The WWW Virtual LibraryHistory of India

This site is dedicated to information on various aspects of history of India. We have tried to cover most of the related topics and will greatly appreciate any other contribution in this respect.

Geographical

Climatically, India has a tropical monsoon type of climate. Broadly, it can be divided into four seasons – winters from January to February, summers from March to May, south western monsoon from June to September, and north east monsoon from October to December mostly in the southern peninsula. But, as Mark Twain contends, “In India, 'cold weather' is merely a conventional phrase and has come into use through the necessity of having some way to distinguish between weather which will melt a brass door-knob and weather which will only make it mushy.”

Climatology

  1. Nature of Indian Climate
    The Himalayas isolate South Asia from the rest of Asia. South of these mountains, the climate, like the terrain, is highly diverse, but some geographers give it an overall, one-word characterization--violent.
  2. Climate & Climatic change
    India is a tropical country, with three main climatic classifications.  The humid and semi-humid areas are the west coast, the Himalayas, and the north-eastern region around Bangladesh.  These areas receive a lot of rain from the southwest monsoon.  The sub-humid areas include the states of West Bengal, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, and the northern parts of Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh, and a narrow coastal strip of Tamil Nadu.  The arid and semi-arid regions include Gujarat, Rajasthan, parts of the Himalayas, and the center of the country (Takahashi and Arakawa, 1981).
  3. Climate, Rainfall, Temperature & Humidity data of Important Cities
    Hot tropical weather with variations from region to region. Coolest weather lasts from December to February, with cool, fresh mornings and evenings and dry, sunny days. Really hot weather, when it is dry, dusty and unpleasant, is between March and May. Monsoon rains occur in most regions in summer between June and September.
  4. Climatic Regions of India
    India has a large variation in climate from region to region, due to its vast size. India experiences climate from four major climate groups. These can be further subdivided into seven climatic types.

 

Main Maps

  1. Political , Zonal & Dempgraphic Maps
    1. Political Map of India
    2. Physical Map of India
    3. North Zone Map of India
    4. South Zone Map of India
    5. West Zone Map of India
    6. Ease Zone Map of India
    9. Topographic Map of India
    10. Links to demographic maps, geographical & historic maps

 

Maps for Historians

  1. Historical maps of India
  2. Map of Deccan Sultanate

 

Monuments

  1. A Comprehensive Site for Indian Temples
    Contains in-depth infomration with photographs on temples.
  2. Architectural Designs of famous Indian Monuments
    225 Select Architectural Drawings of Mughal Monuments
  3. Zonal description of Indian Monuiments
    1. North
      North India is home to some of the most historical monuments in the world and is marked by its exquisite architecture and design. The northern part of India is a hub of many ancient Indian monuments, of which Taj Mahal is considered as one of the seven wonders of the world.
    2. South
      The monuments of South India are entirely different with respect to style and architecture, when compared with the north Indian monuments. It comprises mainly of the Dravidian architecture and style, which is its hallmark.
    3. West
      The major states of West India are Gujarat, Goa and Maharashtra and the Western States of India are considered to be the gateway for the the Middle East countries. In this section apart from the ancient monuments of Gujarat, Goa and Maharashtra, we also provide information on the monuments in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
  4. Monuments in Karnataka
    Karnataka's richness in culture and tradition, told time and again through the ruins of these monuments, has inspired the art lovers and philosophers for generations.
  5. Forts in various states
    India had been ruled by number of dynasties. The kings believed in royal style of living and constructed number of forts which sparingly dotted the state.
  6. Religious monuments in Kerala
    Kerala's rich historical and cultural past makes the state a unique place to visit. Every step you take in the state instills in you a further sense of admiration for the abundant historical and cultural wealth of the state.
  7. Taj Mahal, Agra
    The Tāj Mahal (Urdu: تاج محل‎, Hindi: ताज महल) is a mausoleum located in Agra, India. The MughalEmperor Shāh Jahān commissioned it as a mausoleum for his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Construction began in 1632 and was completed in 1648.
  8. India Gate, New Delhi:
    Situated on the Rajpath in New Delhi, India Gate (originally called the All India War Memorial) is a monument built by Edwin Lutyens to commemorate the Indian soldiers who died in the World War IAfghan Wars. The foundation stone was laid on 10 February 1921 by the Duke of Connaught.

 

Historical Places

  1. Brief information on many Historical Places in India
    India is a land with a rich and varied history. Many different rulers, dynasties, and empires have fought over and controlled different parts of the Indian subcontinent during its eventful history.
  2. Brief on some Historical Cities
    Most of India's cities have a history worth exploring, for the tales of the past are truly fascinating. The various monuments including palaces, forts, victory pillars and tombs in different historical places in India, tell glorious stories of India's fascinating history.
  3. Introduction to Pilgrimage Places of India:
    India is a vast country, peopled with diverse and ancient civilizations, and its religious geography is highly complex. To grasp the complexity of the situation, it is important to consider two aspects of Indian life: its characteristic of being an ethnic and cultural mosaic, and the ancient rural foundations of many of its religious and cultural patterns.
  4. Seeing Spiritual India, by Stephen Knapp :
    India, like other places in the world that have unusual mystical traditions, is a land that can be both physically and mentally demanding. India is an exotic, beautiful, and wondrous country, depending on what aspects of it you see. Living and traveling there can be pleasant and exciting, but it is also likely to provide you with many trying situations.

 

City Maps

  1. Map of 1893 Delhi
  2. Map of 1924 Delhi
  3. Map of 1893 Bombay (Mumbai)
  4. Map of 1924 Bombay (Mumbai)
  5. Links to maps of many Indian cities