India shares land borders with Pakistan to the west, China, Nepal, and Bhutan to the north and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east. The majestic Himalayan region is also the source of many major rivers in India. India has several rivers, but the five major rivers of India are Ganga (Ganges), Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Godavari and Narmada. India is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the south, the Bay of Bengal to the east and the Arabian Sea to the west. The southernmost point of the Indian peninsula is called Kanyakumari or Cape Comorin. It is located at the meeting point of the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean.

The central part of India is made up of vast plains, known as the Indo-Gangetic Plain, which is one of the most fertile regions in the world. The monsoon season, which occurs between June and September, is a vital aspect of India's climate, providing much-needed water for agriculture.

India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.

The following is a timeline of the history of India.

The Indus Valley Civilization was one of the earliest urban civilizations in the world, dating back to around 2600 BCE. It was located in the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent with major cities including Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro. The Vedic Period began around 1500 BCE and lasted until around 500 BCE. It was characterized by the composition of the Vedas, a collection of hymns and religious texts that form the basis of Hinduism.

By about 500 BCE, important civilizations had also appeared in India. Porus, (flourished 4th century BCE), was an Indian king who ruled the region between the Hydaspes (Jhelum) and Acesines (Chenab) rivers at the time of Alexander’s invasion (327–326 BCE).

The Maurya Empire was founded by Chandragupta Maurya in 322 BCE and lasted until 185 BCE. The Gupta Empire was an ancient Indian empire that existed from around 320 CE to 550 CE. This period is considered as the Golden Age of India by historians. The Mughal Empire was founded by Babur in 1526 and lasted until 1857. The British Raj refers to the period of British colonial rule in India, which lasted from 1858 until India's independence in 1947. Though India became a free nation on August 15, 1947, it declared itself a Sovereign, Democratic and Republic state with the adoption of the Constitution on January 26, 1950.

India is a country with diverse flora and fauna due to its varied topography and climate. Indian flora includes a diverse range of indigenous or native plant species with economic, religious and cultural significance.

The forests of India include sal, teak and babul. The banyan tree is India's national tree. Mango is India's official national fruit. Indian flowers are visually appealing as well as fragrant. The flowers of the hibiscus plant are often used in traditional Indian medicine and Ayurveda for their medicinal properties. The lotus is India's national flower.

India is home to a diverse range of animals, amphibians, reptiles and fishes. Lions, elephants, rhinoceros, wild bison, bears, deer, monkeys and wild goats are among the mammals found in India.

India's national animal is the Royal Bengal tiger. India's national bird is the peacock. Common Indian birds include geese, ducks, mynas, pigeons, cranes, pheasants, parakeets and hornbills.

India is home to a wide variety of freshwater and marine fishes due to its diverse water bodies. Some examples of fishes found in India are rohu, hilsa and pomfret.

India is a land of diverse religions including Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism. Religious festivals such as Diwali, Eid, Christmas and Holi are celebrated with great enthusiasm across the country. The country’s diversity is reflected in its varied cuisine, music and dance.

Indian classical music has two major traditions: the North Indian classical music known as Hindustani and the South Indian expression known as Carnatic. Indian classical dance or Shastriya Nritya is an umbrella term for various performance arts rooted in Hindu musical theatre styles. The Sangeet Natak Academy recognizes eight – Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Kathakali, Sattriya, Manipuri and Mohiniyattam.

India has a rich tradition of arts and crafts including pottery, weaving, embroidery and painting. Traditional handicrafts such as the Madhubani paintings of Bihar, the Pattachitra paintings of Odisha and the Phulkari embroidery of Punjab are still practised in various parts of the country. Indian cinema consists of motion pictures produced in India, which has had a large effect on world cinema.

India is one of the largest producer, consumer and exporter of spices in the world. Indian spices are known the world over for their aroma, texture and taste.

Sport is a significant part of life in India. Cricket is the most popular spectator sport in the country and citizens often play it as a recreational activity. Sachin Tendulkar is an Indian former international cricketer who captained the Indian national team. He is regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket. However, in more recent decades, football and kabaddi have grown into the mainstream. Sports such as swimming and badminton are played as recreational activities and for exercise. India celebrates its National Sports Day annually on 29 August, on the birthday of India's greatest hockey player, Major Dhyan Chand.