InFocus | India
Facts of India
The country is surrounded by the Bay of Bengal in the east, the Arabian Sea in the west and the Indian Ocean to the south. The Himalayas form the highest mountain range in the world, extending 2,500km over northern India.
- Compiled by D. Hari Nair
- Published: 00:00 August 14, 2006
Land & people
Area: 3,287,590 sq km
Population (July 2006 est.): 1.095 billion
Capital: New Delhi
Languages: There are about 15 major languages and 844 different dialects. Hindi, spoken by about 45 per cent of the population, is the national language. English is retained as a language for official communication.
GDP per capita (2005 est.): $3,300
Situated in southern Asia, the Indian peninsula is separated from mainland Asia by the Himalayas. The country is surrounded by the Bay of Bengal in the east, the Arabian Sea in the west and the Indian Ocean to the south. The Himalayas form the highest mountain range in the world, extending 2,500km over northern India. Bounded by the Indus River in the west and the Brahmaputra in the east, the three parallel ranges, the Himadri, Himachal and Shivaliks have deep canyons gorged by the rivers flowing into the Gangetic plain.
India's history is shrouded in antiquity, and the country has been thought of as a nation of philosophers with a well-developed and even idyllic society. Nearly every major religion in the world is represented here.
There are 28 states and seven Union territories in the country. The states are: Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. The Union Territories include Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Delhi, Lakshadweep and Pondicherry.
Useful addresses
• Embassy of India, P.O. Box
No. 4090, Abu Dhabi.
Tel: 02-4492700; Fax:
02-4444685; E-mail:
indiauae@emirates.net.ae
• Consulate General of India, Dubai, P.O.Box 737, Dubai.
Tel: 04-3971222/3971333;
Fax: 04-3970453; E-mail: cgidubai@emirates.net.ae;
Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system for enquiries:
04-2276606
• Indiatourism, Post Box 12856, NASA Building, Al Maktoum Road, Dubai.
Tel: 04-2274848/2274199;
Fax: 04-2274013; E-mail:
goirto@emirates.net.ae
• Air India Ltd, P.O. Box 1701, Dubai. Tel: 04-2276747/2278767 (Administration), 04- 2276787 (Reservations), 04-2272377 (Ticketing); Fax: 04-2281883;
E-mail: dxbtoai@emirates.net.ae
• Indian Airlines, P.O. Box 1477, Sharjah. Tel: 06-5610303;
Fax: 06-5618789
• Ministry of Tourism, Transport Bhavan, Parliament Street,
New Delhi 110 001, India.
Tel: 91 +011 +23711995;
Fax: 91 +011 +23710518; E-mail: contactus@incredibleindia.org; website: www.incredibleindia.org
Passport/visa
All foreign nationals entering the country are required to possess a valid international travel document in the form of a national passport or UN Laissez Faire with a valid visa obtained from an Indian Mission or Post abroad.
Nationals of Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives are, however, exempted from this requirement. Foreign students intending to pursue regular academic courses in India should apply for student visa.
For further information on entry requirements, please contact your nearest Indian embassy or consulate/high commission.
Cash/credit cards
ATMs (Automated Teller Machines) are by far the easiest way to get money. These 24-hour machines are readily available in most Indian cities and larger towns and at large commercial banks. Traveller's cheques are also useful.
Credit cards are a safe way to carry money, and MasterCard and Visa are commonly accepted throughout India. Most major hotels and restaurants accept American Express, while Diners Club has a much smaller following.
Getting there
Most major airline carriers have flights to India. The country has several international airports that include Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Amritsar.
The official flag carrier Air India and many other airlines operate an excellent network of international air services in the country. The state-run Indian (Indian Airlines) operates services to some of the neighbouring countries.
Mumbai receives the maximum amount of international traffic and is the best point of arrival for onward travel to other parts of the country. Delhi's international airport is the major starting point for journeys throughout North India, including the Himalayan regions and Rajasthan as well as east India.
Shopping
You can shop till you drop — buying exquisite silks, carved figurines, brass and silverware, marble inlaid with semi-precious stones, finely crafted jewellery, miniature paintings, carpets, all at unbelievable prices. Most major cities have representative handicraft showrooms of all states of India.
Tipping
It is customary to tip waiters, porters, guides and drivers. Tips are not included in the bill.
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