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Country Fact File : India
Volunteer Travel to India on community education projects
India is the 6th biggest country in the world and hosts a population of one billion people who collectively speak over 1500 languages. India is a land of marked contrasts and this is without doubt one of its greatest appeals. The fertile plains of the south stand out against the huge peaks of the Himalayas in the North, whilst the desert conditions of Rajasthan distinguish themselves from the country’s eagerly awaited monsoon rains. Maharaja’s and palaces are ubiquitous throughout the major cities which are now synonymous with street children and slums. The diversity of the country will provide you with so many travel opportunities and it is difficult to know where to start; bazaars, golden beaches, religious festivals, the Taj Mahal, tigers and tea. One thing is for sure, India has something for everyone.
| Location | Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan |
| Area | 3,287,590 sq km |
| Border Countries | Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, China, Nepal, Pakistan |
| Climate | Varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north |
| Terrain | Upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain along the Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north |
| Highest Point | Kanchenjunga 8,598 m |
| Natural Hazards | Droughts; flash floods, as well as widespread and destructive flooding from monsoonal rains; severe thunderstorms; earthquakes |
| Environmental Issues | Deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; desertification; air pollution; water pollution; tap water is not potable throughout the country; huge and growing population is overstraining natural resources |
| Population | 1,080,264,388 (July 2005 est.) |
| Ethnic Groups | Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and other 3% (2000) |
| Religions | Hindu 80.5%, Muslim 13.4%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.1% (2001 census) |
| Languages | English is the most important language for national, political, and commercial communication; Hindi is the national language and primary tongue of 30% of the people; there are 14 other official languages including Bengali, Tamil, Urdu and Gujarati. |
| Type of Government | Federal Republic |
| Capital | New Delhi |
| Independence Day | 15 August 1947 (from UK) |
| Chief of State/ Head of Government |
President A.P.J. Abdul KALAM (since 26 July 2002) |
| Currency | Indian rupee (INR) |
| Time | GMT +5.5 |
Did you know?
India has one billion citizens, the 2nd highest population in the world and is the largest democracy in the world.
The number system was invented by India. Aryabhatta was the scientist who invented the digit zero.
India has the most post offices in the world
The largest employer in the world is the Indian railway system, employing over a million people
Chess was invented in India
Useful Numbers & Web Addresses
International dialing code: +91
Police tel: 100
Ambulance tel: 911
British High Commission: Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021, India. Tel: +91 11 2687 2161
Embassy in the UK: India House, Aldwych, London WC2B 4NA. Tel: (020) 7836 8484. Web: http://www.hcilondon.org/
1 888 653 6028
Duration and Costs
| Duration | Cost |
|---|---|
| 4 Weeks | US$2210 |
| 8 Weeks | US$2930 |
| 12 Weeks | US$3650 |
| Group Size |
|---|
| Maximum 12, plus project staff. |
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