INDIA DOWNTOWN
India is the seventh-largest country in the world by land area and the most populous, with over 1.4 billion people. Located in South Asia, it shares borders with Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. It is surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea, and the Bay of Bengal. India is a federal parliamentary democratic republic with 28 states and 8 union territories. New Delhi is its capital, while Mumbai is the financial hub and largest city.
India has a long history, with evidence of civilization dating back to the Indus Valley Civilization around 2500 BCE. The Maurya and Gupta empires were significant early dynasties. Later, the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire ruled before British colonization began in the 18th century. After years of struggle led by figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, India gained independence from British rule on August 15, 1947.
