India will sideswipe you with its size, clamour and diversity. Nothing in the country is ever quite what you expect, and the only thing to expect is the unexpected which comes in many forms and will always want to sit next to you. India is a litmus test for many travelers and some visitors are only too happy to get on an aircraft and fly away, but if you enjoy delving into convoluted cosmologies and thrive on sensual overload, then India is one of the most intricate and rewarding dramas unfolding on earth.
Warning
In light of the dispute over Kashmir and the possibility of deteriorating relations between India and Pakistan, many governments are urging against travel to the Jammu and Kashmir regions.
The prospect of hostilities raises the stakes of the long-running border dispute, which has been an issue between the countries for more than 50 years. During the 1947 partition that led to the creation of Pakistan, Kashmir was free to choose which country it wanted to join.
 Warning
In light of the dispute over Kashmir and the possibility of deteriorating relations between India and Pakistan, many governments are urging against travel to the Jammu and Kashmir regions.
The prospect of hostilities raises the stakes of the long-running border dispute, which has been an issue between the countries for more than 50 years. During the 1947 partition that led to the creation of Pakistan, Kashmir was free to choose which country it wanted to join.
The local leader allied with India, and the region has been contested ever since, leading to two wars between the neighbours.
In addition to the conflict in Kashmir, religious and cast violence between Hindus and Muslims and different castes in the state of Bihar has claimed many lives . Travellers should exercise caution in these regions.
| Full country name: |
Republic of India |
| Area: |
3,287,590 sq km (1,229,737 sq mi) |
| Population: |
1,129,866,154 (July 2007). |
| Capital city: |
New Delhi |
| People: |
72% Indo-Aryan, 25% Dravidian, 3% other |
| Language: |
Hindi |
| Religion: |
80% Hindu, 14% Muslim, 2.4% Christian, 2% Sikh, 0.7% Buddhist, 0.5% Jains, 0.4% other |
| Government: |
Federal Republic |
| President: |
Smt. Pratibha Devsingh Patil |
| GDP: |
US$2.664 trillion |
| GDP per head: |
US$2600 |
| Annual growth: |
5.4% |
| Inflation: |
5.4% |
| Major industries: |
Textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery, rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, potatoes; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats, poultry, fish, IT, BPO, Softwares |
| Major trading partners: |
US, Hong Kong, UK, Japan, Germany, Belgium, Saudi Arabia |
| Time: |
GMT/UTC plus five hours 30 minutes |
| Electricity: |
230-240V, 50 HZ |
| Weights & measures: |
Metric |
Weather
October to March tend to be the most pleasant months over much of the country. In the far south, the monsoon weather pattern tends to make January to September more pleasant, while Sikkim and the areas of north-eastern India tend to be more palatable between March and August, and Kashmir and the mountainous regions of Himachal Pradesh are at their most accessible between May and September.
The deserts of Rajasthan and the north-western Indian Himalayan region are at their best during the monsoon.
Bangalore is like the airconditoned city of India , that's why it attracts maximum foreign investment and known as silicon valley of India.
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