Fast+Facts

=Fast Facts about India=

Here are some fun facts about India! Feel free to add your own and elaborate on the ones listed below!

Flag

 * [[image:trek2india:flag1.gif caption="The Flag of India"]] ||
 * The Flag of India ||

Can you find the symbolism of the colors and the wheel on the flag? [|This site may help.]

Location
Latitude/Longitude**:** 20 degrees north latitude, 77 degrees east longitude at India's geographic center

Land

 * Area: 1,269,338 square miles
 * Himalayas
 * Northern Plains
 * Southern Peninsula

Climate
Three seasons:
 * cool season (Oct.-Feb)
 * hot season (Mar.-June)
 * rainy season (June-Sept)

Government

 * federal republic

Inventions

 * washrooms
 * sit down toilets
 * airmail

Religion

 * Hinduism - 81%
 * Muslims - 12%
 * Christian - 2%
 * Buddhism
 * Jainism
 * Sikhism

Food

 * sugar
 * pepper
 * mango


 * dhal (soup made from lentil beans)
 * tandoori chicken (cooked in a hot clay oven called a tandoor)
 * chapati (pancake-like bread)
 * bhel puri (puffed rice, crispy noodles, potatoes and sauce)

Many people in India are vegetarians. A typical Indian meal includes flat bread, rice, curry sauces, and yogurt.

Money

 * [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b4/Indian_Rupee.jpg width="267" height="228" caption="Indian Rupee"]] ||
 * Indian Rupee ||

Music

 * cymbals
 * sitar (stringed instrument)
 * tabla (two drums)

Animals

 * Indian Cobra
 * Indian Elephant
 * Indian Rhinoceros
 * Bengal Tiger
 * Pygmy hog
 * Sloth bear
 * Sarus Cranes
 * Monkeys
 * wild goats
 * panthers
 * lions
 * wolves
 * bears
 * deer
 * antelope
 * pythons
 * crocodiles
 * peacocks
 * parrots

Games

 * Parcheesi

Fashion

 * Pajamas
 * Sari
 * Cummerbund
 * Nehru jacket
 * Turban

Language

 * more than 1,000 languages and dialects are spoken
 * Hindi is the nation's official language
 * Some states have their own official languages.
 * English is also an official language.

Bibliography:
Harvey, Miles. __Look What Came From India.__ New York: Grolier Publishing, 1999. Mattern, Joanne. __India__. Mankato, Minnesota: Bridgestone Books, 2003.