India, Constitutional republic in South Asia.
Description
The nation is a federal republic in South Asia extending from the Himalayas to the Indian Ocean, making it the seventh largest territory on Earth by area. Geography encompasses desert zones in the west, coastal lowlands along the peninsula, central highlands and mountain ranges in the north with summits exceeding 8000 meters in elevation.
History
The region achieved freedom from British colonial control on August 15, 1947 and became a self-governing democracy with 28 states and eight union territories. The founding constitution entered into force on January 26, 1950 and introduced a parliamentary system of governance with a federal arrangement.
Culture
The name derives from the Indus River and has been in use for centuries, while today's inhabitants also call themselves Bharatiya or Hindustani. Visitors experience a land where Sanskrit texts stand alongside modern Bollywood productions and where street markets offer spices, textiles and handcrafted goods from every region.
Practical
Months from October through March bring mild weather and low rainfall, creating favorable conditions for travel across the territory. Major airports in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai handle large numbers of arrivals, while visitors need valid entry permits available through online systems or diplomatic offices.
Did you know?
The Kumbh Mela occurs every twelve years and draws millions of participants to sacred rivers for spiritual ceremonies. The railway network spans more than 67,000 kilometers and transports around 23 million passengers each day, making it one of the most heavily used transit systems on the planet.
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British rule in India from 1800 to 1947 left a distinct architectural legacy across major Indian cities. European styles including Victorian Gothic, Neoclassical and Renaissance merged with Indian decorative motifs and craftsmanship. The result was the Indo-Saracenic style, a hybrid form that...
Taj Mahal
540.7 km
Statue of Unity
513.6 km
Antilia
716.9 km
Narendra Modi Stadium
628.7 km
Red Fort
716.3 km
Qutb Minar
703.1 km
Ajanta Caves
366.8 km
Parliament House
712.7 km
Harmandir Sahib
1097.9 km
Gateway of India
717.5 km
Jagannath Temple
794.8 km
Konark Sun Temple
818.4 km
India Gate
711.9 km
Padmanabhaswamy Temple
1554.8 km
Brihadisvara Temple
1288.7 km
Adiyogi Shiva statue
1282.5 km
Hampi
814.9 km
Western Ghats
1367.2 km
Charminar
555.8 km
Nalanda Mahavihara
756.7 km
Kedarnath Temple
933.9 km
Meenakshi Temple
1385.1 km
Lotus Temple
704.8 km
Kamakhya Temple
1388.8 km
Ellora Caves
445 km
Howrah Bridge
995.9 km
Khajuraho Group of Monuments
306.4 km
Somnath temple
870.7 km
Arunachal Pradesh
Assam
Bihar
Chhattisgarh
Goa
Gujarat
Haryana
Himachal Pradesh
Jharkhand
Karnataka
Kerala
Madhya Pradesh
Maharashtra
Manipur
Meghalaya
Mizoram
Nagaland
Odisha
Punjab
Rajasthan
Sikkim
Tamil Nadu
Tripura
Uttar Pradesh
Uttarakhand
West Bengal
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Chandigarh
Lakshadweep
Delhi
Puducherry
Telangana
Andhra Pradesh
Ladakh
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu
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