Page 62 - Soul of India: The Colorful South

DEMOGRAPHICS & HISTORY

India

Facts & Figures

• Area: 1,269,219 square miles

• Capital: New Delhi

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• Ethnicity: Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Other 3%

• Location: India is bordered by Burma, Pakistan, the Arabian Sea, and the Bay of Bengal.

• Geography: India consists of plateau and rolling plains, desert to the west, and the
Himalaya Mountains in the north.

• Population: 1,251,695,584

• Religion: Hindu 79.8%, Muslim 14.2%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.7%, other and
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• Time Zone: Indian is on Standard Time, 9.5 hours ahead of U.S. EST. When it is 6am in
Washington D.C., it is 3:30pm in New Delhi.
National Holidays: India

In addition to the holidays listed below, 01/26 Republic Day
India celebrates a number of national
08/15 Independence Day
holidays that follow a lunar calendar, such
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you will be traveling during these holidays,
please visit www.timeanddate.com/ 12/25 Christmas Day
holidays.

Historical Overview of India

Early History

There is evidence of a civilized, urban society in the Indus Valley dating back over 5,000
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the same racial group as the Aborigines of Australia. Unfortunately, the writing system from
this time has never been translated, and little is known about India’s earliest inhabitants.
However, archaeologists have found working wells and bathrooms, sophisticated drainage
systems, jewelry, brass items and cooking utensils, indicating that the society was remarkably
advanced.

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