Valley Civilization.
The major rivers that flow in India are the Brahmaputra, the Ganges, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Mahanadi, Indus, Narmada and Tapti.
India not only has diverse cultures, this beautiful country has very diverse weather patterns as well. One can enjoy different types of weather conditions while in India. Besides, it also has a very varied topography, which experiences varieties of seasons as well. In India, one can see the desert area to the west, glaciers in the north, rainforests towards the southwest that also have humid tropical regions etc. Therefore, in India, one can witness four seasons, which are the warm summers, wet monsoons, a post monsoon period and cool winters.
Indian music is very varied and consists of a variety of styles. India's classical music is like a tradition out here, passed on from generations. This classical music is also based on several religious inspirations and beliefs. Apart from the traditional classical music, India also has a very interesting mix of folk and pop music as well.
India boasts of a many traditional styles of dancing. Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Odissi, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Sattriya and Mohiniattam are some of the various styles of Indian classical dance. Apart from these classical based Indian dances, the folk dances of India are equally interesting and also have a variety of colorful costumes for the dancers as well.
Here's yet another interesting fact about India. In terms of architecture, India has many historically significant landmarks that stand as a strong testimonial to the rich history of this very diverse land. The Hindu temples go way back to the 5th century. Many Hindu and Buddhist temples are entirely rock cut; this was especially noticed during the medieval period. One can also spot a fine blend of Islamic architecture along with monuments that show Buddhist and Jain influences.
India has many important places of interest, which are now classified, as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Some of the monuments that are included under this category are the Ajanta Caves, Elephanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Taj Mahal, the various beautiful churches in Goa, monuments of Hampi, Qutub Minar etc.
There are many languages that are spoken out here with Hindi being the official language. The interesting fact about India remains to be the millions of native languages spoken here also depend upon the specific regions but Sanskrit and Tamil remain to be the classical languages according to the Government of India. India also has around 22 languages that are officially recognized.
Rabindranath Tagore is one such highly regarded Bengali writer from India who also received the Nobel Prize for Literature (1931). He also penned the national anthem of India-Jana Gana Mana.
The national flag of India was adopted in 1947. The orange color signifies courage and sacrifice by the people who laid down their lives for the country, white symbolizes peace and green stands for faith and prosperity. The Ashok Chakra remains to be the central motif.
Indian cuisine is typically spicy with a generous helping of various spices and herbs. Indian food is therefore considered to be amongst the most diverse of all cuisines with every region having its own unique technique and methods used to prepare an assortment of dishes. Rice and rotis form to be the main food items with various pulses; along with interesting types of pickles. Indian curries are really unique and most sought after in India.
The Indian film industry is known to be the largest film industry in the world. It is also referred to as Bollywood (this is a blend of the following words-Hollywood and Bombay) Bollywood refers to the Indian film industry based in Mumbai and churns out an amazing number of movies every year (800 films per year approximately). The charm of Bollywood movies has spread out of India to other countries including the likes of Pakistan, which has enforced a Government ban on films belonging to India.
Indian clothing has definitely made a mark on the global market with a rising demand for typical Indian attire. Sarees are the traditional form of Indian attire for women and yet another interesting fact about India remains to be the varied designs of the Indian sarees, which differ as per region. Apart from sarees, women also wear salwar kameez with a dupatta, which is most preferred as daily casual or even formal wear. The ghagra choli is also one of the traditional outfits worn for special occasions. Traditional attire for men consists of dhoti and a kurta or even a lungi in South India. Men also have the option of wearing sherwanis for formal occasions. Currently, the Indian streets would reveal a curious mix of western and Indian attire with the youth preferring to opt for jeans and other forms of stylish western attire as casual wear.
Although hockey is the national sport of India, yet another interesting fact about India is the craze for cricket. Cricket is known to attract fans in every little alley be it a domestic match or one that is played on an international level. Apart from cricket, tennis, soccer and even chess remain to be top favorites.
Despite the advancements in various fields, one of the major setbacks of India remains to be poverty. India being the second most populated country, a vast majority of people is known to live below the poverty line. One can note a stark difference in the various lifestyles out here from the filthy rich to the downtrodden and poor section of the societies.
India thus remains to have the appropriate mix of traditional and modern values. These facts about India are only a glimpse into this magnificent land; there is more to discover and know info from googleitt.com

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