India, the seventh largest country in the world, is bound by the Himalaya in the North and the Indian Ocean in the South.

It measures about 3,214 km from north to south and 2,933 km from east to west. It has a land frontier of about 15,200 km. and a coastline, with the Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, of 7516 km.

With more than a billion citizens, India is the second most populous nation in the world. It is a plural society but deep cultural continuities bind its people. Hindi and English are the two principal languages used countrywide, with 18 other scheduled languages and other non-scheduled languages and dialects in use regionally and locally. Hinduism is the dominant faith, serving about 80 per cent of the population. Eleven per cent follow Islam, and five per cent are Christians and Sikhs. The rest are Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Bahais or profess indigenous faiths.

Economy

India is a rapidly industrialising nation but retains a strong agricultural base with a net sown area of 142.6 million hectares. It produces approximately 210 million tonnes of foodgrain and is a large producer of milk, sugar, cotton, fruit and vegetables. It has a growing base of heavy and light industries and has developed significant capabilities in the areas of information technology, pharmaceuticals and space and nuclear science. It has a very large film and entertainment industry.

Though poverty has declined, about 26 % of the population still lives below the poverty line.

Tourism

India has a variety of tourist sites of civilisational and natural interest. Among world famous monuments are the Taj Mahal at Agra, Khajuraho and the Sun Temple at Konark, Bodh Gaya, the Ajanta and Ellora Caves, the Qutab Minar and Red Fort in Delhi; Kashmir, many hill resorts like Shimla, Manali and Darjeeling; the colourful Northeast, beautiful sea beaches in Goa, along the Kerala coast and Puri.

Foreign Tourist Arrivals -- 2354127*

* Source: http://www.fhrai.com/Mag-News/newsletTouArrivals.asp#2002