North India Northern India | |
|---|---|
 _02.jpg) .jpeg)  _-_img_01.jpg)        | |
 States and union territories commonly referred to as North India | |
| Country |  India |
| States[1] | |
| Union territories | |
| Popular cities | |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,069,867 km2 (413,078 sq mi) |
| Population (2025) | |
• Total | 368,065,454 |
| • Density | 344.0292/km2 (891.0315/sq mi) |
| Demonyms | North Indian |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) |
| Common languages | |
| Official languages | |
North India is ageographical region, loosely defined as acultural region comprising the northern part ofIndia (or historically, theIndian subcontinent) whereinIndo-Aryans (speaking Indo-Aryan languages) form the prominent majority population &Tibeto-Burmans (speaking tibeto-burman languages) form the significant minority population. It extends from theHimalayan mountain range in the north to theIndo-Gangetic plains, theThar Desert, tillCentral Highlands. It occupies nearly two-quarters of the area and population of India and includes one of the threemega cities of India:Delhi. In a more specific and administrative sense, North India can also be used to denote the northernIndo-Gangetic Plain within this broader expanse, to theThar Desert.[2]
Several major rivers flow through the region including theIndus, theGanges, theYamuna and theNarmada rivers. North India includes the states ofHimachal Pradesh,Uttarakhand,Punjab andHaryana,Rajasthan,Uttar Pradesh, and union territories ofChandigarh,Delhi,Jammu and Kashmir andLadakh. Occasionally, states ofWestern,Central andEastern India are referred as "North Indian" in a broader term.[1][16][17][18]
Majority in North India speakIndo-Aryan languages. The region was the historical centre of the ancientVedic culture, theMahajanapadas, the medievalDelhi Sultanate and the modernMughal India andIndian Empire, among many others. It has a diverse culture, and includes theHindu pilgrimage centres ofChar Dham,Haridwar,Varanasi,Vindhyachal,Ayodhya,Mathura,Prayagraj,Vaishno Devi andPushkar, theBuddhist pilgrimage centres ofSarnath andKushinagar, theSikh pilgrimage centre ofGolden Temple, as well as world heritage sites such as theNanda Devi Biosphere Reserve,Khajuraho Temples,Hill Forts of Rajasthan,Jantar Mantar (Jaipur),Qutb Minar,Red Fort,Agra Fort,Fatehpur Sikri and theTaj Mahal. North India's culture developed as a result ofinteraction between these Hindu and Muslim religious traditions.[19]
The terms 'North Zone,' 'North Region,' or 'Northern Cultural Zone' are used by various ministries of the Government of India to refer to the northernmost administrative division of the country, whether one of four or six. These terms are distinct from 'North India,' which refers to a much larger geo-cultural region.
TheNorthern Zonal Council is one of the advisory councils, created in 1956 by theStates Reorganisation Act to foster interstate co-operation under theMinistry of Home Affairs, which included the states ofChandigarh,Delhi,Haryana,Himachal Pradesh,Jammu and Kashmir,Ladakh,Punjab andRajasthan.[16][17]
TheMinistry of Culture established theNorth Culture Zone inPatiala,Punjab on 23 March 1985. It differs from the North Zonal Council in its inclusion ofUttarakhand and the omission ofDelhi.[20]
TheGeological Survey of India (part of theMinistry of Mines) in its Northern Region, includedUttar Pradesh andDelhi, but excludedRajasthan andChandigarh, with a regional headquarters inLucknow.[18]
The Hindu newspaper puts Bihar, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh related articles on itsNorth pages.[3] Articles in the Indian press have included the states of Bihar,[4] Gujarat,[7][6] Jharkhand,[10] Madhya Pradesh,[5] and West Bengal[8][9] in North as well.
TheTropic of Cancer, which divides thetemperate zone from thetropical zone in theNorthern Hemisphere, runs through India, and could theoretically be regarded as a geographical dividing line in the country.[21] Indian states that are entirely above theTropic of Cancer areHimachal Pradesh,Punjab,Haryana,Delhi,Uttarakhand,Uttar Pradesh andBihar and most ofNorth East Indian states. However that definition would also include major parts ofRajasthan,Madhya Pradesh,Jharkhand andWest Bengal and minor regions ofChhattisgarh andGujarat.
InMaharashtra, the term "North Indian" is sometimes used to describe migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, often using the termbhaiya (which literally means 'elder brother') along with it in a derogatory sense.[22][23] However within Uttar Pradesh (literally meaning "North Province" in Hindi) itself, "the cultural divide between theeast and thewest is considerable, with thepurabiyas (easterners) often being clubbed with Biharis in the perception of the westerners."[24][25] TheGovernment of Bihar official site places the state in the eastern part of India.[26] Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are often considered as being a part of north India, However, within most modern definitions of North India, Bihar is not included.[27][23][28]
By 55,000 years ago, the first modern humans, orHomo sapiens, had arrived on the Indian subcontinent from Africa, where they had earlier evolved.[29][30][31] The earliest known modern human remains in South Asia date to about 30,000 years ago.[29] After 6500 BC, evidence for domestication of food crops and animals, construction of permanent structures, and storage of agricultural surplus appeared inMehrgarh and other sites inBalochistan, Pakistan.[32] These gradually developed into theIndus Valley Civilisation,[33][32] the first urban culture in South Asia,[34] which flourished during 2500–1900 BC north-western Indian subcontinent.[35] Among its urban centres,Kalibangan (in Rajasthan) andRakhigarhi (in Haryana) were prominent.[34] These cities participated in a complex system of urban planning, long-distance trade, and craft production, sustained through a variety of subsistence strategies.
Between 2000 BC and 1500 BC, several waves of Indo-Aryan migrations from Central Asia occurred and these migrants settled in the Indo-Gangetic Plain. TheVedas, the oldest scriptures associated withHinduism,[36] were composed during this period,[37] and historians have analysed these to posit aVedic culture in thePunjab region and the upperGangetic Plain.[38] During the period 2000–500 BCE, many regions of the subcontinent transitioned from theChalcolithic cultures to theIron Age ones.[38] Thecaste system, which created a hierarchy of priests (Brahmins), warriorsKshatriyas, and commoners and peasants (Vaishyas andShudras), and but which excluded certain peoples whose occupations were considered impure, arose during this period.[39]
In the late Vedic period, around the 6th century BCE, the small states and chiefdoms of the Ganges Plain and the north-western regions had consolidated into 16 major oligarchies and monarchies that were known as themahajanapadas.[40][41] Among these,Kuru,Panchala,Kosala, andKashi, all located in present-dayUttar Pradesh and Haryana, figured prominently. The emerging urbanisation gave rise to non-Vedic religious movements, two of which became independent religions.Jainism came into prominence during the life of its exemplar,Mahavira.[42]Buddhism, based on the teachings ofGautama Buddha, attracted followers from all social classes excepting the middle class; chronicling the life of the Buddha was central to the beginnings of recorded history in India.[43][44][45] In an age of increasing urban wealth, both religions held uprenunciation as an ideal,[46] and both established long-lasting monastic traditions. Notably, cities likeSarnath,Shravasti, andKushinagar, became closely associated with the life of the Buddha and the early Buddhist sangha.
Politically, by the 3rd century BCE, theKingdom of Magadha had annexed or reduced other states and evolved into the Magadha Empire under theHouse of Maurya.[47] Although the Mauryan capital was located inPataliputra, cities such asKaushambi andPrayag in Uttar Pradesh gained prominence as administrative and religious centres. The Magadhan Mauryan emperors are known as much for their empire-building and determined management of public life as forAshoka's renunciation of militarism and far-flung advocacy of the Buddhistdhamma.[48][49] Under Ashoka, the spread of Buddhism was institutionalized, and pillar inscriptions appeared across northern India, including sites in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
By the 4th and 5th centuries, theHouse of Gupta of Magadha had created a complex system of administration and taxation in the greater Ganges Plain; this system became a model for later Indian kingdoms.[50][51] Under the Guptas, a renewed Hinduism based on devotion, rather than the management of ritual, began to assert itself.[52] This renewal was reflected in a flowering ofsculpture andarchitecture, which found patrons among an urban elite.[51]Classical Sanskrit literature flowered as well, andIndian science,astronomy,medicine, andmathematics made significant advances.[51]
Following the decline of the Guptas, the Indian early medieval age, from 600 to 1200 AD, is defined by regional kingdoms and cultural diversity.[53] WhenHarsha ofKannauj, who ruled much of the Indo-Gangetic Plain from 606 to 647 CE, attempted to expand southwards, he was defeated by theChalukya ruler of the Deccan.[54] When his successor attempted to expand eastwards, he was defeated by thePala king ofBengal.[54] In Rajasthan, a constellation of Rajput clans rose to power, forging new dynasties and asserting martial values through courtly traditions and fortified architecture.
At the same time, the hill regions ofHimachal Pradesh andUttarakhand remained under smaller principalities, shaped by geographic isolation and local cultural traditions. In the plains, cities such asAjmer,Kannauj, andVaranasi emerged as religious and commercial centres, supported by an expanding temple economy and patronage networks. During this time, pastoral peoples, whose land had been cleared to make way for the growing agricultural economy, were accommodated within caste society, as were new non-traditional ruling classes.[55] The caste system consequently began to show regional differences.[55]
After the 10th century, Muslim Central Asian nomadic clans, usingswift-horse cavalry and raising vast armies united by ethnicity and religion, repeatedly overran South Asia's north-western plains. A generalQutub-ud-din Aibak declared his independence and established theSultanate of Delhi in 1206.[56] The sultanate was to control much of North India and to make many forays into South India. Although at first disruptive for the Indian elites, the sultanate largely left its vast non-Muslim subject population to its own laws and customs.[57][58] By repeatedly repulsingMongol raiders in the 13th century, the sultanate saved India from the devastation visited on West and Central Asia, setting the scene for centuries ofmigration of fleeing soldiers, learned men, mystics, traders, artists, and artisans from that region into the subcontinent, thereby creating a syncretic Indo-Islamic culture in the north.[59][60]
In the early 16th century, northern India, then under mainly Muslim rulers,[61] fell again to the superior mobility and firepower of a new generation of Central Asian warriors.[62] A Turco-Mongol emir,Zahir-ud-din Mohammad "Babur", after defeating the Delhi Sultanate, upgraded himself fromEmir and proclaimed himself as thePadishah of Hindustan. His successors were calledMughals or Moguls by European historians owing to the dynasty's Mongol origins. They did not stamp out the local societies it came to rule. Instead, it balanced and pacified them through new administrative practices[63][64] and diverse and inclusive ruling elites,[65] leading to more systematic, centralised, and uniform rule.[66] Eschewing tribal bonds and Islamic identity, especially underAkbar, the Mughals united their far-flung realms through loyalty, expressed through a Persianised culture, to an emperor who had near-divine status.[65]
The State's economic policies, deriving most revenues from agriculture[67] and mandating that taxes be paid in the well-regulated silver currency,[68] caused peasants and artisans to enter larger markets.[66] The relative peace maintained by the empire during much of the 17th century was a factor in the economic expansion of the region,[66] resulting in greater patronage ofpainting, literary forms, textiles, andarchitecture.[69] During this time, religious movements such asSikhism grew in strength inPunjab, particularly under later Gurus, who adopted a militarized posture in response to growing Mughal intolerance.
By the early 18th century, Mughal authority had weakened. In its place, regional powers in northern and western India, such as theMarathas, theRajputs, and theSikhs asserted political control.[70] This fragmentation, coupled with growing European trading influence,[71][72] created conditions that favoured British expansion. TheEast India Company, leveraging military superiority and access to local revenue systems, took control of much of North India by the early 19th century.[73][71][74][75] The annexation ofDelhi (1803) andOudh (1856) consolidated British political authority across the region.[76] By this time, with its economic power severely curtailed by theBritish Parliament and having effectively been made an arm of British administration, the East India Company began more consciously to enter non-economic arenas, including education, social reform, and culture.[77]
The appointment in 1848 ofLord Dalhousie asGovernor General of India set the stage for changes essential to a modern state. These included the consolidation and demarcation of sovereignty, the surveillance of the population, and the education of citizens. Technological changes—among them, railways, canals, and the telegraph—were introduced not long after their introduction inEurope.[78][79][80][81] However, disaffection with the company also grew during this time and set off theIndian Rebellion of 1857. Fed by diverse resentments and perceptions, including invasive British-style social reforms, harsh land taxes, and summary treatment of some rich landowners and princes, the rebellion rocked many regions of northern and central India and shook the foundations of Company rule.[82][83] This widespread revolt saw intense fighting and significant uprisings in key northern cities likeDelhi,Kanpur,Lucknow,Jhansi, andMeerut, which became focal points of resistance against British control.
Although the rebellion was suppressed by 1858, it led to the dissolution of the East India Company and thedirect administration of British territories in India by theBritish Crown. Proclaiming aunitary state and a gradual but limited British-style parliamentary system, the new rulers also protected princes and landed gentry as a feudal safeguard against future unrest.[84][85] In 1861, a supreme legislature for India was established — theImperial Legislative Council of India. Further reforms also created a unified bank — theImperial Bank of India, a police force — theIndian Imperial Police and a unified army — theImperial Indian Army. In 1876, the Crown-ruled India and the numerous Indian states under the Crown's suzerainty formed a loose political union called theIndian Empire, andQueen Victoria was crowned theEmpress of India in 1877. In the decades following, public life gradually emerged all over India, leading eventually to the founding of theIndian National Congress in 1885.[86][87][88][89]
The rush of technology and the commercialisation of agriculture in the second half of the 19th century was marked by economic setbacks, and many small farmers became dependent on the whims of far-away markets.[90] There was an increase in the number of large-scalefamines,[91] and, despite the risks of infrastructure development borne by Indian taxpayers, little industrial employment was generated for Indians.[92] There were also salutary effects: commercial cropping, especially in the newly canalled Punjab, led to increased food production for internal consumption.[93] The railway network provided critical famine relief,[94] notably reduced the cost of moving goods,[94] and helped nascent Indian-owned industry.[93] The imperial capital was shifted fromCalcutta toDelhi in 1911.
After World War I, in which approximatelyone million Indians served in theIndian Army,[95] a new period began. It was marked by the enactment of theMontagu–Chelmsford Reforms as the Government of India Act 1919 but alsorepressive legislation, by more strident Indian calls for self-rule, and by the beginnings of anonviolent movement of non-co-operation, of whichMahatma Gandhi would become the leader and enduring symbol.[96] During the 1930s, slow legislative reform was enacted; the Indian National Congress won victories in the resulting elections.[97] The next decade was beset with crises:Indian participation in World War II, the Congress's final push for non-co-operation, and an upsurge ofMuslim nationalism. All were capped by the advent of independence in 1947, but tempered by thepartition of India into two states: India and Pakistan.[98]
The partition of India caused significant upheaval, especially in Punjab and Delhi, with widespread violence and population displacement.[99]Jammu and Kashmir, which acceded to India amid conflict, became a central point of territorial disputes involving India, Pakistan, and China.[100] In the decades after independence, North India underwent major administrative changes. The princely states of theRajputana Agency were merged to form Rajasthan in 1949.[101] In 1966, Punjab wasreorganised along linguistic lines, creating Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and the present-day Punjab.[102] Punjab also experienced a separatistinsurgency in the 1980s.[103] The Union Territory of Delhi was renamed the National Capital Territory of Delhi in 1991, gaining a legislative assembly with limited powers.[104] TheUttarakhand movement, which gained traction in 1994, culminated with Uttarakhand being carved out of Uttar Pradesh as a separate hill state in 2000.[105]
In 2019, the revocation ofArticle 370 of the Constitution of India changed Jammu and Kashmir's status, dividing it into two union territoriesJammu and Kashmir andLadakh.[106][107][108]
North India lies mainly on continental India, north of peninsular India.[citation needed] Towards its north are the Himalayas which define the boundary between theIndian subcontinent and theTibetan Plateau. To its west is theThar Desert, shared between North India andPakistan and theAravalli Range, beyond which lies the state ofGujarat. TheVindhya mountains are, in some interpretations, taken to be the southern boundary of North India.
The predominant geographical features of North India are:
The states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir also have a large forest coverage.[109]
North India lies mainly in the northtemperate zone of theEarth.[111] Though cool or cold winters, hot summers, and moderate monsoons are the general patterns, North India is one of the most climatically diverse regions on Earth. During summer, temperatures often rise above 35 °C across much of the Indo-Gangetic plain, reaching as high as 50 °C in the Thar Desert, Rajasthan, and up to 49 °C in Delhi. During winter, the lowest temperatures on the plains dip below 5 °C and drop below freezing in some states. Heavy to moderate snowfall occurs in Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Uttarakhand. Much of North India is also notorious for heavy fog during the winters.
Extreme temperatures among inhabited regions have ranged from −45 °C (−49 °F) inDras, Ladakh[112] to 50.6 °C (123 °F) inAlwar, Rajasthan.Dras is claimed to be the second-coldest inhabited place on the planet (afterSiberia), with a recorded low of −60 °C.[113][114][115]
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The region receives heavy rain in plains and light snow on Himalayas precipitation through two primary weather patterns: the SouthwestMonsoon and theWestern Disturbances. The Monsoon carries moisture northwards from theIndian Ocean, occurs in late summer and is important to theKharif or autumn harvest.[116][117] Western Disturbances, on the other hand, are an extratropical weather phenomenon that carry moisture eastwards from theMediterranean Sea, theCaspian Sea and theAtlantic Ocean.[118][119][120][121] They primarily occur during the winter season and are critically important for theRabi or spring harvest, which includes the main staple over much of North India,wheat.[119] The states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand receive very heavy snowfall in winter months, however glacial and alpine areas receive snowfall throughout the year in these states.
Northern Indian tradition recognises six distinct seasons in the region: summer (grishma orgarmi (jyesth- ashadh), May–June), rainy (varsha (shravan-bhadra), July–August), post-monsoon (sharad (ashivan-kartik), September–October, sometimes thought of as 'early autumn'), autumn (hemant (margh-paush), November–December, also calledpatjhar, lit.leaf-fall), winter (shishir orsardi (magh-phagun),January–February) and spring (vasant (chaitra-baishakh), March–April). The literature, poetry and folklore of the region uses references to these six seasons quite extensively and has done so since ancient times whenSanskrit was prevalent.[122][123][124] In the mountainous areas, sometimes the winter is further divided into "big winter" (e.g.Kashmirichillai kalaan) and "little winter" (chillai khurd).[125]
The people of North India mostly belong to theIndo-Aryan ethno linguistic branch,[citation needed] and include various social groups such asBrahmins,Rajputs,Gadarias,Kayasthas,Banias,Jats,Rors,Gurjars,Kolis,Yadavs,Khatris andKambojs.[126][127][128] Other minority aboriginal ethnic communities such asDravidians andAustroasiatics exist throughout the region.
| State orUnion Territory | Population [129][130] | Growth (2001–2012) | 2025 Population Estimate[131] | Rural pop. | Urban pop. | Density (per sq km) [a] | Sex ratio (per 1000 female) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nos. | % | Nos. | % | |||||||
| States | ||||||||||
| Haryana | 25,351,462 | 19.9% | 30,936,000 | 16,509,359 | 65.12% | 8,842,103 | 34.88% | 573 | 879 | |
| Himachal Pradesh | 6,864,602 | 12.9% | 7,542,000 | 6,176,050 | 89.97% | 688,552 | 10.03% | 123 | 972 | |
| Punjab | 27,743,338 | 13.89% | 31,122,000 | 17,344,192 | 62.52% | 10,399,146 | 37.48% | 551 | 895 | |
| Rajasthan | 68,548,437 | 21.3% | 82,770,000 | 51,500,352 | 75.13% | 17,048,085 | 24.87% | 201 | 928 | |
| Uttar Pradesh | 199,812,341 | 20.2% | 240,468,000 | 155,317,278 | 77.73% | 44,495,063 | 22.27% | 828 | 912 | |
| Uttarakhand | 10,086,292 | 18.8% | 11,874,000 | 7,036,954 | 69.77% | 3,049,338 | 30.23% | 189 | 963 | |
| Union Territories | ||||||||||
| Chandigarh | 1,055,450 | 17.2% | 1,255,000 | 28,991 | 2.75% | 1,026,459 | 97.25% | 9,252 | 818 | |
| Jammu and Kashmir | 12,267,032 | 23.6% | 13,798,000 | 9,064,220 | 73.89% | 3,202,812 | 26.11% | 297 | 890 | |
| Ladakh | 274,000 | 17.8% | 304,000 | 43,840 | 16% | 230,160 | 84% | 2.8 | 853 | |
| NCT of Delhi | 16,787,941 | 21.2% | 22,146,000 | 419,042 | 2.5% | 16,368,899 | 97.5% | 11,297 | 868 | |
Hinduism is the dominant religion in North India. Other religions practiced by various ethnic communities includeIslam,Sikhism,Jainism,Zoroastrianism,Judaism,Baháʼí,Christianity, andBuddhism. Hindus constitute more than 80 percent of the North India's population. The national capital of India,New Delhi, is overwhelmingly Hindu-majority with Hindus constituting nearly 90% of the capital city's population. The states ofRajasthan,Haryana,Himachal Pradesh are overwhelmingly Hindu-majority.Uttarakhand andUttar Pradesh are also Hindu majority states, but have a large Muslim minority (14% In Uttarakhand, 19% in Uttar Pradesh). The union territory ofJammu and Kashmir has a Muslim majority, while Ladakh has a Muslim plurality with minority Hindus and Buddhists. The state ofPunjab has aSikh majority of 60% and is the homeland of Sikh religion.
Linguistically, North India is dominated byIndo-Aryan languages. It is in this region, or its proximity, thatSanskrit and the variousPrakrits are thought to have evolved.[citation needed] Hindi is spoken in Western Uttar Pradesh and Delhi and by a large number of people in many urban centres across North India. Many other languages of the Central Indo-Aryan languages such as Awadhi, Braj, Haryanvi, Chhattisgarhi, Bundeli and Bagheli are spoken in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Marwari, Harauti, Malvi, Gujarati, Khandeshi, Marathi and Konkani are spoken in Rajasthan, extreme eastern Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa. Towards the far north, languages of Dardic (such as Kashmiri) and Pahari (such as Dogri, Kumaoni and Garhwali) groups are spoken in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal and Uttarakhand.Punjabi is spoken inPunjab. Bengali is spoken in West Bengal. Languages of Bihari group, such as Maithili, Magahi and Bhojpuri are spoken in Bihar and Jharkhand.[citation needed]
A number of aboriginal languages of Austroasiatic and Dravidian origin are spoken in some regions.[134] SeveralSino-Tibetan languages are spoken in the Himalayan region likeKinnauri,[134]Ladakhi,Balti, andLahuli–Spiti languages.
The compositeculture of North India is known asGanga-Jamuni tehzeeb, a result of the amicable interaction of Hindus and Muslims there.[19]
Dance of North India too has diversefolk andclassical forms. Among the well-knownfolk dances are thebhangra of thePunjab, Ghoomar of Rajasthan,Nati ofHimachal Pradesh androuf andbhand pather of Kashmir. Main dance forms, many with narrative forms andmythological elements, have been accordedclassical dance status by India'sNational Academy of Music, Dance, and Drama such asKathak.[135]
Each state of North India has its own regional forms of clothing:
North Indian vegetation is predominantlysubtropical evergreen forest inUttar Pradesh,subtropical deciduous forest inEast Rajasthan,Haryana,Punjab andDelhi,hot desert in westernRajasthan,Montane ecosystem inHimachal Pradesh,Uttarakhand,J&K, andcold desert in Ladakh, and theSpiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh. Of the moist deciduous treessal,teak, Mahogany,sheesham (Indian rosewood) andpoplar are some which are important commercially.[137] The thorn woodland region mainly contains shrubs and trees likebabul,khejri,ronjh, andkhair along withdhok andpalash in upland regions. The Western Himalayan region abounds inchir,pine,deodar (Himalayan cedar),blue pine,spruce, variousfirs,birch andjunipers.[138][139][140][141] The birch, especially, has historical significance in Indian culture due to the extensive use of birch paper (Sanskrit:bhurja patra) as parchment for many ancient Indian texts.[142][143] The Eastern Himalayan region consists ofoaks,laurels,maples,rhododendrons,alder, birch anddwarf willows. Reflecting the diverse climatic zones and terrain contained in the region, the floral variety is extensive and ranges from Alpine to Cloud forests, coniferous to evergreen, and thick subtropical moist forests to cool temperate woods.[138][144]
There are around 500 varieties of mammals, 2000 species of birds, 30,000 types of insects and a wide variety of fish, amphibians and reptiles in the region. Animal species in North India includeelephant,bengal tiger,indian leopard,snow leopard,sambar (Asiatic stag),chital (spotted deer),hangul (red deer),hog deer,chinkara (Indian gazelle),blackbuck,nilgai (blue bull antelope),porcupine,wild boar,Indian fox,Tibetan sand fox,rhesus monkey,langur,jungle cat,striped hyena,golden jackal,black bear,Himalayan brown bear,sloth bear, and the endangeredcaracal.
Reptiles are represented by a large number ofsnake andlizard species, as well as theghariyal andcrocodiles.[145] Venomous snakes found in the region includeking cobra andkrait. Variousscorpion,spider andinsect species include the commercially usefulhoneybees,silkworms andlac insects. The strikingly colouredbir bahuti is also found in this region.[146]
The region has a wide variety of birds, includingpeafowl,parrots, and thousands of immigrant birds, such as theSiberian crane. Other birds includepheasants,geese,ducks,mynahs,parakeets,pigeons,cranes (including the celebratedsarus crane), andhornbills.great pied hornbill,Pallas's fishing eagle,grey-headed fishing eagle, red-thighedfalconet are found in the Himalayan areas. Other birds found here aretawny fish owl, scale-bellied woodpecker,red-breasted parakeet,Himalayan swiftlet,stork-billed kingfisher andHimalayan or white-tailed rubythroat.[147][148]
Important national parks and tiger reserves of North India include:
Pilibhit Tiger Reserve: It is the most narrowly-forested reserve among all theTiger reserves of India with density of 11 tigers per 100 km2,[b] The reserve's 97.6% area is located inPilibhit district and 2.4% inShahjahanpur district in theRohilkhand region ofUttar Pradesh.[149][150] The core area of the reserve contains 127 species ofmammals,[151] 556 birds species,[152][153] 37 species ofreptiles and 87 species ofamphibians,[154] as well as 79 species of fishes,[155] As of August 2025, reserve officials confirmed that reserve's core area hosts more than 79 adult tigers.[c][156][157]
Corbett National Park: It was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park[158]along the banks of the Ramganga River. It is India's first National Park, and was designated a Project Tiger Reserve in 1973. Situated inNainital district of Uttarakhand, the park acts as a protected area for the critically endangered Bengal tiger of India. Cradled in the foothills of the Himalayas, it comprises a total area of 500 km2 out of which 350 km2 is core reserve. This park is known not only for its rich and varied wildlife but also for its scenic beauty.
Nanda Devi National Park andValley of Flowers National Park: Located in West Himalaya, in the state of Uttarakhand, these two national parks constitute a biosphere reserve that is in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves since 2004. The Valley of Flowers is known for its meadows of endemic alpine flowers and the variety of flora, this richly diverse area is also home to rare and endangered animals.
Dachigam National Park: Dachigam is a higher altitude national reserve in the state of Jammu and Kashmir that ranges from 5,500 to 14,000 feet above sea level. It is home to thehangul (ared deer species, also called the Kashmir stag).
Great Himalayan National Park: This park is located in Himachal Pradesh and ranges in altitude from 5,000 to 17,500 feet. Wildlife resident here includes thesnow leopard, theHimalayan brown bear and themusk deer.
Desert National Park: Located in Rajasthan, this national reserve features extensive sand dunes and dry salt lakes. Wildlife unique to the region includes the desert fox and thegreat Indian bustard.
Kanha National Park: The sal and bamboo forests, grassy meadows and ravines of Kanha were the setting forRudyard Kipling's collection of stories, "The Jungle Book". The Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh came into being in 1955 and forms the core of the Kanha Tiger Reserve, created in 1974 under Project Tiger.
Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary: Located in the state of Bihar, it is the only protected zone for the endangeredGanges and Indus river dolphin.
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary: It is one of the finest bird parks in the world, it is a reserve that offers protection to faunal species as well. Nesting indigenous water birds as well as migratory water birds and waterside birds, this sanctuary is also inhabited by sambar, chital, nilgai and boar.
Dudhwa National Park: It covers an area of 500 km2 along the Indo-Nepal border inLakhimpur Kheri District of Uttar Pradesh, is best known for thebarasingha or swamp deer. The grasslands and woodlands of this park, consist mainly of sal forests. The barasingha is found in the southwest and southeast regions of the park. Among the big cats, tigers abound at Dudhwa. There are also a few leopards. The other animals found in large numbers, are theIndian rhinoceros, elephant, jungle cats, leopard cats, fishing cats, jackals,civets,sloth bears, sambar,otters, crocodiles andchital.
Ranthambhore National Park: It spans an area of 400 km2 with an estimated head count of thirty two tigers is perhaps India's finest example ofProject Tiger, a conservation effort started by the government in an attempt to save the dwindling number of tigers in India. Situated near the small town ofSawai Madhopur it boasts of variety of plant and animal species of North India.
Kalesar National Park: Kalesar is asal forest in theShivalik Hills of eastern Haryana state. Primarily known for birds, it also contains a small number of tigers and panthers.
Sultanpur National Park: Sultanpur is aRamsar wetland inGurgaon district of southern Haryana along theSahibi River. It is primarily known for the numerous migratory birds that come during winter with over 130 species being recorded such asAmur falcons andEgyptian vultures with antelopes like thenilgai also being common.[159][160] Main vegetation is thorn forest which includesbabul,neem, andkhair.[161]
Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary: Asola is adry forest spanningSouth Delhi,Gurgaon, andFaridabad district in Delhi and Haryana. It is located in the foothills of theAravalli Range. The main vegetation is thorn forest which includesbabul,dhok,palash,khejri, andkhair. The primary fauna of this forest includes theIndian leopard,golden jackal,jungle cat, andstriped hyena.[162][163]
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The IndianHimalayas, theThar desert and theIndo-Gangetic plain dominate the natural scenery of North India. The region encompasses several of the most highly regarded hill destinations of India such asSrinagar,Shimla,Manali,Nainital,Mussoorie,Kausani andMount Abu. Several spots in the states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh provide panoramic views of the snow-clad Himalayan range. The Himalayan region also provides ample opportunity for adventure sports such as mountaineering, trekking, river rafting and skiing. Camel or jeep safaris of the Thar desert are also popular in the state of Rajasthan. North India includes several national parks and reserve area such as thePilibhit Tiger Reserve,Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve,Jim Corbett National Park,Keoladeo National ParkRanthambore National Park,Sundarbans National Park and theKutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary.
North India encompasses several of the holiest pilgrimage centres of Hinduism (Varanasi,Haridwar,Allahabad,Char Dham,Vaishno Devi,Rishikesh,Ayodhya,Mathura/Vrindavan,Pushkar,Prayag and two of the twelveJyotirlinga sites), the most sacred destinations of Buddhism (Bodh Gaya,Sarnath andKushinagar), the most regarded pilgrimage centres of Sikhism (Amritsar andHemkund) and some of the highly regarded destinations in Sufi Islam (Ajmer andDelhi). The largest Hindu temple,Akshardham Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in India,Mahabodhi, the largest mosque in India,Jama Masjid, and the largest Sikh shrine,Golden Temple, are all in this region.[164][165]
North India includes some highly regarded historical, architectural and archaeological treasures of India. TheTaj Mahal, an immense mausoleum of white marble inAgra, is one of the universally admired buildings of world heritage.[166] Besides Agra,Fatehpur Sikri andDelhi also carry some great exhibits from the Mughal architecture. In Punjab,Patiala is known for being the city of royalty whileAmritsar is a city known for itsSikh architecture and theGolden Temple.Lucknow has the famous Awadhi Nawab culture whileKanpur reflects Anglo-Indian architecture with monuments likeAll Souls Cathedral,King Edward Memorial, Police Quarters,Cawnpore Woollen Mills,Cutchery Cemetery etc.Khajuraho temples constitute another famous world heritage site. The state of Rajasthan is known for exquisitepalaces andforts of theRajput clans. Historical sites and architecture from the ancient and medievalHindu andBuddhist periods of Indian history, such asJageshwar,Deogarh andSanchi, as well as sites from theBronze AgeIndus Valley civilisation, such asManda andAlamgirpur, can be found scattered throughout northern India.Varanasi, on the banks of theRiver Ganga, is considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and the second oldest in India afterNalanda.Bhimbetka is an archaeological site of thePaleolithic era, exhibiting the earliest traces of human life on the Indian subcontinent.
The economy of North India varies from agrarian in the northern plains to very industrialised in theNational Capital Region. Northwest Indian plains have prospered as a consequence of theGreen Revolution in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, and have experienced both economic and social development.[167][168][169] The eastern areas of East Uttar Pradesh, however, have lagged[170][171] and the resulting disparity has contributed to a demand for separate statehood in West Uttar Pradesh (theHarit Pradesh movement).[172][173]
The major industrial regions in North India are the Gurugram-Delhi-Meerut Belt (NCR). North Indian state with highest GDP per capita in the Indian Union wasHaryana in 2021. Other North Indian states which follow areUttarakhand andHimachal Pradesh.[174] Delhi has the highest per-capita State Domestic Product (SDP) of any Indian union territory.[175] The National Capital Region of Delhi has emerged as an economic power house with rapid industrial growth.
According to a 2009–10 report, a large number of unskilled and skilled workers have moved tosouthern India and other nations because of the unavailability of jobs locally.[176] The technology boom that occurred in the past three decades in southern India has helped many Indians from the northern region to find jobs and live prosperous lives in southern cities. An analysis by Multidimensional Poverty Index creators reveals that acute poverty prevails in eight Indian states including the northern states of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.[177]
The best-known[178] North-Indian food items are:
The central feature of Norh India is the gigantic Indo-Gangetic plain, together with all of the sacred rivers that flow into it.
FACT is also expanding its market to North Indian states like Maharashtra, West Bengal, Odisha and Gujarat
The festival is also celebrated in some North Indian states like Maharashtra, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh as Hartalika Teej
Mansi Shrivastava, senior vice-president and head- content acquisitions and partnerships at MX Player, said the southern film category, including dubbed versions, was huge for the platform, drawing 75% of its overall viewing minutes from north Indian states like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi NCR, Bihar, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Dried chillies from South Tamil Nadu have a huge demand in many countries, and hence they are exported to countries like Malaysia, U.A.E., and also sent to North Indian states like Maharashtra and Gujarat.
In non-Hindi north Indian states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Odiya, their regional language is the first language, Hindi is the second language and English is the third language.
The composite culture of northern India , known as theGanga Jamuni tehzeeb was a product of the interaction between Hindu society and Islam.
These 'bhaiyas' were identified with the migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar who were working in Maharashtra.
Lalu said the Thackerays have always been indulging in a campaign against North Indians, mostly Biharis.
The north Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have the highest percentages of rural populations, with 18.6 and 11.1 percent of people living in villages, respectively, as per the 2011 census. These states are also the largest migrant-sending states. Substantial flows of labour migrants relocate from Uttar Pradesh to Maharashtra, Delhi, West Bengal, Haryana, Gujarat, and other states across northern and central India.
The number of casualties remains a matter of dispute, with figures being claimed that range from 200,000 to 2 million victims
... The Tropic of Cancer divides India into almost two equal parts. It makes the southern half of India in the Tropical Zone and the northern half in the Temperate zone ...
... With its altitude of 10000 ft. above the sea, Dras is considered to be the second coldest inhabited place in the world after Siberia where mercury sinks as low as -40 °C during winter, though it has also recorded a low of −60 °C ...
... the bleak village of Dras, reportedly the second coldest place in Asia with recorded temperatures of −80 °F (−62 °C) ...
... bir bahuti: a small insect with a back of a bright red colour; the scarlet or lady fly, commonly called the "Rain insect" as it makes its appearance when the first rains have fallen ...
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