india and subcontinentSherpaS
The Sherpa people (right) of Nepal
are famed for their mountaineering
skills. They often act as guides for
climbers and hikers on expeditions
in the Nepalese himalayas.pakiSTaN
pakistan was formed in 1947, when the end of British rule in india led
to the creation of two separate states: the predominantly hindu india,
and the predominantly Muslim pakistan. pakistan originally included
what is now Bangladesh, then known as east pakistan. Bangladesh
became independent in 1971, after a revolt against rule from West
pakistan (present-day pakistan). india and pakistan are in bitter conflict
over the area at pakistan’s northeastern border known as kashmir; both
india and pakistan consider the region to be a part of their country.
in the 2000s, pakistan also faced problems with militants in the
North-West province, as the conflict in
afghanistan spilled over the border.Expansion of Mumbai is confined by
its island location, so the city has
one of the highest population
densities in the world.MuMBai
One of india’s largest cities is Mumbai, which
has a population of more than 21 million.
The city is the capital of the western state
of Maharashtra, and is a major port for
western commerce. Mumbai is built on
an island, and has a superb natural
harbor to the east. Cotton is grown
nearby, and Mumbai is the largest cotton
textile center in the country. in 2008,
Mumbai suffered a terrorist attack in
which more than 200 people died.
kerala
The state of kerala in southwest india borders the
arabian Sea. The eastern part of the state is
hilly, but much of the land area is a flat
plain. kerala is one of the most
densely populated states in india.
Fishing is important for the local
economy. Near the coast, the
people of kerala grow crops
of cashew nuts, coconuts,
and rice, and there are tea,
rubber, coffee, and pepper
plantations to the east.
although the government has
encouraged modern farming
techniques, traditional methods
of agriculture and transportation
are common, such as the canoe in
the picture (left). Forestry is also
important in kerala. in the mountains
there are forests of teak, ebony, and rosewood,
as well as a wide variety of wildlife.BhuTaN
Most people in Bhutan are descendants of
Tibetans who migrated to the area centuries ago.
like their neighbors, they are
predominantly Buddhist,
and look on the
Dalai lama as
their spiritual
leader. The dense
forests and high
mountains that cover the
country are home to many animals
native to the indian subcontinent, such as
tigers (left), monkeys, and elephants. in an
effort to protect Bhutan’s culture and natural
environment, the government of Bhutan does
not allow many tourists to enter the country.iNDiaN peOple
india has one of the most
diverse populations in the world.
Throughout history, one group after
another has settled in india, each bringing
its own culture, customs, and languages. The
groups often intermarried, but not all aspects
of society became mixed and diluted: many
groups clung to their traditions. For instance,
there is no one indian language, and
people in different parts
of the country often
have their own unique
local language.269
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