India History, Facts & Tourism

India:

·        Indus Valley Civilization is 5000 years old.
·        The four religions born in India – Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, are
·        followed by 25% of the world’s population.
·        Besides the US and Japan, India is only other country in the world to have indigenously built a super computer.
·        India has the world’s largest pilgrimage destination called the Vishnu Temple the city of Tirupati. About an average of 30,000 people visit this temple donating about $6 million US dollars, everyday.
·        India has the largest number of Post Offices in the world.
·        Sushruta is regarded as the Father of Surgery. Over 2600 years ago Sushrata conducted complicated surgeries like cataract, artificial limbs, cesareans, fractures, urinary stones, plastic surgery and brain surgeries.

India Kingdoms

The invaders brought with them their own culture which was amalgamated into Indian way of life and it gave birth to an eclectic mix which can be seen today. India's physical, religious and racial variety is reflected in its culture. This vast cultural diversity is manifested in the monuments - temple, mosques, churches, monasteries, gurudwara's etc.

Stone Age 70,000–3300 BCE, Late Harappan Culture 1700–1300 BCE, Vedic period 1500–500 BCE, Iron Age 1200–300 BCE, Middle Kingdoms 250 BCE–1279 CE: • Chola Empire • 250 BCE–1070 CE, • Satavahana • 230 BCE–220 CE, • Kushan Empire • 60–240 CE, • Gupta Empire • 280–550 CE, • Pala Empire • 750–1174 CE, • Chalukya Dynasty • 543–753 CE, • Rashtrakuta • 753–982 CE, • Western Chalukya Empire • 973–1189 CE, • Chola dynasty 11th Century,  Hoysala Empire 1040–1346, • Kakatiya Empire 1083–1323

Islamic Sultanates 1206–1596: Ahom Kingdom 1228–1826, Vijayanagara Empire 1336–1646, 

Mughal Empire 1526–1858

Maratha Empire 1674–1818: 
Sikh Confederacy 1716–1799, Sikh Empire 1801–1849

British East India Company 1757–1858, British Raj 1858–1947

British influence is still seen in Indian architecture, education system, transportation, and politics. Many of India’s worst famines are associated with British rule in India.

Modern States 1947–present

------------------------------------------------------------------

Industrial Productivity

• ·    India is one of the largest exporter of computer software products, exporting software to more than 90 countries
• ·    India has the 2nd largest road network (1.9 million miles) in the world after the US
• ·    India has world’s second largest rail network, which is the world’s largest employer too with 16 million workers.
• ·    Textile industry provides direct employment to approximately 35 million people and fetches 35 per cent of gross export
• ·    12th largest producer of Chemical industry produces nearly 70,000 commercial products, from cosmetics and toiletries, to plastics and pesticides. The country is the 13th largest exporter of pesticides and disinfectants globally.
• ·    10^th in production of the finished Stee recorded a growth of 4 per cent and reached 28.3 million tonnes.
• ·    Cement industry is of 125 large cement plants and over 300 mini cement plants producing 110m tonnes and exports
• ·    The organised mining sector employs nearly 0.7 million people.
• ·    The petroleum industry in India is one of the oldest industry in the world, with oil being struck as early as 1867. Major Players in integrated refining and marketing are HPCL, BPCL and IOC.
• ·    6^th largest passenger car and commercial vehicle manufacturing industry with an annual production of more than 4m units
• ·    Asia's fourth largest exporter of passenger ca

--------------------------------------------

Agricultural Productivity

Worlds first largest producer of Fresh Fruit, Lemons and limes, Buffalo milk, Castor oil seeds, Sunflower seeds, Sorghum, Millet, Spices, Okra, Jute, Beeswax, Bananas, Mangoes, guavas, Pulses, Tropical Fruit, Ginger, Chick peas, Areca nuts, Papayas, Chillies and peppers, dry Anise, badian, fennel, coriander, Goat milk.

World's second largest producer of Wheat, Rice, Vegetables, Sugar cane, Groundnuts, Lentils, Garlic, Cauliflowers and broccoli, Green Peas, Sesame seed, Cashew nuts, Silk-worm cocoons, Cow milk, Tea, Potatoes, Onions, Cotton lint, Cottonseed, Eggplants (aubergines), Nutmeg, mace and cardamoms. Indigenous Goat Meat, Cabbages and other brassicas, Pumpkins, squash and gourds.

Third largest producer of eggs, oranges, coconuts, tomatoes, peas and beans.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Historical Inventions
India invented the number system, The study of Algebra and Trigonometry originated in India, first to calculate the value of "pi", place value system and the decimal system was first used in India. Ayurveda, the earliest school of medicine known to mankind, was started in India in 2,500 BC,

The art of navigation was developed in India nearly 6000 years ago. Yoga originated in India some 5000 years ago. Anesthesia was used in Indian medicine long before it was adopted into modern medicine.

1000 BC, steel was invented in India. 

In the 5th century, Bhaskaracharya was the first to correctly calculate the time that the Earth takes to orbit the Sun (365.258756484 days).

Snakes & Ladders, one of the most widely played board games, was created in 13^th century. Chess was also invented in India.

--------------------------------------------------------------
Demographic

population of 1.2 billion (1,241,491,960) second with population (1.2 billion -second to China)- UK 62m- (Maharashtra 112m) and Mumbai Third 20m, Portugal 10m, Spain 47m, 

      Area mass: India is 7th largest country (3.3 million sq. kms), Kashmir to Kanya Kumari (top to bottom) is same distance as from Glasgow to Istanbul (2,500 miles, 3,800km). UK is 244K km² in size. (Maharashtra 308K km², India is 3^rd of Europe land mass 10,180K km², 

There are 27 States in India and 17 official languages

Religions: Hinduism (81%), Islam (13%), Christianity (2%), Sikhism (2%), Others (2%).

India is largest English speaking nation in the world.         

India 3,287,590 km², Maharashtra 308K km² , UK 131K km²(3^rd), Spain 505K km²

⁽Portugal 91k km² first to navigate globe and older kingdom than Spain)

      
     India is largest democracy in the world. 
      
     Oldest civilization (Indus Valley).

  
      Highways are built as India Quadrilateral 6 lane highway project connecting Mumbai to Delhi (NH8), Mumbai to Chennai (NH4), Chennai to Kolkata and Kolkata to Delhi.

Railway: India has 75,000 miles track (largest in world) & 7,500 stations

       
      India got Independence from British in 1947, (Malaysia/ British 1957, Singapore/ British 1965, Indonesia/ Dutch 1945).

        
     Indians abroad:  in UK 3m (5%- 60m), South Africa 1.5m (2.5% - 50m, land 1,219Kkm²)

     Oldest Mosque in India- Cheraman Perumal Juma Masjid in Kerala believed to be the first Masjid in India built in 629 AD by Malik Ibn Dinar. India has 300,000 mosques which is much more than the Muslim world.

         
      Indian Cities: Top 10 Tier 1 cities of India are- Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Banglore, Hyderabad, Surat, Pune, Nagpur. 

There are over 500 tier 2 cities and over 800 tier 3 cities. Other good cities to visit are Chandigad, Jaipur, Udaipur, Bhopal, Lucknow, Kochi, Panjim

     

      Hill Stations in Himalays in North India (Srinagar, Leh in Ladhak, Shimla, Kulu, Manali, Nainital, Mussoorie, Dargeeling in East or Munnar in Kerala. Many were developed by British as summer retreat