Natural conditions The geographical conditions of India are extremely complex and diverse. India is a vast peninsula, almost a mainland, cut off from the rest of the world by two oceans and the world's greatest mountain range, the Himalayas. The central part, the so-called Deccan, is the oldest part of the peninsula, which may have originally been an island. This plateau, reaching 2.5 thousand meters in height, includes mountainous and steppe regions, jungles and savannahs, poorly adapted for human life, especially in those places where severe droughts often occur. The areas of northwestern India, the large alluvial plains of the Indus and the Ganges, are most convenient for the settlement of people. The abundance of water, fertile soil and mild climate contributed to the creation of vast states here in ancient times. The sea coasts of India are either too high and steep, or, conversely, too low. Only in the south are there lagoons suitable for harbors. The most favorable part of southern India for settlements is southwestern Malabar.

The population of India is extremely colorful and diverse. According to the official report of 1911, 220 separate languages ​​were registered in India. The indigenous people of India are the Dravidians (Melano-Indians), who form an extensive and complex group of short and dark-skinned tribes, inhabiting mainly the middle and southern part of India. But the most ancient ethnic layer of India are the tribes speaking Munda languages. These tribes live in the central provinces of India, in the Himalayas and in Chota Nagpur.

Periods of the history of Ancient India: Harappan civilization in the Indus River valley (III thousand XVII century BC) "Vedic period" or Aryan-Vedic civilization (arrival and settlement of Aryan tribes in the valleys of the Indus and Ganges rivers XIII-VI centuries BC AD) Buddhist period, Maurya dynasty (V-III centuries BC) "Classical era", Gupta dynasty (II century BC IV century) Harappan civilization (III millennium XVII century . BC) (centers in the cities of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro ("Hill of the Dead"), in which more than 100 thousand people lived. The first of the Indian civilization discovered was the city of Harappa (hence the term "Harappan civilization" or "Harappan culture")

The oldest monuments that allow us to talk about the existence of cultural states in India were discovered in northwestern India, in the Indus basin in Harappa (Punjab) and in Mohenjo-Daro (Sindh province). The streets were straight, ran parallel and intersected at right angles. At intersections, the corners of buildings were rounded so as not to interfere with traffic. The entire Mohenjo-Daro is built of bricks. Clay was used as a material for bricks, which, unlike the Sumerians and Egyptians, they did not mix with straw. Silt mortar was used as a binding material, in special cases - gypsum. The appearance of the two-story houses of the Mohenjodars was rather nondescript: high blank walls without windows and only tiny holes under the very roof. bust of a priest (18 cm) from Mohenjo-Daro

But each house had an entrance hall, a living room, a courtyard, stairs, benches, and in almost all dwellings there were toilets with a shower. Carefully designed sewerage system. In the ruins, many items of material life and works of art were found, in particular, various types of pottery made without a potter's wheel. Along with painted pottery, terracotta figurines of people and animals, rings made of blue glass paste, bones and checkers for the game were found here. Of particular interest are stone tools made of horn and stone and a very small number of metal objects. Found in large numbers are seals made of hard stone, soft soapstone, ivory, and clay. These seals are covered with religious images of sacred animals (especially the bull), and the Mohenjo-Daro excavations are also inscribed.

Great bath III millennium BC e. from Mohenjo Dar In the Indus Valley, ruins of Bronze Age cities (2500-1500 BC) with strict street layouts, water systems, palaces and public buildings have been preserved.

The main occupation of the people of the Indus Valley was agriculture. Findings of a huge number of grain graters speak of the importance of agriculture. Agricultural products were stored in special barns. Excavations testify to the cultivation of two varieties of wheat, barley, millet, peas, sesame, sesame, cotton, melon, and the development of horticulture. Cows, sheep, goats, zebu, pigs were bred, and chickens were also kept. In the settlements there were dogs, domestic cats, donkeys. Fishing played a significant role. Tools of production and weapons were made from copper and bronze: knives, axes, mirrors, razors, daggers, swords, arrowheads and spears, maces. The Harappans knew well the smelting, forging and casting of metals. In addition, gold, silver, and lead were also used. Various ornaments were made of gold, and vessels were made of silver. In addition to metals, stone was still widely used in the economy.

Indo-Aryan period XIII-VI centuries. BC e with the arrival of Aryan nomads, who became farmers and herders. The Vedas are the main source of information about their life, they were written in Sanskrit (the ancient literary language of India). An important role in life is played by castes, numbering more than two thousand. Castes developed on the basis of four varnas: brahmins (priests); kshatriyas (warriors); vaishyas (farmers, artisans, merchants); Sudras (slaves and prisoners of war). The first religion of India is Vedism - the religion of the Vedas. It is characterized by polytheism and the endowment of animals and objects with human qualities (anthropomorphism).

Religion Brahmanism formed I millennium BC. e. This is a more harmonious doctrine of the world, many gods are reduced to a trinity. Gradually, Brahminism turns into Hinduism, which is the most widespread religion in India, covering more than 80% of believers. Hinduism exists in the form of directions: - Vaishnavism; - Shaivism; - Krishnaism. Many cults are incorporated into Hinduism through the concept of avatars (incarnations) of Vishnu. That is, Vishna descends into the world, reincarnating in various forms (takes the forms of Rama, Krishna and Buddha). The Bhagavad Gita is the holy scripture of Hinduism. The basis of Hinduism is the doctrine of the eternal migration of souls (samsara), which occurs in accordance with the law of retribution (karma) for everything done in life.

Basic practices and beliefs Drahma - a moral duty Samsara - the cycle of birth and death Karma - the belief that actions affect the quality of rebirth Yoga - a set of physical and spiritual (meditative) exercises Holy books of Hinduism Mahabharata Ramayana

The god Brahma is (one of the gods of the Aryans) the creator and ruler of the world. He gave people laws Responsible for the eternal kaleidoscope of natural forms. God Shiva is a formidable carrier of cosmic energy, which both creates and destroys. Shiva can destroy, and can save.

God Vishnu - the keeper saves people from various disasters, for example, from the flood. Vishnu repeatedly took earthly incarnations, avatars, each time in order to save the universe from disaster.

Goddess-mother III millennium BC. e. from Mohenjo-Daro Terracotta Goddess of the Ganges River 5th c. North India Terracotta

Khajuraho in Central India is a place where a huge temple complex is located. It was built in 950 -1050. and includes over 80 structures. Temples (there are only 24 of them preserved) were erected at the behest of the powerful rulers of the Chandella dynasty.

The mystical analogue of the body - the victim and the mountain - is a Hindu temple, such as the temple of Shiva Kadarya Mahadeva in Khajuraho.

The largest and most famous building is the Kandarya Mahadeva Temple, dedicated to Shiva, one of the three supreme gods. It was built in the XI century. 31-m in height, the Shiva temple personifies the sacred Mount Meru, surrounded by columns-spiers (84 in total). In the sanctuary there is a special image of God - Shiva-linga, made of marble.

The conquest of India by Alexander the Great In 327 BC. e. Alexander the Great, at the head of a hundred thousandth army, moved east with the goal of conquering all the Asian countries known to the Greeks. His army moved from Nicaea, passed through Sogdiana and Bactria, then, going along Kabul, penetrated into northwestern India, reached the Indus and the Pyatirechye region. The Gandhara tribe, formerly under the rule of the Persian kings and to some extent under the influence of Hellenistic culture, joined Alexander. Especially stubborn resistance was offered to Alexander Por, the king of the state of Puru. Por marched against Alexander with a large army of 30,000 infantry, 4,000 horsemen, 300 chariots, and 200 elephants. However, Alexander won a great victory over him and utterly defeated his troops, who lost about 12 thousand people killed. Having won a number of brilliant victories, Alexander the Great with his army reached the Hyphasis River, but due to the refusal of the army to continue the campaign, he was forced to return. Part of the Macedonian army, led by Nearchus, was sent back by sea, and Alexander himself, with small remnants of the other half of the army, returned through the waterless desert of Gedrosia and soon died (in 323).

Chandragunta (321-297 BC) Chandragupta, founder of the new Maurya dynasty. According to some sources, Chandragupta was a young kshatriya, according to others, he was the illegitimate son of the last king of the Nanda dynasty and even descended from the Shudra family. In 318, Chandragupta captured the whole of northern India up to Narbada and formed a new large and powerful state in India. Having overthrown the last representative of the Nanda dynasty, Chandragupta continued the activities of his warlike predecessors. After the death of Alexander the Great, one of Alexander's generals, Seleucus, having established himself in Syria, made an attempt to reconquer northern India in 305 BC. e. However, by starting a war with Chandragupta, Seleucus failed. He was forced not only to retreat, but even to cede to Chandragupta in exchange for 500 war elephants a number of areas of his state: Aria, Arachosia, the eastern part of Gedrosia and the country of parapamisadas.

Mauryan Empire (IV-III centuries BC) Power of the Mauryans. IV-III century. BC e. the creation of the all-Indian state of the Mauryas (317-180 BC), with its capital in Pataliputra (it was described by Megasthenes, who arrived at the court of Chandragupta). The struggle for influence between the nobility from the state of Magadha, the Nanda dynasty, and Chandrogupta (Sandrakott), who led the anti-Macedonian movement during the conquests of Alexander the Great. The heyday of the Mauryan power reached in the middle. 3rd century BC e. under the grandson of Chandrogupta Ashok. Ashok united many territories (from Kabul to the Deccan in the South / did not include the southern regions of Hindustan /), from the mouth of the Indus to the mouth of the Ganges. The conquest by the provinces did not destroy the former dynasties in them. The power of the king was limited by the royal council, consisting of the king's relatives and representatives of the most noble families. The Mauryas patronized Buddhism, then a non-traditional religion. Brahmin priests were traditional.

Ashoka (272-232 BC) Ashoka, son and successor of Bindusara. From his father and grandfather, he inherited a large and powerful state. Even during the lifetime of Bindusara, Ashoka served as viceroy of the king in northwestern, and then in western India, thus receiving a good preparation for governing the entire state. Ashoka ascended the throne in 272 as a very young man. Almost no information has been preserved about the first years of his reign. It is only known that in 261 Ashoka started a war with the kingdom of Kalinga, which he conquered after a stubborn struggle. With this, he completed the unification of almost all of India, begun by Chandragupta, within the boundaries of one state.

Buddhism appeared in India in the 6th century BC. e. Its creator is Siddhartha Gautama, who at the age of 40 reached the state of enlightenment (nirvana) and received the name Buddha (enlightened). In the III century. BC e. Buddhism reached its greatest distribution, displacing Brahmanism, but at the beginning of the 2nd millennium AD. e. he merges into Hinduism. Today Buddhism is widespread in China, Japan and other countries. The basis of Buddhism is the doctrine of the "four noble truths". The path to salvation lies through the rejection of worldly temptations, through self-improvement. The highest state of nirvana is a borderline state between life and death, meaning complete detachment from the outside world, the absence of any desires, perfect satisfaction, inner enlightenment.

Buddhist temples Stupas are the most common burial structures in India. It is believed that the sacred relics of the Buddha are stored in the Stupas. Around the Stupas there is often a fence dotted with reliefs that describe the life of the Buddha.

Ajanta Cave Monastery The creation of this monastery dates back to the 3rd-6th centuries. Consists of 29 caves carved into the rocks and connected by a wide path. The ceilings of the caves are supported by carved and painted columns. This cave gained fame just thanks to the paintings on the themes of Buddhist legends.

The first centuries of the new era - the predominance of the Kushan state. Numerous finds of Kushan coins testify to the breadth of economic ties in the Kushan period. 4th-5th centuries n. e. - In northern India, the territories were united again by the rulers of Magadha (Gupta dynasty). The heyday of the Gupta state - Chandrogupt II (380 -415 AD). But internal strife and the invasion of the Hephthalites Huns in the con. V - early 6th century led to the collapse of the state. Socio-economic relations in the Classic period. The Indians learned how to melt steel, which was also known to the Greeks. An iron column with the inscription of King Chandra (probably Chandrogupt II) is known - for one and a half thousand years, almost no rust appeared on it. Fortresses were no longer built of wood, but of stone. In this era, coinage reaches the art. with images of rulers and inscriptions in various languages

To determine where Ancient India is located on a modern map, it is worth first determining what exactly is considered as such. The vast majority of modern scholars are inclined to recognize the Harappan culture, which arose in the northwest of the Indian subcontinent in the Indus River valley, as the first Indian civilization. The most ancient traces date back to 3300 BC.

Geography of India

When answering the question of where India is located, it is worth starting with its place on the continent of Eurasia. The country is located in the southern part of Asia, and most of its territory is located on the Hindustan Peninsula, which is washed by the Bay of Bengal in the southwest and the Arabian Sea in the southeast.

The geological history of India, which began more than seventy-five million years ago, contributed to the formation of a rather distinctive geological, geographical and biological region, which today is called the Indian subcontinent.

The separation of the subcontinent is facilitated not only by the waters washing it from two sides, but also by the mountain ranges of the Himalayas, which are the highest mountains on the planet. It is in the Himalayas that the "peak of the planet" is located - Mount Chomolungma, also known as Everest. The hill plays the role of a natural border between India and China.

ancient history of india

The region where India is located has become one of the centers for the emergence of the most ancient civilizations of the East. In age, he is second only to the Sumerians and Egyptians. The culture arose in the north-west of the subcontinent, but by the 6th century, many independent principalities appeared in the territory of the entire north of India, which went down in history under the name of Mahajanapada.

By the 3rd century BC, the Mauryan Empire appeared on the territory of India, which rather quickly subjugated almost all of South Asia: from Afghanistan to modern Banladesh. The empire did not last long, but it was replaced by other successive governments. So there were: Greco-Indian, Indo-Scythian, Parthian-Indian and Kushan kingdoms.

Each of these states not only brought elements of their culture to Indian culture, but also contributed to the spread of elements of Indian culture to neighboring regions. Traces of the cultural influence of this civilization of antiquity can be found in Iranian culture, in Roman and, of course, in Greek.

foreign conquest

In the 10th century AD, the peninsula, where India is located, was invaded by passionate Islamic conquerors, who rather quickly conquered most of the peninsula and established the hegemony of Islam over a vast territory.

The first Islamic dynasty in the region was the Delhi Sultanate, which existed from 1206 to 1526. The Sultanate was replaced by the Mughal Empire, which managed to maintain the dominant position of Islam for another two centuries, but it also fell into decline, and was replaced by the Hindu Maratha Empire, created in 1624.

However, already in the 16th century, European merchants began to penetrate into the region where India is located, extremely interested in trade with a huge rich country. Portugal, France and the Netherlands made their attempts. However, Great Britain managed to achieve the greatest success, which by the middle of the 19th century subjugated most of the country, starting its conquest from small fragmented principalities.

However, the Portuguese colonists also managed to achieve some success. They subjugated that territory in India where Goa is located. The Portuguese administration existed on the site of the modern state until December 18, 1961, when Indian troops crushed the resistance of the Portuguese and occupied the territory of the former Portuguese colony. However, the accession of Goa to India was recognized by Portugal only in 1974.

Another Portuguese possession in South Asia was the coast where Kerala is in India. Today it is a state with one of the highest population densities in the entire country. And it is located on the Malabar coast.

East India Company

To conquer India, Britain chose an already proven technology - attracted private capital and technologies that could effectively capture new markets and bribe local rulers.

For this purpose, the British East India Company was created. The name of this large corporation indicates that the monopoly was engaged in trade in eastern India, that is, on the Hindustan peninsula.

In this case, it is necessary to clarify where the West Indies is located in order to avoid traditional confusion.

Historically, the West Indies are called the islands located off the coast of South America in the Caribbean Sea and in the Gulf of Mexico. First of all, we are usually talking about Cuba and Antigua.

Towards decolonization

Despite the fact that the liberation of India from foreign oppression and the beginning of decolonization was a positive event, it turned out that it could also have extremely negative consequences.

In 1946, a series of military mutinies demonstrated to the British authorities their inability to control the huge overseas territories in India, and the parliamentary elections that followed them once again demonstrated the need to start moving towards the independence of a huge country.

The first active participants in the military resistance to the British military were Muslims, who proclaimed a day of direct action in 1946. As a result of this action, a series of bloody clashes between Hindus and Muslims swept across the country. The need to divide India along religious and ethnic lines became obvious not only to the local population, but also to Her Majesty's government.

Partition of India

On August 15, 1947, Great Britain announced the creation of the Dominion of Pakistan, and the very next day it became known that the Indian Union had declared independence. This decision led to extremely bloody events and clashes, the victims of which were about a million people, and another eighteen million were forced to leave their homes and move to other regions.

The decision to divide the British possessions before the declaration of sovereignty by India was taken so that the creation of Pakistan would not look like its separation from sovereign India. Thus, both countries had equal rights and should not have claims against each other. However, this solution did not help to avoid territorial disputes in the future.

As a result of such large migration flows, a huge number of problems have arisen. The city of Delhi has experienced the greatest burden, with one to two million people settled there. A large number of people could not find a permanent home and were forced to settle in refugee camps.

However, the government of the new country soon began an active program to build permanent houses on the site of the tents.

Economy of India

The part of the world where India and China are located is of great importance for the modern international economy. Both countries are among the three largest economic powers in terms of GDP, second only to the United States. However, the size of the economy should not be misleading, as over the past decades, India has accumulated numerous problems that are still unresolved.

The level of social inequality and poverty in the country is extremely high, and traditional customs in many regions take precedence over secular laws.

Most economists agree that despite the significant efforts of the authorities to modernize, the state's economy still has an agro-industrial character and does not reach the post-industrial level.

social structure

The caste system of society still continues to have a significant impact on all spheres of social and economic relations. Within it, they are born, nurtured and die. Each of these stages is marked by rituals peculiar to one or another caste. Even the names of the child are given in accordance with his social position.

Until recently, any Indian, when applying for a job, was obliged to indicate in the appropriate column not only his religion, but also the caste to which he belongs. Marriages between people belonging to different strata were not registered, and if young people still dared to bind their destinies, then there could be no question of recognizing such marriages by society.

In addition, one of the most cruel customs practiced until recently in the country was the ritual self-immolation of widows.

However, some less progressive economists believe that such a centuries-old system helps the traditional economy function better. However, in this case, the question of why a traditional economy is needed in the 21st century remains open.

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The ancient city of Lothal, which arose 2400 years ago. BC.

In the South Indian state of Karnataka, on the banks of the river with the unpronounceable name Tungabhadra, among the mighty granite boulders, are the ruins of the capital of the once powerful Vijayanagara Empire. The remains of Vijayanagara belong to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, where they are listed as the "Hampi Monuments". It seems that nature itself gave people a scoop and a sandbox to realize their desires and ambitions. Outcrops of gray coarse-grained granite in the heart of the Deccan Plateau, the presence of water arteries and fertile soil have attracted people here since the 1st century AD.

Once upon a time, almost half a million people lived here, and it was one of the largest cities in India.

Various crafts, literature, music and architecture have reached the greatest development here. Countless travelers from all over the world have tried in vain to describe the wonders of Vijayanagara.

A reasonable question arises: "How did the masters cut and process strong and dense granite"? Many pseudo-scientists claim that ancient peoples cut these huge boulders with a laser or incredible space technologies.

A "thousand columns" stretch along the road. Their purpose is not known for certain. It remains to be assumed that earlier there were covered shopping arcades for the city market.

This is a real masterpiece of stone carvers - a granite chariot. Now you can see that there are elephants in the team. However, there used to be horses in their place.

Culture of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro

mohenjo-daro

Hercules on the seals of the city

Ware from Mohenjo-Daro

Harappan culture

On the streets of Mohenjo-Daro

decoration from Mohenjo-Daro

Tools

Table lamp

In all likelihood, the Harappans traded with the Sumerians. In the Sumerian writings, cities were mentioned with which they traded. Among them was a city called Meluke, scientists identify it with the proto-Indian city of Mohenjo - Daro. In large quantities, the remains of cotton fabrics, a variety of faience beads, shells were found on the Harappan territory - all of this was of foreign origin.

Excavation at Mohenjo-Daro

Seals from Mohenjo-Daro

Pottery and textile tools were found among the ruins. Pottery workshops were located throughout the city. Almost everything was made there, from pipes and bricks to thin-walled vessels, elegant figurines and jewelry. Residents also used items made of copper, tin, bronze - these are tools, jewelry and weapons. True, the weapons were made very crudely, probably there were no military operations in this territory. The Harappan people were never able to master the smelting of iron.

Harappan pottery

Harappan game

Pre-Harappan culture

Harappan figurines

Harappan pottery

Terracotta figurines from Harappa

Terracotta

Harappan letter

One or two rooms for ablutions (in a modern way, two bathrooms), ventilation ducts. There are no air conditioners yet.

An unthinkable developed system of separate sewerage with sedimentation tanks and even ... public toilets. Water supply. Rainwater was drained from the roofs through pottery pipes of a special shape, so that the spray would not fall on passers-by. The walls were plastered, but all that, the decoration, the paint, and the upper floors were gone.

The quality of the masonry is unusually high, includes many tricks (there is no arched vault), and stone slabs for chic. This is the second floor room.

The houses had 2-3 floors, at least 8x9 m, at least one courtyard and wells were required. This is not a tower, this is a well (cistern?) from the second floor.

Hieroglyphs from Harappa

The extinction of civilization occurred, apparently, due to natural causes. Climatic changes or earthquakes could change the course of rivers or dry them up, and soils were depleted. The farmers were no longer able to feed the cities, and the inhabitants left them. The huge socio-economic complex fell apart into small groups. Written language and other cultural achievements were lost. There is nothing to suggest that the decline happened all at once. Instead of empty cities in the north and south, new settlements appeared at this time, people moved east, to the Ganges valley.

The floors of rich houses are also brick, the pools are covered with bitumen. Some floors are covered with an unknown vitreous composition, and under some - channels for air heating

city ​​plan

Ceramics. Mohenjo-Daro. 4500 sun.

Clay seal from Harappa but has not yet been deciphered.

The Indus Valley Civilization was largely an urban culture, trading with the Sumerians from southern Mesopotamia. By far the most exquisite and rare artifact found to date is a small, square-shaped seal engraved with an animal. Despite the efforts of philologists from all parts of the world, however, and despite the use of computers, the content of the text remains undeciphered. While historians agree that the civilization declined dramatically, there is disagreement over the possible reasons for its end. The conquerors from Central and Western Asia, according to some historians, were the cause of the disappearance of the civilization of the Indus Valley, but this opinion is open to discussion and debate. More plausible explanations are repeated floods caused by the tectonic movement of the earth, soil salinization, desertification.

Bulls harnessed to a cart. Children's toy found in the excavations of the Harappan civilization

Spiral copper wire necklace. There are traces of silk inside. These are the earliest traces of the use of wild silkworm fibers in South Asia. Harappa 3B: circa 2450 - 220 BC

Harappan figurines

Female burial, violated by ancient robbers. A baby is buried under the mother's feet. Harappa is one of the two capitals of an ancient civilization in the Indus River basin.

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Maps of India | India Travel Guide/Journey to India: General Information

1. Geographic (graphic maps) of India

for fans of traditional maps: 1.1. A large tourist map of India showing all major cities and marked with asterisks the most important tourist attractions of interest to travelers. This map will help you understand where are the places you want to go and create an idea of ​​the geography of India

1.2. A detailed geographical map of India indicating, in addition to cities, also meridians, rivers, mountain systems, etc. This map is quite detailed and very large, to view the map click on the preview and it will open in a new window.

2. Interactive travel map of India and Asia

There is an interactive map of India (and Asia too) on the Indonet, which shows all the places indicated in this guide, as well as stories and other materials written by travelers, with direct links to them from the map. That is, the map itself indicates how many materials in total, by scrolling the map to a city or attraction, you will see the number of posts about this place.

3. Interactive map of India

Unlike graphic and scanned maps, the interactive map of India from maps.google.ru allows, thanks to navigation, to take a look at the whole of India and even find a village, see Indian national highways and local access roads, as well as plans of major Indian cities with street names and hotels. Different flags on this map of India indicate the places for which there is information in the guidebook, the names of the places are naturally in Russian.View See the map of India "India in Russian" on a larger map India map links

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Ancient cities of India - India, culture, cities, description

The ancient cities of India are unique and unrepeatable in their beauty. After all, Indian civilization is one of the oldest in the world. The oldest cities in India known to us are Varanasi, founded, according to the legends of the Indians, by Shiva himself on the banks of the Ganges fifty centuries ago.

City of Kashi-Varnasi The next city is Madurai. It was built around the Meenakshi temple and the temple is right in the middle of it. This temple in the photo:

Another ancient city is Ujjain, here every twelve years the so-called festival of jars - Kumbh Mela is held. Another couple of sights of the city are a Shaivist temple and an observatory.

View of the city of Ujjain from the river

Also, the oldest city in India is Patna - a place of pilgrimage for many Indian believers. Patna is a continuously inhabited city, like many other ancient cities in India.

Modern Patna

The city of Pushkar is the smallest city in India, but no less ancient. It is known for its camel fair.

Excavations of the ancient cities of India, location.

The places of the most ancient cities of India are mainly the valleys of the rivers Indus and Ganges. The oldest city in India was excavated by archaeologists in the Mohenjo-Daro area. More than five thousand years ago the city was inhabited. The city had straight streets running from west to east and from north to south. The city had a sewerage system, and the inhabitants also had wells. The buildings were made of brick. residents also had pets. Many tools, as well as ornaments and figurines, were found in the city. Now this territory is uninhabited - Mohenjo-Daro is translated as "hill of death".

Excavations on the Hill of Death

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Detailed map of India in Russian. Where is India located on the world map.

India is located in the south of Asia, mostly on the Hindustan peninsula, less on the mainland. India also includes numerous islands located in the east - in the Bay of Bengal, in the south - in the Indian Ocean, in the west - in the Arabian Sea. In the west, India has common borders with Pakistan, with Bhutan, Nepal and China - in the northeast, in the east - with Bangladesh and Myanmar. The disputed territories of the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir have common borders with Afghanistan. The country has maritime borders with the Maldives in the southwest, in the southeast with Indonesia, in the south with the islands of Sri Lanka.

The country ranks seventh in the world in terms of area. The total area is 3.3 million square kilometers, which includes 90.44% land and 9.56% water surface. India occupies the 2nd place in the world in terms of population - 1.2 billion people live in the state. About 70% of Indians live in rural areas.

The majority of the population of India professes the religion of Hinduism - about 80%, Muslims make up 14% of the total population, Christians - 2.4%, Sikhs - about 2%, Jains and Buddhists - less than 1%. There are also other religions in the country - Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Baha'is.

The official languages ​​of India are English and Hindi. In different states, Tamil, Kannara, Telugu, Bengali, Urdu and others are used as state and other languages. The population of India speaks more than 1600 languages ​​and dialects.

In India, according to the administrative division, Delhi district, six union territories and 28 states are distinguished. All union territories and states are divided into districts, which are divided into tuluks. The largest cities: Mumbai - about 10 million people, New Delhi - about 7 million people, Kolkata (formerly Kolkata) - about 4.5 million people. Major cities are Hyderabad, Madras, Bangapore, each with a population of about 4 million people.

Detailed physical map of India in Russian with major cities.

See where India is located on the world map:

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Landmarks of India. Photo and description on Turister.Ru.

India: useful information

Ancient sights of India

The outstanding monuments of Ancient India are the cave temples of Ajanta and Ellora, located at a distance of 60 km from each other in the state of Maharashtra. The first temples in Ajanta were carved over several centuries, starting from the 2nd century BC. The cave village of Ellora was created later, but it is just as impressive in its scale: the complex includes 34 caves, and its central structure is the colossal Kailasanath temple. Cave temple complexes, many sculptures, the remains of ancient paintings were also found on Elephanta Island in the Mumbai water area of ​​the Arabian Sea.

Among the main treasures of India, protected by UNESCO, is the Abandoned City of Hampi. It was in these places that some of the events described in the Ramayana developed. The Virupaksha Temple located in Hampi is still active.

In Amritsar, in the center of the artificial lake of the same name, stands the Sikh Golden Temple Harmandir Sahib, which can be reached via a narrow marble bridge.

For many travelers who are imbued with the ideas of Buddhism, ancient temples scattered throughout the country become the strongholds of the journey.

In addition, feel the Indian culture and centuries-old traditions in the Old City of Gokarna, almost entirely composed of wooden houses, or in Little Tibet, the largest Buddhist community in India.

Panoramic view of the Taj Mahal from Airpano.com

Sights of cities in India

In the capital Delhi, the most interesting are the temples of different religions, the Red Fort and city parks. Here is the Lotus Temple - central to the Baha'i religion, as well as the National Museum, which has collected the largest collection of artifacts in India. More sights of Delhi can be viewed in the thematic section.

The most popular Indian resort state of Goa should not be taken only as a place for a beach holiday. If you wish, you can make a completely varied excursion program, visiting Indian sights: temples, churches and mosques, museums, historical quarters. For example, the Basilica of Jesus in Old Goa, the elegant architectural ensemble of Largo da Igrezha in Panaji, the main temple of Goa - Sri Mangeshi. From resorts close to the beautiful waterfall Dudhsagar - the second largest in India. The best place to walk and buy souvenirs is 18th June Street in Panaji.

Mumbai is the capital of the Indian film industry, home to Bollywood pavilions. The attention of tourists is riveted by a huge triumphal arch - the Gates of India, the fountain of Flora in the ancient Roman style. With guided tours, you can visit the planetarium of the Nehru Scientific and Cultural Center, located in a prominent modern building. The largest exhibition in the city is presented at the Prince of Wales Museum. The best place to relax with children is the huge water park and the Esselworld amusement park.

India's most recognizable architectural landmarks in Jaipur, the "Pink City", are located in the old quarter, where most of the stone houses have a characteristic pink or terracotta hue. The city is home to the majestic palace of the Maharaja, the Albert Hall Museum, originally conceived as the city's assembly hall, and the huge observatory Jantar Mantar. In the suburbs of Jaipur stands the legendary Amber Fort, which now houses a museum and an observation deck.

Famous sights of Kolkata (Kolkata) are the Kali Temple, the largest zoo in India - Alipor, the ancient Indian Museum, where, among other exhibits, ancient fossils and meteorites are stored, the Victoria Memorial and St. Paul's Cathedral.

Video about the sights of India

On a modern map, it is worth first to determine what exactly is considered as such. The vast majority of modern scholars are inclined to recognize the Harappan culture, which arose in the northwest of the Indian subcontinent in the Indus River valley, as the first Indian civilization. The most ancient traces date back to 3300 BC.

Geography of India

When answering the question of where India is located, it is worth starting with its place on the continent of Eurasia. The country is located in the southern part of Asia, and most of its territory is located on the Hindustan Peninsula, which is washed by the Bay of Bengal in the southwest and the Arabian Sea in the southeast.

The geological history of India, which began more than seventy-five million years ago, contributed to the formation of a rather distinctive geological, geographical and biological region, which today is called the Indian subcontinent.

The separation of the subcontinent is facilitated not only by the waters washing it from two sides, but also by the mountain ranges of the Himalayas, which are the highest mountains on the planet. It is in the Himalayas that the "peak of the planet" is located - Mount Chomolungma, also known as Everest. The hill plays the role of a natural border between India and China.

ancient history of india

The region where India is located has become one of the centers for the emergence of the most ancient civilizations of the East. In age, he is second only to the Sumerians and Egyptians. The culture arose in the north-west of the subcontinent, but by the 6th century, many independent principalities appeared in the territory of the entire north of India, which went down in history under the name of Mahajanapada.

By the 3rd century BC, the Mauryan Empire appeared on the territory of India, which rather quickly subjugated almost all of South Asia: from Afghanistan to modern Banladesh. The empire did not last long, but it was replaced by other successive governments. So there were: Greco-Indian, Indo-Scythian, Parthian-Indian and Kushan kingdoms.

Each of these states not only brought elements of their culture to Indian culture, but also contributed to the spread of elements of Indian culture to neighboring regions. Traces of the cultural influence of this civilization of antiquity can be found in Iranian culture, in Roman and, of course, in Greek.

foreign conquest

In the 10th century AD, the peninsula, where India is located, was invaded by passionate Islamic conquerors, who rather quickly conquered most of the peninsula and established the hegemony of Islam over a vast territory.

The first Islamic dynasty in the region was the Delhi Sultanate, which existed from 1206 to 1526. The Sultanate was replaced by the Mughal Empire, which managed to maintain the dominant position of Islam for another two centuries, but it also fell into decline, and was replaced by the Hindu Maratha Empire, created in 1624.

However, already in the 16th century, European merchants began to penetrate into the region where India is located, extremely interested in trade with a huge rich country. Portugal, France and the Netherlands made their attempts. However, Great Britain managed to achieve the greatest success, which by the middle of the 19th century subjugated most of the country, starting its conquest from small fragmented principalities.

However, the Portuguese colonists also managed to achieve some success. They subjugated that territory in India where Goa is located. The Portuguese administration existed on the site of the modern state until December 18, 1961, when Indian troops crushed the resistance of the Portuguese and occupied the territory of the former Portuguese colony. However, the accession of Goa to India was recognized by Portugal only in 1974.

Another Portuguese possession in South Asia was the coast where Kerala is in India. Today it is a state with one of the highest population densities in the entire country. And it is located on the Malabar coast.

East India Company

To conquer India, Britain chose an already proven technology - attracted private capital and technologies that could effectively capture new markets and bribe local rulers.

For this purpose, the British East India Company was created. The name of this large corporation indicates that the monopoly was engaged in trade in eastern India, that is, on the Hindustan peninsula.

In this case, it is necessary to clarify where the West Indies is located in order to avoid traditional confusion.

Historically, the West Indies are called the islands located off the coast of South America in the Caribbean Sea and in the Gulf of Mexico. First of all, we are usually talking about Cuba and Antigua.

Towards decolonization

Despite the fact that the liberation of India from foreign oppression and the beginning of decolonization was a positive event, it turned out that it could also have extremely negative consequences.

In 1946, a series of military mutinies demonstrated to the British authorities their inability to control the huge overseas territories in India, and the parliamentary elections that followed them once again demonstrated the need to start moving towards the independence of a huge country.

The first active participants in the military resistance to the British military were Muslims, who proclaimed a day of direct action in 1946. As a result of this action, a series of bloody clashes between Hindus and Muslims swept across the country. The need to divide India along religious and ethnic lines became obvious not only to the local population, but also to Her Majesty's government.

Partition of India

On August 15, 1947, Great Britain announced the creation of the Dominion of Pakistan, and the very next day it became known that the Indian Union had declared independence. This decision led to extremely bloody events and clashes, the victims of which were about a million people, and another eighteen million were forced to leave their homes and move to other regions.

The decision to divide the British possessions before the declaration of sovereignty by India was taken so that the creation of Pakistan would not look like its separation from sovereign India. Thus, both countries had equal rights and should not have claims against each other. However, this solution did not help to avoid territorial disputes in the future.

As a result of such large migration flows, a huge number of problems have arisen. The city of Delhi has experienced the greatest burden, with one to two million people settled there. A large number of people could not find a permanent home and were forced to settle in refugee camps.

However, the government of the new country soon began an active program to build permanent houses on the site of the tents.

Economy of India

The part of the world where India and China are located is of great importance for the modern international economy. Both countries are among the three largest economic powers in terms of GDP, second only to the United States. However, the size of the economy should not be misleading, as over the past decades, India has accumulated numerous problems that are still unresolved.

The ancient Indians were farmers. The oldest cities in India have been discovered. These are Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, which arose five thousand years ago. The ancient Indians did not know iron. Tools and decorations were made of copper and bronze. The cities carried on a lively trade.

To study the history of ancient India, people use different sources. Some of them are literary monuments and historical chronicles. In India, these were the sacred books of the Aryans, the Vedas, as well as materials from the epic tales of the Mahabharata and Ramayana. In addition, historical monuments of architecture and architecture have survived to our times. Let's consider some of them:

Buddhist stupa The word "stupa" means burial mound. It is the most important monumental structure of Buddhist art. A stupa is a Buddhist memorial and funerary monument, which also served as a storage place for Buddhist relics. In the central part of India, in Sanchi, the Great Stupa (32 centuries BC) has been preserved.

Taj Mahal The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum-mosque located in Agra. It was built by order of the descendant of Tamerlane, the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife who died in childbirth (later Shah Jahan himself was buried here). 1. Buddhist stupa. The word "stupa" means burial mound. It is the most important monumental structure of Buddhist art. A stupa is a Buddhist memorial and funerary monument, which also served as a storage place for Buddhist relics.

Red Fort. Red Fort fortification in the Indian city of Agra was the residence of the rulers. Located above the Yamuna River, just 2.5 km from the Taj Mahal. Part of the area of ​​the Red Fort is now used for military purposes and is not accessible to visitors.

Vrindavan. Vrindavan is an ancient city in India. At this place in ancient times there was a forest, in which, according to the literature of Hinduism, Krishna spent his lilas (games) more than 5000 years ago during his earthly incarnation. Vrindavan is also called the "city of 5000 temples"
The presentation was prepared by Pavlov Semyon Pupil 4 "A" class Lyceum 144, St. Petersburg. Internet resources were used to create the presentation: The Great Illustrated Encyclopedia.v.11. Compiled by Ya.Gershkovich.M.2010

India is one of the largest countries in South Asia. Most of its territory falls on the Hindustan peninsula. The southern part of the republic is washed by the Indian Ocean. The northern and northeastern parts are surrounded by the highest mountain system on the planet - the Himalayas. The northwestern region is in the Thar Desert.

physical map

The physical map of India (schematically shown view) shows the settlements, the main rivers of India and the routes of communication.

The satellite, on the other hand, clearly demonstrates the features of the country's relief.

Contour map

To streamline the information received, below is a contour map, with borders and major cities marked on it. Here, you can see where India is located on the world map and how its borders are.

The economic map of India is another good helper in getting to know the country. The economic map of India shows which regions and to what extent are occupied by various types of industry and agriculture. But the main income of the country comes from the service sector.

Today, the Republic ranks second in the world in terms of population. But according to forecasts, the population of India, by 2028, has every chance to catch up with the number of its neighbors from the Middle Kingdom.

A detailed map of India will show the location of the largest cities:

• Mumbai;
• Delhi;
• Bangalore;
• Calcutta;
• Chennai.

The history of settlement of some of them begins after the end of the 16th century (in the 16th century, European countries began to fight for the colonization of the territory). And some of them began their development even before our era.

It is impossible to ignore the places of the most ancient cities of India:

• Madurai;
• Varanasi;
• Patna;
• Pushkar;
• Ujjain.

Each ancient Indian city has its own customs and traditions, legends and beliefs.

Goa on the map of India is located in the southwestern part.

Another popular tourist destination is Kerala. On the map of India, Kerala is located in the very south. The largest national park located here, the tiger reserve, the Vishnu temple and the butterfly garden make this place extremely attractive for tourists.

For those who are interested in a variety of beaches, unique resorts are indicated below - on the map of India.

Airports in India on the map are indicated below.

Rivers and ocean

The Indian Ocean is one of the largest and deepest on the planet - it ranks third. All the seas, straits and bays of its components, total 11.68 million square kilometers. The coast of the country is washed by the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.

Large rivers flow into the latter:

• Ganges;
• Godavari;
• Brahmaputra;
• Kaveri;
• Krishna;
• Mahanadi.

The main rivers are the Indus and the Ganges.

India hotels map

Among the most popular hotels are:

1. The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai;
2. Courtyard Agra, Agra;
3. The Lalit New Delhi, New Delhi;
4. ITC Rajputana, Jaipur;
5. Abhimaani Vasathi, Bangalore.

Neighbors with Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, China and Pakistan on the eastern, northeastern and western borders, respectively. The state of Jammu and Kashmir in the northern part has an autonomous status, partly under the control of Pakistan and China.

Climate and weather

Most of the territory is characterized by three periods with their own climatic features:

1. June to October is the rainy season and fairly high air temperatures;
2. November to February - cool windy weather;
3. March to May is a very hot period.

Road map

On the map of national roads are marked:

• Golden quadrangle (yellow-orange line) - a highway connecting the main cultural, industrial and agricultural centers of the country;
• North-South Transport Corridor (orange line);
• West-East Transport Corridor (green line);
• Gray lines are national backbone networks.

Provinces and regions

In administrative terms, the Republic is divided into states (today there are 29), union territories (there are six of them) and the Delhi metropolitan area (the capital of India is New Delhi). On the map of India, the states are marked with different colors.

The next type of administrative division is districts, or districts. Now there are 642 districts, but the process of the emergence of new ones is constantly going on.

In turn, the districts are subdivided into smaller territories called taluks.

Regionally, the following areas can be distinguished:

• Northern;
• Western;
• Eastern;
• Northeast;
• South.

The most exotic beaches in India include South India. The northeastern part of the country is for adventure lovers. The Western region is a place with beautiful landscapes, milder climate and unique historical monuments. The population density is the highest here.

Absorbing many different cultures and traditions, with unique and diverse natural sites, India is an ideal place for an unforgettable vacation.

Interesting Facts:

1. Chess, the number "pi" and the decimal system appeared here;
2. At a time when most of the world's population led a nomadic lifestyle, the Harappan civilization was already flourishing here;
3. The button for notifying the driver about a stop in public transport (buses) is replaced by a rope with a bell attached to it;
4. The number of official languages ​​is 21. Plus, "auxiliary" English;
5. In addition to the main four seasons, there are two more here: pre-spring and monsoon seasons;
6. More than a quarter of the country's population do not know how to write and read. Half of the entire population lives in homes without sewerage or running water;
7. Traffic on the roads is not regulated in any way;
8. The world's first school of medicine, as well as a university, appeared here;
9. Thousands of years ago, they already used cane sugar here and possessed knowledge about anesthesia, genetics, the immune system;
10. The largest amount of whiskey is produced and consumed here too.