Session – 8

Indian Subcontinent

Indian Subcontinent• The land referred to as the Indian

subcontinent is a tectonic plate that began to separate itself from other surrounding slabs of rock (or plates) millions of years ago.

• The movement of that plate changed the landscape, and formed the Himalayas, the world's most elevated mountain range; home to Mount Everest, the world's tallest mountain.

• Most of this region rests on the Indian Plate and is isolated from the rest of Asia by mountain barriers.

• The subcontinent land itself is a peninsula that extends south into the Indian Ocean.

• It includes all of India, as well as Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. This region is also known as “South Asia”, “South Asian Subcontinent”.

• This area is Asia's 10% or the world's 2.4% of the land.

Indian subcontinent in Asia Continent

INDIA

Indian map and Flag

Flag Description

Three equal horizontal bands of saffron (subdued orange) (top), white, and green, with a blue chakra (24-spoked wheel) centered in the white band; saffron represents courage, sacrifice, and the spirit of renunciation; white signifies purity and truth; green stands for faith and fertility; the blue Ashoka chakra symbolizes the wheel of life in movement and death in stagnation.

Quick FactsName - Republic of India, Bharat, Hindustan

Location - The Indian peninsula is separated from mainland Asia by the Himalayas. The country is surrounded by the Bay of Bengal in the east, the Arabian Sea in the west, and the Indian Ocean to the south.

Time Zone - IST (UTC+05:30)

Bordering Countries - (6) Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma (Myanmar), China, Nepal, Pakistan

Area - Seventh largest country in the world(land) 1,147,950 sq miles (2,973,193 sq km); (water) 121,262 sq miles (314,070 sq km) (TOTAL) 1,269,212 sq miles (3,287,263 sq km)

Coastline: 4,349 miles (7,000 km)

Capital - New Delhi

Currency - Indian Rupee (INR)

India Population: 1,220,800,359

Independence - 15 August 1947 (from the UK)

National Symbols –National Anthem - "Jana-Gana-Mana“ composed originally in Bengali by Rabindranath TagoreNational Song - The song “Vande Mataram” , composed in Sanskrit by Bankimchandra ChatterjiState Emblem - The state emblem is an adaptation from the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka.National Bird - The Indian peacockNational Animal – TigerNational Flower - Lotus

Quick Facts ContinuedEthnic groups - Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and other 3%

Religions - Hindu 80.5%, Muslim 13.4%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.1%

Geographic Center - About 33.64 miles (54.13 km) east of Bhopal

Climate - Varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north

Terrain - upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain along the Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north

Natural Resources - coal (fourth-largest reserves in the world), iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, rare earth elements, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, diamonds, petroleum, limestone, arable land

Natural hazards - droughts; flash floods, as well as widespread and destructive flooding from monsoonal rains; severe thunderstorms; earthquakes volcanism: Barren Island (elev. 354 m) in the Andaman Sea has been active in recent years

Environment current issues - deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; desertification; air pollution from industrial effluents and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage and runoff of agricultural pesticides; tap water is not potable throughout the country; huge and growing population is overstraining natural resources

Highest point - Kanchenjunga 28,208 ft (8,598 m); third highest mountain in the world.

Lowest Point - Indian Ocean 0m

Indian States and Territories• India comprises of 29 states and 7 union

territories.• In 1956, under the States Reorganization

Act, states were reorganized on a linguistic basis.

• Each state or union territory is further divided into administrative districts.

• The districts in turn are further divided into tehsils and ultimately into villages.

• Languages: Hindi 41% (Official Language), Bengali 8.1%, Telugu 7.2%, Marathi 7%, Tamil 5.9%, Urdu 5%, Gujarati 4.5%, Kannada 3.7%, Malayalam 3.2%, Oriya 3.2%, Punjabi 2.8%, Assamese 1.3%, Maithili 1.2%, other 5.9%

English is the subsidiary official language Sanskrit is considered as the mother of all higher languages.• Largest Cities: (by population) Mumbai

(Bombay), Delhi, Calcutta, Bangalore, Chennai (Madras)

State and Union Territories NamesStates1. Andhra Pradesh 2. Arunachal Pradesh 3. Assam

4. Bihar 5. Chhattisgarh 6. Goa

7. Gujarat 8. Haryana 9. Himachal Pradesh

10. Jammu and Kashmir 11. Jharkhand 12. Karnataka

13. Kerala 14. Madhya Pradesh 15. Maharashtra

16. Manipur 17. Meghalaya 18. Mizoram

19. Nagaland 20. Odisha 21. Punjab

22. Rajasthan 23. Sikkim 24. Tamil Nadu

25. Telangana 26. Tripura 27. Uttar Pradesh

28. Uttarakhand 29. West Bengal

Union territories1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands 2. Chandigarh

3. Dadra and Nagar Haveli 4. Daman and Diu

5. Lakshadweep 6. National Capital Territory of Delhi

7. Puducherry

Physical GeographyMountain Ranges:

Himalaya RangeKarakoram RangePurvanchal RangeVindhya Range Satpura RangeAravalli RangeEastern GhatsWestern Ghats

Grasslands: SundarbansPlateau Regions:

Chota Nagapur PlateauDeccan Plateau

Deserts: Great IndianIslands:

AndamanLakshadweepNicobar

Peninsulas: KathiawarStraits: PalkBays: Bay of BengalGulfs:

Gulf of KhambhatGulf of KutchGulf of Mannar

Ocean: IndianSeas:

AndamanArabianLaccadive

Rivers:BrahmaputraGangesYamunaIndus

Mountain Ranges of India

There are a total of eight major mountain ranges in India. All of these have peaks with a height of over 1000 feet.

– Himalaya Range– Karakoram Range– Purvanchal or Patkai Range– Vindhya Range– Satpura Range– Aravalli Range– Eastern Ghats– Western Ghats

Mountain Ranges of India – Himalaya Range• The highest mountain range Himalayas means

“abode of snow” is the one of the youngest mountain ranges in the world.

• By extension Himalaya Range also include the Karakoram, the Hindu Kush, and other lesser ranges. Karakoram is one of the Greater Ranges of Asia.

• Himalaya mountain ranges are the highest in the planet and home for the worlds highest peaks that include Mount Everest and K2.

• The Great Himalaya mountain is a source of some of major rivers in India as well as in the world.

• The second longest glacier in the world Siachen Glacier is also the part of Great Himalaya range.

• Great Himalaya also host some of the most amazing valley’s which contains group of most beautiful lakes in India such as Pangong Tso -Ladakh, Tsongmo Lake -Sikkim and the frozen one Sela Lake of Tawang.

• Kangchenjunga and K10 Saltoro Kangri I are respective highest mountain peaks of Himalaya Ranges and Karakoram ranges in Indian territories.

Mountain Ranges of India – Vindhya Range

• The Vindhya range is one of seven chief holy mountain ranges in India.

• The Vindhya geographically separates the Northern India from the Southern India as it runs across the central India.

• Vindhya range is a very old mountain range in central India. It extends in east-west direction from Varanasi through Madhya Pradesh to Gujrat.

• Vindhya range is parallel to Satpura ranges. • The southern slopes of the range are

drained by the Holy Narmada River also known as Narmada valley.

• Amarkantak is the tallest peak of Vindhya Range with an elevation of 1,048 m (3,438 ft) in Madhya Pradesh.

Mountain Ranges of India – Purvanchal/Patkai Range

• The Purvanchal Range is the extension of the Great Himalaya range in north-east region of India.

• It is parallel to Karakoram and ladakh range. • Three hill ranges that come under the

Purvanchal ranges are, the Patkai, the Garo–Khasi–Jaintia and Lushai Hills.

• It is the most densely forested area and full of flora and fauna in India. These hill region also known for highest rainfall.

• Cherrapunji and Mawsynram are well famous for highest annual rainfall and wettest place on earth.

• Phawngpui is the highest peak of Purvanchal Range situated in Manipur with an elevation of 2,157 m (7,077 ft).

Mountain Ranges of India – Satpura Range

• The Satpura range stretches through the states in the central part of India.

• It extend across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

• Satpura range is triangular in shape with its apex at Ratnapuri other two sides being parallel to the Tapti and Sacred Narmada River.

• The Narmada and the Tapti are the only major rivers that flow into the Arabian Sea.

• It runs parallel to the Vindhya range, The Satpura range was formerly heavily forested.

• These forest provide habitat for some of India’s remaining large mammals, including The Royal Bengal Tiger, gaur, bear and black buck.

• The highest peak of Satpura mountain range is Dhupgarh with an height of 1,350 m (4,429 ft) in Madhya Pradesh.

Mountain Ranges of India – Aravalli Range

• The Aravali range is the oldest mountain range in India, running across Rajasthan to Haryana.

• The Aravalli range is the eroded stub of a range of ancient folded mountains.

• Aravalli Range is one of the most popular mountain ranges in India also known as mewat hills.

• Aravalli range is famous for mineral resources and surrounded by dense forests with rich in flora and fauna.

• The highest peak of Aravali Mountain Range is Guru Shikhar with height 1,722 m (5,650 ft) at Mount Abu.

Mountain Ranges of India – Western Ghat Range

• The range starts near the border of Gujarat and ending at Kanyakumari.

• About sixty percent of the Sahyadri Range are located in the state of Karnataka.

• This area is one of the world’s ten “Hottest biodiversity hotpots.

• The Arabian sea area is known as Konkan area, one of the best tourist attraction in India.

• Green city Pune is the largest city within this mountain range in Maharashtra.

• The western ghats mountain ranges make up an impressive fortress all along Kerala. There are a number of beautiful hill stations and wildlife sanctuaries in Kerala.

• AnaiMudi in the Anaimalai Hills in Kerala is the highest peak in the Western Ghats.

Mountain Ranges of India – Eastern Ghat Range

• The Eastern Ghats is an irregular range of mountains, which include four major rivers The Godavari, Mahanadi, Krishna and Kaveri.

• Its range start from West Bengal to Tamil Nadu.

• The Nilgiri hills “The Blue Mountains” in Tamil Nadu lies at the junction of the Eastern and Western Ghats. This area has the largest population of Indian elephant.

• This discontinuous mountain ranges run parallel to the Bay of Bengal.

• The Shevaroy hills is the highest peak in the Easter Ghat.

North East Region• Northeast India refers to the easternmost

region of India consisting of the contiguous Seven Sister States (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura), Sikkim, and parts of North Bengal (districts of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, and Koch Bihar).

• In the far northeast, the Chin Hills and Kachin Hills, deeply forested mountainous regions, separate India from Myanmar.

• The Bangladesh-India border is defined by the Khasi Hills and Mizo Hills, and the watershed region of the Indo-Gangetic Plain.

• The Patkai, or Purvanchal, are situated near India's eastern border with Myanmar, made up of the Patkai–Bum, the Garo–Khasi–Jaintia and the Lushai hills.

• The Garo–Khasi range lies in Meghalaya. Mawsynram, a village near Cherrapunji , located on the windward side of these hills, has the distinction of being the wettest place in the world.

Central Region• Vindhyachal mountain range

defines central India, located as they are almost in the middle part of Indian sub-continent.

• The mountain range of Vindhyachal extends from the state of Gujarat to Bihar, passing through the central Indian states of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

• Sonabhadra and Narmada rivers originate from the Vindhyachal, the mountain range that divides India into two distinct halves: northern India and peninsular India.

South Region• South India is located in the

Peninsular Deccan Plateau and is bordered by the Arabian Sea in the West, the Indian Ocean to the south and the Bay of Bengal to the east. South India also includes two mountain ranges; The Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats.

• India reaches its peninsular tip with South India, which begins with the Deccan in the north and ends with Kanyakumari.

• The states in South India are Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Puducherry.

West Region• The states of Gujarat,

Maharashtra, Goa, and Rajasthan constitute Western India.

• Extending from the Gujarat peninsula down to Goa, the west coast is lined with some of India's best beaches. The land along the coast is typically lush with rainforests.

• The Western Ghats separate the verdant coast from the Vindhya Mountains and the dry Deccan plateau further inland.

• Apart from the Arabian Sea, its western border is defined exclusively by Pakistan.

• West India is bordered by the Thar Desert in the Northwest and the Vindhya Range in the north.

North Region• Himalayas, the world's highest mountain

chain and Nepal as its neighboring country, dominate India's northern border.

• Following the sweeping mountains to the northeast, its borders narrow to a small channel that passes between Nepal, Tibet, Bangladesh, and Bhutan, then spreads out again to meet Burma in the "eastern triangle”.

• North India is the country's largest region begins with Jammu and Kashmir, with terrain varying from arid mountains in the far north to the lake country and forests near Srinagar and Jammu.

• Moving south along the Indus river, the North becomes flatter and more hospitable, widening into the fertile plains of Punjab to the west and the Himalayan foothills of Uttar Pradesh and the Ganges river valley to the East. Located between these two states is the capital city, Delhi.

East Region• India is the home of the sacred

River Ganges and the majority of Himalayan foothills, East India begins with the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal, which comprise the westernmost part of the region.

• East India also contains an area known as the eastern triangle, which is entirely distinct. This is the last area of land that extends beyond Bangladesh, culminating in the Naga Hills along the Burmese border.

River map of India• Seven major rivers (Indus, Brahmaputra,

Narmada, Tapi, Godavari, Krishna and Mahanadi) along with their numerous tributaries make up the river system of India.

• All major rivers of India originate from one of the three main watersheds.

• The Himalaya and the Karakoram ranges• Vindhya and Satpura ranges and

Chotanagpur plateau in central India• Sahyadri or Western Ghats in western

India

• The Indian River system is classified as Himalayan, peninsular, coastal, and inland-drainage basin rivers.

• Himalayan Rivers• The main Himalayan river systems are the

Ganga, the Indus and the Brahmaputra river systems.

• Peninsular Rivers (the rivers traversing the Deccan Plateau)

• The main peninsular river systems include the Narmada, the Tapi, the Godavari, the Krishna, the Kaveri and the Mahanadi river systems.

• Coastal rivers gush down the peaks of the Western Ghats into the Arabian Sea

• Streams like the Sambhar in western Rajasthan are mainly seasonal in character, draining into the inland basins and salt lakes.

Name Length (km) Area Originates From Ends in Places Benifited

Indus 3100 3,21,290 Sq.Km. In Tibet Kalish Range 5080 mts. Arabian sea India and Pakistan

Ganga (Bhagirati) 2480 3,37,00 Sq.Km. Gangothri Bay of Bengal Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, West Bengal

Yamuna (Jamuna) 1370 3,59,000 Sq.Km. Garhwall in Yamunotri Bay of Bengal Delhi, Haryana and UP

Brahmaputra 725 2,40,000 Sq.Km. Lake Manasarovar Bay of Bengal North Eastern state

Kaveri (Dakshina Ganga" or Ganges of the south)

805 87,900 Sq.Km. Hills of Coorg, Karnataka Bay of Bengal Karnataka and Tamilnadu

Godavari 1465 3,12,812 Sq.Km. Nasik Hills Bay of Bengal South-easterly part of Andhra Pradesh

Krishna 1400 2,59,000 Sq.Km. Near Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra Bay of Bengal Maharastra & Andhrapradesh

Narmada 1312 98,796 Sq.Km. Amarkantak hill in Madhya Pradesh Arabian sea Madhya Pradesh and Maharastra

Tapti 724 65,145 Sq.Km. Bettul Arabian sea Madhya Pradesh and Maharastra

Mahanadi 858 1,41,600 Sq.Km. Amarkantak Plateau Bay of Bengal Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Orissa

Vaigai 240 7,000 Sq.Km. Cardaman Hills Bay of Bengal Madurai and Ramanathapuram in Tamil Nadu

Periyar 244 5,398 Sq.Km. Cardaman Hills Bay of Bengal Tamil Nadu and Kerala

Thamiraparani 123 4,400 Sq.Km. Agasthiyar Hills Gulf of Mannar Thirunelveli in Tamil Nadu

River System of India

Map of Vegetation in India

National Parks in India• Corbett National Park• Dudhwa National Park• Bandipur National Park• Nagerhole National Park• Rangathittu National Park• Periyar National Park• Ervikulam - Nilgiri National Park• Kaziranga National Park• Manas National Park• Nameri National Park• Sundarbans National Park• Namdhapa National Park• Bandhavgarh National Park• Kanha National Park• Pench National Park• Tadoba National Park• Satpura National Park• Ranthambhore National Park• Velavadar National Park• Gir National Park• Rann of Kutch National Park• Bharatpur National Park

World Heritage Sites recognized by UNESCO in India• Kaziranga Wild Life Sanctuary, Assam• Manas Wild Life Sanctuary, Assam• Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya, Bihar• Humayun's Tomb, Delhi• Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi• Red Fort• Churches and Convents of Goa• Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, Gujarat• Group of Monuments at Hampi• Group of Monuments at Pattadakal• Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh• Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh• Khajuraho Group of Monuments, Madhya Pradesh• Ajanta Caves• Ellora Caves• Elephanta Caves• Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria

Terminus)• Sun Temple, Konarak• Keoladeo National Park• Jantar Mantar, Jaipur• Great Living Chola Temples• Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram• Agra Fort, Uttar Pradesh• Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh• Taj Mahal, Uttar Pradesh• Mountain Railways of India• Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks• Sundarbans National Park• Western Ghats• Hill Forts of Rajasthan (Ranthambhore), (Amber Sub-

Cluster), (Jaisalmer), (Gagron)• Mahabodhi Temple in Bihar

BHUTAN

Bhutan Location and Flag

Flag Description

Divided diagonally from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is orange; centered along the dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing away from the hoist side; the dragon, called the Druk (Thunder Dragon), is the emblem of the nation; its white color stands for purity and the jewels in its claws symbolize wealth; the background colors represent spiritual and secular powers within Bhutan: the orange is associated with Buddhism, while the yellow denotes the ruling dynasty.

Quick FactsName - Kingdom of Bhutan

Location - Land locked; Southern Asia, between China and India.

Time Zone - BTT (UTC+06:00)

Bordering Countries - (2) India, China

Area - (land) 38,394 sq km; (water) 0 sq km

Capital - Thimphu

Currency - Ngultrum (BTN)

Population - 725,296

Independence - 1907 (became a unified kingdom under its first hereditary king)

Religion - Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%

Language - Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects

Highest Point - Kula Kamgri 24,783 ft. (7,554 m)

Lowest Point - Drangme Chhu 318 ft. (97 m)

National Symbols – Thunder dragon known as Druk

Political Map

Government type - constitutional monarchy

Administrative divisions –20 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Daga, Gasa, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang, Tashi Yangtse, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang

Largest Cities - (by population) Thimphu, Phuntsholing, Pajo, Tashi Yangtse

Physical Geography

Bhutan is a rugged land of steep mountains and deep valleys, that is easily divided into three main geographical regions.• Western Bhutan• Central Bhutan• Eastern Bhutan

The lowlands front its southern border with India; the lesser (or lower) Himalayas cover the central areas, and its northern border with China is dominated by the massive peaks of the Himalayas.

Many mountain peaks in northern Bhutan reach heights of over 7,000 meters. Bhutan's highest point is Kula Kamgri which reaches a height of 24,783 ft. (7,554 m).

Mountains of Bhutan• Mountains of Bhutan located on the southern end of the Eastern Himalaya,

has one of the most rugged mountain terrains in the world, whose elevations range from 160 meters to more than 7,000 meters (23,000 ft) above sea level

• Bhutan's highest peak, at 7,554 metres (24,783 ft) above sea level, is north-central Kula Kangri, close to the border with China

• The second highest peak, Jomolhari, overlooking the Chumbi Valley in the west, is 7,314 metres (23,996 ft) above sea level

• Nineteen other peaks exceed 7,000 metres (23,000 ft)• The mountains of Bhutan define its three main geographic zones: the Great

Himalaya, the Lower Himalayan Range (or Inner Himalaya), and the Sub-Himalayan Range.

– The Dongkya Range forms the trijunction of the Bhutan-Sikkim-Tibet border, separating Sikkim from the Chumbi Valley

– Black Mountains in central Bhutan form a watershed between two major river systems, the Mo Chhu and the Drangme Chhu.

– The steep Donga Range forms the watershed between the Raidāk and Manas River systems.

– The Tawang Range (also called Kollong) forms the eastern boundary of Bhutan.

River system - BhutanBhutan has four major river systems, each flows swiftly out of the Himalayas, southerly through the Dooars to join the Brahmaputra River in India to flow into the Bay of Bengal.

The river systems of Bhutan are: Drangme ChhuPuna Tsang Chhu or Sankosh,Wang Chhu, andTorsa Chhu.

Drangme ChhuDrangme Chhu is the largest river system of Bhutan. It flows to the southwest and rises in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh It has three major branches that form Drangme Chhu basin together. They are:

Drangme Chhu,Mangde Chhu, andBumthang Chhu.

Puna Tsang ChhuMo Chhu and Pho Chhu rising in northwestern Bhutan and fed by snow from the Great Himalayan Range, flow southwards towards Punakha, where they join to merge Puna Tsang Chhu. The 320 km long Puna Tsang Chhu flows to the south and enter West Bengal of India.

Wang Chhu Wang Chhu rises in Tibet and flows southeasterly towards west-central Bhutan. It flows through Ha, Paro, and Thimphu valleys and then through Duars, where it is known as the Raigye Chhu. It flows into West Bengal and has tributaries that are 370 km long.

Torsa Chhu It is the smallest river system and is known as the Amo Chhu towards north. This river system rises in Tibet, flows out of it into the Chumbi Valley, flows swiftly through western Bhutan, broadens near Phuntsholing and then flows into India.

National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries in Bhutan

• Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park• TrumshingLa National Park• Royal Manas National Park• Jigme Dorji National Park• Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary• Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary• Khaling Wildlife Sanctury• Philsoo Wildlife Sanctury• Wangchuck Wildlife Sanctuary• Torsa Strict Nature Reserve

World Heritage Sites - Bhutan

WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN BHUTANBhutan currently has no sites on the World Heritage List.

TENTATIVE LIST OF BHUTAN• Ancient Ruin of Drukgyel Dzong• Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary• Dzongs: the centre of temporal and religious authorities (Punakha Dzong, Wangdue Phodrang Dzong, Paro Dzong,

Trongsa Dzo• Jigme Dorji National Park (JDNP)• Royal Manas National Park (RMNP)• Sacred Sites associated with Phajo Drugom Zhigpo and his descendants• Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary (SWS)• Tamzhing Monastery

BANGLADESH

Bangladesh Location and Flag

Flag Description

Green field with a large red disk shifted slightly to the hoist side of center; the red disk represents the rising sun and the sacrifice to achieve independence; the green field symbolizes the lush vegetation of Bangladesh.

Quick FactsName - People's Republic of Bangladesh (Former name : East Pakistan)

Location - Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India.

Time Zone - BST (UTC+06:00)

Bordering Countries - (2) India and Burma (Myanmar)

Area - (land) 50,258 sq miles (130,168 sq km); (water) 5,340 sq miles (13,830 sq km) (TOTAL) 55,598 sq miles (143,998 sq km)

Coastline - 360.4 miles (580 km)

Capital - Dhaka

Currency - Taka (BDT)

Population - 163,654,860 (2013 est.)

Independence - 16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan)

Religion - Muslim 89.5%, Hindu 9.6%, other 0.9%

Language - Bangla (official), English

Highest Point - Keokradong 4,035 ft. (1,230 m)

Lowest Point - Indian Ocean 0 m

National Symbols – Bengal tiger, water lily

Political MapGovernment type - parliamentary democracy. The head of the state is the president of the country, while the prime minister is the head of the government.Land Divisions: 7 divisions - Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur, and SylhetLargest Cities - (by population) Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi

Climate - tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)Natural resources: natural gas, arable land, timber, coalNatural hazards: droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely inundated during the summer monsoon seasonPrincipal Crops: Rice, jute, tobacco, tea, sugarcane, vegetables, potato, pulsesMajor Industries: Jute, sugar, paper, textiles, fertilizers, cement, steel, natural gas, oil-refinery, newsprint, power generation, rayon, matches, fishing and food processing, leather, soap, carpet, timber, ship-building

Physical GeographyBangladesh lies almost entirely within the combined delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers and consists primarily of a low-lying alluvial plain.

Lands are exceedingly flat, low-lying, and subject to annual flooding, in most places, only slightly above sea level.

The only significant area of hilly terrain, constituting less than one-tenth of the nation's territory is the southeast, where the Chittagong Hills—a series of steep ridges—reach an elevation of 4,035 feet (1,230 m)

Grasslands – Sundarbans (located in southern Bangladesh, borders Bay of Bengal.

Bays – Bay of Bengal

Deltas – Mouths of Ganges feed into the Bay of Bengal

River map of Bangladesh• Bangladesh is a great delta formed by

the alluvial deposits of the three mighty Himalayan Rivers: the Ganges, the Brahmaputra and the Meghna.

• There are about 405 rivers in Bangladesh of which 57 are transboundary rivers. Out of the 57 transboundary rivers, 54 are common with India and remaining 3 with Myanmar.

• The Ganges, the Brahmaputra and the Meghna river systems drain a total catchment area of about 1.72 million sq km through Bangladesh into the Bay of Bengal . Out of this large catchment area, only 7% lies in Bangladesh. The other co-riparian countries are India, Nepal, Bhutan and China.

• Most of the country's land is formed through silt brought by the rivers.

• The life and livelihood of the millions of people of Bangladesh have been revolving around waters of these rivers over the ages.

River System of Bangladesh

River Length (km) Length (miles) Drainage area (km²) Outflow Countries in the drainage

basin

Ganga River 2,525 1,569 1,080,000 Bay of Bengal India, Bangladesh

Padma River 120 75 NA Bay of Bengal Bangladesh

Meghna River 264 164 82,000 Bay of Bengal Bangladesh

Brahmaputra River 2,900 1,800 651,334 Bay of Bengal India, Bangladesh, China

Jamuna Rive 250 155 47,000 Joins Padma River Bangladesh

Teesta River 309 192 12,540 Brahmaputra River India, Bangladesh

Karnaphuli River 270 170 2,500 Bay of Bengal Bangladesh

Surma River 900 540 NA Meghna River India, Bangladesh

Mahananda River 360 224 20,600 Ganges River India, Bangladesh

Atrai River 390 240 NA Chalan Beel Bangladesh

There are nine national parks and seven wildlife sanctuaries in Bangladesh.

• Bhawal National Park – Gazipur• Himchari National Park – Cox' Bazar• Kaptai National Park – Chittagong Hill Tracts• Lawachara National Park – Moulavibazar• Medha Kassapia National Park – Cox's Bazar• Modhupur National Park – Tangail/Mymensingh• Nijhum Dweep National Park – Noakhali• Ramsagar National Park – Dinajpur• Satchari National Park – Hobigonj

• Char Kukri-Mukri Wildlife Sanctuary – Bhola• Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary – Chittagong• Pablakhali Wildlife Sanctuary – Chittagong Hill Tracts• Rema-Kelenga Wildlife Sanctuary – Hobigonj• Sundarban (East) Wildlife Sanctuary – Bagerhat• Sundarban (West) Wildlife Sanctuary – Satkhira• Sundarban (South) Wildlife Sanctuary – Khulna

National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries in Bangladesh

World Heritage Sites - Bangladesh

Bagerhat District, Khulna Division

Cultural

Naogaon District, Rajshahi Division

Cultural

Khulna Division Natural

The Sundarbans

Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur

Historic Mosque City of Bagerhat

Site Image Location Criteria

PAKISTAN

Borders: India, Afghanistan, Iran, China, maritime (water) border withOman, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman

Total Size: 803,940 square km

World Region or Continent: Asia

General Terrain: flat Indus plain in east; mountains in north and northwest; Balochistan plateau in west

Geographical Low Point: Indian Ocean 0 m

Geographical High Point: K2 (Mt. Godwin-Austen) 8,611 m

Climate: mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north

Major Cities: Karachi 13.125 million; Lahore 7.132 million; Faisalabad 2.849 million; Rawalpindi 2.026 million; ISLAMABAD (capital) 832,000 (2009)

Major Landforms: Indus River Valley, Hindu Kush Mountains, Karakoram Mountains, Pamir Mountains, K2, Balochistan Plateau, Thar Desert, Cholistan

Desert

Major Bodies of Water: Indus River, Jhelum River, Ravi River, Kabul River, Manchar Lake, Keenjhar Lake, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea

Famous Places: Jinnah Mausoleum, Minaret of Pakistan, Badshahi Mosque, Lahore Fort, Rani Kot Fort, Hingol National Park, Pir Shohawa, Concordia, K2

Mountain, Trango Towers, Port Grand, Tomb of Jahangir, Mohenjo-daro

• The country of Pakistan is divided up into the four main provinces of Balochistan, Sindh, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Other regions include the capital city area of Islamabad, Tribal Areas, and disputed areas (with India) in Kashmir.

•National Anthem or Song: Qaumi Tarana (National Anthem)

National Symbols:• Animal - Markhor, snow leopard• Bird - Chukar• Aquatic mammal - Indus River dolphin• Reptile - Mugger crocodile• Fish - Golden mahasher• Amphibian - Indus Valley toad• Tree - Deodar tree• National icon - Shaheen falcon• Motto - Faith, unity, discipline

• Languages Spoken: Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English (official and lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries), Burushaski, and other 8%

Nationality: Pakistani(s)

Religions: Muslim 97% (Sunni 77%, Shi'a 20%), Christian, Hindu, and other 3%

Origin of the name Pakistan: The name "Pakistan" was originally coined by Choudhry Rahmat Ali. He suggested the name and that the letters each stood for a different region:

P - PunjabA - AfghaniaK - KashmirS - SindhTAN - Balochistan

The name also means "Land of the Pure" in the Persian and Urdu languages.

Group Exercise -- Lets explore physical geography

• Visit http://pakistangeographic.com/

• Explore Mountains .Have each kid take turns to read about each mountain range to the class

• Explore rivers at http://pakistangeographic.com/rivers.html

• Have Children explore other parts of this site at leisure to learn more on physical geography

UNESCO sites in Pakistan

• Please open document on pakistan UNESCO sites and walkthrough

SRILANKA• Fast Facts• Population:

– 19,722,000• Capital:

– Colombo; 648,000• Area:

– 65,525 square kilometers (25,299 square miles)• Language:

– Sinhala, Tamil, English• Religion:

– Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, Muslim• Currency:

– Sri Lankan rupee• Life Expectancy:

– 72• GDP per Capita:

– U.S. $3,700• Literacy Percent:

– 92

Regions, major cities• Central Province (Kandy, Matale, Nuwara Eliya)

Here are the highlands with a lot of beautiful tea plantations, waterfalls, valleys and streams. The highest mountain of Piduruthalagala and the famous Worlds End are situated in Nuwaraeliya.Northern Province (Jaffna)After the end of the 30 year civil war this region is slowly returning to its status as an important tourist attraction. Some areas remain unsafe and have yet to be cleared of mines.North Central Province (Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Dambulla)The ancient kingdoms of Sri Lanka dating back over 2500 years. Rich in history, the area is known as the cultural triangle.Eastern Province (Trincomalee, Arugam Bay)North Western Province (Kurunegala)Sabaragamuwa (Ratnapura)Southern Province (Galle, Weligama, Matara, Tangalle, Unawatuna, Yala National Park)the historic city of Galle and national parksUva (Badulla, Haputale, Bandarawela)cool highland hill retreatsWestern Province (Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, Beruwela, Colombo, Gampaha,Negombo)the administrative capital and the largest city plus some popular beach resorts

Ecological Zones

• The mountains and the southwestern part of the country, known as the "wet zone," receive ample rainfall (an annual average of 2500 millimeters)

• Most of the southeast, east, and northern parts of the country comprise the "dry zone, which receives between 1200 and 1900 mm of rain annually

• In the wet zone, the dominant vegetation of the lowlands is a tropical evergreen forest, with tall trees, broad foliage, and a dense undergrowth 7of vines and creepers

• The natural vegetation of the dry zone is adapted to the annual change from flood to drought. • Ruhunu National Park in the southeast protects herds of elephant, deer, and peacocks• Wilpattu National Park in the northwest preserves the habitats of many water birds, such as storks,

pelicans, ibis, and spoonbills.• During the Mahaweli Ganga Program of the 1970s and 1980s in northern Sri Lanka, the government

set aside four areas of land totalling 1,900 km² as national parks

10 fun facts• 1. Sri Lanka is known as both the ‘pearl of the Indian Ocean’ and the ‘teardrop of India’ due

to its shape.• 2. In Sri Lanka, when someone shakes their head from side to side with a slight wiggle, it

actually means “yes.”• 3. Although cricket is the most popular sport in Sri Lanka, the national sport of the country is

in fact volleyball.• 4. Sri Lanka is one of the world’s largest tea exporters.• 5. Adam’s Peak is the most sacred mountain in the country. Pilgrims from all over climb to its

peak by candlelight to stand in what they believe to be the footsteps of Buddha.• 6. Because the country has lots of waterfalls, most of Sri Lanka’s electricity is powered by

hydro-powered energy.• 7. The spice cinnamon originated in Sri Lanka and was discovered by the Egyptians.• 8. There are eleven universities in Sri Lanka.• 9. 92% of people living in the country are literate which means that they boast the highest

literacy rate in the whole of South Asia.• 10. Sri Lanka’s national flag is said to be one of the oldest flags in the world.

NEPAL

• Population:– 25,371,000

• Capital:– Kathmandu; 741,000

• Area:– 147,181 square kilometers (56,827 square miles)

• Language:– Nepali, English, many other languages and dialects

• Religion:– Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim

• Currency:– Nepalese rupee

• Life Expectancy:– 59

• GDP per Capita:– U.S. $1,400

• Literacy Percent:– 45

• Climate:

• varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south• Terrain:

• Tarai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north• Elevation extremes:

• lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m• highest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m (highest point in Asia)• Natural resources:

• quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore• Land use:

• arable land: 16%• permanent crops: 0.8%• other: 83.2% (2011)• Irrigated land:

• 11,680 sq km (2003)• Total renewable water resources:

• 210.2 cu km (2011)• Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

• total: 9.5 cu km/yr (2%/0%/98%)• per capita: 334.7 cu m/yr (2006)• Natural hazards:

• severe thunderstorms; flooding; landslides; drought and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons• Environment - current issues:

• deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives); contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents); wildlife conservation; vehicular emissions

• Environment - international agreements:

• party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

• signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation• Geography - note:

• landlocked; strategic location between China and India; contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga - the world's tallest and third tallest - on the borders with China and India respectively

Fun facts• 1. Nepal opened its borders to the world in the 1950s and

2011 is Nepal Tourism Year! So make this year count and join the celebration!

• 2. People in Nepal do not greet one another with a handshake, but rather put their palms together and bow their forehead and say Namaste (directly translated as ‘I salute the God in youˇ). This is the same greeting used throughout India.

• 3. A popular and cheap ‘fast food’ is the Momo. Delicious dumplings made from flour and water filled with different fillings like chicken, meat or vegetables either fried or steamed and served with a dipping sauce. My favorites were the yak-meat filled ones at the Yak Cafà in Kathmandu.

• 4. Nepal is home to one of the few places on earth where you can see both the Bengal tiger and the one-horned rhinoceros. We were lucky to see 3 rhinos on our safari!

• 5. The Annapurna region was voted one of the top 10 best trekking places on earth. The trek to Poon Hill is a moderate 5-day trek with views that will blow you away!

• 6. Everest in the Nepali language is Sagarmatha which means goddess of the sky and it stands at a staggering 8,848 metres (29,029 ft) above sea level.

• 7. Bob Seger wrote a song called Kathmandu in 1975. He wrote it at a time when he wanted to disappear from the record business, media and touring. Kathmandu represented a far way land where no one would be able to find you.

• 8. Little Princes written by Conor Grennan is about child trafficking in Nepal and spawned the NGO Next Generation Nepal which reunites children and their families and aids rural communities. A must read and a portion of the proceeds from every book go directly to the cause!

• 9. The Sherpas are an ethnic group from mostly the eastern mountainous part of Nepal. Many are employed as porters for mountain expeditions as they do not suffer the effect of altitude and due to their genetics and upbringing. Many groups refer to their porters as Sherpas.

• 10. Nepal is the birthplace for the Lord Buddha. Lumbini and a pilgrimage for many devout Buddhists.

• 11. Nepal has the densest concentration of World Heritage Sites. Kathmandu valley alone has 7 World Heritage Cultural sites within a radius of 15 kilometers.

• 12. The Nepali flag is the only nation with non-quadrilateral flag.The two triangles symbolize the Himalaya Mountains and represent the two major religions, Hinduism and Buddhism.

1. The cultural heritage of the Kathmandu Valley is illustrated by seven groups of monuments and buildings which display the full range of historic and artistic achievements for which the Kathmandu Valley is world famous. The seven include the Durbar Squares of Hanuman Dhoka (Kathmandu), Patan and Bhaktapur, the Buddhist stupas of Swayambhu and Bauddhanath and the Hindu temples of Pashupati and Changu Narayan.

UNESCO Heritage Sites

Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha

2. Siddhartha Gautama, the Lord Buddha, was born in 623 B.C. in the famous gardens of Lumbini, which soon became a place of pilgrimage. Among the pilgrims was the Indian emperor Ashoka, who erected one of his commemorative pillars there. The site is now being developed as a Buddhist pilgrimage centre, where the archaeological remains associated with the birth of the Lord Buddha form a central feature.

3.Chitwan National ParkAt the foot of the Himalayas, Chitwan is one of the few

remaining undisturbed vestiges of the 'Terai' region, which formerly extended over the foothills of India and Nepal. It

has a particularly rich flora and fauna. One of the last populations of single-horned Asiatic rhinoceros lives in the

park, which is also one of the last refuges of the Bengal tiger.

4.Sagarmatha National ParkSagarmatha is an exceptional area with dramatic

mountains, glaciers and deep valleys, dominated by Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world (8,848 m). Several

rare species, such as the snow leopard and the lesser panda, are found in the park. The presence of the Sherpas, with their unique culture, adds further interest to this site.

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