India is a land of great diversity. Although it receives no more than three million tourists a year, it can be considered one of the most fascinating travel destinations in the world. It is one of the largest and most populated countries in the world with more than one billion inhabitants. Geographically, it sticks out into the Indian Ocean and up into the Asian subcontinent.

Culturally it is dominated by a strict religious caste system, but is the home of several of the world's largest religions. Pilgrims from all over the world come to worship in its various regions and at shrines. Despite being home to ancient beliefs, it also is home to a striving film industry and a growing high tech economy.

Geography

The geography of India is just as diverse as its culture. To the north is the world's highest mountain range which includes Mount Everest in neighboring Nepal and Tibet. The mountains make for some of the most inaccessible regions of the world but also are the source of several river networks that flow into fertile agricultural plains. The northern agricultural regions, in turn, give way to a tropical climate further south. Of course, there also is a desert region.

The large area covered by India, it is the seventh largest country in the world, makes for a number of distinct regions. India is divided into 28 states and seven territories. Even though more than 80 percent of the country's people are Hindus, these various states are divided by belief in addition to geography. Monsoon rains also have a large impact on the country, with floods killing many over the years.

Politics

As dramatic as the geography is the country's politics. Violence born out of religious and cultural differences has seen many deaths throughout history. British domination of the country also led to much of the turmoil. In another of India's many paradoxes, this unrest led to the rise of one of history's most famous men of peace, Mohandas Gandhi, revered as the "Mahatma," which means "great soul."

India bears the mantle of being the world's largest democracy. Although the Indian National Congress Party dominated elections for many years, rival parties have grown greatly in recent years. These days the National Congress Party and several others, including the Communists, compete for power. A number of local and regional political parties also have risen to prominence.