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India
Things to Know
Bharat (in Hindi) and Republic of India (in English)
A federal republic of southern Asia and a
member of the Commonwealth.
The Indian subcontinent: a large
landmass smaller than a continent; a major subdivision of a continent.
Capital: New
Delhi
Map
of India
Political
Map of India (Indian States)
National Emblem
of India
Currency: Indian
rupee
Animals
Many zoologists estimate that there are some 76,000 species of
animals in India. The best-known of India's animals are the Indian
elephant and the tiger.
Two of India’s most impressive animals, the Bengal/Indian Tiger
and the Asiatic Elephant are found in most regions of India.
Bengal
Tiger (fact sheet). Tigers are India's Official National
Animal and India's largest cats. Other cats of India include four
species of panther--the common
leopard; the all-black
leopard; the rarely seen albino leopard; and the snow
leopard, which is found only in the Himalayas.
Domesticated elephants are often used instead of bulldozers or
tractors to build buildings and clear jungle or forest.
Indian
Elephant
Peacock-India's
National Bird
India has more than 400 species of reptiles and snakes.
Cobras-The longest venomous snake
Explore
the King Cobra at National Geographic. For more information on
Cobras visit the Cobra Information site.
India has 90 species of scorpions.
Scorpions-learn
about these venomous arthropods.
Climate
Most of India has three seasons: cool, hot, and rainy. From March to
the end of June is the hot season. During the hot season parts of the
southern plateau remain cool and the northern mountains are cool or
cold, depending on the altitude. Cyclones often bring storms to the
coastal plains at this time.
From June to September is the rainy season when monsoons (violent seasonal winds) blow across the Indian Ocean. A mild winter
lasts from October to February.
Land
Because of its size, India is home to a wide range of different
environments, from high, snow-capped mountains to tropical
rainforests and from hot and cold deserts and scrubland to lush,
fertile plains and valleys.
Three main geological regions of India are:
*North India (Indo-Gangetic Plain and Himalayas)
*Peninsula or South India
Thrissur , in Kerala
View a slideshow, read a story, and print pages to color.
Anamalai India's
Elephant Mountain
A wildlife sanctuary in Southern India visit this site and find out
about many animals and why elephants are sacred in their land.
Plants
Almost every plant family in the world is represented in India.
In southern India, grow various kinds of palm. Tropical plants grow
in western India. Commercial crops of the region include bananas,
betel nuts, cardamon, citrus fruit, coconuts, coffee and tea, ginger,
pepper, and rubber. Ironwood, rosewood, and teak are plentiful in the
broadleaf forests of the region.
One of India's most rare and treasured aromatic trees is
the sandalwood.
Games
Tiger
Adventure Games
(age 8 +)
Chess was invented in India.
Learn and play chess at chessKIDS free online academy.
Read
History
of India
The
Caste System
Castes are unchanging social groups. A person
born into one caste can never change caste or mix with members of
another caste. The Caste System has been illegal in India for more
than fifty years.
Stories
India Folktales
Stories, folktales, and poems.
Religions
Religion plays a vital role in the Indian way of
life. Religious laws of the Hindus and Muslims govern the people's
clothing, food, and marriage. They also strongly influence the type
of occupation among persons who strictly follow the laws.
India is a secular country (there is no official
religion) and is home to peoples of many different faiths: Hinduism,
Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism,
Sikhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, and other innumerable religious
traditions. Hinduism is practised by over 80% of the population.
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