India is the world's second most populous nation with its diverse cultural and ethnic diversity as well as its linguistic diversity and religious beliefs. India is strategically located near important commercial routes and has a magnificent nature with its vast expanses of forests, pastures, gardens and the diversity of wildlife. India enjoys an ancient civilization and houses many of the ancient buildings.

 

Location and Area

The total area of India is 3,287,263 square kms thereby becoming the seventh largest country in the world. It is located between latitudes 8.4 - 37.8 degrees north and between latitudes 68.7 - 97.25 degrees east. It is bordered by Pakistan from the north-west, China, Afghanistan, the Kingdom of Bhutan and the Republic of Nepal from the north, Myanmar and Bangladesh, the Bay of Bengal from the east and Sri Lanka from the southeast.

 

The climate

The climate in India varies from one region to another and the generally the monsoon winds blow in the south, while the climate is moderate in the north. India has three seasons:

Cold Season:  It starts from October to February. Moderate weather prevails India except for the northern mountains where the heat is low and these areas witness snowfalls, while the southern part is relatively warmer.

Hot season (summer):  It falls from March to June, and the northern plains gain their maximum temperature. The heat in the coastal areas decreases. The tropical cyclones leave a stormy wind, especially in the coastal areas. Some parts of the southern plateau enjoy relative cold, and the weather is moderate or cold in the northern mountains.

The rainy season comes from mid-June to September, when the monsoons blow from the Indian Ocean, and moisture from the ocean, reaching India from the south-west and south-east causing rain.  While during the winter and summer seasons, monsoon blows from the north or north-east.

Rainy monsoons are of major importance to agricultural activity in India, where agriculture depends, and rains fall heavily in northeastern India.

 

Population

India is the second largest country in the world (after China) in terms of population. According to the latest census with a population of 1.270,000 (one billion two hundred and seventy million people).

 

Currency

 Indian Rupee (Rial) is about 18 Indian rupees.

Time difference: +5: 30 GMT and +2: 30 hours for Riyadh time. (One local time throughout India).

 

Religions

India is one of the world's most diverse countries in terms of religions and belief the most important among them being Hinduism (about 80% of the population), Islam (14%), Christianity (3%) and Sikhism (2%). Indian states that India is a secular state.

 

Languages

India has many languages, but Hindi is the official language according to the Indian Constitution. The Arabic language, Persian and local languages ​​is the most popular language in the Indian subcontinent because it is the language of literature, poetry and cinema in India. It was formerly the official language of the Mongol era.

English is the language of dealing in government departments, and is the language of communication between speakers of different languages ​​and dialects, especially from the class of learners and intellectuals.