The wealth of Indian nature is in its diversity. 3/4 of the country's territory is occupied by plains and plateaus. India resembles a huge triangle, directed by its apex at. Along the base of the Indian triangle stretched the Karakorum, Gin-dukush and mountain systems.
South of the Himalayas lies the vast, fertile Indo-Gangetic plain. To the west of the Indo-Gangetic Plain lies the barren Thar Desert.
Further south is the Deccan Plateau, which occupies most of the central and southern. On both sides, the plateau is bordered by the mountains of the Eastern and Western Ghats, their foothills are occupied by tropical forests.
The climate of India in most of its territory is subequatorial, monsoonal. In the north and northwest - tropical, where precipitation is about 100 mm / year. On the windward slopes of the Himalayas, 5000-6000 mm of precipitation falls annually, and in the center of the peninsula - 300-500 mm. In summer, up to 80% of all precipitation falls.
The largest rivers of India - the Ganges, the Indus, the Brahmaputra, originate in the mountains and are fed by snow-glacier and rain. The rivers of the Deccan plateau are fed by rain. During the winter monsoon, the rivers of the plateau dry up.
In the north of the country, brown-red and red-brown savannah soils predominate, in the center - black and gray tropical and red-earth laterinth soils. In the south - yellow earth and red earth, developed on lava covers. The coastal lowlands and river valleys are covered with rich alluvial deposits.
The natural vegetation of India has been greatly altered by man. Monsoon forests have survived only 10-15% of the original area. Every year, the area of forests in India is reduced by 1.5 million hectares. In grow acacias, palm trees. In subtropical forests - sandalwood, teak, bamboo, coconut palms. In the mountains it is clearly expressed
India is rich and varied animal world: deer, antelopes, elephants, tigers, Himalayan bears, rhinos, panthers, monkeys, wild boars, many snakes, birds, fish.
The recreational resources of India are of world importance: coastal, historical, cultural, architectural, etc.
India has significant reserves. Manganese deposits are concentrated in central and eastern India. The bowels of India are rich in chromites, uranium, thorium, copper, bauxites, gold, magnesites, mica, diamonds, precious and semi-precious stones.
Coal reserves in the country amount to 120 billion tons (Bihar state and West Bengal). India's oil and gas are concentrated in the Asamu valley and on the plains of Gujaratu, as well as on the shelf in the Bombay region.
unfavorable natural phenomena In India, there are droughts, earthquakes, floods (8 million hectares), fires, snowfall in the mountains, soils (6 billion tons the country is losing), desertification in western India, and deforestation.
The relief of India is very diverse - from the plains in the South of India, to the glaciers in the North, in the Himalayas, and from the desert regions of the West, to the tropical forests in the East. The height above sea level varies from 0 to 8598 meters. The highest point is Mount Kapchspyupga.
There are seven natural regions on the territory of India: the Northern mountain range (consisting of the Himalayas and the Karakoram), the Indo-Gangetic Plain, the Great Indian Desert, the Southern Plateau (Decan Plateau), the East Coast, the West Coast and the Adaman, Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands.
The Deccan Plateau (Decan, comes from the word dakshin - southern), outside is also a triangle, the top of which is located at the southern tip of India. It stretches for 1600 km from north to south and 1400 km from west to east. In geological terms, the plateau is much older than the Himalayas. It is a Precambrian platform composed mostly of gneisses, granites, schists, limestones and sandstones. In some places there are basalt outcrops of the Cretaceous period. The plateau is bordered on both sides by the Eastern and Western Ghats. In the south are the Cardamom Mountains, composed of gneisses and shales, from which the spurs of the Palni and Anaimalai mountains depart. The Anaimalai Mountains (the highest point is Anaimudi, 2698 m) are the highest in South India.
Between the Deccan and the Himalayas, the alluvial Indo-Gangetic plain stretches in a wide arc along the Ganges. It is located in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Its length is about 3 thousand km, width is 250-350 km. The total area of the plain is 650 thousand km2. Here, the plain of the Ganga River stands out in particular, stretching for 1050 km and covering an area of 319 thousand km2. In the west, the Thar Desert adjoins the Indo-Gangetic Plain. The desert begins at the Kachchh Rann and runs north along the Indo-Pakistani border.
Coastal lowlands border the Deccan Plateau. The lowland of the western coast is a narrow flat ribbon stretching from Surat (Gujarat) to Cape Kamorin for 1500 km. It has a very varied landscape. There are swamps, lagoons, mudflats, river estuaries, bays and islands. The large rivers flowing into the Gulf of Cambay carry a huge amount of sediment here, which contributed to the creation of a comparatively large Gujarat plain. To the south of it, the lowland narrows to 50 km. In the south of Kerala, the lowland expands again, reaching a length of up to 100 km.
In the northeast is the Chhota Nagpur plateau (average height is about 600 m), above which individual tower-shaped ridges of dense sandstone rise to a height of 1366 m. The plateau descends in the north to the plain of the river. Ganges.
There are seven mountain ranges in India, with peaks above 1000 m: the Himalayas, Patkai or Eastern Highlands, Aravali, Vindhya, Satpura, Sahyadri or Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats.
The Himalayas (Himalaya, Abode of Snows) stretch from east to west (from the gorge of the Brahmaputra River to the Indus River) for 2500 km with a width of 150 to 400 km. The Himalayas are wider in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh and rise to their greatest height in eastern Nepal. 50 million years ago, in place of the Himalayas, there was a huge Tethys Sea. In general, the Himalayas consist of 3 main ranges: the Sivalik mountains on the southern edge of the mountain system (average height 800-1200 m), the Huge Himalayas along the border with Tibet (5500-6000 m) and the Lesser Himalayas (2500-3000 m), located between the Great Himalayas and the Sivalik Mountains. The Small and Large Himalayas are characterized by alpine landforms and are deeply dissected by rivers.
Patkai or Purvachal (Patkai or Purvachal) stretch along India's border with Myanmar (Burma) and Bangladesh. By the time of formation they are contemporaries of the Himalayas. The highest point is 4578 m.
The Aravalis in North India stretch for almost 725 km from the northeast to the southwest from Divide through the state of Rajasthan to the northeastern edge of the state of Gujarat. This is an old folded chain, consisting of small parallel ridges, heavily eroded, with smoothed tops and many screes. They are considered the remnant of a large mountain system, the peaks of which were covered with snow. The highest point is Mount Guru Shikhar (1722 m) in the town of Mount Abu in southern Rajasthan.
Vindhya (Vindhya) rise on the border of the Indo-Gangetic plains and the Deccan plateau, separating North India from South India. They stretch for a distance of 1050 km, separating the plain from the plateau. This is the southern steep edge of the Malva basalt plateau, strongly dissected by river valleys, which does not form a continuous chain. The average height is up to 300 m, the high altitude is 700-800 m. The highest point is 881 m.
In the northern part of the Deccan plateau there are medium-altitude rocky ridges of Satpura, Mahadeo, Maykal, composed of gneisses, crystalline schists and other rocks, between which immense lava plateaus are located. Satpura in Central India stretches for 900 km from East Gujarat off the coast Arabian Sea through Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh to Chhattisgarh, from the Western Lowlands along the interfluve of the Tapti and Narmada rivers. They run parallel to the Vindhya mountains south of the Narmada River, which flows in the lowlands between these mountain ranges. The highest point is Mount Dhupgarh, 1350 m.
Western Ghats, or Sadhyadri (Sahyadri) stretch for 1600 km along the western coast of India - from the mouth of the river. Tapti to Cape Camorin. The average height of the mountains is 900 m. Their western slope slopes down to the sea in sheer ledges, the eastern one is gentle, cut by the valleys of large rivers (Krishna, Godavari, Mahanadi). Their southern continuation is the horst massifs of the Nilgiri, Anaimalai, Cardamom Mountains with sharpened peaks, steep slopes, and deep gorges. The highest point is the city of Doddabetta (2633 m) in the northwestern part of the state of Tamil Nadu.
The Eastern Ghats form the eastern edge of the Deccan Plateau. They stretch along the east coast of India, from West Bengal, through Orissa and Andhra Pradesh to Tamil Nadu. The Eastern Ghats join the Western Ghats at the Nilgiri Mountains. They are divided into separate massifs by strong rivers flowing from west to east as a result of the inclination of the Deccan Plateau to the east. The highest point is 1680 m.
The main centers of glaciation are concentrated in the Karakoram and on the southern slopes of the Zaskar range in the Himalayas. The glaciers are fed by snowfalls during the summer monsoons and snow drifts from the slopes. The average height of the snow line decreases from 5300 m in the west to 4500 m in the east. Due to global warming, glaciers are retreating.
Capital- Delhi.
Time ahead of Moscow by 2.5 hours.
Square- 3,287,000 sq. km.
Population- about 1 billion people.
National language: Hindi, English spoken. India knows no equal in terms of the number of languages. According to the latest census, 1,652 languages are registered in India, 15 of which are listed in a special appendix to the Constitution. The modern literary language is Hindi, official language seven northern states, is also the official language of the Indian Union.
National currency: Indian rupee, 100INR=2.3042USD.
Religion: 80% of the population are Hindus, Muslims make up a significant religious minority - 12%. The number of Christians reaches only 18 million. Mostly they are Catholics and Protestants. There are also Orthodox parishes. Of the confessions born on Indian soil, Sikhism stands out, the number of followers of which exceeds 17 million. In Mumbai (formerly Bombay) there is a small (about 200 thousand), but influential community of fire-worshipping Parsis. In the seaside cities of Kerala, you can meet followers of Judaism (about 6 thousand). About 26 thousand representatives of aboriginal tribes profess various pagan beliefs.
Geographical position
India is located on the Hindustan peninsula between the headwaters of the rivers of the Indus system in the Punjab in the West and the river system of the Ganges in the East.
The southeastern part of Hindustan forms a vast plain - Tamil Nadu.
The Hindustan Peninsula is still sometimes called the Indian subcontinent - and there is every reason for this both because of its impressive size (about 2 thousand km in the East-West direction and 3 thousand km in the North-South direction), and because of for its geological history - in the distant past, Hindustan, due to continental drift) separated from Africa and "drifted" to Asia.
Relief
In the south, the vast Deccan plateau stretches (1600 km from north to south and 1400 km from west to east), which has an arid climate, rapids, rivers that become very shallow in winter and drought-resistant vegetation such as savannahs and forests with falling leaves.
The Deccan is an arid, rolling plateau bounded on the west and east by the Western (higher) and Eastern Ghats. The Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri rivers flow through the Dekan plateau in the direction from West to East. Interestingly, according to modern ideas, the Deccan plateau was formed tens of millions of years ago as a result of "swelling" earth's surface from an asteroid impact from the opposite side the globe in the Gulf of Mexico (it was this catastrophe that probably caused the extinction of the dinosaurs).
In the north is the world's highest system of the Himalayan ("Abode of the Snow") mountains (the highest point of Chomolungma - 8848 m above sea level) with snowy peaks and glaciers; to the east is the fertile valley of the Ganges.
In addition to the Himalayas, six more large mountain ranges rise in India: Paktai (Eastern Highlands), Aravali, Vindhya, Saptura, Sadyari (Western Ghats), Eastern Ghats.
The Himalayas stretched from east to west (from the Brahmaputra river to the Indus river) for 2500 km with a width of 150 to 400 km. The Himalayas consist of three main mountain ranges: the Sivalik Mountains in the south (altitudes 800-1200 m), then the Lesser Himalayas (2500-3000 m) and the Greater Himalayas (5500-6000 m).
The Paktai Mountains (Purwachal, Eastern Highlands) stretch along India's border with Burma and Bangladesh. highest point - 4578 m.
The Araval Mountains stretch for 725 km from Delido pcs. Gujarat. The highest point is Mount Guru (1722 m).
The Vindhya Mountains rise on the border of the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the Deccan Plateau. They stretched for a distance of 1050 km, heights - up to 700-800 m.
The chain of the Satpur Mountains stretches for 900 km from the Western Lowland to the interfluve of the Tapti and Narmada. The highest point - Dhupgarh - 1350 m.
Western Ghats (Sadhryadri) stretch for 1600 km along the western coast of India for 1600 km - from the mouth of the river. Tapti to Cape Camorin. The highest point is Dodabetta (2633 m).
The Eastern Ghats stretch along the east coast of India. The highest point is 1680 m.
The Indo-Gangetic Plain occupies the central and eastern part of India, its area is 319 thousand square kilometers. Up to 250 million people live on the territory of the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
To the west, the Thar Desert (Thar, Great Indian Desert) adjoins the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
Minerals
The mineral resources of India are diverse and their reserves are significant. The main deposits are located in the northeast of the country. On the border of the states of Orisa and Bihar, there are iron ore basins that are among the most important in the world (the largest is Singbhum on the Chhota-Nagpur plateau). Iron ores are of high quality. General geological reserves are over 19 billion tons. India also has significant reserves of manganese ores. Somewhat to the north of the iron ore are the main coal basins (in the states of Bihar, West Bengal), but these coals are of low quality. Explored reserves hard coal in the country are about 23 billion tons (total coal reserves in India, according to various sources, are estimated at 140 billion tons).
In the north-east of the country, there is a particularly favorable concentration of minerals for the development of heavy industries. The state of Bihar is the most mineral-rich region in India.
The minerals of South India are diverse. These are bauxites, chromites, magnesites, brown coal, graphite, mica, diamonds, gold, monazite sands. In Central India ( East End Madhya Pradesh) also has significant deposits of ferrous metals and coal.
Inland waters
The rivers Ganges (2510 km), Brahmaputra (2900 km), Indus (2879 km), Narbada and others are deep and navigable for a long distance. Many Deccan rivers dry up during the dry season. Floods are frequent during the rainy season in North India.
Climate
The climate of India is very diverse.
The Himalayas have cold winters with occasional frosts and snowfall. On the northern plains - cool winters and sharp fluctuations in temperature, depending on the time of day, summers are very hot.
On the Deccan Plateau, temperature fluctuations are small, but in higher regions, the nights are cold in winter.
It is always hot in the plains of Tamilland, but the temperature does not rise as high as in the northern regions of the country.
The most important feature of the Indian climate is the rainy season (monsoon period). It lasts from June for about 2 months. During the rest of the year, the climate is characterized by aridity (with the exception of the western coast).
Animal and vegetable world
The Hindustan peninsula is a whole continent, the climatic and geographical originality of which contributes to the prosperity of the animal and plant world.
In India, there are about 45 thousand plant species, of which 15 thousand are found only in India. Forests in India cover an area of 639 thousand square kilometers, which is 19.45% of the entire territory of the country.
There are approximately 82,000 different animal species in India, including 850 mammal species, 2,000 bird species, 2,500 fish species, 150 amphibian species, 450 reptile species, and approximately 60,000 insect species.
Although species ranges overlap each other, each region has its own idiosyncrasies. The hangul is limited to the Kashmir Valley in northern India, rhinoceroses are found in separate floodplains along the Brahmaputra River in the east, black langur in the Western Ghats, and Western India serves as a refuge for the last remaining Asiatic lions.
The two most impressive species are the Bengal tiger and Indian elephant, are still found throughout the territory, although recently their population has been greatly reduced.
The Bengal tiger reaches a length of 3 meters and a weight of up to 290 kg. Even in the recent past, tigers were mercilessly destroyed, and by 1973, when special program to restore the population of Bengal tigers, there were only 1827 individuals. By 1986, the population of Bengal tigers had increased to 4230 individuals.
The Indian elephant is slightly smaller than the African elephant. Its size reaches 3 meters in height and 3.2 in length. And, unlike the African, it lends itself well to training and has long been a pet. AT ancient world Indian elephants were often used in the armed forces.
The Asiatic (Gir) lion survived only in the Gir forest on the Kathiwar Peninsula in Western India. Its number reaches 210-220 individuals.
Gaur or Indian bison is the largest ungulate animal in India. The male reaches 95 cm in height and weighs over 900 kg.
The large Indian rhinoceros reaches 180 cm in height and 335 cm in length. The length of the horn reaches 61 cm. Indian rhinos are found mainly in the Kazirang National Park.
The only representative of the anthropoid apes - the Huloka gibbon - is found in the forests of Assam. The height of the male reaches 90 cm, weight up to 8 kg.
Langur is the most common monkey species in India. The male langur reaches 75 cm in height, weight - up to 21 kg.
The king cobra is the largest venomous snake in India. It reaches a length of 5.5 m. The bite of a king cobra is deadly even for an elephant.
Indian cobra (another species poisonous snakes) reaches a length of 180 cm.
The Gangetic gharial lives in the Ganges valley. The length of this crocodile reaches 6.6 m. The population of this crocodile is rather small.
In order to preserve rare and small species of flora and fauna, 83 national parks, 447 nature reserves, 23 tiger reserves, 200 zoos and 8 biosphere reserves have been created in India.
Reserves and national parks
national park Dachigam (Kashmir)
Wide valley: mountain slopes. live here rare view deer - hangul, black and brown bears, leopards; heron nests. Airport: Srinagar, 22 km. Railway station: Jammu, 311 km. Season: June - July. Accommodation: Srinagar - water houses on Dal and Nagin lakes.
Govind Sagar Bird Sanctuary (Himachal Pradesh)
The bird sanctuary is inhabited by cranes, ducks, geese, teals. Airport: Chandigarh, 135 km. Railway station: Nangal, 13 km. Accommodation: You can stay in Bakra.
Corbett National Park (Uttar Pradesh)
Foothills of the Himalayas in the vicinity of Dikal; saline forests and plains. Fauna: tigers, elephants, leopards and various birds. Excellent fishing in the Ramgang River. Airport: Pantnagar, 115 km. Railway station: Ramnagar, 51 km. Season: November - May. Accommodation: in the park.
Dadwa National Park (Uttar Pradesh)
Nepal border. Tigers, sloth bears and panthers live here. Airport: Lucknow, 251 km. Railway station: Dadva, 4 km. Season: November - May. Accommodation in the park.
Flower Valley National Park (Uttar Pradesh)
When in bloom, this "garden on the roof of the world", elevated to a height of 3500 m, dazzles with exuberant colors. Location: 44 km from Badrinath. Railway station: Rishikesh, 280 km. Season: June - July.
Sariska National Park (Rajasthan)
About 200 km from Delhi. Forest and open plains. Sambar (the largest of the Indian deer), chetal (spotted deer), nilgai (Indian antelope), black deer, leopard, tiger; good night view. Airport: Jaipur, 160 km. Railway station: Alwar, 35 km (bus service). Season: February - June. Accommodation: in the park.
Ranthambhor (Sawai Madhopur - Rajasthan)
Hilly forests, plains and lakes. Sambar, chinkara (Indian gazelle), tiger, sloth bear, crocodiles and migratory waterfowl. Airport: Jaipur, 162 km. Railway station: Sawai-Madhopur, 11 km. Season: November - May. Accommodation: in the park and in Sawai Madhopur.
Bandavgari National Park (Madhya Pradesh)
Situated in the Vindya Mountains. The park has a diverse fauna including panthers, sambars and gaurs. Airport: Jabalpur, 166 km. Railway station: Umaria, 34 km. Accommodation: forest hotel in the park.
Bharatpur National Park (Keoloadeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary) (Rajasthan)
The most famous bird sanctuary in India. There are many unique waterfowl here, a large number of migrants from Siberia and China; cranes, geese, herons, snake-catchers, etc. Airport: Agra, 52 km. Railway station: Bharatpur, 5 km. Road connection: 176 km from Jaipur, 177 km from Delhi. Season: September - February. Accommodation: on the territory of the reserve.
Kanha National Park (Madhya Pradesh)
Saline forests and savanna. The only place where the barashingha (marsh deer) lives; in addition, there are tiger, chetal, gaur (Indian bison), monkeys. Airport: Nagpur, 270 km. Railway station: Jabalpur, 170 km. Season: November - March. Accommodation: on the territory of the park, in Cana and Kisli.
Shivpuri National Park (Madhya Pradesh)
Open forests and lake. Fauna: chinkara, chousingha (four-horned antelope), nilgai, tiger, leopard, waterfowl. Airport: Jhansi, 95 km. Season: February - May. Accommodation: motel, forest holiday home.
Kaziranga National Park (Assam)
Meadows and swamps. Fauna: Indian one-horned rhinoceros, water bull, tiger, leopard, elephant, deer, various birds. It is possible to move around the park on elephants. Airports: Jorhat, 96 km, and Guwahati, 217 km. Railway station: Furkating, 78 km. Season: February - May. Accommodation: in the park.
Reserve Manas (Assam)
On the border with Bhutan. Rainforest, savannah and river banks are inhabited by rhino, water bull, tiger, elephant, golden langur, waterfowl. Fishing is allowed. Airport: Guwahati, 176 km. Railway station: Sarupeta, 40 km. Season: January - March. Accommodation: on the territory of the reserve.
Palamau Tiger Reserve (Bihar)
Rocky and wooded hills. Tiger, leopard, elephant, sambar, wild tropical cat, rhesus monkey, rarely wolf. Airport: Ranchi, 155 km. Railway station: Daltonganj, 19 km. Season: February - March. Accommodation: in Belt.
Hazaribag National Park (Bihar)
Salt marshes and wooded hills. Sambar, nilgai, chetal, tiger, leopard, rarely - muntjak (large barking deer). Airport: Ranchi, 100 km. Railway station: Hazaribag, 67 km. Season: February - March. Accommodation: in the park.
Sunderbans Tiger Reserve (West Bengal)
Mangrove forests. Tiger, river cat, deer, crocodile, dolphin, various birds. Transport: external and internal transportation by boats. Airport: Kolkata, 48 km. Season: February - March. Accommodation: there are no hotels and conditions for overnight stay on the territory and near the reserve.
Jaldapara Game Reserve (West Bengal)
Tropical forest and savanna. Rhinoceros, elephant, various birds. Airport: Bagdogra, 155 km. Railway station: Madari Hat, 11 km. Season: March - May. Accommodation: holiday home in Jaldapar.
Similipal Tiger Reserve (Orissa)
Extensive saline forest. Tiger, elephant, leopard, sambar, chetal, muntjak deer and deer. Airport: Bhubaneswar, 310 km. Railway station: Baripada, 50 km. Season: November - June. Accommodation: Tourist holiday homes in the vicinity.
Periyar Game Reserve (Kerala)
Large artificial lake. Elephant, gaur, wild dog, black langur, beavers, turtles; numerous species of birds, including the hornbill and the water owl. View from the water. Airports: Madurai, 160 km, Cochin, 208 km, and Thiruvananthapuram, 258 km. Railway station: Madurai, Kottayam, 110 km, and Bodinayakanur, 67 km. Accommodation: a good choice of hotels in the vicinity of the reserve.
Vedanthangal Waterfowl Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu)
One of the most picturesque mass nesting sites in India. Cormorants, herons, storks, pelicans, grebes and many others. Airport: Chennai (Madras), 85 km. Railway station: Chengalpattu, 28 km. Season: October - March. Accommodation: forest rest house.
Point Calimer Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu)
It is primarily known for its flamingos. There are herons, teals, curlews, plovers and blackbucks and wild boars. Airport: Tiruchirappalli, 200 km. Railway station: Point Calimer, 0.5 km. Season: November - January. Accommodation: forest rest house.
Pulikat Bird Sanctuary (Andhra Pradesh)
Flamingo, gray pelican, heron, tern. Airport and railway station: Chennai (Madras), 60 km. Accommodation: overnight in Nellur.
Dandeli National Park (Karnataka)
The park is inhabited by bison, panthers, tigers and sambars. Easily accessible from Goa. Airport: Belgaon, 142 km. Railway station: Alnaver, 20 km. Accommodation: Holiday homes in Kullji Forest and Mandurli and River View Bungalows in Dandeli.
Jawhar National Park includes Bandipur and Nagarhole National Parks (Karnataka) and Mudumalai Game Reserves (Tamilnadu) and Wayanad (Kerala)
Dense mixed forest. The largest population of elephants in India; leopard, gaur, sambar, muntjak deer and giant squirrel. Birds include the Indian cuckoo, barbet and trogon.
Bandipur (Karnataka)
Airport: Bangalore, 190 km. Railway station: Mysore, 65 km. Available to tourists from Coimbatore and Udhagamandalam. Accommodation: in the park.
Mudumalai (Tamil Nadu)
Airport: Coimbatore, 16 km. Railway station: Udhagamandalam, 68 km.
Nagarhole (Karnataka)
Airport: Bangalore. Railway station: Mysore. Accommodation: tourist cottages.
Wayanad(Kerala)
Airport: Cochin, 300 km. Railway station: Calicut, 111 km. Accommodation: forest rest house.
Krishnagiri Upavan National Park (Maharashtra)
Formerly known as Borivili, this nature reserve protects an important natural area near Bombay. Kanheri caves, Vihar, Tulsi and Povari lakes. waterfowl and small mammals. Open air cinema next to the Lion Safari Park. Airport: Mumbai (Bombay), 20 km. Railway station: Borivili, 3 km. Season: October - June. Accommodation: tourist cottages.
Taroba National Park (Maharashtra)
Teak forest and lake. Tiger, leopard, nilgai, gaur. Night inspections. Airport: Nagpur, 208 km. Railway station: Chandrapur, 45 km. Season: March - May. Accommodation: in the park.
Sasangir National Park (Gujarat)
Wooded plains and lake. The only habitat of the Asiatic lion; other fauna: sambar, chowsingha, nilgai, leopard, chinkara and wild boar. Airport: Rajkot, 153 km. Railway station: Sasangir, 0.5 km. Season: January - May. Accommodation: in the park.
Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary (Gujarat)
Lake. Migratory waterfowl. Local bird species include flamingos. Airport: Ahmedabad, 64 km. Railway station: Weeramgam, 40 km. Season: November - February. Accommodation: there are conditions for living near the lake.
Reserve "Small Kachsky Rain" (Gujarat)
Desert. Herds of kura (Indian wild donkey), wolf, caracal. Airport: Ahmedabad, 195 km. Railway station: Dhangadra, 25 km. Season: October - June. Accommodation: on the territory of the reserve and in Dhangadra. Passage from Bhuj is possible.
Velvadar National Park (Gujarat)
Savannah of the New Delta. Large concentration of black goats. Airport and railway station: Bhavnagar, 65 km. Season: October - June. Accommodation: in the park.
Industry and production
In the chemical industry, the production of mineral fertilizers stands out. The importance of petrochemistry is growing. Resins, plastics, chemical fiber, synthetic rubber are produced. Developed pharmaceutical industry. The chemical industry is represented in many cities of the country.
Light industry is a traditional branch of the Indian economy. The cotton and jute industries stand out in particular. In terms of the production of cotton fabrics, India is one of the leading countries in the world, and in the production of jute products (technical, packaging, furniture fabrics, carpets) it ranks first. The largest centers of the cotton industry are Bombay and Ahmedabad, jute - Calcutta, Textile factories are found in all major cities countries. In India's exports, textile and clothing products account for 25%.
The food industry produces goods both for domestic consumption and for export. Most wide popularity in the world received Indian tea. Its production is concentrated in Kolkata and in the south of the country. India is the world's leading tea exporter.
Agriculture. Leading Industry Agriculture India - crop production (4/5 of the value of all products). The sown area is 140 million hectares, but there are practically no land resources for new development. Agriculture needs irrigation (40% of the cultivated area is irrigated). Forests are reduced (slash-and-burn agriculture is still preserved).
The main part of the cultivated area is occupied by food crops: rice, wheat, corn, etc. The main industrial crops of India are cotton, jute, tea, sugar cane, tobacco, and oilseeds (rapeseed, peanuts, etc.). Coconut palm, bananas, pineapples, mangoes, citrus fruits, spices and spices are also grown. The agricultural year is almost universally divided into two seasons in India - kharif (summer) and rabi (winter). Large land fund.
Animal husbandry is the second most important branch of agriculture in India, much behind crop production. Large cattle used in peasant farms mainly as draft power. Milk, hide and skin of animals are used.
Fishing is of considerable importance in the coastal regions. The use of seafood can improve the food situation in the country.
Holidays(where would we be without them!)
Northern India.
Almost every day there is some kind of holiday here. However, at least take note of the following:
January: January 26, Republic Day (Delhi).
February-March: Holiday of flowers and spring - Holi.
July-August: Colorful holiday Teej. (Jaipur). August 15, Independence Day, (Delhi).
September-October: Spectacular holidays of Diwali and Dasheher.
November: Pushkar Desert Fair. (Pushkar).
Western India.
February-March: Unique Mardi Gras (Goa).
March: Dance festival. (Khajuraho).
July-August: Festival of the thousand-headed snake Nagpanchami and also the festival of Raksha Bandhan.
August-September: Spectacular holidays dedicated to the gods Krishna and Ganesh.
(Bombay). December: Christmas in Goa.
South India.
There are more of them here than in any other part of India. Therefore, you will definitely fall into one of them, even if you are not lucky enough to participate in the biggest holidays listed below:
January: Pongal Festival, a three-day Tamil harvest festival. Water festival in Madurai. The Great Elephant Trek.
February: Great Jain festival celebrated every 12-14 years. (Shravanbelagola).
April-May: Puram Elephant Parade. (Trichur).
August-September: Onam holiday; Serpentine boat races in Kerala and the national festival of Diwali, Hindu New Year.
October: Ten-day celebration-carnival of Dasheher. (Mysore).
Eastern India.
February-March: Shivaratri - dedicated to the god Shiva.
June-July: Spectacular Chariot Festival, the largest religious festival in India. (Puri).
October: Sadarang Music Festival (Kolkata)
November-December: Konari dance festival. (Konarak).
When compiling the description of the country, materials from the sites were used:
http://www.krugosvet.ru/aMenu/1.htm
http://www.gold-pelican.spb.ru/countrys.php
http://tours.belti.ru/all_maps.php
http://www.oval.ru/encycl.shtml
Inland waters
The central and western parts of India receive water from the Ganges, sacred to all Hindus, and its tributaries, called the Ganges valley. The Assam region receives its water from the Brahmaputra, which originates in the northern Himalayas and flows into Bangladesh. The Indus rises in Tibet and flows west through Jammu and Kashmir into Pakistan.
Due to the abundance of water and fertile land, the region of the northern river valleys is the most populated region of the country and it was there that Indian civilization originated. To the south of this region lies the vast triangular Deccan plateau, which occupies almost the entire Indian peninsula. The height of the plateau is from 300 to 900 m, however, sometimes there are chains up to 1200 m high. In many places it is crossed by rivers. In the east and west, the plateau is framed by mountain ranges: the Eastern Ghats and the Western Ghats. The Western Ghats rise to a height of up to 900 m. Between them and the Arabian Sea lies the narrow plain of the Malabar coast. The Eastern Ghats rise to a height of about 460 m. Between them and the Bay of Bengal lies a narrow flat strip of the Koro Mandel coast.
Climate
Due to the large area and the presence of different climatic zones, the climate of India is diverse, in the north it is tropical monsoon, in the rest of the territory it is predominantly tropical, in the south of the peninsula it is subequatorial. The rainy season is June - October, most pronounced in Bombay. The cool dry season lasts from late October to early March; this is the best time to visit Hindustan peninsula. At this time, most areas have clear, sunny days. In March, the hot season begins, reaching a peak in May, when the thermometer rises to 49 ° C. The southwest monsoon season begins on the west coast at the end of May and is accompanied by precipitation (from 60-6000 mm). Especially heavy rains occur in the north-east of India; here is the rainiest place on Earth (about 12,000 mm of precipitation per year). Tourism resources by virtue of their geographical location and climatic features are seasonally attractive.
In Kolkata, the January temperature is in the range from 13?C to 27?C, in July - from 26?C to 32?C. In Bombay - from 19? C to 28? C in January, from 25? C to 29? C in July.
Flora and fauna
In the arid regions bordering Pakistan, the vegetation is rather poor. Bamboo and palm trees grow in some areas. In the Ganges valley, which receives a fairly high amount of rainfall, the flora is more abundant, especially in the southern part of the region, where mangroves and hardwoods predominate. The lower slopes of the Himalayas are covered with fairly dense coniferous forests in the northwest and sub tropical forests in the east of the region. Especially a lot of magnolias, rhododendron and oak. The coastal region of southwestern India and the slopes of the Western Ghats are overgrown with dense tropical forests: bamboo, teak, and other evergreen trees. On the Deccan Plateau, the vegetation is less dense, however, there are forests with palm trees, bamboo and deciduous trees. The fauna in India is represented quite widely. Among the representatives of the cat family, the tiger, panther, leopard, Snow Leopard, cheetah, clouded leopard. Other large mammals include the Indian elephant, rhinoceros, black bear, wolf, jackal, buffalo, antelope, several species of monkeys, and deer. There are many mountain goats (ibex, serau) in the Himalayas and other mountainous regions. In India, there are especially a lot of poisonous snakes, including cobras, scales and others. Among reptiles there are also pythons, crocodiles. Among the large number of birds, the peacock, heron, parrots, kingfisher are especially distinguished.
One of the most popular Asian countries for tourists is India. It attracts people with its original culture, the grandeur of ancient architectural structures and the lush beauty of nature. But the most important reason why many people go there on vacation is the climate of India. It is so diverse in different parts of the country that it allows you to choose entertainment to your taste at any time of the year: sunbathe on a sunny beach or go skiing in a mountain resort.
If tourists go to India to see the sights, then it is advisable to choose a time so that the heat or rains do not interfere. Features of the geographical position of the country affect its climate. You can choose a resting place depending on what temperature you prefer. Heat, sunny beaches and cool mountain air, and rains, hurricanes - this is all India.
Geographical position
The climate of this country is so diverse due to the peculiarities of its location. India stretches from north to south for 3000 kilometers, and from west to east - for 2000. The elevation difference is about 9000 meters. The country occupies almost the entire vast peninsula of Hindustan, washed by the warm waters of the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.
India's climate is different great variety. Four types can be distinguished: dry tropical, humid tropical, subequatorial monsoon and high mountain. And at a time when the beach season begins in the south, real winter sets in in the mountains, and the temperature drops below zero. There are areas where almost all year round it rains, while in others the plants suffer from drought.
Nature and climate of India
The country is located in the subequatorial zone, but it is much warmer there than in other parts of this strip. How can this be explained? In the north, the country is fenced off from the cold Asian winds by the Himalayas, and in the northwest, a large territory is occupied by the Thar Desert, which attracts warm, humid monsoons. They determine the peculiarities of the Indian climate. Monsoons bring rain and heat to the country. On the territory of India is located - Cherrapunji, where more than 12,000 millimeters of precipitation falls annually. And in the north-west of the country, in about 10 months there is not a drop of rain. Some eastern states are also suffering from drought. And if it is very hot in the south of the country - the temperature rises to 40 degrees, then in the mountains there are places of eternal glaciation: the Zaskar and Karakorum ridges. And the climate of coastal zones is affected warm waters Indian Ocean.
Seasons in India
In most of the country, three seasons can be conditionally distinguished: winter, which lasts from November to February, summer, which lasts from March to June, and the rainy season. This division is conditional, because the monsoons have little effect on the eastern coast of India, and there is also no rain in the Thar Desert. Winter in the usual sense of the word comes only in the north of the country, in the mountainous regions. The temperature there sometimes drops to minus 3 degrees. And on the south coast at this time is the beach season, and migratory birds arrive here from the northern countries.
Rain season
This is the most interesting feature which the climate of India possesses. Monsoons coming from the Arabian Sea bring heavy rains to most of the country. At this time, about 80% of the annual precipitation falls. First, the rains begin in the west of the country. Already in May, Goa and Bombay are affected by the monsoons. Gradually, the rainy area moves to the east, and by the month of July, the peak of the season is observed in most of the country. Hurricanes can happen on the coast, but they are not as destructive as in other countries located near India. Slightly less precipitation falls on the east coast, and the rainiest place - - there the rainy season continues until November. In most parts of India, dry weather is already established in September-October.
The rainy season brings relief from the heat to most parts of the country. And, despite the fact that there are often floods at this time, and the sky is overcast, farmers are looking forward to this season. Thanks to the rains, the lush Indian vegetation grows rapidly, good crops are obtained, and all the dust and dirt is washed off in the cities. But monsoons do not bring rain to all parts of the country. In the foothills of the Himalayas, the climate of India resembles that of Europe: and frosty winters. And in the northern state of Punjab, there is almost no rain, so droughts are frequent there.
What is the winter like in India?
Since October, the weather is dry and clear in most of the country. After the rains, it becomes relatively cool, although in some areas, for example, on the coast, it is hot - + 30-35 °, and the sea at this time warms up to + 27 °. The climate of India in winter is not very diverse: dry, warm and clear. Only in some areas it rains until December. Therefore, at this time there is a large influx of tourists.
In addition to sunny beaches and warm sea water, they are attracted by the beauty of the lush vegetation in national parks India and the unusualness of the holidays, which are held here in large numbers from November to March. This is the harvest, and the festival of colors, and the festival of lights, and even seeing off winter at the end of January. Christians celebrate the Nativity of Jesus Christ, and Hindus celebrate the birth of their deity - Ganesh Chaturthi. In addition, the season opens in the mountain resorts of the Himalayas in winter, and lovers of winter sports can relax there.
Indian heat
Most of the country is warm all year round. If we consider the climate of India by months, we can understand that this is one of the hottest countries in the world. Summer there begins in March, and in most states a month later there is unbearable heat. The peak of high temperature falls on April-May, in some places it rises to +45°. And since it is also very dry at this time, such weather is very exhausting. It is especially difficult for people in large cities, where dust is added to the heat. Therefore, for a long time, wealthy Indians at this time left for the northern mountainous regions, where the temperature is always comfortable and rarely rises to + 30 ° in the hottest time.
When is the best time to visit India
This country is beautiful at any time of the year, and every tourist can find a place that he likes with its weather. Depending on what interests you: relaxing on the beach, visiting sights or observing nature, you need to choose the place and time of the trip. The general recommendation for everyone is not to visit Central and South India from April to July as it is very hot at that time.
If you want to sunbathe and don't like to get wet, don't come during the rainy season, the worst months are June and July when the rainfall is the highest. The Himalayas are not worth visiting in winter - from November to March, because many areas are difficult to access due to snow on the passes. The best time to visit India is from September to March. In almost all parts of the country at this time comfortable temperature- +20-25° - and clear weather. Therefore, when planning a trip to these parts, it is advisable to get acquainted with the weather in different areas and find out what the climate is like in India by months.
Temperature in different parts of the country
- The largest temperature differences occur in the mountainous regions of India. In winter, the thermometer there can show minus 1-3 °, and high in the mountains - up to minus 20 °. From June to August - the warmest time in the mountains, and the temperature is from +14 to +30°. Usually +20-25°.
- In the northern states, the coldest time is in January, when the thermometer shows +15°. In summer, the heat is about + 30 ° and above.
- The temperature difference is least felt in Central and South India, where it is always warm. In winter, in the coldest time, there is a comfortable temperature: + 20-25 °. From March to June it is very hot - + 35-45 °, sometimes the thermometer shows up to + 48 °. In the rainy season it is a little cooler - + 25-30 °.
India has always attracted tourists from all over the world. This is due not only to the beautiful nature, the variety of ancient buildings and the unique culture of the people. The most important thing that tourists like is the advantageous location of the country and its pleasant climate throughout the year. India in any month can provide travelers with the opportunity to relax the way they want.
