West Bengal

West Bengal State Information

ak47exam.blogspot.com

Capital : Calcutta

Districts :19

Languages: Bengali, Hindi, English

Introduction to West Bengal
Bankim Chandra Chatterjee composed his famous song, “Vande Mataram”, in 1882, he was in many ways symbolizing the beauty of Bengal. Some things here are still eternal. The rich culture of the state binds the population together through its unique unity in diversity and offers matchless geographical variety to its visitors. West Bengal, located in the eastern part of the Indian peninsula, is one of the country’s medium-sized, states. However, in its physical form, it is a complete representation of the Indian subcontinent. Darjeeling, its northern end, is embraced by the arms of the mighty Himalayas. The Dooars in the foothills are rich in forest. The unconquerable river Ganga flows across the state’s rich alluvial plains to reach the Bay of Bengal in the south, through vast swamps that are known as the Sundarbans.

Geography of West Bengal
West Benga is stretching for about 300 miles from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal, West Bengal’s geography is as diversified as its culture. Through West Bengal runs the tropic of cancer. West Bengal is surrounded by the three international frontiers in the north, namely, Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh. On its northeast lies the green valley of Assam. On the east lies Bangladesh. Bihar lies on the western side. To the southwest, lies Orissa, the state with, its golden beaches, and the Bay of Bengal lies to the south of West Bengal. Starting from the mighty Himalayas in the north to the Bay of Bengal in the south, West Bengal is a cluster of varied physical features. Coming downward, the state houses some of the rare species of wildlife in the Sundarbans that is also the natural habitat of the famous Royal Bengal Tiger. Between the Himalayan mountain region and the delta region lie the fertile Gangetic plains.

Brief History of West Bengal
West Bengal was formerly known as Vanga and was spread over a vast area. Ruled by several dynasties from ancient times, the actual history of this region is, however, available from the Gupta period. The prosperity and the importance of the state increased largely when the British East India Company took over the place. It was a widespread Bengal province until under the terms of the Indian Independence Act, 1947, the province of Bengal ceased to exist. The Muslim-dominated districts, namely, Chittagong, Dacca and part of Presidency and Rajshahi division went to the present-day Bangladesh and the state of West Bengal came into existence in 1947.

The district of Cooch Behar was merged with the state on January 1, 1950. The former Chandernogor came within the state on October 2, 1954 and the state got its present political boundary when, according to the States Reorganization Act, part of the state of Bihar was transferred to West Bengal.

Government of West Bengal

Buddhadeb Bhattacharya has been the Chief Minister of West Bengal since November 6, 2000. He is also a politburo member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

Districts of West Bengal
There are 19 districts in West Bengal, namely:

Bankura, Bardhaman, Birbhum, Cooch, Behar, Darjeeling, District East Midnapore. Hooghly. Howrah. Jalpaiguri. Kolkata, Malda, Murshidabad, Nadia, District North 24 Parganas, North Dinajpur, Purulia South 24 Parganas, Dakshin Dinajpur & West Midnapore.

Economy of West Bengal
Minerals, like rock phosphate, fire clay, iron, limestone, copper, silica, quartz, manganese and sandstone are found in a considerable amount in the state. As a result, a few industries related to these are being established in the state. Steel and alloy steel plants in Durgapur and another steel plant in Burnpur are some of the important industries of the state. Other industries include jute, tea, cotton textiles, automobiles, bicycle, footwear, leather, paper, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, aluminum, sugar, timber processing, ceramic, glass, bone metal, and dairy. Fifty-five percent of the population of West Bengal depends upon agriculture. In fact, agriculture makes a substantial contribution to the state’s income. West Bengal accounts for 57.3% of the total jute and 24% of the total tea produced in the country. Pulses, oilseeds, barley, maize, betel leaf, tobacco and sugarcane are some of the other agricultural products of West Bengal. Moreover, there are several multipurpose irrigation schemes in West Bengal, namely, the Damodar Valley, Mayurakshi, Kangsbati and Subarnarekha Barrage. The irrigation schemes are Teesta-Mahananda link canal in Jalpaiguri district, Terageria and Turga irrigation scheme in Purulia, Hinlow irrigation scheme in Birbhum district and Sohajare scheme in Bankura district.

West Bengal Travel Information
West Bengal is one of the first destinations in a tourist’s itinerary visiting the eastern part of the country. Calcutta (Kolkata), the capital of the state, is the proud intellectual capital of the country. The city has made outstanding contribution to the country in the fields of art, science, medicine, social reform and literature. The city retains some of the most striking colonial buildings of the country. It used to be the capital of the British East India Company and the evidence of the British colonization continues in the city even today. The Victoria Memorial is a majestic house constructed in the memory of Queen Victoria. This building houses a number of rare specimens of the historical preserves of the land. Moreover, the manuscripts, the paintings and the sculptures here are outstanding. Howrah Bridge is yet another landmark that denotes this city of joy. This hanging bridge is an architectural marvel of the country. The second largest planetarium in Asia, the Birla Planetarium, is another site that attracts attention of all, regardless of their age.

The Botanical Garden with its 250-year-old banyan tree (Ficus bengalhensis) is another, attraction of the city. The Dakshineshwar Temple is an important pilgrimage center that attracts a number of tourists as well as pilgrims from all over the country. It is said that Shri Ramakrishna Paramhansa, the spiritual guru of Swami Vivekananda, used to worship Goddess Kali in this place. The recently built Vidyasagar Setu, another architectural marvel, connects both the banks of the Hooghly River. Thakur Bari, the residence of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, is another site that receives a herd of visitors every year. Moreover, the Metro Railway, National Library, Shaheed Minar, Eden Garden, Fort William, Rat Park and Marble Palace are some of the other sites of the city that are worth visiting.

Shantiniketan, Tagore’s university township, is a must on any itinerary that plots Bengal as a stopover. Just two and a half hours away by rail from Calcutta, this town in the Birbhum district is rich in culture and art. At Tagore’s residence in the Uttarayan complex, one could visit the museum and his various homes. From Shantiniketan, you could also take a stopover at Bakreswar, where ancient Kali and Shiva temples rise into the azure sky. The hot springs are famous for curing many chronic diseases. For witnessing the sheer magnificence of the mountains, untouched and unspoiled, one should visit the hill station of Darjeeling, located 7,000 feet above sea level. Darjeeling is famous for its flavored tea all over the world. The brew is often compared to champagne and the tea gardens that dot the slopes are witness to this gigantic industry. The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute is a paradise for trekkers. West Bengal has lot more to offer as a tourist destination.-- Digha, Siliguri, Gaur, Pandua, Murshidabad, Bishnupur, Haldia and the Sunderban Tiger Reserve are some of the few places of West Bengal that need to be mentioned here.

Rivers of West Bengal
The main rivers of the state are: Teesta, Brahamaputra, Jaldhaka, Torsha, Sankosh, Raidak, Mahananda, Mahanadi, Balason, Machi, Tangan, Punarbhava, Atrai, Ganga, Bhagirathi, Mayurakshi, Brahmani, Dwaraka, Bakreswar, Kopai, Damodar, Hooghly, Rupanarayan, Kansabati or Kasai and Subarnarekha

Education in West Bengal

In the whole of the rural West Bengal and in the most of the municipal areas the primary education is free and compulsory. Free supply of text books have been under taken. Girls education up to standard VIII has been made free in rural and urban areas, including Calcutta. Schools in West Bengal are either run by the state government or by private organisations. Schools mainly use English or Bengali as the medium of instruction, though Hindi and Urdu may also be used. The schools are affiliated with the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE), the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE), or the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education. West Bengal has fifteen universities. The University of Calcutta has more than 200 affiliated colleges. Bengal Engineering & Science University and Jadavpur University have notable engineering institutions. Notable collegess include Presidency College, St. Xavier's College, Medical College Kolkata. The state has many higher education institutes of national importance including Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, National Institute of Technology, Durgapur, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Asiatic Society, Indian Statistical Institute, Marine Engineering and Research Institute etc.

Food of West Bengal

Among all East Indian food, Bengali food is known all over for its varied taste and flavor. The cuisine contains sweets as well as other meal accompanying dishes. The sweets made from milk and curds, namely, rasogolla, sondesh, malai somsom, chana mukhi, and raj bhog are especially famous all over India. Above all, the fish preparation of Bengal is a culinary delight for the non-vegetarian food lovers. Fish of different varieties are prepared mostly with mustard oil and mustard seeds. Fish items are sometimes marinated in spices and sometimes cooked with curd. The ilcha macher jhol is an all-time favorite. Misti doi or sweet curd is another delicacy worth savoring. The Bengali is predominantly a rice eater. All but the very devout Hindus eat fish as a principal item of their food. Bengalis prefer to other beverages, the habit of taking sweetened tea has a spread to their remotest villages. Chewing of pan laced with lime, Kattha and arecanut is universal. Drinking of palm juice today and home made alcoholic brews is largely confined to industrial labour and the tribal population.

Arts & Culture of West Bengal
The attire of the Bengalis is very much Indian in origin. The main dress for the male is a cotton dhoti and silk or muslin kurta with a long cloth that is placed on the shoulder and neck. The women wear cotton saris especially known as Bangla tanter saree that is worn in a unique way, where the pallav of the saree comes from the backside of the wearer. The ethnicity of the state is diversified. The majority of the people are Bengalis. Some of the tribal groups like the Santhals and Oraon live in the remote plains whereas, the Lepchas and Bhotias live in the Himalayan regions of the state. Eighty-five percent of the population speaks Bengali whereas the remaining speaks Hindi, Urdu and other tribal languages.

Though the music of the state is not very old, it has gained a lot more maturity in its journey to perfection in the last 200 years. However, in the long run, Bengali music, especially Rabindra Sangeet, Nazrul Geeti and baul songs have successfully made their mark in the world of Indian music.

Festivals of West Bengal

Besides the other festivals of the Hindu solar calendar, Durga Puja is the one that gains the ultimate importance and attention in West Bengal. Durga Puja is an extravaganza of almost seven days, but, the preparation starts months before the actual event. New clothes are an integral part of Puja for every Bengali. Besides Durga Puja; Saraswati Puja, Lakshmi Puja, Kali Puja and Janmashtami are some other festivals that are given special attention in Bengal. The art and craft of West Bengal is known world over. Decent with the touch of minute observation, Bengali art and craft are unique. The leather products of Bengal are very famous all over the country.
ak47exam.blogspot.com

Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand State Information

Capital: Dehradun

Districts: 13

Languages: Garhwali, Kumaoni, Hindi

Introduction to Uttarakhand:

Uttarakhand, also known as "Devbhumi" or the "Land Of God" with its scintillating natural beauty, fascinating snow-clad mountains, fresh and pure water and air, and an aura of Godliness, attracts people from all over the world all though the year.

With its unique jeep safari in Jim Corbett Park, trekking, rafting in river, paragliding, there can hardly be a better place for nature and adventure loving tourists. 'The Queen of Hills' Mussorie, 'The Switzerland Of India' Almora, 'Lake District' Nainital, Pauri, Pithoragarh, Munsiyari, Ranikhet, Kausani etc are a few of the several other captivating sites for the nature lovers.

Famous for mountaineering and aero sports like paragliding and hand gliding, Uttarakhand has been a great place of attraction for foreign tourists.

Kedarnath,Badrinath,Gangotri and Yamunotri, the four shrines, which stands for 'Char Dham' is located in Uttarakhand. The Panch Prayag- Karnaprayag, Vishnuprayag, Rudraprayag, Nandprayag, and Devprayag are where Ganga meets its tributaries on its way down to form the five sacred sangams. These sangams attract pilgrims as they are considered holy places. Also Haridwar and Rishikesh, two famous Hindu pilgrimages and Gurdwara of Hemkund Sahib, famous shrine for Sikhs, near valley of flowers are located in Uttarakhand.

Geography of Uttarakhand:

Uttarakhand, located in Northern India is formed from north western districts of Uttar Pradesh. It borders Nepal on the east, Tibet on the north, Himachal Pradesh on the west, Uttar Pradesh on the south and Haryana in the northwest.

In the ancient scriptures of Hindu religion, the combined region of Kedarkhand (Presently Garhwal) and Manaskhand (Presently Kumaon), has been mentioned as Uttarakhand or Devbhumi. The state is divided naturally by Nanda Devi Mountains, in two regions, Kumaon and Garhwal. Dehradun, the capital, is the railhead and the largest city of the state. Nainital is where the high court of Uttarakhand is located.

Both Kumaon and Garhwal have beautiful natural scenario, with a series of imposing mountain peaks of Chowkhamba, Bhagirathi, Pindari, Nanda Devi, Sahastrataal, Kedarnath, Gangotri, Milam, Jogin to name a few.

Nanda Devi, having an altitude of 25,643 feet is the highest mountain in Uttarakhand and the second-highest mountain in India after Kanchengunga located in Sikkim. Out of a total area of 53483 km2, the state of Uttarakhand is 65%covered by forest and 86% is mountainous.

The Valley of Flowers, a world heritage site designated by UNESCO, well known for the all absorbing beauty and variety of the rare plants and flowers, is located near Josimath in Garhwal .

Demography of Uttarakhand:

Generally the people belonging to Uttarakhand are called Uttarakhandi. Depending on their place of origin, they are sometimes specifically called either Kumaoni or Garhwali.

As per latest census, the population of Uttarakhand is 10,086,292.The population of men is around 5.1 million and women around 4.9 million. Rajputs and Brahmins comprise the major chunk of the population. 88% of the population consists of Hindus, while the rest is distributed among the minority religion of Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Jains and Buddhists. Among the minority, Muslims have the largest share of population. The most populous districts of the state are Udham Singh Nagar, Haridwar and Dehradun.

The two main dialects of the state are Kumaoni and Garhwali. There are other dialects such as Jaunsari and Bhotia, which are spoken by relatively small percentage of tribal communities in the north and the west. However, the official language of the state is Hindi and the urban class mostly speaks in Hindi.

Brief History of Uttarakhand:

Archaeological evidence like ancient rock paintings, paleoloithic stone tools, rock shelters, megaliths, etc suggest that this mountainous state had been frequented and inhabited from prehistoric times.

Findings in Chamoli and Almorah districts clearly reveal the existence of human habitation from Stone Age in this state. The name of this state can be found in the great Purans and Vedas and the legendary epic of Ramayana and Mahabharata.

During Vedic age, Uttarakhand formed a part of Panchal and Kuru kingdom (mahajanpads). Kunindas were the first major dynasties of Kumaon during 2nd century BC. According to findings, Kunindas practiced an early form of Shaivism

Early presence of Buddhism has been noted in Kalsi region where Ashokan edicts have been found. The kingdoms of Kumaon and Garhwal, were formed during the medieval period. The region fell to the Gorkha empire of Nepal in 1803, but in 1816, British took over the kingdom after winning the Anglo-Nepalese war, and formed the Treaty of Sugauli.

The similarity of traditions, geography, and proximity to different ethnic groups brought Kumaon and Garhwal closer forgetting their long rivalry, and this had greatly strengthened the movement for statehood of Uttarakhand in 1990.

Finally, on 9th November 2000, the birth of Uttarakhand took place by carving out 13 districts from Uttar Pradesh. It became the 27th state of India with Dehradun as its capital. The name Uttarakhand was coined for the state, which was changed later as Uttaranchal and again it was renamed as Uttarakhand.

Districts of Uttarakhand:

Uttarakhand comprises of 13 districts out of which 7 districts belong to Garhwal region and 6 districts belong to Kumaon region. The districts in the Kumaon region are Bageshwar, Almora, Nainital, Champawat,Udhamsingh Nagar and Pithoragarh while the Garhwal region comprises of Pauri Garhwal, Tehri Garhwal, Haridwar, Dehradun, Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi and Chamoli.

Economy of Uttarakhand:

From 2005 to 2014 Uttarakhand has registered a growth of around 19.57% which places it among the five fastest growing states in India.

Udham Singh Nagar, Haridwar, Dehradun and some parts of Nainital contributes to the main economy (around 80%) of the state. The hilly areas are predominantly dependent on agriculture, which get tremendous setbacks due to natural calamities, geographical locations and other physical constraints.

The major industries of the state are floriculture, horticulture, Agro and food processing Industries, biotechnology and information and communication technology. Forest products-mainly herbs and spices and tourism are major engines of economical growth in this state.

Uttarakhand Travel Information:

The development of economy in the state is greatly dependent on tourism, and it has been taken up as a thrust sector by the Government. For the development of tourism in the state, the Government has set up Uttarakhand Tourism Board as the apex body for tourism.

A separate and detailed tourism policy has been formulated which has included various incentives to boost tourism industry in the state. Huge investment is being planned to promote Eco-Tourism hotels, resorts, amusement parks, spa, ropeways, etc. Also special interest is being taken to promote development of proper facilities for delivering spiritual lessons, Reiki, etc.

Attention is being given to develop and promote Winter Sports which bring lot of sports lover every year.

Rivers of Uttarakhand:

Ganga and Yamuna are the two most important rivers of Uttarakhand. The other important rivers flowing through the state are Alakananda, Ramnanga, Bhagirathi, Sarayu, Saraswati, Dhauliganga, and Tons.

Climate of Uttarakhand:

Uttarakhand comprises of two distinctly different climatic regions, the hilly terrain and the plain region. So depending on the area, the climate is quite varied in this state.

In the summer season, the maximum temperature in the plains goes above 400c, where as middle Himalayan valley registers a temperature of around 250c and attracts people from the plains to find an escape way from the unbearable heat. Higher areas of Himalaya register a temperature of around 150c during summer.

Regular snowfall is witnessed at higher altitudes during winter and the Himalayan mountains remains snow clad. Chilling subzero temperature is also recorded at higher peaks whereas average temperature of around 5 to 60c in Middle Himalayas and 10 to 150c in plains are observed in the state.

Heavy rainfall has been registered in the eastern Himalayas compared to Western part during monsoon. The temperature in most part of the state remains pleasant between 15 to 250c during this period between July to September.

Education in Food of Uttarakhand:

Primarily the people of Uttarakhand are vegetarian though non-vegetarian food is also available. Coarse grain with high fibre content food is widely used in the state. Few famous cuisines are Kafuli, Baadi, Fannah, Arsa, Bhatt Ki Chrdkani, Ras, Gulgula,etc.

Festivals of Uttarakhand:

Apart from Garhwali and Kumaoni, Jaunsari, Buksha, Tharu, Bhotia, Raji also stays here which has led to wide variety of culture and tradition in the state. Ardh Kumbh Mela, Gauchar Mela, Kumbh Mela, Devidhura Mela, Nanda Devi Mela, Purnagiri Mela are the main fairs here.

Very colorful and distinctive festivals can be observed in this state. The major festivals are Basant Panchami, Makar Sankranti, Ganga Dussehra, Ghee Sankranti, Bat Savitri, Hill Jatra, Kandali, Janapunya, Khatarua, Phool Dei and Chhipla jaat.

Dance & Music of Uttarakhand:

Folk songs are very popular in this hilly state. Popular folk songs are Mandals, Panwaras, Thadya etc, and these are composed on the beats of Dhol, turri, damoun, dholki, ransingha, thali, masakbhaja and bhankora. The popular music is Chhopati, Jhumeila, Chounphula, Basanti, Mangal and Puja Folk Songs.

Langvir Nita is a famous dance for males. Barada Nati is another famous folk dance. Other popular dance is Pandav Nritya.:

Dehradun, Mussorie and Nainital host some of the best boarding schools of India. Uttarakhand has very ambitious plan for higher education. It has around 1 Central University, 10 state Universities, 4 autonomous Universities, 10 private universities and 3 deemed universities. The most famous among these are AIMS in Rishikesh, IIT Roorkie, IIM Kashipur and NIT Uttarakhand.

Food of Uttarakhand:

Primarily the people of Uttarakhand are vegetarian though non-vegetarian food is also available. Coarse grain with high fibre content food is widely used in the state. Few famous cuisines are Kafuli, Baadi, Fannah, Arsa, Bhatt Ki Chrdkani, Ras, Gulgula,etc.

Festivals of Uttarakhand:

Apart from Garhwali and Kumaoni, Jaunsari, Buksha, Tharu, Bhotia, Raji also stays here which has led to wide variety of culture and tradition in the state. Ardh Kumbh Mela, Gauchar Mela, Kumbh Mela, Devidhura Mela, Nanda Devi Mela, Purnagiri Mela are the main fairs here.

Very colorful and distinctive festivals can be observed in this state. The major festivals are Basant Panchami, Makar Sankranti, Ganga Dussehra, Ghee Sankranti, Bat Savitri, Hill Jatra, Kandali, Janapunya, Khatarua, Phool Dei and Chhipla jaat.

Dance & Music of Uttarakhand:

Folk songs are very popular in this hilly state. Popular folk songs are Mandals, Panwaras, Thadya etc, and these are composed on the beats of Dhol, turri, damoun, dholki, ransingha, thali, masakbhaja and bhankora. The popular music is Chhopati, Jhumeila, Chounphula, Basanti, Mangal and Puja Folk Songs.

Langvir Nita is a famous dance for males. Barada Nati is another famous folk dance. Other popular dance is Pandav Nritya.

Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh State Information

Capital : Lucknow

Districts :70

Languages: Hindi, Urdu, English

Introduction to Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh has multicultural, multiracial, fabulous wealth of nature-hills, valleys, rivers, forests, and vast plains. Viewed as the largest tourist destination in India, Uttar Pradesh boasts of 35 million domestic tourists. More than half of the foreign tourists, who visit India every year, make it a point to visit this state of Taj and Ganga. Agra itself receives around one million foreign tourists a year coupled with around twenty million domestic tourists. Uttar Pradesh is studded with places of tourist attractions across a wide spectrum of interest to people of diverse interests. The seventh most populated state of the world, Uttar Pradesh can lay claim to be the oldest seat of India's culture and civilization. It has been characterized as the cradle of Indian civilization and culture because it is around the Ganga that the ancient cities and towns sprang up. Uttar Pradesh played the most important part in India's freedom struggle and after independence it remained the strongest state politically.

Geography of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh is between latitude 24°-31°N and longitude 77°-84°E. Area wise, it is the fourth largest state of India.. The Gangetic Plain occupies three quarters of the state. The entire state, except for the northern region, has a tropical monsoon climate. In the plains, January temperatures range from 12.5°C-17.5°C and May records 27.5°-32.5°C, with a maximum of 45°C. Rainfall varies from 1,000-2,000 mm in the east to 600-1,000 mm in the west.

Brief History of Uttar Pradesh
The epics of Hinduism, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, were written in Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh also had the glory of being home to Lord Buddha. It has now been established that Gautama Buddha spent most of his life in eastern Uttar Pradesh, wandering from place to place preaching his sermons. The empire of Chandra Gupta Maurya extended nearly over the whole of Uttar Pradesh. Edicts of this period have been found at Allahabad and Varanasi. After the fall of the Mauryas, the present state of Uttar Pradesh was divided into four parts: Surseva, North Panchal, Kosal, and Kaushambi.

The western part of Uttar Pradesh saw the advent of the Shaks in the second century BC. Not much is known of the history of the state during the times of Kanishka and his successors. The Gupta Empire ruled over nearly the whole of Uttar Pradesh, and it was during this time that culture and architecture reached its peak. The decline of the Guptas coincided with the attacks of Huns from Central Asia who succeeded establishing their influence right up to Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh.

The seventh century witnessed the taking over of Kannauj by Harshavardhana. In 1526, Babur laid the foundation of the Mughal dynasty. He defeated Ibrahim Lodi in the battle of Panipat. Babar carried out extensive campaign in various parts of Uttar Pradesh. He defeated the Rajputs near Fatehpur Sikri while his son Humayun conquered Jaunpur and Ghazipur, after having brought the whole of Awadh under his control. After Babur's death (1530), his son Humayun forfeited the empire after being defeated at the hands of Sher Shah Suri at Kannauj.

After the death of Sher Shah Suri in 1545, Humayun once again regained his empire but died soon after. His son Akbar proved to be the greatest of Mughals. His established a unified empire over nearly the whole of the India. During his period, Agra became the capital of India and became heartland of culture and arts. Akbar constructed huge forts in Agra and Allahabad. The period of Jahangir (after 1605) saw arts and culture reach a new high. In 1627, after the death of Jahangir, his son Shahjahan ascended the throne. The period of Shahjahan is known as the golden period of India in art, culture, and architecture. It was during his reign that the classical wonder Taj Mahal was built in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. The régime of Aurangzeb saw the peak of Mughal Empire in terms of geographic expansion.

Modern-day Uttar Pradesh saw the rise of important freedom fighters on the national scenario. Lal Bahadur Shastri, Jawaharlal Nehru, Smt. Indira Gandhi, and Charan Singh were only a few of the important names who played a significant role in India's freedom movement and also rose to become the prime ministers of this great nation.

Districts  of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh is made up of 70 administrative districts, which are grouped into 17 divisions.

Agra Division-Agra, Aligarh, Etah, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Mahamaya Nagar (Hathras) and Mathura

Allahabad Division-Allahabad, Kaushambi, Fatehpur and Pratapgarh,

Azamgarh Division-Azamgarh, Ballia, Mau,

Bareilly Division-Bareilly, Badaun, Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur

Basti Division-Basti, Siddharthnagar, Sant Kabir Nagar

Chitrakoot Division-Banda, Chitrakoot, Hamirpur, Mahoba

Devipatan Division-Gonda, Bahraich, Shravasti, Balrampur

Faizabad Division-Faizabad, Ambedkar Nagar, Barabanki, Sultanpur

Gorakhpur Division-Gorakhpur, Kushinagar (Padrauna), Devaria, Maharajganj,

Jhansi Division-Jalaun, Jhansi, Lalitpur,

Kanpur Division-Kanpur Nagar, Kanpur Dehat (Akbarpur District), Etawah, Farrukhabad, Kannauj, Auraiya

Lucknow Division-Lucknow, Hardoi, Lakhimpur Kheri, Raebareli, Sitapur, Unnao

Meerut Division-Meerut, Bulandshahr, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Ghaziabad, Bagpat, Mirzapur Division-Mirzapur, Sant Ravidas Nagar (Bhadohi District), Sonbhadra

Moradabad Division-Moradabad, Bijnor, Rampur, Jyotiba Phule Nagar

Saharanpur Division-Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar

Varanasi Division-Varanasi, Chandauli, Ghazipur, Jaunpur

Business & Economy of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh provides employment to nearly one-third of the state's total workforce in its textiles and sugar-refining industries. Other prominent industries in Uttar Pradesh include vegetable oil, jute, and cement.

The Union Government has established a number of large factories that manufacture heavy equipment, machinery, steel, aircraft, telephone, electronics equipment, and fertilizers. An oil refinery at Mathura and the development of coalfields in the southeastern district of Mirzapur are also major Union Government projects.

The state government promotes medium- and small-scale industries. Agriculture is the mainstay of the state's economy. The chief crops are rice, wheat, millet, barley, and sugarcane. Since the late 1960s, with the introduction of high-yielding varieties of seed for wheat and rice, greater availability of fertilizers, and increased use of irrigation, the state has become the largest producer of food grains in the country.

Uttar Pradesh Travel Information

Uttar Pradesh can be easily considered as the nerve center of India and all the images of India can be experienced here. This is the state that gave the world Taj Mahal, the mascot for India; Varanasi, the spiritual hot spot; Sarnath, where Buddha preached for the first time, and Mathura, the place so much synonymous with the life and times of Lord Krishna. There are many Tourist Attraction of Uttar Pradesh, which include Agra, Allahabad, Ayodhya, Deogarh, Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, Kushinagar, Lucknow, Mathura, Sarnath, Sravasti, Varanasi, Vrindavan, Bithoor, Kalinjar and Kannauj

Rivers of Uttar Pradesh

Main rivers in Uttar Prdaesh are Alaknanda, Ramganga, Bhagirathi, Yamuna & Ganga

Education in Uttar Pradesh
The female literacy situation in Uttar Pradesh is dismal at 42.98%. However, the male literacy rate is reasonably better at 70.23%. The overall literacy rate is still poor at 57.36% and much lower than the all India average. The State government has taken steps to make the population totally literate.

There are special programs like the World Bank aided DPEP. Steps are being taken with the help of NGOs and other organizations to raise participation. At the level of higher education and technical education Uttar Pradesh has 16 general universities, famous among those are Lucknow University, Uttar Pradesh Technical University (UPTU), Allahabad University, Madan Mohan Malaviya Engineering College, Agra University, Banaras Hindu University, Chaudhary Charan Singh University (Meerut), Aligarh Muslim University, prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (Kanpur), Indian Institute of Management (Lucknow), Dayalbagh Educational Institute, Indian Institute of Information Technology (Allahabad), National Institute of Technology (Allahabad) and large number of polytechnics, engineering institutes and industrial training institutes.

Food of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh is a gourmet's paradise. The cuisine consists of simple, vegetables curries of all kinds. However, a whole lot of fried foods like the kachori and puri, which are necessary during festivities, and the meat delicacies of Awadh are world famous. A lot of emphasis is placed on savories and sweetmeats in this state.

The range could be anything from mathris to jalebis. Lucknow is also known worldwide for its biryanis and meat preparations.

Arts & Culture of Uttar Pradesh
The population mostly comprises of an Indo-Dravidian ethnic group. Only a small population, in the Himalayan region, displays Asiatic origins. Hindus constitute more than 80 percent of the population, Muslims more than 15 percent, and other religious communities include Sikhs, Christians, Jains, and Buddhists.

The handicrafts of Uttar Pradesh have earned a reputation for themselves over the centuries. The traditional handicrafts are of a vast variety such as textiles, metal ware, woodwork, ceramics, stonework, dolls, leather products, ivory articles, papier-mâché, articles made of horns, bone, cane and bamboo, perfume, and musical instrument. These cottage crafts are spread all over the state but the more important centers are located at Varanasi, Aamgarh, Maunath Bhanjan, Ghazipur, Meerut, Muradabad, and Agra.

Carpets from Bhadohi and Mirzapur are prized worldwide. Silks and brocades of Varanasi, ornamental brassware from Muradabad, chickan (a type of embroidery) work from Lucknow, ebony work from Nagina, glassware from Firozabad, and carved woodwork from Saharanpur also are important. The traditional pottery centers are located at Khurja, Chunar, Lucknow, Rampur, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, and Azamgarh. Khurja's dishes, pitchers, and flower bowls in blazed ceramic in blue, green, brown and orange colors are the most attractive.

Muradabad produces exquisite brass utility articles. Besides, minakari on silver, gold, and diamond-cut silver ornaments have made Varanasi and Lucknow world famous.

Music & Dance of Uttar Pradesh

The state is known for pioneering the development of musical instruments, which find mention in ancient Sanskrit literature. Music is also known to have flourished in the Gupta Period (c. 320-540), and much of the musical tradition in Uttar Pradesh was developed during the period.

The musicians Tansen and Baiju Bawra, two of the Navaratnas (Nine Jewels) of the court of the Mughal emperor Akbar, are still immortal for their contribution in the field of music.

The sitar (a stringed instrument of the lute family) and the tabla (consisting of two small drums), the two most popular instruments of Indian music, were developed in the region during this period.

The Kathak style of classical dance, which originated in Uttar Pradesh in the 18th century as a devotional dance in the temples of Vrindavan and Mathura, is the most popular form of classical dance in northern India.

There are also local songs and dances of the countryside, and the most popular of the folksongs are seasonal. The songs and dances of the countryside are significant features of local culture. They include the kajari of Mirzapur and Varanasi; the Alha Udal, a folk epic; and various village dances.

Festivals of Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh has a long list of fairs and festivals. More than 2,230 festivals are held annually. Some are organized at several places simultaneously while others have only local importance.

Festivals and feasts are linked with the golden harvest - the sensuous spring, the reverence for mythology, religion or in honor of the past great men. These are zestfully celebrated with song, dance, and merriment; others with solemnity, fervor, fast, or feast. These fairs and festivals help the people keep the culture vibrant and promote artistic activities.

Tripura

Tripura State Information

Capital: Agartala

Districts: 4

Languages: Bengali, Kakbarak, Manipuri

Introduction to Tripura
Tripura, located on the extreme corner of the Indian subcontinent, Tripura has Bangladesh as its border on its north, west and south. Assam and Mizoram border the eastern part of the state. Tripura was always a princely state ruled by a Maharaja until the time of independence and never came under British supervision. This meant that it did not become ‘fashionable’ as a winter resort like Shillong (in Meghalaya) and Shimla (in Himachal Pradesh) became. Yet, this tiny state - the smallest in terms of area, claim to a variety of attractions in terms of archeological importance, religious significance, folk and tribal culture and ethnic artifacts.

Geography of Tripura
Tripura is one of the seven states in the north eastern part of India located between 22 degree and 56 minutes and 24 degree and 32 minutes north latitude and between 90 degree and 09 minutes and 92 degree and 20 minutes east latitude. It is bounded on the north, west, south and south-east by Bangladesh whereas in the east it has a common boundary with Assam and Mizoram. Tripura’s physical feature differs from the north to south. It is a land of high hills, hillocks, and interspersed with river valleys. On its north, it has four valleys that have been separated by hills with heights of about 1,000 meters. On its south, it has open forested land spread over a wide range of area. The climate of the state is hot in summers and cold in winters with the temperatures ranging from 35°C to 10°C. Tripura receives an average rainfall of 2,100 mm. Due to the sufficient and well-distributed rainfall, the state has an ideal composition of land mass and water that houses a large variety of flora and fauna here. A wide variety of plant and orchid species are found in the forests of Tripura. Sal (Shorea robusta) is an important product of the forests here.

Brief History of Tripura
The history of the region is mentioned in epic Mahabharata. It was ruled by the Manikya dynasty from the 14th century. The Manikyas, who supposedly belonged to the Indo-Mongolian group, ruled over this area independently even at the time when most parts of the Indian subcontinent were under British rule. The rulers of the state had a good relation with the British during that time and the later helped Tripura to protect itself from the Nawabs of Bengal to take over the state. After the independence of India, an agreement to merge Tripura with the Indian Union was signed by the Regent Maharani on September 9, 1947. This state became a union territory of the country without legislature from November 1, 1956 and a ministry was formed on July 1, 1963. On January 21, 1972, Tripura got its statehood. Accessing Tripura was difficult until when Maharaja Bir Bikram made an airport in Agartala. Rabindranath Tagore is said to have had a very deep touch with this state. The two famous novels by the Nobel laureate, namely, the Visarjan and Rajasri were based on the legends of the Manikyas.

Districts of Tripura
Tripura has 4 districts: Dhalai, North Tripura, South Tripura and West Tripura

Economy of Tripura
Although Tripura has vast potential, the industry sector of the state is an underdeveloped one. The state’s secondary sector contributes just 5% to the total employment of the state. Tourism has been given the formal status of an industry in 1987. Tripura produces some of the important horticultural products like pineapple, orange, cashew nut, jackfruit, coconut, tea, cotton, mesta, rubber, etc. The agriculture of the state is largely based on the system of Jhum (shifting) cultivation, and gives due importance to animal husbandry and fisheries.

Tripura Travel Information
Tripura is located in North-east India. The state government of Tripura has given tourism the status of an industry. The state has several places of tourist importance like Agartala, Unakoti, Pilak, Udaipur, Tripurasundari Temple, Ujjayanta Palace, Neermahal, Jampui Hill, Bhavaneswari Temple, Sepahijala, Kamalasagar, Deotamura, and Dumboor Lake. Moreover, there are the Buddhist monasteries in Agartala, Pecharthal, Kanchanpur, Manu Bakul, Pilak, and Boxnagar.

Rivers of Tripura
The Khowati, the Manu, the Haorah, the Muhuri and the Gomati are some important rivers of Tripura. Gomati is the largest river. Like the Ganges in North India, the Gomati is considered to be the most sacred of all the rivers in Tripura. The source of the river is taken to be Tirthamukh where lies the beautiful Dumbar falls - one of the most important holy places. The rivers Khowai, Doloi, Manu, Juri and Langai are flowing towards the north and those flowing towards west are the Gomati, Muhuri and Feni

Education in Tripura
Literacy rate of Tripura is 60.44%. The full fledged Education Department came into existence in Tripura from 1952. The Education Department was tri-furcated into Education (School), Education (Higher) and Social Welfare and Social Education Department in 1979. The total teaching staff in Tripura at present is 33,294 in 3152 Schools. The University in state is Tripura University, Suryamaninagar to which many colleges/institutions are affiliated. 

Food of Tripura

Rice is main food. Cooking oils commonly used are Mustard oil and used for both deep-frying and cooking. Other vegetable oils are also used. Ghee is used for cooking special occasion foods. Important spices and ingredients are Mustard seeds and paste, chillies (both green and red), Paanch Phoran (a mix of five spices – white cumin seeds, onion seeds, mustard seeds, fennel seeds and fenugreek seeds). Yoghurt, coconut, maize and gram flour are also common ingredients. Milk and dairy products play a huge role in the preparation of sweets in Eastern India. Popular dishes are Momos (steamed, meat- or vegetable-filled wontons) and Thukpa (a clear soup), Tomato Achaar (tomato pickle), Machcher Jhol (fish curry), Jhaal-Muri (a spicy snack made with puffed rice and mustard oil), Sandesh, Rasgolla etc.

Arts & Culture of Tripura
The main languages spoken are Bengali and Kokborok. Almost 50% of the people of the state belong to the tribal community. The number of tribal communities here is 19, excluding the Bengalis and Manipuris. Bengalis constitute a large chunk of the population here. The art and craft of the state is very much tribal in character. Hand-woven dress material for both men and women are common. Moreover, other products like Pachra and Risha are very much in demand especially outside the state. Moreover, Tripura is exceptionally famous for its bamboo and cane furniture and products. Palm-leaf handicraft products of Tripura are quite popular nowadays.

Music & Dance of Tripura

Because of its agrarian culture, most of the dances are based on the agricultural activities of the people. Among the dances the state, Garia Dance is related to the Jhum cultivation while Lebang Boomani Dance is related to the monsoon season. There are also dances related to the different tribal communities like the Hozagiri Dance of the Reangs, Bizu Dance of the Chakmas, Hai Hak Dance of the Halams or Malsums, Welcome Dance of the Lushais, Cheraw Dance of the Darlongs and the Wangala dance of the Garos. The musical instruments used during these dance forms mainly comprise flutes and drums along with some locally made instruments.

Festivals of Tripura

There are community-specific festivals in Tripura observed with the related rituals and festivities. The Mog community observes the Way (Lamp) Festival from the full moon of Ashad to the full moon of Ashwin. The Ashokastami, Garia, and Gajan festivals are celebrated in April. Moreover, there are the Rabindra and Nazrul Jayanti, Boat Race festival, Kharchi, Manasa Mangal, Durga Puja, Diwali, Ras, Poush Sankranti Mela and Orange and Tourism Festival that are celebrated throughout the state with great fervor.

Costumes of Tripura

The attire of the state says a lot more about the people in particular and the state in general. Native women here wear a scrap which sis known as Pachra. This piece of cloth reaches a little down the knee making the woman feel comfortable while climbing the hilly regions. The Risha, woven in loom, is a small cloth piece worn usually by the women to cover their breast part.

Telangana

Telangana State Information

Capital - Hyderabad

District -10

Languages - Telugu, Urdu and Hindi

Introduction to Telangana:

In 2014 Telangana became the 29th state of India. There was a lot of turmoil in the state of Andhra Pradesh for a very long time, and it was led by K Chandrashekhar Rao, who wanted a separate statehood for Telangana since 2001. It took nearly 50 years for Telangana to get freedom and the struggle was referred to as the Telangana Movement. This marked both as a beginning as well an end. It is the end of a prolonged struggle which lasted over six decades and it was also the beginning of a process of creating a new identity for them.

Geography of Telangana:

Telangana has an area of 1,14,800 square kilometres and it is drained by two major rivers, Krishna and Godavari. The river Godavari flows on the north, whereas Krishna flows in the south. Apart from these rivers, there are other small rivers such as Bhima, Dindi, Manjeera, Manair, Kinnerasani, Moosi etc, which also flow through Telangana. 45% of the forest area of Andhra Pradesh is in the state of Telangana. It also has a vast coal deposit and around 20% of India's coal deposit lies in Telangana. The coal produced from this region is supplied to the states in south India.

Brief History of Telangana:

Telangana has a really rich and vibrant history and it was part of the Mauryan Empire until the rise of the Satavahanas in 230 BC and this empire lasted till 220 AD. This empire extended from the west to the east coast which covers modern day Maharashtra, Telangana, Northern Karnataka, some parts of Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat.

Telangana then became a part of Vakataka Dynasty, which also ruled present day Andhra Pradesh. This dynasty lasted from 250 A.D. to 500 A.D. they even ruled present day Indian states such as Gujarat and Chhattisgarh. Then Telangana came under the rule of Chalukya Dynasty from 543 A.D. to 753 A.D. The history of Telangana then shifts to the Kakatiya Dynasty which lasted from 1083 A.D. to 1323 A.D. Historians have found a few inscriptions of the Kakatiyas in the Gutur district of Andhra Pradesh. By closely reading these inscriptions it could be seen that that the Kakatiyas were famous as they belonged to the solar race kings.

Subsequently, after the fall of Kakatiya Dynasty, the Telangana region came under the control of the Vijaynagar Empire, Bahmani Sultanate, Qutub Shahi Dynasty and the Asaf Jahi Dynasty.

The Telangana Rebellion started its formation after 1946. It was a peasant rebellion against the feudal lords of the Telangana region. The peasants received much needed support from the communist parties of India. The revolt started in 1946 and it was quite successful as the communists were able to take over 3000 villages from the feudal lords and around 10,00,000 acres of agricultural land was handed over to the landless peasants.

By December of 1953, the States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) was appointed and there was an agreement reached between Telangana leaders and Andhra leaders, which decided that Telangana and Andhra would be merged together and a state will be formed, called Andhra Pradesh. There had been turmoil in Andhra Pradesh, and there were several movements which wanted to revoke the merger. On 9th December 2009, the Government of India announced that Telangana would be given statehood. On 30th July, 2013, the Congress Working Committee had passed a resolution ominously which recommended the formation of Telangana state. In February of 2014, the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 was passed and the Telangana state was formed.

Districts of Telangana:

Telangana has 10 districts which are Hyderabad, Adilabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Medak, Mahbubnagar, Nalgonda, Nizamabad, Ranga Reddy and Warangal.

Economy of Telangana:

The economy of Telangana is mostly driven by agriculture and the farmers are mostly dependent on rain-fed water sources. The major food crop is rice and it is the staple food of the state.

It also has an industrial advantage as it already has readymade capital with good infrastructure. The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) growth of the State for 2014-2015 was 5.3%, and it was better than the growth rate of the previous financial year which was 4.8%. The industrial growth rate of the state has also increased and that is one of the reasons why the GDSP of the state has grown.

The Government has also taken many initiatives to promote investment in the newly independent state. In March of 2015, a new textile policy was introduced and the policy was to provide special incentives to the textile sector. Other than this, the Government also introduced an industrial policy which would help in bringing domestic as well as international investments.

Plans have been initiated to promote tourism in the state and the Government had set up the Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation Limited to achieve this. A part of the mission was to promote unknown tourist spots in Telangana. The Government also released a Solar Power Policy which would promote dispersed generation of solar energy.

Telangana Travel information:

The Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation was established which would promote tourism in Telangana. The state is rich with historic and cultural heritage. The dynasties which ruled over Telangana are one of the reasons why the state has such a vibrant history and the ancient architecture can be attributed to that. There are many famous monuments such as Charminar, Golconda Fort, Bhongir Fort, Qutb Shahi Tombs, Paigah Tombs and Kakatiya Kala Thoranam which are part of Telangana's tourist attractions.

Religious tourism is also very popular in this area and there are many temples where people flock to every year, such as Thousand Pillar Temple, Yadagirigutta, Ramappa Temple, Birla Temple, Bhadrachalam Temple, Sri Raja Rajeshwara Temple etc.

Telanagana is also home to one of the largest mosques in India, the Mecca Masjid. There are also numerous waterfalls in Telangana, and the Kuntala Waterfalls is the biggest in the state and is at a height of 147 feet. The other waterfalls in the state are Mallela Theertham, Ethipothala Falls, Pochera Falls, Bheemuni Paadam Waterfalls and Gayatri Waterfalls. Telangana is indeed a beautiful state which has a lot to offer to its tourists.

Rivers of Telangana:

Godavari and Krishna rivers flow through Telangana. Godavari flows from Maharashtra to the Bay of Bengal and is known as the Ganga of the South. Krishna is the third largest river in Southern India and is a source of irrigation for Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Other rivers are Bhima, Manjira, Musi and Paleru.

Education in Telangana:

Education is a crucial sector without which economic and social development cannot be achieved. The regional and official language of Telangana is Telugu. Hindi and Urdu are also widely spoken. The state has both public as well as private schools and they are affiliated to the state board or the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), ICSE and IB.

The Government is planning to improve the education system. Telangana has become the first state which has introduced compulsory gender education and has introduced a bilingual textbook titled "Towards a World of Equals". It has been introduced at the graduate level, and the book discusses about the various women's movement across the world. It is a positive step by the Government and it should pave its way for other states to follow it.

Food of Telangana:

The food is hot and spicy and most meals are eaten with hot pickles. The curry is made using dal, tamarind and tomato. Breads eaten are made from jawar and bajra. Vegetarian dishes are makka roti, uppudi, vepudu, palakoora, thunti koora etc. Non vegetarian dishes include mamsam vedupu, golichina mamsam, mutton pulao, komzu pitta roast, mutton liver etc. Hyderabadi Biryani is also very popular.

Art and Culture of Telangana:

Nirmai art is very famous and the town of Nirmai is famous for its paintings. Deccani paintings are small paintings. This art form thrived during the 16th century and has Persian influences. Kalamkari paintings are applied on cloth and it flourished when the Muslims were ruling India. Cheriyal Scroll paintings are found in Warangal and they were used for storytelling.

The state is home to many museums such as Salar Jung Museum, Nizam Museum etc. Birdi craft is the art of sliver engraved on metal and it was brought here by Iranian migrants. Dokra metal was seen in the Mohenjo Daro era and is a belt metal craft which uses metallurgy. Bronze castings of Telangana are also famous as well as Lacquer Ware.

Dance and music of Telangana:

Perini Sivatandavam is an ancient dance form originated from Telangana which has been successfully revived in recent times. It originated in the Kakatiya dynasty and in ancient times it was believed that soldiers would perform it before they went for war. It is performed by males and is called the "Dance of Warriors".

Telangana has a diverse variation in music from Carnatic music to folk music such as Kancheria Gopanna. The folk songs have played a pivotal role in the bifurcation of the state as well.

Festivals of Telangana:

Festivals celebrated here are Bhattukamma, Boddemma, Bonalu, Sadar, Bhimakka, Diwalim Yedupayala and Bhimanna. Since it is a new state other festivals will also be celebrated with grandeur very soon.

Costumes of Telangana:

Women wear sarees here, whereas, men wear dhoti and kurta. Men in the Muslim communities wear pajamas instead of dhoti and a small fez cap. Due to western influences jeans, trousers and shirts have become popular too.

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu State Information

Capital: Chennai

Districts: 30

Languages: Tamil, English

Introduction to Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu has glorious past, a vibrant culture, a rich history, and natural bounty in the form of blue beaches and clear skies. One can enjoy on the Marina beach, go cruising in the theme parks, or let the mind search for peace in the midst of magnificent temples. Alternatively, one can relish the mouth-watering dosas, savor the refreshing filter coffee, or enjoy the Bharatnatyam performances. Tamil Nadu is not about the past only, but it has set it's site on the future. The state is developing rapidly on all the fronts whether it is economy, social, human resource, culture, and so on. Tamil Nadu is one of the top three Indian states, which receive highest foreign investment in the sectors like automobiles, information technology, power, telecommunication, and others. On the social front, the state has a high per capita income, there is easy availability of social resources to people, and it produces quite a large number of trained manpower to increase the productivity. No wonder that the past and present in Tamil Nadu has a harmonious coexistence.

Geography of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu, located in south India, is bounded on the north by Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, on the south by the Indian Ocean, on the east by the Bay of Bengal, and by Kerala on the west. Point Calimere and the Mudumulai Wildlife Sanctuary mark the eastern and western limits of the state respectively. The northernmost limit is the Pulicat Lake while the southernmost tip, defining the end of the Indian landmass, is Cape Comorin or Kanyakumari. The land can be divided into five major physical divisions - the Kurinji or mountainous region, the Mullai or forest region, the Palai or arid region, the Marudham or the fertile plains and the Neidhal or coastal region. The Eastern and Western Ghats meet in Tamil Nadu and run along its eastern and western boundaries. The Cauvery River, originating in the Coorg district of the neighboring state of Karnataka, is the lifeline of the state. The lush Coromandal plains are irrigated by the Cauvery and its Thanjavur-Nagapattinam delta is called the granary of Tamil Nadu. Palar, Pennar, Vaigai, and Tamiraparani are the other rivers of the state.

Brief History of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu was ruled by three major dynasties-the Cholas in the east, the Pandyas in the central area and Cheras in the west. This was during the Sangam Age - the classical period of Tamil literature-that continued for some 300 years after the birth of Christ. The Pallava dynasty was influential particularly in the 7th and 8th centuries, testimonies to which are the monuments at Mamallapuram. In the 13th century, with threats of Muslim invasions from the north, the southern Hindu dynasties combined and the empire of Vijayanagar, which covered all of South India, was firmly established. However, by the 17th century, due to the disintegration of the Vijayanagar Empire, various small rulers like the Nayaks ruled southern India. By the middle of the 18th century, there were frequent conflicts between the British, French, Danes, and Dutch due to their interest in these areas. The British were finally victorious, while small pockets like Pondicherry and Karaikal remained under French control. Under the British rule, most of south India was integrated into the region called the Madras Presidency. In 1956, the Madras Presidency was disbanded and Tamil Nadu was established.

Districts of Tamil Nadu
The state of Tamil Nadu, in southeastern India is divided into 30 districts : Chennai, Coimbatore, Cuddalore, Dharmapuri, Dindigul, Erode, Kanchipuram, Kanyakumari, Karur, Krishnagiri, Madurai, Nagapattinam, Namakkal, Perambalur, Pudukkottai, Ramanathapuram, Salem, Sivaganga, Thanjavur, Theni, Thoothukudi, Tiruchirapalli, Tirunelveli, Tiruvallur, Tiruvannamalai, Tiruvarur, Vellore, Viluppuram and Virudhunagar

Economy of Tamil Nadu
There are a number of hydel power stations in Tamil Nadu. The atomic power plant is located at Kalpakkam, in the Chengalpattu MGR district. The major minerals found in this state are limestone, magnetite, mica, quartz, feldspar, salt, lignite, gypsum, and bauxite. The major industries include cotton textiles, chemicals, fertilizers, paper and paper products, printing and allied industries, diesel engines, automobiles and parts, cement, sugar, iron and steel, and railway wagon and coaches. The state is an important exporter of leather and leather products, cotton goods, tea, coffee, spices, tobacco, etc. The state's economy is largely agriculture-based and 70% of the population is involved in this industry. The principal food crops are rice, maize, jowar, bajra, ragi, and pulses. The cash crops include cotton, sugarcane, oilseeds, coffee, tea, rubber, and chilies. About 17% of the state's total land area is under forest cover.

Tamil Nadu Travel Information 
Tamil Nadu is a land of varied beauty. It is mostly famous for its numerous Hindu temples based on the Dravidian architecture. The temples are of a distinct style, which is famous for its towering Gopuram. Popular temple towns include Madurai, Trichy, Tanjore, Kanchipuram, Palani, Tiruvallur and Mahabalipuram. The most famous temple is the Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur that is about 1000 years old and is on the UNESCO's World Heritage Site list. Tamil Nadu also has the Navagraha temples that are a popular pilgrim circuit. Kanyakumari, the southern most tip of peninsular India, is famous for its distinct and beautiful sunrise, Vivekanda Rock Memorial on the mid-sea, Thiruvalluvar statue and has some very green hilly landscape and picture-postcard perfect sceneries around the district and Nagercoil. Hill stations like Kodaikanal and Nilgiris boast some of the stunning landscapes in India. The Nilgiris also has one of the two mountain Railways in India and is being evaluated for the UNESCO's World Heritage Site list. The Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary located in Gudalur near the border of Karnataka known for its elephants, tigers and deer and the Pitchavaram Mangrove forests located in Chidambaram are two of the many eco-tourism spots of importance. Tamil Nadu, the cradle of south Indian temple architecture, is a living museum of styles that originated in the seventh century and matured in the huge temple complexes studded with towering gateways-Gopuram-that soar on the skyline of almost every town in the state.

Rivers of Tamil Nadu
The rivers of the state flow eastward from the western ghats and are entirely rain-fed. The perennial river fed by both the monsoons is the Cauvery, which flows across Tamil Nadu cutting the state in to two halves. The perennial rivers are Palar, Cheyyar, Ponnaiyar Kaveri, Meyar, Bhavan, Amaravati, Vaigai, Chittar and Tamaraparni. The non-perennial rivers are the Vellur, Noyal, Suruli, Gundar, Vaipar, Valparai and Varshali. The 760 km long Cauveri is the largest river of the state.

Education in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu has a history that dates back to a thousand years or more. Tamil Nadu prides from the fact that the first engineering institution to come into being in the country was the Survey School established in 1794 at Chennai by the East India Company. Out of this grew the reputed College of Engineering, Guindy, and Chennai. Having made great strides in the field of Technical Education, Tamil Nadu is a frontline state in India imparting education in the field of technology. The State Government has undertaken several programs to overcome the problem of rural illiteracy and providing free elementary education among the masses. Schools in Tamil Nadu are either affiliated with the State Board or the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). Tamil is the medium of instruction and study in the rural schools of Tamil Nadu. The State has a literacy rate of 74%, which is satisfactory as compared to the average literacy rate of the country. Major cities like Chennai, Coimbatore, Trichi and Madurai are famous for their renowned educational institutions and research centers.

Food of Tamil Nadu
Tamil cuisine, traditionally vegetarian, consists of the famous dosas, which are crisp rice pancakes and idlis, which are steamed rice dumplings. Vadas, sambar, rasam, coconut chutney, and upma are other common delicacies. Rice is the staple diet of the state. Chettinad cuisine is a specialty in Tamil Nadu and will be a delight for those who like hot and spicy non-vegetarian food. This cuisine has several variations of fish, mutton, and chicken dishes of which the Chettinad Pepper Chicken is by far the best. The Tamil style of Mughlai food can be savored in the biryani and paya, which is a kind of spiced trotter broth and is eaten with either paratha or appam. Tamil Nadu, especially Chennai, is famous for its filter coffee, as most Tamils do not prefer instant coffee.

Arts & Culture of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamils and their Dravidian culture. Human activity in this area may have begun as early as 3,00,000 years ago. Historians are of the opinion that the first Dravidians were a part of the Indus Valley Civilization and came to the south after the invasions in the north, around 1500 BC.

The main language spoken here is Tamil, followed by English. While around 88% of the state's population follows Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam are also followed here in Tamil Nadu. There is an established caste system, and the traditional differentiations here are a lot more pronounced than in many other parts of the country. The Brahmin community here is very religious and people normally have a white mark on their forehead to signify their caste. Gypsies have had a special place in Tamil history. Many tribes and castes have accepted this iterant way of life. The Tamil deity Murugan's group was identified variably as a Kuravar (in Tamil Nadu) or as a Veddha (an indigenous hunter gatherer tribe in Sri Lanka). The Badagas, Kotas, and Todas are other tribes found in the Nilgiri hills.

The innumerable temples of Tamil Nadu are themselves marvelous feats of art. The stone carvings of Mahabalipuram (also Mamallapuram), the paintings of Tanjore, the mats of Pattamadai, woodcarvings of Chettiand are famous throughout the country. Besides these, the dolls made during the Navratri celebrations and baskets made of bamboo reeds are other popular local crafts

Costumes of Tamil Nadu

Most men in the Tamil Nadu wear a Dhoti which is a simple, round stitched cloth, tied at the center. The Kanjivaram saris woven in Chennai are available in several varieties and are the traditional wear for women at weddings and special occasions. The women are easily distinguished by their long hair, usually tied into plaits and always adorned with fresh flowers. They are also bedecked with heavy jewelry, mostly of gold.

Dance & Music of Tamil Nadu

The land of Carnatic music, Tamil Nadu is the birthplace of many music legends. The main instruments used here are the violin, wooden flute, veena, gottuvadayam, mridangam, nadaswaram and ghatam. Bharatnatyam is probably the best known and one of the most respected classical dances of India and is Tamil Nadu's gift to Indian culture. It originated in the temples of Mahabalipuram, and was initially performed by the Devdasis, who were young women wedded to the temple deity. Today, besides being practiced extensively in India, it has many exponents the world over, especially in Europe.