West Bengal

West Bengal is a state in Eastern India. It stretches from the Himalayas in the north to the Bay of Bengal in the south. It is bounded on the north by Sikkim and Bhutan and to its east it has Assam and Bangladesh. On the south it has the Bay of Bengal and in the west it has Bihar, Orissa and Nepal. The state lies between 27°13'15" and 21°o25'24" north latitudes and 85°48'20" and 89°53'04" east longitudes. It has an area of about 88,752.Sq.km. West Bengal was created as a constituent state of the Indian union on 15 August 1947 as the result of partition of the undivided British Indian province of Bengal into West Bengal. It has nineteen districts.

Kolkatta (Calcutta) is the capital of West Bengal and is one of the largest cities in India. Bengali is the official language of the state. The exact origin of the word “bangla” or Bengal” is yet to be known, though it is believed to have been derived from the Dravidian speaking tribe “Banga”. During the Vedic age Bengal was known as Vanga and was the habitat of people belonging to different races. Remnants of the Bengal region date back to 4000 years ago, when the region was occupied by Dravidian, Tibeto-Burman and Austro-Asiatic people. Bengal was one of the four main kingdoms of India during the time of Buddha. From the 3rd to the 6th centuries, it served the kingdom of Magadha. The first recorded independent kind of Bengal was Shashanka.

The land is mostly plain except the northern region, which comes under the Himalayan mountain range. On the basis of landforms, the state can be divided into the following regions:

* Darjeeling Himalayan hill region
* Terai region
* North Bengal plains
* Rarh region
* Coastal plain
* Sunderbans
* Western plateau and high lands
* Ganges delta

At the time of partition Bengal was split into East Bengal and West Bengal. East Bengal became the eastern wing of Pakistan and later, with the disintegration of that country, Bangladesh. West Bengal became a state of India with its largest city, Calcutta, as its capital. The state is long and narrow, running from the delta of the Ganges-river system at the Bay of Bengal in the south to the heights of the Himalayas at Darjeeling in the north. There is not a great deal of interest in the state apart from these two extremes — Calcutta, all noise, confusion and squalor, at one end and Darjeeling, serene and peaceful at the other. Nevertheless the intrepid traveller will find a number of places to consider visiting, either south of Calcutta on the Bay of Bengal or north along the route to Darjeeling.

The region that is now West Bengal was part of a number of empires and kingdoms during the past two millennia. The British East India Company cemented their hold on the region following the Battle of Plassey in 1757, and the city of Calcutta, now Kolkata, served for many years as the capital of British India. A hotbed of the Indian independence movement through the early 20th century, Bengal was divided in 1947 along religious lines into two separate entities, West Bengal—a state of India, and East Bengal, a part of the new nation of Pakistan. Following India's independence in 1947, West Bengal's economic and political systems were dominated for many decades by Marxism, Naxalite movements and trade unionism.

West Bengal is known for its position among the leading industrialized states of India. There are over 10000 registered factories in the state. Tea, Steel, Jute, Sugar, Chemical, Fertilizers, Medicines and Pharmaceuticals are some of the important industries in the state. The state government has opened 'Shilpa bandhu', a single window agency for providing investors with all kinds of assistance in setting up and running industrial unWomen plucking leaves in tea gardensits. The agriculture of the state mainly constitutes crops such as rice, maize, pulses, oil seeds, wheat, barley, potatoes and vegetables. Kolkatta is a major hub for the Information Technology. Real estate, financial consultancies, travel and tourism and hotel industry are some other services that contribute to the state economy. Calcutta city is noted as a major centre for industries including the jute industry. Other Major industrial towns are Asansol, Bankura, Baharampu, Durgapur and Malda.

Uttaranchal-Location

Uttaranchal is a beautiful North Indian city, which was formerly a part of the state of Uttar Pradesh. The state shares common boundaries with Tibet (China) to the north and Nepal to the east, Himachal Pradesh to the west and Uttar Pradesh (of which it formed a part before 2000) in the south. Uttaranchal, formerly known as Uttarakhand came into being on Nov 9th, 2000 as the 27th state of India. The co-ordinates of Uttarakhand are 28° 43' N to 31° 27' N (Latitude) and 77° 34' E to 81° 02' E (Longitude). It has an area of about 63,157 square km. The state is divided into 13 Districts.

Dehra Dun is the capital of uttaranchal. Dehra Dun is one of the most beautiful resort in the submountain tracts of India, known for its salubrious climate and scenic surroundings. Doon, aside often called, has been a favorite setting ground of the elit for nearly two centuries through its history steches back to many millennia. The name Dehradun appears to be a collection of two word "dera" acmping ground, the Drnocharaya the common Guru of the Pandavas and Kaurava of the Mahabharat and the illustrious son of goddess Ganga, set up an ashram here, near the village of Dwara to perform his devotions at a lonely spot. The place came to be know as Dron Ashram, which eventually became Dun.

Uttaranchal is popularly known as “Dev Bhoomi” or the “Land of Gods”, the stunning views of Uttaranchal speak for themselves. The holy rivers of Ganga and Yamuna find their origin in this beautiful city. One of the most attractive features about Uttaranchal is its salubrious setting, coupled with the tranquil and spectacular surroundings where one gets ample chance to discover his soul. The most holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna and scores of other rivers originate in Uttaranchal.

Uttaranchal finds mention in several ancient Hindu scriptures in the form of various names and has an equal historical importance as its mythology. The region is traditionally referred to as Uttarakhand in Hindu scriptures and old literature, a term which derives from Sanskrit uttara meaning north, and khand meaning country or part of a country.

Uttaranchal is also famous for its Shopping centers which include Dehradun, Nainital and Mussoorie. The experience of shopping in Dehradun and Nainital is very different from other places of the country. The alpine and tropical rainforests that cover most parts of the state make natural habitats of some of the best-known wildlife creatures. Many national parks and sanctuaries are located Uttarakhand such as the Jim Corbett National Park (the oldest national park of India), Valley of Flowers National Park, Nanda Devi National Park, Rajaji National Park, Govind Pashu Vihar National Park and Gangotri National Park.

Recent developments in the region include initiatives by the state government to capitalise on handloom and handicrafts, the burgeoning tourist trade as well as tax incentives to lure high-tech industry to the state. The state also has big-dam projects, controversial and often criticised in India, such as the very large Tehri dam on the Bhagirathi-Bhilangana rivers, conceived in 1953 and about to reach completion. Uttarakhand is also well known as the birthplace of the Chipko environmental movement, and a myriad other social movements including the mass agitation in the 1990s that led to its formation.

Uttar Pradesh-Location

Uttar Pradesh is a state located in the Northern part of India. It shares an international border with Nepal to the north along with the Indian state of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh to the north-west, Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan on the west, Madhya Pradesh on the south, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand on the south east and Bihar on the east. It is situated between 23° 52'N and 31° 28' N latitudes and 77° 3' and 84° 39'E longitudes. This is the fourth largest state in the country . It has an area of about 113,673 square miles (294,411 square km).

The administrative and legislative capital of Uttar Pradesh is Lucknow. Hindus and Muslims together constitute above 98% of the State's population. The remaining nearly 2% include Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists and Christians, and also the tribal population. Hindi is the official language of the state.

Uttar Pradesh has an important place in the culture of India; it is considered to be the birthplace of Hinduism, has been the ancient seat of Hindu religion, learning and culture, and has many important sites of Hindu pilgrimage. The State is also important to Buddhism since its early days. The Chaukhandi Stupa marks the spot where Buddha met his first disciples. The Dhamek Stupa in Sarnath commemorates Buddha's first sermon. Also the town of Kushinagar is where Gautama Buddha died.

Historically the state has also been a centre stage for great events. Over two thousand years ago this was a part of Ashoka's great Buddhist empire. More recently it was part of the Moghul Empire and for some years Agra was its capital. Today, of course, Agra is famed for that most perfect of Moghul master pieces, the Taj Mahal. More recently still it was in Uttar Pradesh that the Mutiny broke out in 1857 (at Meerut) and some of its most dramatic (Lucknow) and unfortunate (Kanpur) events took place here.

The area has undergone several different definitions, nomenclatures and territorial demarcations since the early 19th century, i.e. after the British East India Company had established its supremacy in the Gangetic plains. In 1833 the then Bengal Presidency of the Company was divided into two parts, one of which became Presidency of Agra; in 1836 the Agra area was named North-Western Provinces and placed under a Lieutenant Governor by the Company. In 1877, the two provinces of Agra and Oudh (Oudh was occupied by the Company, in 1858), were placed under one Colonial administrator of the British Crown; he was called Lieutenant Governor of the North-Western Provinces and Chief Commissioner of Oudh. In 1902 the name was changed to United Provinces of Agra and Oudh with Lieutenant Governor of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh as administrator; in 1921 Lieutenant Governorship was elevated to Governorship and the name of the province was changed to United Provinces of British India. In 1935, the name was shortened to United Provinces. On independence from the British colonial rule in 1947, the princely states of Rampur, Banares and Tehri-Garwal were merged into the United Provinces. In 1950, the name of United Provinces was changed to Uttar Pradesh. In 1999 a separate Himalayan state, Uttaranchal, (now named Uttarakhand), was carved out of Uttar Pradesh.

80 percent of the population of Uttar Pradesh works in agriculture. The state is India's largest producer of food grains, sugarcane, and oil seeds. About 10 million to 13 million hectares.Other potatoes, cotton, tobacco, and jute are also grown. Major industrial towns are Lucknow, Agra, Aligarh, Bareilly, Meerut, and Allahabad and Kanpur, which is its largest city.

Tripura-Location

Tripura is a state in northeast India. It is the second most smallest state of the Indian Nation. It has disputed borders and is surrounded by Bangladesh on the north, south, and west. The Indian states of Assam and Mizoram lie to the east. The State lies approximately between the latitudes 22° 56' , and 24° 32'North and between longitudes 91° 0' and 92° 22' East. Tripura has an area of about 4,051 sq. mi. or 10,491.69 km². It is divided into three districts. The principle hill ranges of Tripura are Sakham Tlang, Langtarai, Athara Mura and Bara Mura. The South Tripura District is bounded on the North by Dhalai district and West Tripura District, while on the other sides by international border with Bangladesh.

Agartala is the capital of Tripura. The most prominent fact about Tripura is that Initially, an Union Territory but in the year 1972 the status of Tripura was elevated to a full fledged state. There is a diverse ethnic element in the state which involves two major racial groups, they are the Indo-Aryans represented by the Bengali community and the Indo-Mongoloid group comprising of the Reangs, the Jamatis, the Mogh, the Lushai, the Tripuris, the Noatias, the Kukis, the Halams, and the Chakma. The main language spoken is Bengali. Speaking about Tripura as a state, it is divided into three Districts and ten sub- divisions, which includes:

1. Tripura West with Agartala as its headquarter
2. Tripura North with Kailasahar as its headquarter
3. Tripura South which has Udaipur as its headquarter.

The first mention about Tripura can be found in the Mahabharata and also in the pillar inscription of Asoka. Before Tripura was merged with the Union of India it was a princely state and was ruled by the Manikya dynasty for 3000 years. Udaipur was the capital of Princely Tripura but later under King Krishna Manikya the capital was shifted to old Agartala and it was only in the 19th Century that the present city of Agartala became the capital of the state of Tripura. The most important historical fact about Tripura is its merger with India in 1949, after the Ganamukti Parishad movement.

The chief occupation of the population in the state is agriculture. The principal crops are paddy, wheat, jute, sugar cane, potato, turmeric, coconut and oil seeds. Handloom weaving is the single largest industry in Tripura. Bamboo Handicrafts also make a major contribution to the state economy. Some quality timber like Sal, Garjan, Teak, Gamar are found abundantly in the forests of the State. The service sector comprises only real estate, insurance and tourism industry.

The very first thing that one notices about Tripura is its natural beauty and its picturesque landscape. The rolling hills, dales, lush green valleys all add an extra dimension to ones understanding about Tripura. The climate of the District is mostly warm and is characterized by a humid summer and a dry cool winter with plenty of rains during July to October. Rainfall is received from the South -West Monsoon, which normally breaks in the month of May. Hailstorm generally occurs during the month of April & May, occasionally causing damage to the field crops. Autumn and Spring are of very short duration. Average annual rainfall in the district is about 2000 mm and the temperature varies between a maximum of 35.23° and a minimum of 7.43° Celsius. The variation in temperature is much lower during the rains than during any other season.

Tamil Nadu-Location

Tamil Nadu is located in the south eastern side of Indian peninsula with Kanyakumari or Cape Comorin as the southernmost tip of the land. It is surrounded by Andhra Pradesh from the North, Karnataka and Kerala from the west, Indian Ocean from the south and Bay of Bengal from the East. The Eastern and Western Ghats (mountain ranges) run along eastern and western borders of the state and meet at Sittlingi in Dharmapuri district, Tamil Nadu. The Western Ghats, bordering Tamil Nadu, breaks only at two points - Palakkad (25 km wide gap) and Shencottah, which connect the state with Karnataka and Kerala. Tamilnadu, the 11th largest state lies between the northern latitude of 8.5" and 13.35" and the eastern longitude of 76.15" and 80.20". The area of the state is about 130,058 sq. kms. there are 32 districts of Tamil Nadu.

The capital and largest city is Chennai and is formerly known as Madras. The state was formed in the year 1969. The main language spoken here is Tamil. The main religions in the state are Hinduism, Christianity, Islam and Jainism. Tamil Nadu was once the home of four Tamil Kingdoms like Chera, Pandya, Pallava and Chola from 1st - 9th century AD. Their ruling period was known as the golden age of Tamil Nadu during which Art, Music as well as trade & agriculture reached its zenith. It is the leading producer of Agricultural products. Tamilnadu is home to numerous Temples, Pilgrim Centers, Hill Stations, Beaches etc. Tamil Nadu is referred as "Land of Temples".

The history of the Tamils presents an exciting pageant of a powerful civilization whose origin dates back to ancient times. Tamils belong to the Dravidian race and were the first major occupants of the country and settled in the north-western part of India long before the coming of the Indo-Aryans. Excavations have revealed that the features of the people of the Indus Valley Civilization bore a strong resemblance to this race. Later with the advent of the Aryans, the Dravidians were pushed back into the deep south where they ultimately settled.

The Sangam literature is the basis of Tamil History, culture and organisations from the 3rd century AD. The Cholas , the Pallavas, the Pandyas and the Cheras had their influence on Tamil Nadu and established their kingdoms. The Pallavas established their reign at Kanchipuram in about the 4th century Ad. They held power over the land of the Tamils from 6th and 9th centuries. At the end of the 9th century the Cholas established themselves they extended their empire and established contacts in South East Asia.

In the 13 the century the Pandyas dominated. The establishment of the Vijayanagar empire brought the downfall of the Pandyas. This empire ruled till the 16th century preserving and promoting Hindu culture. The Muslim powers influenced this region politically. The Marathas also influenced Madurai and Thanjavur till the advent of the English who wrested power from the French. During the 17th and the 18th centuries, conflicts between the trading companies of Europe arose for control of the major parts in the east. The British managed to control this region in the 19th century. This region was under the domain of the East India Company and continued till independence after which the state of Tamil Nadu was formed. The region under the jurisdiction of the Madras Presidency formed into a single unit and named Tamil Nadu in 1969.

Sikkim-Location

Sikkim is a state in northeastern India which is located on the southern slopes of the Himalayas. Sikkim is bounded on the north and northeast by Tibet Autonomous Region of China, on the southeast by Bhutan, on the south by the Indian state of West Bengal, and on the west by Nepal. Sikkim lies between longitude 88° 03'40" to 88° 57'19" East and from latitude 27° 0'47" to 28° 07'34" North. It became the 22nd state of India on April 26,1975. It has an area of about 2,740 square miles (7,096 square km). There are 440 villages, eight towns and four districts in Sikkim. It is the least populous state in India and the second-smallest in area after Goa.

Gangtok is the capital of Sikkim. The state has three major ethnic groups, namely Lepchas, Bhutias and Nepalis. It is the only state in India with an ethnic Nepalese majority. The official language of the state is English, but there is a sizable population that converses in Nepali (the lingua franca of the state), Lepcha, Bhutia, and Limbu.

Sikkim first came under British influence in 1817. Although the British later acquired territory and political control over the region, Sikkim remained an independent buffer between British India and Tibet. The Tibetans started to emigrate into Sikkim during the 15th and 16th centuries due to religious strife between the various Lamaist sects at that time. In Tibet itself the yellow hat sect - the Sakya-pa to which the Dalai Lama belongs — gradually gained the upper hand whereas in Sikkim the red hat sect — Nying-ma-pa — remained in control and was, until the country became a part of India, the official state religion. Though the Lepchas originally retreated to the more remote regions in the face of the waves of Tibetan immigrants a blood brotherhood was eventually engineered between their leader, Thekong Tek, and the Bhutyas leader, Khye-Bumsa, and the heavy hand of spiritual and temporal authority imposed on the anarchistic Lepchas. The union generated a good deal of suspicion between the two groups particularly when the Lepchas were persuaded to bring all their literature and totems to a ceremony where it was destroyed by the Tibetans. Having imposed their control over the Lepchas, the Dalai Lama in Lhasa appointed Pen-choo Namgyal as the first king of Sikkim in 1641. At this time the country included the whole of the area bounded by the present state plus a part of eastern Nepal, the Chumbi Valley (Tibet), the Ha Valley (Bhutan) and the Terai foothills from the present border down to the plains of India including Darjeeling and Kalimpong.

Sikkim has a booming economy dependent on agriculture and tourism. Economy of Sikkim is agriculture. cardamom (an Indian spice), oranges, apples, and potatoes are grown for export. Barley, wheat, maize (corn), and rice are also important. Major industrial towns are Gangtok and Darjeeling. The climate ranges from subtropical to high alpine. Kangchenjunga, the world's third-highest peak, is located on the border of Sikkim with Nepal. Sikkim is a popular tourist destination owing to its culture, scenic beauty and biodiversity.

Rajasthan-Location

Rajasthan is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area. It is located in the northwestern part of the subcontinent. It is bounded on the west and northwest by Pakistan, on the north and northeast by the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, on the east and southeast by the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, and on the southwest by the state of Gujarat. Rajasthan is divided into 33 districts and seven divisions. After independence Rajasthan was organised into a state in 1956. It has an area of about 132,139 square miles (342,239 square km).

The capital of Rajasthan is Jaipur, popularly known as the Pink City. It is gifted with natural beauty, a great history, splendid forts & palaces, colourful festivals & fairs, lively culture, varied landscape and thick forests. Most area of Rajasthan is encompassed by Great Indian Desert (Thar Desert), which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with Pakistan. The Tropic of Cancer passes through its southern tip in the Banswara district. Rajasthani is the official language. It consists of five prime dialects i.e. Marwari, Dhundhari, Mewari, Mewati and Hadauti. It is derived from Apabhramsa, with all its linguistic and orthographical peculiarities. Rajasthani as a language of literature suffered a great set back during the British period.

The word Rajasthan means the 'Land of Kings'. This is the home of the Rajputs, a group of warrior clans who have controlled this part of India for a thousand years with a code of chivalry and honour akin to that of the mediaeval European knightsj) The Rajputs were never a united forced like the Marathas of central India; when they were not warring against outsiders they were generally squabbling amongst themselves. Thus they were never a real opposition to the Moghuls but their bravery and sense of honour were un-paralled.

The Rajput warriors would fight on against all odds and, when no hope was left, the women and children would commit suicide by marching into a funeral pyre in a ritual known as jauhar. Meanwhile the men would don the saffron robes of rejoicing worn at weddings and ride forth to certain death. Over and again this grim tale would unfold as stronger forces attacked the Rajputs. In Chittorgarh's long history three times the women consigned themselves to the flames while the men rode out to martyrdom. It's hardly surpising that Akbar persuaded Rajputs to lead his army or that Aurangzeb clashed unsuccessfully with them.

Under the British Rajasthan continued as a collection of princely states under the collective name of Rajputana, each with its own Maharaja. Independent India combined them with Ajmer to make Rajasthan. Huge, often battle scarred, forts dominate almost every town in Rajasthan. They're a clear reminder of the state's warlike past. And what forts they are — battlements, turrets, massive walls and inside palaces of amazing luxury and whimsical charm. They're redolent of that impossibly romantic Rajput sense of honour and bravery above all.

Rajasthan's economy is mainly agricultural; millet, wheat, maize (corn), and cotton are grown. Cotton mills and cement.industries produce textiles, chemicals, nylon, precision instruments, calcium carbide, and caustic soda. Handicrafts earn foreign exchange. Oil has been found in Rajasthan, and other mineral deposits include gypsum. Major industrial towns are Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Ajmer, and Kota. Population of Rajasthan includes Rajput, Bhil, Minas, and other ethnic groups.

Punjab-Location

Punjab is a state in Northwest India. It situated in the northwestern corner of the country. The Indian state borders the Pakistani province of Punjab to the west, Jammu and Kashmir to the north, Himachal Pradesh to the northeast, Haryana to the south and southeast and Rajasthan to the southwest. It has an area of about 19,445 square miles (50,362 square km). The state is located between 29° 30' N to 32° 32' N latitude and between 73° 55' E to 76° 50' E longitude.

Punjab's capital is Chandigarh, which is administered separately as a Union Territory since it is also the capital of neighbouring Haryana. Punjab state lies between the great systems of the Indus and Ganges rivers.Punjab consists mainly of Punjabis, Jats, and Rajputs.The majority of the population is Sikh, the largest minority is Hindu, and a very small percentage is Muslim, Buddhist, Christian.

The history of Punjab dates back to 7000 B.C. The earliest human civilization known as the Indus valley civilization is believed to have been established in this region. The earliest signs of human activity were also started in this period. The Indus valley civilization grew from small village and settlements to highly refined urban life. At its height, around 3000 B.C., it boasted the splendid cities of Harappa (Near present Day Sahiwal in West Punjab) and Mohenjo Daro in the lower Indus valley. It was in about 900B.C that the battle of Kurukshetra mentioned in the Epic Mahabharata was believed to have taken place in Kurukshetra. During this period the region formed small principalities ruled by chieftains.

In 321 B.C. Alexander invaded this region and asked all the chieftains to surrender their power. The next was the reign of Chandragupta Maurya that lasted till about 1st century A.D. By 318 A.D. the Gupta dynasty exercised their influence. They were followed by the Huns in about 500A.D.

By 1000A.D the Muslims invaded Punjab led by Mahmud of Ghazni. In 1030 A.D. the Rajputs gained control of this territory. In about 1192A.D the Ghoris defeated the Chauhans and ruled till the establishment of the Mughal rule, a spirit of religious liberation led to the rise of the Militant Sikh power.

Punjab subsequently came under the reign of various Muslim rulers until the victorious entry of the Mughals in 1526 Under the Mughals the province enjoyed a period of peace and prosperity for more than 200 years. Punjab came under British occupation in 1849, after the British victory over the Sikhs. When the Indian subcontinent received its independence in 1947, Punjab was divided into two parts, i.e. Pakistan and India, with the larger western portion becoming part of Pakistan. In 1966 the Indian smaller half was further divided into three: Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. The present provincial boundaries were established in 1970.

Agriculture is the largest industry in Punjab, it is the largest single provider of wheat to India. Others major industries include the manufacture of scientific instruments, electrical goods, financial services, machine tools, textiles, sewing machines, sports goods, starch, tourism, fertilizers, bicycles, garments, and the processing of pine oil and sugar. Other crops include corn, rice, millet, barley, and edible seeds, together with cotton, sugarcane, potatoes, and oilseeds. manufacture of textiles, sewing machines, sporting goods, starch, fertilizers, bicycles, scientific instruments, electrical goods, and machine tools. Major industrial towns are Bhatinda, Ludhiana, Chandigarh, Jullundur, Amritsar.

Orissa-Location

Orissa is the ninth largest state of India. It is located on the southeastern fringes of the country. The state is is surrounded by West Bangal on the north-east, Jharkhand (formerly part of Bihar) on the north, Chhatisgarh (formerly part of Madhya Pradesh) on the west and Andhra Pradesh on the south, while the Bay of Bengal washes its shores on the east. The geographical area of the state is 1,55,707 sq. km. It is located between the parallels of 17 degree 49'E and 22° 34'N latitudes and the meridians of 81 degree 27'E and 87degree 29'E longitudes.

Bhubaneshwar is the capital of the state. It is the eleventh largest by population. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April 1936 as a province in British India, and consists, predominantly of Oriya speakers. 1 April is therefore celebrated as Utkal Divas (Odisha Day). It got its final shape on January 1, 1949 when Mayurbhanj, the last among the princely states, merged in it. Odia is the official and most widely spoken language. Odisha has a relatively unindented coastline (about 480 km long) and lacks good ports, except for the deepwater facility at Paradip. The narrow, level coastal strip, including the Mahanadi River delta supports the bulk of the population. The interior of the state is mountainous and sparsely populated. Deomali at 1672 m is the highest point of the state.

In 1568 Orissa lost its independence to the Afghan rulers of Bengal and then became part of the Mughal Empire. When the Mughal Empire declined in the 18th century, part of Orissa remained under the Bengal Nawabs, but the greater part passed to the Marathas. Orissa's hazy past comes into focus with the reign of Kalinga. In 260 BC he was defeated by Ashoka, the great Indian emperor, but the bloody battle left such a bitter taste with Ashoka that he converted to Buddhism and spread that gentle religion far and wide. Buddhism soon declined in Orissa, however, and Jainism held sway until Buddhism reasserted itself in the 2nd century AD. By the 7th century AD Hinduism had, in turn, supplanted Buddhism and Orissa's golden age was in full swing.

Under the Kesari and Ganga kings the Orissan culture flourished and countless temples from that classical period still stand today. The Orissans managed to defy the Moslem rulers in Delhi until the region finally fell to the Moghuls during the 16th century. Many of Bhu-baneswar's temples were destroyed at that time. Today Orissa is tapping the hydro-electric potential of its many rivers and fledgling industries are being started but the state is still a region of green fields and small villages.

Orissa's economy is predominantly agricultural with most of the population engaged in raising rice. Other agricultural products are pulses (legumes), cotton, tobacco, sugarcane, and turmeric. Among the livestock raised are buffalo and other cattle, sheep, and goats. Fish is largely exported. Major industrial towns are Raurkela, Haldia, Kharagpur, Sambalpur, Cuttack and Bhubaneshwar.

Orissa is home to a large number of tourist attractions. Odisha is home to the Hirakud Dam, one of the longest dams in the world. Orissa has several popular tourist destinations. Puri, with the Jagannatha's temple near the sea (famous for Rath Yatra or the Car Festival), and Konark, with the Sun Temple, are visited by thousands of tourists every year. The Jagannatha Temple of Puri, The Sun Temple of Konarka, The Lingaraja Temple of Bhubaneswar, and the Barabati Fort of Cuttack are important in the archaeological history of India.

Nagaland-Location

Nagaland is a hill state located in the extreme northeastern region of India. The state shares common boundaries with Myanmar in the East, state of Assam in the West; Arunachal PradeshManipur in the south. Its Longitude lies between 93°20'E and 95°15' E and Latitude between 25°6' and 27°4' N. It has an area of about 6,401 square miles (16,579 square km).

Nagaland is one of India's smallest states with Kohima as its capital. Nagaland became the 16th state of Indian Union only on 1st December 1963 by an amendment in the constitution of India; prior to that it was a union territory. The state is divided into seven districts: Kohima, Phek, Mokokchung, Wokha, Zunheloto, Twensang and Mon. It is a largely mountainous state. Nagaland is home to some more than 16 different tribes. The Distinctive character and identify of each tribe in terms of Tradition, custom, language and dresses is apparent to the visitors. About 90% of the state’s population is Christian and there are good many number of churches located all in all parts of the state. For this reason Nagaland is popularly known as the "The most Baptist state in the world”.

Nagaland has no early written history. The first references to the people there are found in 13th-century chronicles of the Ahom kingdom of neighbouring Assam. The word Naga designates the many tribes and sub tribes that occupy the area. A very small number of evidence is available about the early history of Nagaland. During the early 19th century the present day Nagaland was under the control of Myanmar. When the British East India Company controlled over Assam, Nagaland became a part of the British India. By 1892, almost all parts of Assam and Nagaland became part of British India except Tuensang area of the present day Nagaland. After India got her independence in 1947, the area under Nagaland and Assam were combined to form a single state known as Assam. But demand of a separate political entity from the Naga tribes became intensified and violent incidents occurred in many parts of the Naga dominated region. In 1957, the Government of India decided to make Nagaland a single administrative unit and hence it became a union territory (UT) which was governed directly by the centre. But it did not put an end to the violence in Nagaland. The vocal movement advocated political union of all Naga tribes and finally the Government of India decided to make Nagaland a separate state of Indian Union. On 1st December 1963, Nagaland got the official status of a state and became the 16th state of India.

The first level democratic elections were held in the state in 1964. But Naga separatists did not stop their violent oppositions and continued demanding for an autonomous status to the state and creation of a single administrative unit comprising of all the Naga inhabited areas spanning across some of the north eastern states. The first insurgencies were declared in the state in early 1980s. For some time peace restored in the region but again there has been ongoing conflict between rebel groups since the late 1990s. The cease fire has been declared in the stage since 1st August 2000 and peace talks are in progress.

Nagaland’s climate is pleasant throughout the year, making it one of the favoured tourist destinations in the north eastern region. There are ample opportunities for adventurous tourists as it is ideal for trekking, rock climbing, and jungle camping. It also offers limitless exploration possibilities in its lush and verdant sub-tropical rain forests which are also a treasure trove of a plethora of medicinal plants. Agriculture is the most important economic activity in Nagaland. Principal crops include rice, corn, millets, pulses, tobacco, oil seeds, sugarcane, potatoes and fibres. Other economy boosters are Forestry, Cottage industries, Insurance, Real estate and Tourism. Major industrial towns are Angami, Ao, Sema, Konyak, and Chakesang.

Meghalaya-Location

Meghalaya is a small state in north-eastern India. It is bounded on the south by Bangladesh and on all other sides by Assam state. Meghalaya is a hilly strip in the eastern part of the country about 300 km long (east-west) and 100 km wide, with a total area of about 8,700 sq mi (22,720 km²). It was originally part of Assam, but on 21st January 1972, the districts of Khasi, Garo and Jaintia hills became the new state of Meghalaya. There are 7 districts in this state.

The capital of the state is Shillong also known as the Scotland of the East which has a population of 260,000. Shillong has one of the world's highest rainfall averages 10,920 mm (430 in). The word "Meghalaya" literally means "The Abode of Clouds" in Sanskrit and other Indic languages. Khasi and Garo with English is the official language of the State.

There are different legends, beliefs and findings about the Khasis, Jaintias and Garos. It is said that Khasis were the earliest immigrants who made their way across northern Myanmar to Khasi in the plain of East Assam where they established new centre. Khasis linguistically represents the Mon-khmer speeches spoken in South-East Asia. The Khasi, Garo, and Jaintia tribes each had their own kingdoms, until they came under the British administration them in the 19th century. Eventually, the British incorporated Meghalaya into Assam in 1835. After the Independence in 1947, Meghalaya was given autonomous status within Assam. However the Meghalayans were not satisfied with the arrangement and started a peaceful and constitutional struggle for more independence. The turning point in their struggle came when Assam introduced Assamese as the state language, a language unknown to the tribes of Meghalaya. The Centre recognised their plight and their right for a state of their own. In the year 1972, Meghalaya became a full-fledged state in the Republic of India.

Meghalaya is predominantly an agrarian economy. The important crops of the state are potato, rice, maize, pineapple, banana, oranges etc. Major industrial towns are Shillong, Jowai, Nongthymmai, and Tura. About one third of the state is forested. The Meghalaya subtropical forests ecoregion encompasses the state; its mountain forests are distinct from the lowland tropical forests to the north and south. The forests of Meghalaya are notable for their biodiversity of mammals, birds, and plants. The service sector comprises of Real estate and Insurance companies. Meghalaya's gross state domestic product for 2004 is estimated at $1.6 billion in current prices.

The climate of Meghalaya varies with the altitude. The climate of Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills is uniquely pleasant and caressing. It is neither too warm in summer nor too cold in winter, but over the plains of Garo Hills, the climate is hot and humid, except in winter.

Manipur-Location

Manipur is a state in Northeastern India. It is bordered on the east by Myanmar, on the north by Nagaland state, on the west by Assam state, and on the south by Mizoram state. It is one of the smallest of India's states. There is only 9 districts in this state. It covers an area of 22,347 square kilometres (8,628 sq mi). The state lies between latitude 23.80º N to 25.68º N and longitude 93.03º E to 94.78º E.

The capital of Manipur is Imphal. The state is formed on January 21, 1972. Manipuri is the official language of the state. Manipur literally meaning "A jeweled land". It seems much like an exquisite work of art executed by superb hands of Nature and is indeed a state of exquisite natural beauty and splendors, the beauty of which once inspired Mrs. St. Clair Grimwood described it as " A Pretty Place more beautiful than many show places of the world" Late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru paid a fitting tribute by describing it as "Jewel of India". It is surrounded by blue hills with an oval shaped valley at the centre, rich in art and tradition and surcharged with nature's pristine glory. Manipur lies on a melting pot of culture. It is birth place of Polo. This is the place where Rajashree Bhagyachandra created the famous Ras Lila, the classical dance of Manipur, out of his enchanting dream by the grace of Lord Krishna. Her folk dances reveal the mythological concept of creation of Manipur.

Manipur has a varied and proud history from the earliest times. It came under the British rule after the First Anglo Manipuri war of 1891. In this war, many great heroes of Manipur laid down their lives. Major General Paona Brajabashi died fighting the British Army in the battle of Khongjom. The British then captured Imphal and had General Thangal and Yuvraj (Prince) Tekendrajit hanged.

After India became independent on August 15, 1947; the Manipur Constitution Act, 1947 established a democratic form of Government with the Maharaja as the Executive Head and a legislature constituted by election on adult franchise. This legislative assembly functioned till it was dissolved on the integration of the state with the Dominion of India in October, 1949. Manipur achieved full statehood on January 21, 1972.

Agriculture, which provides the livelihood for 70 percent of Manipuris, and forestry dominate the economy. Rice is the principal crop, maize (corn), sugarcane, pulses. Major industrial town is Imphal.

Maharashtra-Location

Maharashtra is a state located on the western coast of India. It is India's third largest state by area and second largest by population. Maharashtra is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, Gujarat and the Union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli to the northwest, Madhya Pradesh to the northeast, Chhattisgarh to the east, Karnataka to the south, Andhra Pradesh to the southeast, and Goa to the southwest. It is is located in the Deccan region of India. The state covers an area of 307,731 km2 (118,816 sq mi). Maharashtra attained statehood on 1st May 1960.

Mumbai is the capital city of the state and is also the financial capital of the nation. The name itself implies its largeness, 'Maha' means Big and 'Rashtra' means State impling that it is one of the largest states in India. The word Maharashtra also means, "The Great State". Marathi is the official and most widely spoken language. Hindi, Gujurati, English are also commonly used.

The name Maharashtra first appeared in a 7th century inscription and in a Chinese traveler's account. Its name may have originated from rathi, which means, "chariot driver". At that age Maharashtra was full of builders and drivers of chariots who formed a maharathis, a "fighting force." In 90 A.D. king Vedishri made Junnar, thirty miles north of Pune, the capital of his kingdom. In the early fourteenth century the Devgiri Yadavs were overthrown by the northern Muslim powers. Then on, for the 900 years ending, no historical information in this region is available. In 1526, first Mughal king, Babar, established his prominence in Delhi and soon the Mughal power spread to the southern India. The Mughals were to dominate India till the early eighteenth century.Shivaji Bhosle, founder of the Maratha Empire, was born in 1627. He took the oath to make the land free at the fort Torna at the age of sixteen. This was the start of his lifelong struggle against Mughals and other Muslim powers. By 1680, the year of Shivaji's death, nearly whole of the Deccan belonged to his kingdom. He had developed an efficient administration and a powerful army. He also encouraged a spirit of independence among the Marathas that enabled them to withstand for 150 years all attempts to conquer them. Shivaji's achievements amongst monumental difficulties were really spectacular and that is why he holds the highest place in Maratha history.

Mumbai is the the financial and the cinematic centre of the country. The very famous Bollywood, or the Indian Film Industry, is located in the city. Maharashtra is one of the most economically important states of India. One must not miss a state like Maharashtra that has progressed in every sphere be it art and culture or economy.

Madhya Pradesh-Location

Madhya Pradesh is a state in central India. It is bordered by the Indian states of Rajasthan on the northwest, Uttar Pradesh on the northeast, Chhattisgarh on the east, Maharashtra on the south, and Gujarat on the west. The State of Madhya Pradesh came into existence on 1st November 1956. It was the largest state of India November 1, 2000 when the state of Chhattisgarh was carved out and now the second largest state. It has an Area of about 443,446 sq km (171,215 sq mi). The state straddles the Narmada River, which runs east and west between the Vindhya and Satpura ranges; these ranges and the Narmada are the traditional boundary between the north and south of India.

The capital of the state is Bhopal. Madhya Pradesh is often called the ‘Heart of India’. The word, Madhya Pradesh literally means the ‘Central Province', an apt name as it is situated in the centre of India.. Most of the people here are followers of Hinduism and Hindi is the main and official language of the state. The state is today counted amongst one of the most colorful states in the country.

Madhya Pradesh consisted of Bhimbetka-neolithic rock of the region called Malwa. The Malwa region was occupied by the predecessors of the Bhils, Gonds and other tribes who had to confront the Aryans. The Aryans who were stronger pushed the tribal inhabitants to the south of the Vindhyas. The Malwa region is also found to have evidences of a civilization contemporary to the Indus Valley Civilization. This region excelled in art and architecture during the period of Buddhism when this area witnessed the rule of Mauryan empire till 327 B.C. The Sungas also established their influence over this region. The rule of Vikramaditya lasted from 78AD to 388AD and after this Chandragupta II ruled from 388 to 401AD.A After the decline of the Guptas, by the 10th century Malwa was under King Bhoja II of the Paramaras. Internal rivalry between the tribes and the Rajputs made it easy for the Muslims to establish their rule which lasted till 1401AD.The Khiljis under Mahmud Khilji ruled from 1435-1459. The invasion of Babar paved the way for establishment of a strong Muslim rule from 1526 to 1530. The Sur dynasty under Sher Shah also had its influence on it. In 1562 Akbar made it a part of the Mughal empire and it remained a part of Mughal empire till the 18th century. The tribal, Gonds gained control of Malwa after the decline of the Mughals followed by the Marathas from 1690.Though this area too fell under the British jurisdiction it was administered by the Marathas who ceded it to the British completely by 1817. In 1948 after independence this region of Malwa was joined with regions of Indore and Bhopal. In 1956 it was organised into the present Madhya Pradesh.

Economy of Madhya Pradesh is agriculture. The chief crops are rice, durra, wheat, pulses, groundnuts, linseed, and cotton. Among livestock raised are buffalo and other cattle, sheep, and goats. Industries include the processing of sugar and the manufacture of cotton textiles, newsprint, pottery, cement, carpets, silk, rayon, jute products, glass, steel. Major industrial towns are Ujjain, Bhopal, Indore, Khandwa, Jabalpur and Gwalior.

Kerala-Location

Kerala is a state located in southwestern India. It is bordered on the north by Karnataka state, on the east by Tamil Nadu state, and on the south and west by the Arabian Sea. The state extends between the latitude 10°00 North and longitude 76°25 East.

Kerala was formed in 1956. The state has been divided into 14 districts. The capital of the state is Trivandrum. It is also called Thiruvananthapuram and is located at the southern tip of the state. The state has an area of about 38,863 Sq. Kms. Malabar coast is the site of Kerala location, with the Western Ghats running along its length. Geographically Kerala is a tropical region. Its location gives its unique climate and geographical features. In Kerala, February - May (24 - 33 Dg. C) are the months of summer season, June - September(22 - 28 Dg. C) is the monsoon season and October - January (22 - 32 Dg. C) is the winter season.

The name Kerala has an uncertain etymology. The word Kerala is derived from the Sanskrit word “Keralam”. The word Keralam is derived from two words “kera” which means “coconut tree” and “alam” which means “abode of”. Malayam is the official language of Kerala. Natives of Kerala, known as Malayalis or Keralites, refer to their land as Keralam. The religions in Kerala are Hinduism, Christianity, Islam.

The first recorded history of Kerala appears in the inscriptions of the Mauryan Emperor, Ashoka (269-232 b.c.).In these inscriptions, Ashoka refers to four independent kingdoms that lay to the south of his empire. These were the kingdoms of the Cholas, the Pandyas, the Keralaputrasand the Satiyaputras.Among them, the Keralaputras or the Cheras, as they were called, reigned over Malabar, Cochin and North Travancore – all part of present-day Kerala. They managed to maintain their independence because they were on good terms with the Great Maurya. Otherwise, Ashoka, who was a great empire builder, would surely have attempted to bring these kingdoms under his tutelage. The four South Indian Kingdoms extended a hand of friendship towards the Mauryas. It was really Hobson’s choice for them, having already experienced the Mauryan onslaught during the reign of Ashoka’s predecessor, Bindusara (297-272 b.c.).

Agriculture is very important to this fertile region. The principal agricultural products of the state are rice, tapioca, coconut, areca nuts, oilseeds, pepper, sugarcane, rubber, tea, coffee, and cardamom.Other manufactures are tiles, textiles, ceramics, fertilizers and chemicals, and glass. In addition, numerous factories process. Kerala is generally referred to as a tropical paradise of waving palms and wide sandy beaches. It boasts of a higher Human Development Index than most other states in India. Kochi, Kozhikode, Kollam, Thrissur, Kottayam, Kannur, Alapuzha and Palakkad form other major trading and activity centres. Kochi is regarded as the “Queen of the Arabian Sea.

Kerala is jewel in the crown of Indian tourism with coastal paradise, waterways, Ayurveda resorts, backwater resorts, hill stations, eco-tourism, monuments, spectacular art forms, rejuvenating health packages, exotic wildlife, religious places, beaches, spice plantations and year-round festivals and rightly called by various connotations like the “God’s own country”, “ten paradises of the world" and “50 places of a lifetime”. Kovalam Beach is famous in the world for its sunbathing in sandy beach, Backwaters around Allapuzha, Kumarakom is famous for its swaying palm trees, green paddy fields and waterways and Kairali Ayurvedic Health Resorts which is famous across the world for its Ayurvedic healing and rejuvenation.

Karnataka-Location

Karnataka is a state in Southern India. It is bordered on the north and northeast by Maharashtra and Goa states, on the east by Andhra Pradesh state, on the south by Tamil Nadu and Kerala states, and on the west by the Arabian Sea. It is situated on a tableland where the Western and Eastern Ghat ranges converge into the Nilgiri hill complex. It was formed on November 1, 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act.

Karnataka is located on the western coast of Peninsular India.It is spread over an area of 1, 92,000 sq. kms. The State is confined roughly within 11.5 degree North and 18.5 degree North latitudes and 74 degree East and 78.5 degree East longitude. The Land blessed with holy rivers Cauveri, Sharavathi, Thungbadra & Ghataprabha, and covered by great western Ghats and Arabian Sea and spread over the deccan plateau situated in the southern part of India made lovely land to live with.

Bangalore is the capital city of the state. Bangalore is the center of India's science and technology industry and is one of the fastest growing cities in Asia.

Karnataka is the eighth largest Indian state by area, the ninth largest by population and comprises 29 districts. Kannada (Kasturi) is the official and most widely spoken language. The Kannada-speaking state of Karnataka, formerly known as Mysore. It was renamed Karnataka in 1973. It is known as the land of Goddess Bhuvaneshwari. The word Karnataka means "Lofty Land". Though several etymologies have been suggested for the name Karnataka, the generally accepted one is that Karnataka is derived from the Kannada words karu and nadu, meaning elevated land. Karu nadu may also be read as Karu (black) and nadu (region), as a reference to the black cotton soil found in the Bayaluseeme region of Karnataka. The British used the word Carnatic (sometimes Karnatak) to describe both sides of peninsular India, south of the Krishna River.

Agriculture is the occupation of about 80 percent of the population. Other food crops are sorghum and millet; cotton, tobacco, cashews, cardamom, and grapes are additional cash crops. Coffee and tea plantations are found in the Western Ghats, with Karnataka producing much of India's coffee.

Karnataka is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. It has many hotels and resorts to cater to the lodging needs of its travelers and tourists. The state economy boasts of its Real estate, Consultancies, Travel and Tourism, Educational Institutes, Hotel Industry and Insurance.

Jharkhand-Location

Jharkhand is located in Eastern India. It is surrounded by Bihar to the north, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to the west, Orissa to the south, and West Bengal to the east. The state covers a geographical area of 28,833 sq mi (74,677 km²).

Jharkhand is the 28th state of the Indian Union. This new State Jharkhand formerly a part of Bihar state, was formed on November 15th, 2000. Ranchi is the capital city of the state. The name "Jharkhand" comes from the Sanskrit word Jharikhanda, which is the ancient name of the region's dense forest. Jharkhand is popularly known as Vananchal (meaning land of woods).

Many parts of the Jharkhand state lies on the Chota Nagpur Plateau. Chota Nagpur plateau is the source of the Koel, Damodar, Brahmani, Kharkai, and Subarnarekha rivers, whose upper watersheds lie within Jharkhand. Much of the state is still covered by forest. Forest preserves support the population of tigers and Asian Elephants.

The early recorded history of Jharkhand is mired in the web of legends. According to the legends, it was traced that Raja Jai Singh Deo of Orissa in the 13th century declared himself as the ruler of Jharkhand. Jharkhand was known by the name of 'Kukara' region during the days of the Mughal Empire. From 1765, the Britishers started ruling over the land, and from that time it was named and known as 'Jharkhand.'

Soil content of Jharkhand state mainly consist of soil formed from disintegration of rocks and stones, and soil composition is further divided into: Red soil, found mostly in the Damodar valley, and Rajmahal area Micacious soil (containing particles of mica), found in Koderma, Jhumeritilaiya, Barkagaon, and areas around the Mandar hill Sandy soil, generally found in Hazaribagh and Dhanbad Black soil, found in Rajmahal area, Laterite soil, found in western part of Ranchi, Palamu, and parts of Santhal Parganas and Singhbhum.

Jharkhand is one the most industrialised regions of the country today. The state capital, Ranchi, is also the industrial city of the state. The level of progress this city has shown since the birth of the state of Jharkhand proves that it has the potential to become one of the leading industrial cities of the entire country of India. Some of the other major cities and industrial centres are Jamshedpur, Dhanbad, Bokaro, Sindri, Deoghar, Hazaribagh and Gumla. The major languages spoken in Jharkhand include Bhojpuri, Urdu, Hindi, Bengali, Oriya, Kharia, Bhumij and Ho.

Jammu and Kashmir-Location

Jammu and Kashmir is the Northern most state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the Pakistani administered territories of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, to the west and northwest respectively. Formerly a part of the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, this territory is disputed among China, India and Pakistan. Jammu and Kashmir is referred to in Pakistan as Indian-occupied Kashmir.

Jammu and Kashmir consists of three regions: Jammu, the Kashmir valley and Ladakh. It has two capitals. Srinagar is the summer capital, and Jammu, its winter capital. The Kashmir valley is often known as Paradise on Earth, and is famous for its beautiful mountainous landscape. Jammu's numerous shrines attracts tens of thousands of Hindu and Muslim pilgrims every year. Ladakh, also known as "Little Tibet", is renowned for its remote mountain beauty and Buddhist culture.

Jammu and Kashmir is the only state in India that has a Muslim majority population. In Jammu and Kashmir, the principal spoken languages are Kashmiri, Urdu, Dogri, Pahari, Balti, Ladakhi, Punjabi, Gojri and Dadri, Kishtwari. However, Urdu written in the Persian script is the official language of the state. Many speakers of these languages use Hindi or English as a second language.

Jammu and Kashmir has been famous for its natural beauty since time immemorial and has been aptly described as "heaven on earth". The state has some of the best tourist spots in the entire country. Tourists from not only India but also the world over come to enjoy the scenic beauty of the state. The tourism industry has greatly benefited the state economy. Some of the major tourist attractions in the state are Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Leh, Patnitop, and Ladakh. The city of Jammu is popularly known as the City of temples.

Srinagar is famous for its lakes and houseboats while Kashmir, known for its scenic natural beauty and rich cuisine is quite popular among tourists. The Dal Lake houseboats are one of the major attractions of Kashmir. Another major tourist attraction is the Mughal Gardens of Srinagar. Srinagar is also a center for the manufacture of carpets, silk, and wool. In and around the city are many old buildings and ruins.

Mizoram-Location

Mizoram is one of the Seven Sister States in North Eastern India. It is bordered by Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) to the east and south, Bangladesh to the west, and by the states of Manipur, Assam, and Tripura to the north. Mizoram is the southernmost of India's hill states.

Mizoram State lies between 21o 58’ and 24o35‘ N Latitudes and 92o15’ and 93o 29’ E Longitudes. Mizoram became the 23rd state of India on 20 February 1987. The capital of the state is Aizawl. Mizoram has an area of about 21,081 sq km (8,139 sq mi).

The word 'Mizo' means ‘highlander’ and Mizoram means the ‘Land of Mizos’, that is 'the Land of Highlanders'. Mizoram has a mild climate, not very warm in summer and not very cold in winter. During winter, the temperature varies from 11°C to 21°C and in summer it varies between 20°C to 29°C. The entire area is under the regular influence of monsoons. On the whole, Mizoram has a pleasant climate. The State’s topography is, by and large, mountainous with precipitous slopes forming deep gorges culminating into several streams and rivers. There are 15 major rivers in this State.

Historian believe that the Mizos are a part of the great wave of the great wave of the Mongolian race spilling over into the eastern and southern India centuries ago. Their sojourn in Western Burma, into which they eventually around seventh century, is estimated to last about two centuries. They came under the influence of the British Missionaries in the 9th century, and now most of the Mizos are Christians. One of the beneficial result of Missionary activities was the spread of education. The Missionaries introduced the Roman script for the Mizo language and formal education.

Rajiv Gandhi's assumption of power following his mother's death signaled the beginning of a new era in Indian politics. Laldenga met the Prime Minister on 15th February 1985. Some contentious issues, which could not be resolved, during previous talks referred to him for his advice.All trends indicated that neither the Centre nor the MNF would pass up the opportunity that has now presented itself to have a full lenient and flexible. New Delhi felt that Mizo problem had been dragging on for the long a time, while the MNF was convinced that bidding farewell to arms to live as respectable Indian Citizens was the only ways of achieving peace and development.Statehood was a prerequisite to the implementing of the accord singed between the MNF and and the Union Government on 30 June 1986. The document was signed by Laldenga, on the behalf of MNF, and the Union Home Secretary RD Pradhan on behalf of the Government, Lalkhama Chief Secretary of Mizoram, too signed the agreement. The MNF volunteers came out of their hiding and surrendered arms to makeshift bamboo huts up for the purpose at Parva and Marpara. A total of 614 activists gave themselves up in less than two weeks in July. Large quantities of small and big firearms including LMGs and rifles were received from them. While the MNF kept its part of the bargain, the Centre initiated efforts to raise the status of Mizoram to a full fledged State.

Mizoram occupies an area of great strategic importance in the northeastern corner of India. The boundaries with Myanmar and Bangladesh total 722 kilometers.Mizoram has the most variegated hilly terrain in the eastern part of India. The hills are steep (avg. height 1000 metres) and separated by rivers which flow either to the north or south creating deep gorges between the hill ranges. The highest peak in Mizoram is the Blue Mountain (Phawngpui) with a height of 2210 metres.