ABSTRACT OF BOOK “ ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO INDIA” BY S.K.YADAW
INDIA- India is possibly most diverse nation
in the world, areawise seventh largest country, populationwise second to China. Within its geographical confines stretching from the Great Himalayas in the north to the tropical peninsular south, there is a dizzying variety of languages, cultures, ethnic groups, beliefs and lifestyles possess. In short, statewise descriptions: DELHI AND THE NORTH:- The peaks of Himalayas, the most spectacular natural barrier in the world, mark the boundaries of the area that extends northwards from Delhi. Delhi is the
Capital of India.
HARYANA AND PUNJAB:- Haryana and Punjab cover the vast plains that stretch between the River Indus and the Gangetic belt. Most visitors pass only briefly through Haryana and Punjab, usually on their way to Himachal Pradesh.
HIMACHAL PRADESH:- Himachal, the “Abode of Snow”, covers over 56,000 sq Km (21,622 sq.
miles) of Western Himalayas. Himachal’s capital, Shimla,famous as a summer capital of British Raj, remains a popular destination for visitors.
LADAKH, JAMMU AND KASHMIR:- Lying across six major mountain ranges and covering an area of 222,000 sq.km (85,715 sq.miles), Jammu and Kashmir is India’s northern most state bordering Pakistan and China’s Tibetan Plateau.
UTTARPRADESH AND UTTARANCHAL:- UttarPradesh and Uttaranchal cover a vast area of 294,000 sq.km (113,514 sq.miles) with a population of almost 175 million. Both States offer a wide variety of landscapes and historic monuments with famous TajMahal.
BIHAR AND JHARKHAND:- The name Bihar derives from Sanskrit ward “Vihara” which was the birth place of Buddhism. In November, 2000 the southern part of Bihar became new state of Jharkhand.
MADHYAPRADESH AND CHHATISGARH:- Covering a vast area of 443,406 sq. KM(171,200 sq.miles), MadhyaPradesh and Chhatisgarh constitute the geographic heart of India. In November,2000, the thickly forested and remote southeast, with its predominantly tribal populations, became the new State of Chhatisgarh.
WESTBENGAL AND SIKKIM:- West Bengal has three distinct types of landscape. In the west, the red soil gives its rich colour to the terracotta temples of Bishnupur. The Ganges Delta in lower Bengal has dense, tangled mangrove swamps where Royal Bengal tigers roam, while the charming Raj-era hill stations of Darjeeling and Kalimpong are located in the foothills of the Himalayas in the northern part of the State. The neighbouring State of Sikkim, which also borders Bhutan, Nepal and China, is ringed by mountains.
ORISSA:- Bounded on the west by the thickly forested hills of the Eastern Ghats and on the east by nearly 500 KM (311 miles) of Coastline on the Bay of Bengal, Orissa covers an area of 156,000 sq KM (60,232 sq.miles). Here the magnificent 13th century Sun Temple at Konark and other outstanding temples at Bhubaneshwar and Puri.
ASSAM AND THE NORTHEAST:- Assam and the six northeastern states often called the seven sisters which has international borders with China, Myanmar(Burma), Bhutan and Bangadesh, has an unusually rich diversity of ethnic groups, languages, religions, climates and landscapes.
RAJASTHAN:- No State in India is as rich in magnificent palaces and forts, colourful festivals and bazzars, as Rajasthan. Stretching over 342,000 sq.KM(132,047 sq.miles), the State is bisected by the Aravali Range which runs diagonally from the northeast to the southwest. Its main river is Chambal and State capital is Jaipur.
GUJARAT:- The State of Gujarat has three distinct regions- a corridor running north to south which is the industrial mainland, a peninsula known as Saurashtra and Kutch. The State’s 1,600 KM (994 mile) coastline has attracted seafarers through the ages, lured by the rich prospects of trade.
MAHARASHTRA:- Verdant hills, scenic coastal plains and busy industrial centers make up the varied landscape of Maharashtra covers an area of 300,000 sq.KM (115,831 sq.miles). The hills of the Western Ghats source of many rivers, run parallel to narrow Konkan coast while, cradled in the centre is the Deccan Plateau formed from Black Volcanic Lava 70 million years ago.
GOA:- This tiny state alongthe Konkan coast covers 3702 sq.km (1,429 sq.miles) and consists of just two districts- North and South Goa. In 1510, Alfonso de Albuguerque established a small but powerful Portuguee enclave here.Though Goa became a part of Indian Union in 1961.
KARNATAKA:- Extending from Arabian sea and the fertile forested ridges of the Western Ghats, with their thriving plantations of coffee, spices and fruit, to the drier boulder strewn region of the Deccan Plateau TAMILNADU:- The cradle of ancient Dravidian culture, Tamilnadu extends from the Coromandel coast in the east to the forested Western Ghats in the West. At its heart is the fertile Kaveri valley, a land of rice field and spectacular temples. The 7th century portcity of Mamallapuram with its spectacular rock-cut temples is now a World Heritage site.
ANDAMAN ISLANDS:- An Archipelago of 306 idyllic islands in the Bay of Bengal about 1000 KM (620 miles) from the mainland, the Andamans and the neighbouring Nicobar Islands, which extends from Myanmar to Indonesia. The Andamans acquired the sinister name Kalapani (Black Waters) in the 19th Century and the terrible Cellular Jail in the capital Portblair.
KERALA:- Nestling between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, Kerala is an enchanting mosaic of coconut groves and paddy fields, wide beaches and labyfinthine back waters, verdant hills and rain forests.
ANDHRAPRADESH:-. This is South India’s largest state covering an area of 275,000 sq.km (106, 178 sq.miles). The main language spoken by is 78 million people is Telegu though Urdu is spoken in the State Capital Hyderabad.