India: People, Places, and Culture
India: People, Places, and Culture
What do you already know about India?
Learning Objective
At the end of this lesson you will know key facts about India’s geography, culture, languages, food, and unique features.
A Vast and Diverse Country
India is a large Asian country, among the most populated in the world. Its capital is New Delhi and it is known for its rich culture and history.
Population: 1.42 Billion
The Longest River
The Ganges River flows across northern India. It supports farming, daily life, and is considered holy by many.
The Tallest Mountain
Kangchenjunga, part of the Himalayas, is India’s tallest mountain. It sits on the India-Nepal border and is the world’s third highest.
Traditional Indian Food
Indian cuisine uses rich spices and flavours. Popular dishes are curry, rice, naan bread, and samosas.
Traditional Clothes
The sari for women and the kurta for men are often worn in India. These are colourful, worn for festivals and special events.
India’s National Flower
The lotus is India’s national flower. It grows in water and symbolises purity and strength.
The Bengal Tiger
The Bengal tiger is the national animal. Proud and powerful, it lives in forests and is a symbol of India’s wildlife.
India’s Largest Cities
New Delhi is the capital with rich history.
New Delhi
Mumbai
A bustling city, Mumbai is the centre of Bollywood, finance, and trade.
Languages of India
Over 20 official languages are spoken in India, including Hindi and English. This reflects the country’s diversity.
Religion and Festivals
Diverse Festivals
People celebrate Diwali, Eid, Holi, Christmas, and many more.
Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, and Christianity are all practised.
Many Religions
India’s Geography
India has Himalayas mountains in the north, the Ganges River, the Thar Desert, and tropical forests in the south.
Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is one of the most famous buildings in the world. It is a beautiful white marble palace located in the city of Agra.
It was built over 350 years ago by an emperor named Shah Jahan. He built it in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who had died. Because of this, the Taj Mahal is often called a symbol of love.
Today, the Taj Mahal is one of the New 7 Wonders of the World and is visited by millions of people every year. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which means it is protected because it is so special.
Include:
Bangalore
Mumbai
New Dehli
Himalayas
Kangchenjunga
Ganges
Pakistan
Nepal
Myanmar
Bangladesh
Sri Lanka
China
Afghanistan
Tajikistan