India lies in South Asia between Pakistan, China and Nepal. To the north it borders the Himalayan mountain range, which includes the world's highest peaks such as Mount Everest. The three largest cities in India are the capital New Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata. India has a population of over 1 billion people and has many official and regional languages although Hindi and English are the most widely spoken. The British ruled India for many years through the British East India Company and British Raj until India gained independence in 1947.

1. INDIA

2. Introductionto india: India lies in south Asia, between Pakistan, China and Nepal. To the north it is bordered by the world's highest mountain chain. Which one is it?

3. THE HIMALAYAS Together, the Himalayan mountain system is the planet's highest. And it’s the home of the world's highest peaks, the Eight-thousanders, which include Mount Everest and K2.

4. Introductionto india: There are three important cities in India. Which ones are they?

5. Introductionto india: The capital of India is New Delhi, and the country’s largest cities are Mumbai (formerly Bombay), Delhi, and Kolkata (formerly Calcutta). India's population is one billion making it the second most populous country after China.

6. Introductionto india: India has about 15 major languages and 844 different dialects. The principal official language of the Republic of India is Standard Hindi, spoken by about 45 per cent of the population while English is the secondary official language. Why is English, or England so important in India’s History?

7. When the British first arrived in India around 1600, they came to trade. The British East India Company was formed to facilitate that trade. The French were also there. But at the end of the Seven Years War (1756-1763), the French lost their trading rights in India and the British East India Company began to establish greater control, generally through agreements. By the 1840's the British had control of much of India. In 1857, the Sepoy troops rebelled against the British. Conditions were bad in India. Following the rebellion, the British government took over the management of India, making it a colony. Queen Victoria became the Empress of India. It remained a British colony until 1947. This time period is known as the British Raj.

8. Theindianflag: Whiterepresents peace, unity and truth. Green stands for faith and fertility. Saffron represents for courage and sacrifice. Blue symbolizes the sky and the ocean. In the centre of the white band, there is a wheel in navy blue to indicate the Dharma Chakra, the wheel of law. This center symbol or the 'CHAKRA', is a Buddhist symbol.

9. The customary greeting is done by putting your palms together and with a slight nod of the head, saying “Namaste“.

10. Wildlifein india: National animal: Tiger National Heritage animal of India: Indian Elephant National aquatic animal: Ganges River Dolphin National bird: Peacock National flower: Lotus National tree: Banyan Butthere’sanotherimportant animal in India. A sacred animal. Do youknowwhichoneitis?

11. Thesacredcow Indians consume milk daily, and the cow as a provider of milk, is like a mother. Traditionally, Indians had cows in every house. They were part of the family, with names and personalities. Just like one would not hurt or eat their pets, the Indians did not hurt the cows and respected them. The cow has a special role in the Hindu mythologies. A cow is also represented as a vehicle of several deities. Many social movements promove no cruelty to animals. So in India, other animals are also considered holy. Many communities do eat beef in India. But mistreatment of the cows is banned in several states keeping in view the sentiments of hindu religion.

12. Holi: A spring festival thatlasts up tofivedays. Bonfires are lit and colouredpowders and water are thrownoverpeople. Hindusrememberthestory of Lord Krishna. When he wasyoung he lovedtoplaytricks and havefun. Krishna and hisfriendsusedtothrowcolouredwaterovereachother Diwali: Ravana, who had ten arms and ten heads, was the wicked king of the island of Sri Lanka, who kidnapped the wife of Rama. After a great battle Rama killed the demon and recovered his wife. His return with his wife Sita to his town and his coronation as king is celebrated at Diwali. When Rama and Sita first returned it was a dark moonless night and they couldn't see where they were going. Their people put little lamps outside their houses so that the new king and queen could find their way, beginning like this the tradition of the festival of lights. INDIAN FESTIVALS

13. The most important monument in India…

14. TAJ MAHAL It stands amid acres of gardens on the banks of the Yamuna River in the city of Agra in north India. TajMahal was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his queen MumtazMahal at Agra, India. The building of the TajMahal began around 1632 and it was completed about 21 years later in 1653. About 22,000 workmen built the TajMahal. The TajMahal is made from white marble stone with precious gems and stones pressed into its walls.

15. INDIAN WEDDINGS Indian weddings are very bright events, filled with ritual and celebration, that continues for several days. They are generally big affairs, with 100 to 10,000 people attending. Oftentimes it is possible that many of the attendees are even unknown to the bride and groom.

16. The groom mostly wears a Kurta or Sherwani . He wears a turban and his face is covered with a curtain of flowers called Sehra. The bride wears a Saree. Red is considered to be the most auspicious color in among Hindus. She is adorned with Henna patterns all over her palms, hands, forearms, legs and feet.

17. The primary witness of a Hindu marriage is the fire-goddess (or the Sacred Fire) Agni, and by law and tradition, no Hindu marriage is complete without the presence of the Sacred Fire, seven encirclements have been made around it by the bride and the groom together.

18. Though most Indian marriages are arranged, some couples in urban areas have what are known as “love marriages", where the partners decide to marry each other without family involvement . The traditional Indian wedding is more about two families being brought together socially, with there being more interest on the families coming closer, than the individuals involved. My parents had an arranged marriage.

19. THE GANGES RIVER The Ganges is a sacred river along every fragment of her length. All along her course, Hindus bathe in her waters. They pay homage to their ancestors and to their gods by getting her water in their hands, lifting it and letting it fall back into her; they offer flowers and rose petals and float clay dishes with candles. On the journey back home from the Ganges, they carry small quantities of her water with them for use in rituals. When a loved one dies, they return to the Ganges to throw the ashes.

20. Mahatma Gandhi. Mohandas Gandhi, better known as Mahatma Gandhi was an Indian political thinker who was born on October 2, 1869 and died on January 30, 1948. The appellation Mahatma means "great soul" (“Maha” is "great" and “Atman” means "soul "). He was known as an important social and religious reformer and his defense to Indian nationalism. He started the Salt March in 1930 and he is considered a hero in India.

21. Thankstoall of you and alwaysrememberwhat Gandhi says: “Nothing is impossible to a willing mind.”

22. Namaste.