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The subcontinent of
India lies in
south Asia, between
Pakistan, China and
Nepal. To the north
it is bordered by
the world's highest
mountain chain,
where foothill
valleys cover the
northernmost of the
country's 26 states.
Further south,
plateaus, tropical
rain forests and
sandy deserts are
bordered by palm
fringed beaches .
Side by side with
the country's
staggering
topographical
variations is its
cultural diversity,
the result of the
coexistence of a
number of religions
as well as local
tradition. Thus, the
towering temples of
south India, easily
identifiable by
their ornately
sculptured surface,
are associated with
a great many crafts
and performing arts
of the region.
In the desert of
Kutch, Gujarat, on
the other hand, a
scattering of
villages pit
themselves against
the awesome forces
of nature, resulting
in Spartan
lifestyles made
vibrant by a
profusion of
jewellery and
ornamental
embroidery used to
adorn apparel and
household linen. In
the extreme north is
the high altitude
desert of Ladakh.
Local culture is
visibly shaped by
the faith - Buddhism
-as well as by the
harsh terrain. Yet
another facet of
Indian culture is
observed in the
colourful tribal
lifestyles of the
north eastern states
of Nagaland, Mizoram,
Tripura and Manipur
with their folk
culture.
In the central
Indian states of
Orissa and Madhya
Pradesh tribal
village life has
resulted in a
variety of
artistically
executed
handicrafts.
India's mountains
provide heli-skiing,
river running,
mountaineering and
trekking. Its
beaches provide lazy
sun-bathing as well
as wind surfing and
snorkelling, and its
jungles provide
shooting wildlife
-with a camera.
India's history goes
back to 3,200 BC
when Hinduism was
first founded.
Buddhism, Jainism,
Sikhism. Judaism.
Zoroashtrianism,
Christianity and
Islam all exist
within the country
today. As a
consequence of
India's size, the
history of the
country has seldom
been the same for
two adjoining
territories, and its
great natural wealth
has lured a
succession of
traders and foreign
influences to it,
each having left
their imprint in the
country, however
faint or localized.
Thus, Chinese
fishing nets in
Kerala are a
throwback to that
country's ancient
maritime trade,
while in the north,
terra-cotta
figurines of the
centuries BC bear
distinctly Greek
traces.
Modern
India is home
alike to the tribal
with his
anachronistic
lifestyle and to the
sophisticated urban
jetsetter. It is a
land where temple
elephants exist
amicably with the
microchip. Its
ancient monuments
are the backdrop for
the world's largest
democracy where
atomic energy is
generated and
industrial
development has
brought the country
within the world's
top ten nations.
Today, fishermen
along the country's
coastline fashion
simple fishing boats
in a centuries old
tradition while, a
few miles away.
motor vehicles glide
off conveyor belts
in state-of-the-art
factories.
Reach family,
friends and work
colleges and make
your cheap phone
calls today.
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