| The subcontinent of India lies in south Asia, between | | | | colourful tribal lifestyles of the north eastern states |
| Pakistan, China and Nepal. To the north it is bordered | | | | of Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura and Manipur with their |
| by the worlds highest mountain chain, where foothill | | | | folk culture. |
| valleys cover the northernmost of the countries 26 | | | | In the central Indian states of Orissa and Madhya |
| states. Further south, plateaus, tropical rain forests | | | | Pradesh tribal village life has resulted in a variety of |
| and sandy deserts are bordered by palm fringed | | | | artistically executed handicrafts. |
| beaches. | | | | Indias mountains provide skiing, river running, |
| Side by side with the countries staggering | | | | mountaineering and trekking. Its beaches provide lazy |
| topographical variations is its cultural diversity, the | | | | sun bathing as well as wind surfing and snorkelling and |
| result of the coexistence of a number of religions as | | | | its jungles provide shooting wildlife with a camera. |
| well as local tradition. Thus, the towering temples of | | | | Indias history goes back to 3,200 BC when Hinduism |
| south India, easily identifiable by their ornately | | | | was first founded. Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, |
| sculptured surface, are associated with a great many | | | | Judaism, Christianity and Islam all exist within the |
| crafts and performing arts of the region. | | | | country today. As a consequence of Indias size, the |
| In the desert of Kutch, Gujarat, on the other hand, a | | | | history of the country has seldom been the same for |
| scattering of villages pit themselves against the | | | | two adjoining territories and its great natural wealth |
| awesome forces of nature, resulting in Spartan | | | | has lured a succession of traders and foreign |
| lifestyles made vibrant by a profusion of jewellery | | | | influences to it, each having left their imprint in the |
| and ornamental embroidery used to adorn apparel | | | | country, however faint or localized. Thus, Chinese |
| and household linen. In the extreme north is the high | | | | fishing nets in Kerala are a throwback to that |
| altitude desert of Ladakh. Local culture is visibly | | | | countries ancient maritime trade, while in the north, |
| shaped by the faith Buddhism as well as by the harsh | | | | terra cotta figurines of the centuries BC bear |
| terrain. | | | | distinctly Greek traces. |
| Yet another fact of Indian culture is observed in the | | | | |