Capital City: New Delhi
Population: 1,236,344,631 (July 2014 est)
Currency: Rupee (INR)
Land Area: 3,287,263 sq km. Dominates South Asian subcontinent; near important Indian Ocean trade routes; Kanchenjunga, third tallest mountain in the world, lies on the border with Nepal
Dominant Religions: Hindu 80.5%, Muslim 13.4%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.1% (2001 census)
Land Boundaries: Bangladesh 4,053 km, Bhutan 605 km, Burma 1,463 km, China 3,380 km, Nepal 1,690 km, Pakistan 2,912 km
Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan
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
Visa: Tourist visa valid for 6 months can have maximum duration of stay of 90 days per visit, depending on citizenship. As at August 2009, Australian nationals are able to apply for visas through the Bangkok embassy (for an additional 400 THB “referral fee”). To Pakistan the only land crossing is from Amritsar to Lahore via the Attari/Wagah border crossing. You will need a Carnet de Passage if crossing with your own vehicle. The process is not particularly lengthy – crossing with your own vehicle from/to Pakistan should take a maximum of 3 hours to clear both borders for you and your vehicle.
Special Note: Note that entry into the states of Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram requires a Protected Area Permit (PAP) for non-Indians and an Inner Line Permit (ILP) for Indian citizens. Permits are issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, but the easiest approach is to get your Indian visa with a special endorsement allowing travel in the state you wish to visit. Individual travelers are generally granted 15 days (extendable once), but are allowed access only into major towns and sights; travels off the beaten track generally require a registered tour group of four or more people.
As of 1 Jan 2011, the Government of India has decided to exclude the states of Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland from the Protected Area regime notified under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order 1958. This programme is being trialled for one year. However, it is advised that travellers still print out the relevant news articles from local news sources such as the Nagaland Post and Morung Express to show to border officials. Foreigners are still required to register with the FRO (Foreign Registration Office) of each district within 24 hours of arrival.
Entry Point: Moreh (from Tamu, Myanmar)
Exit Point: Atari (Amritsar) (to Wagah, Lahore)
Cuisine: North East India is famous for its delicious and ethnic delicacies. The cuisine includes world famous vegetarian and non vegetarian dishes. North East has earned accolades for the various dishes prepared from local herbs and spices. Apart from local dishes, it is also equipped with restaurants and hotels serving conventional Indian foods (both North Indian and South Indian). So as far as eating is concerned, there will be no problem.