National symbols of India

The Republic of India is a country located in South Asia. India is bordered by Pakistan to the West, China, Nepal, and Bhutan to the Northeast, and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the East. The capital of India is Delhi. India ranks second in the world after China in terms of population – about 1.2 billion people. The Constitution of India states that Hindi and English are the two working languages of the National Government, so they are the official languages.

More than 80% of the population of India profess Hinduism. Among the religions with a significant number of followers are Islam (13.4%), Christianity (2.3%), Sikhism (1.9%), Buddhism (0.8%) and Jainism (0.4%). In India, such religions as Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Baha’i and others are also represented. Among the aboriginal population, which is 8.1%, animism is widespread.

The currency of India is the Indian rupee (in 1 rupee-100 paisa). The domain is .in and the country code is +91.

National symbols of India as the Bengal tiger and peacock are known to many. Also the sacred lotus flower, the mention of which can be found in myths and drawings is considered as one the national symbols of India. But not many people will remember about the banyan tree, the tree-forest under which the Buddha became enlightened.

Cows in India have long been considered sacred animals. Cow protection is a state-level issue. These animals calmly roam the streets, often interfering with traffic. Tourists should not offend cows, eat beef and speak unflatteringly about them.

Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum, one of the most grandiose monuments of Indian architecture with a chic interior and a stunning park. It is the last gift of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to his late wife Mumtaz Mahal, as well as the main and most popular attraction in the country.