India Map Basics
Geography · भारत का मानचित्र
📋Quick Overview
India is the 7th largest country in the world by area (32.87 lakh sq km) and 2nd largest by population. It lies entirely in the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres. India extends from 8°4'N to 37°6'N latitude and 68°7'E to 97°25'E longitude. The Tropic of Cancer (23°30'N) passes through 8 Indian states. India has 28 states and 8 Union Territories. India shares land borders with 7 countries and maritime borders with 2 countries.
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India's Standard Meridian is 82°30'E, passing through Mirzapur (UP). IST is 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of GMT.
📖India's Extreme Points
| Direction | Point | Location | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northernmost | Indira Col | Siachen Glacier, Ladakh | Actual northernmost point of India |
| Southernmost (mainland) | Kanyakumari / Cape Comorin | Tamil Nadu | Where Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean & Bay of Bengal meet |
| Southernmost (overall) | Indira Point | Great Nicobar Island (A&N) | Submerged during 2004 Tsunami |
| Easternmost | Kibithu | Arunachal Pradesh | Near China border |
| Westernmost | Ghuar Mota (Sir Creek) | Gujarat | Near Pakistan border |
📖India's Neighbours — Land & Maritime Borders
| Country | Border Type | Border Line / Key Facts |
|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | Land (NW) | Radcliffe Line (India-Pakistan), longest border shared with Rajasthan |
| China | Land (N/NE) | McMahon Line (India-China), LAC (Line of Actual Control) |
| Nepal | Land (N) | Open border, no visa required for Indian citizens |
| Bhutan | Land (NE) | Shortest land border with India |
| Bangladesh | Land (E) | Longest land border with India (4096 km) |
| Myanmar | Land (E) | Border with 4 NE states: Arunachal, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram |
| Afghanistan | Land (NW) | Durand Line (Pak-Afghan), India shares border via PoK |
| Sri Lanka | Maritime | Palk Strait & Gulf of Mannar separate India & Sri Lanka |
| Maldives | Maritime | Closest to Lakshadweep Islands (south of India) |
📝Tropic of Cancer — 8 States
- •Tropic of Cancer (23°30'N) passes through 8 Indian states (West to East):
- •1. Gujarat → 2. Rajasthan → 3. Madhya Pradesh → 4. Chhattisgarh → 5. Jharkhand → 6. West Bengal → 7. Tripura → 8. Mizoram
- •MP is divided almost in half by the Tropic of Cancer
📝Key Facts — Area, States, Coastline
- •Total Area: 32.87 lakh sq km (3.287 million sq km) — 7th largest in the world
- •Total States: 28 | Union Territories: 8
- •Largest state by area: Rajasthan | Smallest: Goa
- •Total coastline: 7,516 km (mainland: 6,100 km)
- •Longest coastline state: Gujarat | 2nd: Andhra Pradesh
- •Land border: ~15,200 km | 7 countries share land border
- •9 states have coastline: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, TN, AP, Odisha, WB
- •India shares longest land border with Bangladesh (4,096 km)