India

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Overview of India

History

The Dravidians are thought to be the first group of people to inhabit the Indus River Valley as early as 2,500 BC. These people had a culture based mainly on agriculture which they were able to trade successfully. However, this culture began to deteriorate, and while historians are not entirely sure why, many suggest ecological changes which made it harder to farm as the reason. Following the Dravidians came the Aryans from Central Asia around 1500 BC.

Medieval India was characterized by frequent invasions and the establishment of many kingdoms, however, no ruler was able to create an empire and their control was contained to core regions. The Gupta Empire, formed in the fourth century, collapsed by the sixth century. The Huns came from Central Asia but their rule only lasted for around thirty years. By the eighth century India was split into several kingdoms who were frequently at war with each other.

The Mughal Empire was an important time in India’s history. It was founded by Babur, a descendant of Genghis Kahn, when he first invaded in 1525. The empire reached its peak during the seventeenth century when it oversaw the building of the Taj Mahal. It took 20,000 craftsmen and laborers 22 years +977 14511001 to build the great Taj Mahal, which is still to this day one of India’s most iconic images. The seventeenth century also saw a wave of European arrivals. The English East India Company was established in 1600 followed by a trading base in 1639. A Persian attack on the Mughal Empire in 1739 left it incredibly weak, allowing the British to assert their influence.

Geography

The geography of India is extremely diverse, with landscape ranging from snow-capped mountain ranges to deserts, plains, hills and plateaus. India comprises most of the Indian subcontinent situated on the Indian Plate, the northerly portion of the Indo-Australian Plate.

"India
Quick-facts ’’

Area: 3,287,263 square kilometers (1,269,219 sq mi)

Capital: New Delhi

Population: 1.37 billion based on the most recent UN data

Population Density: 460 per Km2 (1,190 people per mi2)

Time: GMT+5:30

Country Phone Code:+91

Government: Constitutional Republic

Primary Religion: Hinduism

Currency: Indian Rupees

Drives on: Left

Location: India lies on the Indian Plate, the northern portion of the Indo-Australian Plate, whose continental crust forms the Indian subcontinent. The country is situated north of the equator between 8°04′ to 37°06′ north latitude and 68°07′ to 97°25′ east longitude

Official Language: Hindi, English

Getting a Visa for India

The e-Visa was launched in October 2014 by the Indian Government. Citizens from eligible countries may apply online to receive a multiple-entry Electronic Visa before traveling to India. The duration of stay may vary between 60 to 180 days depending on the Visa type and nationality.