Our Country — India
1. India on the Map
India is a large country in the continent of ASIA. We lovingly call it our MOTHERLAND. Its capital city is NEW DELHI.
India is surrounded by:
- The Himalayas in the NORTH (the highest mountains in the world).
- The Indian Ocean in the SOUTH.
2. Physical Features of India
India has many different kinds of land, called physical features:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Mountains | The Himalayas in the north, covered in snow — the highest in the world. |
| Plains | Flat, fertile land where many people live; the Ganga River flows here. |
| Desert | The Thar Desert in Rajasthan — hot and sandy. |
| Plateau | The Deccan Plateau in the south — old, rocky, raised land. |
| Coasts | Sandy beaches along the sea, near cities like Mumbai, Chennai, and Goa. |
3. The Great Rivers of India
Rivers give us water to drink, to grow crops, and to travel.
- Ganga: Flows from the Himalayas all the way to the Bay of Bengal. It is a HOLY river for many people.
- Yamuna: A large river that meets the Ganga.
4. Our National Symbols
Every country has special symbols that stand for it. These are India's:
| Symbol | What It Is |
|---|---|
| National Flag | The TIRANGA — saffron, white, and green, with the Ashoka Chakra in the centre. |
| National Animal | The TIGER |
| National Bird | The PEACOCK |
| National Flower | The LOTUS |
| National Anthem | Jana Gana Mana |
| National Song | Vande Mataram |
We stand up respectfully whenever the National Anthem is played.
New Words
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Motherland | The country you belong to and love |
| Capital | The main city where the government works |
| Plateau | A high, flat area of land |
| Symbol | Something that stands for an idea or a country |
Fun Activity
Draw the Indian flag and colour it correctly. Below it, write the names of our National Animal and National Bird.
Self-Test
Q1: What is the capital of India?
Q2: Name the mountains in the north of India.
Q3: Which is the holy river that flows to the Bay of Bengal?
Q4: What are the three colours of the Indian flag?
Q5: Name India's National Animal and National Bird.
Answers
A1: New Delhi. A2: The Himalayas. A3: The Ganga. A4: Saffron, white, and green. A5: The Tiger (animal) and the Peacock (bird).
