India has been populated since before 3000 BC, first by the Indus Valley Civilization. One of the world's oldest civilizations, the Indus Valley people developed a written language and employed sophisticated building techniques. The Aryan people invaded India around 1500 BC, bringing traditions and culture that still exist today. Around 500 BC, the Persians invaded and took control of the Indus Valley. Alexander the Great conquered India's king Porus around 300 BC, opening trade routes in the region. India continued to be a battleground for different civilizations throughout the following centuries. Today, it exhibits the influences of each culture.
Religion plays an important role in the lives of many Indian people. The majority of the Indian population identifies with Hinduism. Other popular religions include Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism. Only a small percentage of India's people identify themselves as Christian. Religion, particularly Hinduism, guides the lives and actions of people around the country.
One of India's most prominent and well-known geographic features is the Himalayan mountain range in the northern part of the country. Himalayan glaciers are the origin of India's two major rivers, the Ganges and the Brahmaputra. The interior of India is dominated by the Deccan Plateau, and the coastlines are more lush and forested. The mountain ranges of the Western and Eastern Ghats sit on either side of the Deccan Plateau.
India is the seventh-largest country in the world, with an approximate area of 1.27 million square miles. The country is about one-third the size of the United States. It has over 4,600 miles of coastline, of which almost half is sandy beach. As of 2007, the population is about 1.12 billion, making India the second-most populated country in the world.
Before arriving in India, travelers should check the visa requirements for their specific country. Citizens of the United States require a visa, and can obtain one from Travisa, which is an independent contractor hired by the Indian government. Because of its vast size, travelers to India should be prepared to focus on a specific part of the country in order to avoid being overwhelmed. In order to experience India as a whole, a traveler would be required to spend an extensive amount of time in the country.
