Culture A Sikh pilgrim at the , or Golden Temple, in , Punjab Indian cultural history spans more than 4,500 years.
India's coastline measures 7,517 kilometres 4,700 mi in length; of this distance, 5,423 kilometres 3,400 mi belong to peninsular India and 2,094 kilometres 1,300 mi to the Andaman, Nicobar, and Lakshadweep island chains.
The appearance of , or the avoidance of violence toward all forms of life in many religious orders early in Indian history, especially , and , is thought to have contributed to the predominance of vegetarianism among a large segment of India's Hindu population, especially in southern India, Gujarat, the -speaking belt of north-central India, as well as among Jains.
Sports and recreation Girls play in , Madhya Pradesh.
The outcome of this conflict had far-reaching consequences for Indian foreign and defence policies.
This provision lasted from September 1, 1942 to October 15, 1945.