State of India - Tripura

Area: 10,491.69 sq km

Population: 27,57,205

Capital Of City: Agartala

Languages: Bengali and Kokborak

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How You Know: In older times local kings would carry a small image of the goddess called "Chotta Ma" on their hunting trips for good luck! Some of these are still kept in the Tripura Sundari temple.

History: One of the 'Seven sister states' of the Northeast, Tripura is also a border State surrounded by Bangladesh on three sides. The name Tripura is believed to have originated from Tripura Sundari - the most famous deity of the land. The temple of Tripura Sundari at Udaipur is one of the famous 51 pilgrimage places of the Hindus. It is also known as Kurma Pith because of its peculiar shape, which resembles a tortoise. Prior to independence, Tripura had a long history of being a semi-independent region under the rule of the Maharajas of the Manikya dynasty. In 1947, the Regent Maharani signed over the accession of the state to the Indian government. In older times local kings would carry a small image of the goddess called "Chotta Ma" on their hunting trips for good luck! Some of these are still kept in the Tripura Sundari temple. The land-locked state has a variety of forests and wildlife, which serve as a major tourist attraction. There are four wildlife sanctuaries in Tripura namely Rowa, Sepahijala, Trishna and Gumti. The Sepahijala sanctuary is famous for its "Barbe's Leaf monkey" popularly known as Spectacled Monkey because of its appearance. Unakoti is a famous ancient Indian site about 180km north of Agartala, the capital of Tripura. Here you can see several rock-cut images, which have been carved, into the hills. The site is called Unakoti or 'Less than a crore' after the number the number of images which are supposed to be found in the area. The only Lake palace of eastern India Neermahal is in Tripura. The palace was a summer resort of the kings and was built by the late Maharaja Birbikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur in 1930. Today, the garden area of half the palace is used as an open-air theatre. The royal family of Tripura uses the other half called the Andar Mahal. Fundu Fact There is a legend behind the rock carvings at Unakoti. Once Lord Shiva was going to Kashi along with one crore gods and goddesses. The group decided to halt for the night at location. Shiva ordered all the Gods and Goddesses to wake up before sunrise and proceed for Kashi. However, in the morning, Shiva found he was the only one to get up in time. An angry Shiva cursed them to become stone images and that's what they are till this very day! Fundu Fact The time by road between Dacca (the Capital of Bangladesh) and Agartala (capital of Tripura) is only 3 hours. If you lived in Tripura you could travel abroad every day! The Jampui hills around 200 km from Agartala are another important tourist attraction of the State. The hill range comprises 10 villages inhabited by tribes of Lushai and Reang. The highest peak of the range, about 3,000 ft above sea level is lush green. Each new season has its own growth of exotic fruits or orchids and the colour of the hills changes every season due to the varying vegetation. The climate of the place is so good that Jampui is known as the land of permanent spring.

State of India - Tamilnadu

Area: 1,30,058 sq km

Population: 5,58,58,946

Capital Of City: Chennai

Languages: Tamil

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How You Know: The Tamil grammar book Thlkaapiyam is the first grammar book written for any language in the world.Bharata Natyam, along with the other classical art forms in India, has its origins in the manuscript called the Natya Shastra which was written by Sage Bharata around 4000 B.C. It is believed that a long time ago when the world was facing endless conflicts, Brahma pooled all the resources from the four vedas to create a fifth veda called the Natya Veda. The Natya Veda has all the learning of the Vedas but it is expressed in dance form.

History: Tamil Nadu or 'The land of Tamil' is the southern-most state of India. Tamil, the language of the people of Tamil Nadu is among the 4 oldest languages in the world and is spoken by more than 5 crore people in countries as diverse as Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore and Mauritius. Carnatic music, a part of the Indian classical music tradition is one of Tamil Nadu's famous cultural exports. A unique festival of Carnatic music, the Thyagaraja festival is held annually in January at Thiruvariyar, the birth place of famous singer-poet Thyagaraja. The other famous cultural gift of Tamil Nadu is Bharatha Natyam, the dance form often accompanied by Carnatic music. Bharata Natyam has three distinct elements to it: - Nritta (pleasing rhythmic movements), Nritya (movements in which expression or abhinaya is emphasized), and Natya (dance with a dramatic aspect). The dance was restricted to performances inside the temple till Rukmani Devi Arundale started a movement to bring it to the general public. The people of Tamil Nadu celebrate many festivals, the most well known of which is Pongal. The word Pongal literally means "boiling over" and the festival celebrates the rice harvest which is ceremoniously cooked as a part of the festivities. Think bull fights are restricted to Spain? Well, a dangerous form of bull fight called the 'Jallikattu' is held in parts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh on Pongal. In the fight, unarmed men try to untie bundles containing money from the horns of wild bulls. And no, they don't try to ensnare the bulls with pieces of red cloth unlike their Spanish counterparts! Fundu Fact The silk sarees of Kanchipuram are famous all over India. Around 75% of the local population of this town is involved with the industry. Kanchipuram does not manufacture silk or any other raw material that goes into silk sarees. It is only the weaving and selling of silk that is practiced in the area. The Kanchipuram silk saree is hand-woven with dyed silk, on top of which designs made with 'Jari' (a silk thread twisted with a thin silver wire and then gilded with pure gold) which comes specially from Gujarat are woven. Chidambaram, also known as Thillai, is an important pilgrim centre and home to the famous Nataraja Temple. This temple is one of the rare temples where Shiva is represented by an idol rather than the usual lingam. The idol which tries to capture the movement from the Bharatnatyam dance is famous all over the world and its replicas can be seen in houses around India. Kaniyakumari or Cape Comorin is one of the most popular tourist spots in Tamil Nadu. The place is famous for being located right at the tip of the Indian Peninsula. It is also the meeting place of three great water bodies - the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. Geographical location apart, the place is renowned for its beautiful sunrise and sunsets. On Chitra Pournami ( the full moon day in April), you can see the sun and moon face to face in the same horizon!

State of India - Sikkim

Area: 7,096 sq km

Population: 4,06,457

Capital Of City: Gangtok

Languages: Lepcha, Bhutia, Nepali and Limbu

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How You Know: Till 1975, Sikkim was virtually an independent kingdom, ruled by the Chogyal.

History: Sikkim, the land of lofty mountains, is home to the world's third highest peak, the Kanchenjunga. The great peak is visible from almost any point in Sikkim. The State is a nature lover's dream being one of the richest places in bio-diversity with more than 4000 species of plants and an equally rich collection of birds and animals in a region just slightly bigger than Delhi. Forests with trees of fir, oak, sal, birch, maple etc. cover almost a third of Sikkim. In these forests you can find exotic and rare animals like Blue sheep, flying squirrels, Red Panda, the musk deer, and the snow leopard. The people of Sikkim are warm and cheerful. They are divided into three communities - the Bhutias, the Lepchas and The Nepalese, each with their own beliefs, dress and customs. India's most famous football player Bhaichung Bhutia is from Sikkim. Sikkim is a well-known Buddhist site. The Rumtek Monastery, 24 kilometers out of Gangtok the capital is a famous center for Buddhist studies. Its design is a replica of Kangyu headquarters in Tibet and the place where the leader of the sect the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, has lived since 1960. The Namgyal Research Institute of Tibetology on the way to the Rumtek Monastery has a collection of almost 30,000 books on subjects like astrology, philosophy, magic and religion. Its vast collection of Lepcha, Tibetan and Sanskrit manuscripts attracts scholars from around the world. Sikkim's mask dance is a famous dance form performed by lamas to celebrate religious festivals. Costumed lamas with gaily-painted masks and ceremonial swords leap and dance to the beating of drums, trumpeting of horns and the chanting of monks.

State of India - Rajasthan

Area: 3,42,239 sq km

Population: 4,40,05,990

Capital Of City: Jaipur

Languages: Hindi and Rajasthani

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How You Know: In the old days, the Rajputs were divided into more than a 1000 warrior clans, each with its own tradition. The clans used to be constantly at war with each other. Even today the differences are reflected in dress and customs. An old local saying sums it up - "The dialect, cuisine, water and turbans in Rajasthan change every 12 miles."

History: Rajasthan, the land of the Rajput warriors is one of India's most colourful states. Being a part of the 'Golden Triangle' (Delhi-Agra-Jaipur), it is also one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. Famous for its majestic forts, colourful attire, countless fairs, festivals and fascinating dance forms, Rajasthan is an unforgettable experience for any visitor. The capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur is known as the 'pink city' because of the ochre-pink colour of its old buildings and city walls. The Rajputs considered pink to be a colour associated with hospitality, and painted the whole city pink in preparation for the visit of Britain's Prince Alfred in 1853. The five-storyed Hawa Mahal, or Palace of the Winds is one of the most recognized monuments of Jaipur. The palace was built in 1799 to enable ladies of the royal household to watch street life and processions. The Jantar Mantar, an astronomical observatory with huge yantras or instruments is equally famous. Pushkar, in Rajasthan is famous for the world's biggest cattle fair, held in October or November every year. The town also has the only Brahma temple in India. Thar, India's only desert region is in Rajasthan. The pictures of a turbaned Rajasthani man walking his camel in the desert are often used to represent Rajasthan. Jodhpur, the second-largest city in Rajasthan is the place where those baggy-tight horse-riding trousers took their name. Jaisalmer, another desert city is known for its forts and houses made of golden sandstone. Udaipur, the city of lakes is one of the most romantic cities in Rajasthan. It is known as the `Venice of the East'. The city is a bend of whitewashed buildings, marble palaces, lakeside gardens, temples and havelis. The Lake Pichola with two palaces right in the middle is the best attraction of the city. Mt Abu, Rajasthan's only hill is famous for the Jain marble temples at Dilwara. Rajasthan has one of the most colourful dress code. The men wear bright turbans and almost always sport a moustache. The women wear flowing bright mirrored skirts with chunky silver jewellery. Rajasthani folk dances are famous all over the country. Gair is a popular men-only dance while Ghoomar is a dance of women. Kachhi Ghodi, a dance where men ride decorated dummy horses, is a favorite of kids. Then, there is the Fire dance of Bikaner where men dance on a platform of burning coal. Fundu Fact Heard of the Siberian Crane? Every winter, this extremely rare bird flies down 6,400 kilometres all the way from Siberia to the marshlands of the Keoladeo Ghana Sanctuary in Bharatpur, Rajasthan to escape the harsh Siberian winter.

State of India - Punjab

Area: 50,362 sq km

Population: 2,02,81,969

Capital Of City: Chandigarh

Languages: Punjabi

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How You Know: The five rivers that once ran through Punjab are Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Bipasha and Shatadru. However, after the partition of the country in 1947, only 3 of the five rivers remain in Punjab. The states of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh have also been carved out of Punjab.

History: Punjab or 'the land of five rivers' is one of India's richest and most colourful states. Punjab is one of the only two states in the country which share a capital city (the other is Haryana). The city of Chandigarh was designed by the French architect Le Corbusier and built in 1953. Although the city serves as the capital of two states, it is administered by the union government and is officially a union territory!Sikhism, the youngest of the world religions was born in Punjab. Its founder Guru Nanak Dev (1469 - 1539) roamed all over the country spreading his message of love, brotherhood and equality among people. He was succeeded by nine other prophets. Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708), the last Sikh guru founded the Khalsa and organized the Sikhs. The Golden Temple, the most sacred monument of the Sikhs is in Amritsar, Punjab. Hola Mohalla or the fair at Anandpur Sahib is one of the important festivals of Punjab. The 10th Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh started this fair in 1700. The fair is celebrated the day after Holi (called Hola), and is marked with a procession and much religious singing and dancing. Fundu Fact Before passing away, the tenth Guru, Gobind Singh bestowed Guruship on the Sikh scripture, Adi Granth. Since then, the Adi Granth is known as Guru Granth and worshipped as the eternal 'living' guru. Punjab has been one of the biggest contributors to Indian sports. Milkha Singh, popularly known as 'the flying Sikh', belongs to Punjab. Milkha is the only Indian runner to have come so close to winning an Olympic medal. At the 1960 Olympics at Rome, Milkha finished second in the first and second heat and even the semifinal stage. In the final he was the early leader but then slowed down purposely, a move that cost him the medal. It was a photo finish and the results were delayed. When the photograph was developed, Milkha finished fourth with a time of 45.6 seconds just 0.1 second short of a medal. Punjab is the Mecca of rural sports. Annual competitions are held in around 7000 villages all over Punjab. The biggest is at village Kila Raipur. Punjab is also famous for its contribution to the sport of hockey. Twelve of our country's greatest hockey players have come out of a single village called Sansarpur in Jalandhar district of the state.

State of India - Mizoram

Area: 21,081 sq km

Population: 6,89,756

Capital Of City: Aizawl

Languages: Mize and English

How You Know: Most of our mountain ranges run east to west, but the hills of Mizoram run north to south with the highest parts in the east. The hills of Mizoram are extremely steep and ranges are separated by rivers, which cut deep gorges between them. The highest peak called Phawang Phui or the Blue Mountain is 2065 meters high.

History: Mizoram is located at a very important position in the Northeast, sharing international borders with Burma and Bangladesh. The word Mizo means highlander and it is a term used by their neighbours for the inhabitants of this land. The Mizos are of Mongoloid stock and are believed to have migrated from upper Myanmar during the 17th century. Although they have a tribal past (the Lushais, Pawis, Paihtes, Raltes, Pang, Hmars are some of the tribes) most of the Mizos today are Christians.Mizo dances are spontaneous community dances. The Cheraw or bamboo dance of the Mizos is popular all over the country. Long bamboo sticks are used and dancers step in and out of bamboo formations close to the ground. In earlier times this dance was performed to wish a safe passage into the other world (called 'Pialral') for the soul of a mother, who died at childbirth. Fundu Fact The spread of Christianity with its emphasis on Bible reading has meant that Mizoram today is India's most literate state. According to officials of the Directorate of Adult Education in Mizoram, the 1998-99 figures show that 96 per cent of Mizoram's seven-lakh odd population can read or write. Mizoram is one of the few states where 'jhum cultivation' is still practiced. The Mizos slash down the jungle, burn the trees and cultivate the land. The government is trying to encourage them to drop this method of cultivation as it is harmful for the environment. Chapchar Kut is the most popular festival of the Mizos. It is celebrated after the completion of the difficult task of clearing the jungle for 'jhum' cultivation. People dress in their tribal costumes and get together to sing, dance and celebrate.

State of India - Madhya Pradesh

Area: 310,313 sq km

Population: 49,181,000

Capital Of City: Bhopal

Languages: Hindi

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How You Know: Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh was the scene of the world's worst air pollution disaster. In 1984, over 40 tons of Methyl Isocyanate (MIC) and other deadly gases leaked from Union Carbide's factory in the northern end of the city. More than 7000 people were killed in a couple of hours and over 500,000 people were affected by the poisonous gas.

History: The state of Madhya Pradesh is located in the heart of India. It is India's largest state, bigger than most countries of the world! But Madhya Pradesh or MP as it is often called is not just known for its size. It's also known as a center of culture and history, a place where you can find great natural beauty along with man-made wonders. Madhya Pradesh has the highest percent of tribal population in the country - 23%. The tribes of Bastar are well known for their celebration of Dusshera. Madhya Pradesh is often referred to as the 'Tiger state of India' because of its famous tiger reserves like Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Panna, and Shivpuri. The Kanha National Park is the only place where you can find the rare hardground Barasingha. Kanha was also the setting for Kipling's Jungle Book with such unforgettable characters like Mowgli, Bagheera and Sher Khan! Sanchi is a religious site with many temples, stupas and monasteries, some as old as the 3rd century B.C.Bhagoria is a famous festival of the Bhil tribals of Madhya Pradesh. The festival is a mass svayamvara or marriage by choice usually held before the festival of Holi. The tradition is that the boy applies gulal on the face of the girl whom he wants to get married to. If she applies gulal on him as well, it means she is willing to get married and the two elope and return as husband and wife! The most famous of these is the Sanchi Stupa, which was originally built by the Mauryan king Ashoka. It is said that the ivory workers of Vidisha, who sculpted the stone, worked with the skill of jewellers. A famous Ashokan Pillar and a Buddhist vihara are some of the attractions here. The temples of Khajuraho are famous all over the world. Built during the 9th - 13th centuries the temples are filled with sculptures depicting life and love from over a 1000 years ago. The Tansen Music Festival, which honours the legendary Tansen (buried in Gwalior) and the Khajuraho music festival draw some of the best classical singers and dancers from around the country.

State of India - Kerala

Area: 38,863 sq km

Population: 2,90,98,518

Capital Of City: Thiruvananthapuram

Languages: Malayalam

How You Know: Arundhati Roy, the first Indian to win the Booker Prize for her book 'God of Small Things' grew up in Kerala, the state in which her novel is set. The novel is a poetic tale of Indian boy-and-girl twins, Estha and Rahel, and their family's tragedies. Says Arundhati "A lot of the atmosphere in 'God of Small Things' is based on my experience of what it was like to grow up in Kerala. Most interestingly, it was the only place in the world where religions coincide, there's Christianity, Hinduism, Marxism and Islam and they all live together and rub each other down...I think the kind of landscape that you grew up in, it lives in you. I don't think it's true of people who've grown up in cities so much, you may love building but I don't think you can love it in the way that you love a tree or a river or the colour of the earth, it's a different kind of love."

History: God's Own Country, as we call Kerala, is India's southernmost state, located on the shores of the Arabian Sea. The word Kerala means 'The land of coconuts', and everywhere in the state one can see acres of coconut groves. But coconut is just one of the products of this fertile land. Kerala is a major producer of rubber, pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves cardamom, ginger, cocoa, cashew, arecanut, coffee and tea. The Vallamkali or boat race is typical of Kerala. It is a major event coinciding with Onam (a state festival) and is celebrated with great pomp and show. The Vadakkunnatha Temple at Trichur celebrates Pooram festival in April every year with an impressive procession of decorated elephants and display of fireworks.

State of India - Jharkhand

Area: 79, 714 sq. km

Population: 21.84 million

Capital Of City: Ranchi

Languages: Bihari, Hindi

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History: Jharkhand became the 28th state of India on November 15, 2000. The state has been carved out of 18 districts of southern Bihar. These are - Ranchi, Gumla, Lohardanga, East Singbhum, West Singhbhum, Hazaribagh, Giridih, Kodarma, Chatra, Dhanbad, Bokaro, Palamau, Garhwa, Dumka, Deoghar, Godda, Pakure and Sahebgunj. What Jharkhand took from Bihar Percent of territory - 45% Percent of population - 25% Percent of mineral wealth -65 Members in Rajya Sabha -6 Members in Lok Sabha - 14 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) - 81 History - The demand for Jharkhand as a tribal homeland originated in the 1930's. In its early days, the movement was led by tribal leader Jai Pal Singh who dreamed of a greater Jharkhand region, which would include 24 tribal districts spread over four states namely Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh. Singh died in 1964 but the movement carried on. More recently, the demand for a separate state has been led by Shibu Soren, the founder of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). In 1995, the Jharkhand Area Autonomous Council (JAAC) was set up after a tripartite agreement between the Union Government, the state of Bihar and leaders of the Jharkhand. It was only a matter of time before the new state was formed. Vanachal or Jharkhand? Vanachal or Jharkhand? The name 'Vanachal' was coined by the BJP. The party saw its demand for a 'Vananchal' state comprising 18 districts of South Bihar as a more practical demand as compared to the one for the 24 district greater Jharkhand state. The Jharkhand state, which came into existence on The 15th of November, includes only 18 districts of South Bihar. The tribal presence in this area will be roughly one-third of the total population giving a rise to fears of the tribals being dominated by 'dikkus' or outsiders. How rich is Jharkhand? The new state possesses 40 per cent of India's mineral wealth including the resource rich Dhanbad region with places like Chotanagpur and the Santhal Parganas. Jharkhand holds 60 percent of the world's mica deposits, 37 percent of India's coal reserves of 204,650 million tonnes, ie 33 percent of its iron and copper ore and nearly 90 percent of the country's stocks of rich quartzite. Almost all the major industries in Bihar were in the Vananchal area. The big names among them are Heavy Engineering Corporation, Indian Aluminium Co, Central Coalfields Ltd, Tata Iron & Steel Co, Tata Engineering & Locomotive Co, ACC, Usha Martin, Bharat Coking Coal Ltd, Hindustan Copper Ltd and the Bokaro Steel Plant. As if all this wasn't enough, 80% of the forest wealth of Bihar has also gone to Jharkhand. The major economic weakness of this region lies in its poor agricultural base, which will not be able to produce food for its rapidly growing population due to the hilly terrain. Barely 30% of the total land is the net area sown. The continued backwardness of the tribal population and the lack of infrastructure are also challenges which will have to be met by the new state.