India is a vast country in South Asia, bordered by the Himalayas to the north and the Indian Ocean to the south. It is known for its extraordinary cultural diversity, ancient civilizations, and as the birthplace of religions including Hinduism and Buddhism. India is home to iconic landmarks, vibrant traditions, and one of the world's most varied landscapes, from tropical beaches to high-altitude deserts.
- Capital
- New Delhi
- Continent
- Asia
- Region
- Southern Asia
- Area
- 3,287,590 km²
- Coordinates
- 20° N, 77° E
Country facts
- India has the largest film industry in the world by number of films produced, centered in Mumbai and known as Bollywood.
- The Indus Valley Civilization, one of the world's oldest urban cultures, flourished in what is now northwestern India around 2500 BCE.
- India has 22 officially recognized languages under its constitution, with Hindi and English serving as the principal languages of government.
- The Bengal tiger is India's national animal and is protected across several major wildlife reserves, including Ranthambore National Park.
- Chess is believed to have originated in India around the 6th century CE, where it was known as chaturanga.
Capital facts
- New Delhi was officially inaugurated as the capital of British India in 1931, designed by architects Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker.
- The India Gate is a prominent war memorial in New Delhi, built to honor soldiers who died in World War I.
- New Delhi is home to the Red Fort, a magnificent 17th-century Mughal fortress that hosts the Prime Minister's Independence Day address each year.
- Humayun's Tomb in New Delhi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered an architectural precursor to the Taj Mahal.
- Connaught Place, built during the British colonial era, remains one of New Delhi's busiest commercial and cultural hubs.