West India
2978812
225133633
2008-07-12T01:35:34Z
Fundamental metric tensor
3081794
/* Climate */
{| class="infobox vcard" style="width:235px; font-size:82.5%; line-height:1.40em; text-align:left; background-color:#F9F9F9; border: 1px solid #D9D9D9;"
|- <!-- ###### Title bar ###### -->
{{!}} colspan="2" style="color:black; line-height:1.15em; background-color:{{IIJ/P|PT|region}}; font-size:1.30em; text-align:center;" {{!}}
'''<span class="fn org">West India</span>'''
|-
{{!}} colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted #DCDCDC;" {{!}} <center><div><div style="235px; background:transparent">
<div style="position:relative; width:235px;">
[[Image:West_india_locator.png|235px|border]]
</div></div></div><small>Western India shown in red</small></center>
|-
{{!}} style="border-top: 2px dotted #DCDCDC;" bgcolor=#F4F4F4 width=100px {{!}} '''[[Time zone]]'''
{{!}} style="border-top: 2px dotted #DCDCDC;" {{!}} [[Indian Standard Time|IST]] ([[UTC+5:30]])
|-
{{!}} bgcolor=#F4F4F4 {{!}} '''[[Geography of India|Area]]'''
{{!}}[[1 E10 m²|508, 052 km²]]
|-
{{!}} style="border-top: 2px dotted #DCDCDC;" bgcolor=#F4F4F4 width=100px {{!}} '''[[States and territories of India|States and territories]]'''
{{!}} style="border-top: 2px dotted #DCDCDC;" {{!}} [[Maharashtra]], [[Gujarat]], [[Goa]], ''[[Dadra and Nagar Haveli]]'', ''[[Daman and Diu]]''
|-
{{!}} bgcolor=#f4f4f4 {{!}} '''[[List of most populous cities in West India|Most populous cities]]''' (2008)
{{!}} [[Mumbai]], [[Pune]], [[Ahmedabad]], [[Surat]], [[Nashik]], [[Nagpur]]
|-
{{!}} bgcolor=#f4f4f4 {{!}} '''[[Official languages of India|Official languages]]'''
{{!}} [[Marathi]], [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], [[Konkani language|Konkani]],[[English language|English]], [[Hindi]] [http://www.ocol-clo.gc.ca/newsletter_cyberbulletin/india_inde_e.htm]
[http://rajbhasha.nic.in/dolruleseng.htm]
|-
{{!}} style="border-top: 2px dotted #DCDCDC;" bgcolor=#F4F4F4 {{!}} '''[[Population]]'''
{{!}} style="border-top: 2px dotted #DCDCDC;" {{!}} 147,801,774
|-
|}
'''West India''' (Western India) or the Western region of [[India]] consists of the [[States and territories of India|states]] of [[Goa]], [[Gujarat]] and [[Maharashtra]], along with the Union Territories of [[Daman and Diu]] and [[Dadra and Nagar Haveli]]. It is relatively highly industrialized, with a large urban population<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.censusindiamaps.net/page/India_WhizMap/IndiaMap.htm| title = Census GIS data| accessdate = 2008-03-12}}</ref>. Most of Western India was part of the [[Maratha Empire]] and [[Mughal Empire]] before colonization by the British. The regions became part of India on independence, and took their current form after the States Reorganization Act of 1956<ref name = "states_reorganization_act">{{cite web| url = http://www.commonlii.org/in/legis/num_act/sra1956250/| title = States Reorganization Act| accessdate = 2008-03-12}}</ref>. The states are roughly bounded by the [[Thar Desert]] in the North West, the [[Vindhya Range]] in the North and the [[Arabian Sea]] in the East. A major portion of Western India shares the [[Deccan Plateau]] with [[South India]].
== History ==
[[Image: India1760 1905.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Greatest extent of the Maratha Empire in the 1700s]]
(For detailed history please read the respective articles of the three western states: [[Maharashtra]], [[Goa]], [[Gujarat]])
Parts of [[Gujarat]] were the site of [[Indus Valley Civilization]]. Sites have been uncovered in Gujarat at [[Lothal]], Surkotada, and around [[Ghaggar]] river in [[Rajasthan]]. The Western Indian region was ruled by the [[Maurya]] Kingdom, [[Gurjar]], [[Rajputs]], [[Satavahanas]], [[Western Satraps]], [[Indo Greeks]] etc in the ancients times. During the medieval age, the region came under [[Persian]] influence and also under the [[Mughal]] rule. Later, the [[Maratha Empire]] which arose in western [[Maharashtra]] came to dominate a major portion of the Indian sub-continent. However its defeat by the British in the [[Third Anglo-Maratha war|Anglo-Maratha]] wars left most of India under colonial rule. The region then experienced great upheavals during the struggle for Indian Independence. [[Gandhi]]'s [[Dandi March]] took place in [[Gujarat]]. The region became part of independent India in 1947, and the present state boundaries were drawn based on linguistic considerations in 1956<ref name = "states_reorganization_act">{{cite web| url = http://www.commonlii.org/in/legis/num_act/sra1956250/| title = States Reorganization Act| accessdate = 2008-03-12}}</ref>.
== Geography ==
[[Image:kokan12.jpg|thumb|right|Konkan in monsoon]]
The region consists of the predominantly arid to semi-arid region of [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]], [[Kutch]] and [[Cambay]] in the North. The [[Western Ghats]] and [[Konkan]] lie along the coast of Maharashtra and Goa. The [[Deccan]] plains of the [[Vidarbha]], [[Marathwada]] in central and eastern Maharashtra define the rest of the region. The vegetation varies from tropical rainforests along the Konkan coast to thorny bushes and shrubs in northern Gujarat. The major rivers in this region are [[Narmada River|Narmada]], [[Tapti]], [[Godavari]], [[Zuari]], [[Mandovi]], [[Krishna]], [[Ghaggar]], [[Chambal]] and many other smaller tributaries of other rivers. The Narmada and Tapti rivers generally form the boundary between Northern and Southern India.
== Climate ==
The climate varies between tropical wet, tropical wet and dry, and semi arid. The coastal regions experience little seasonal variations although the temperatures range between 20°C to 38°C. [[Mumbai]] and northern [[Konkan]] regions experience cooler winters with minimum temperatures hovering around 12 °C. Interior Maharashtra experiences hot summers with maximum temperatures averaging 40°C and mild winters with minimum temperatures averaging about 10°C. Gujarat also has a warm climate with hot summers and cool winters.
== Demographics ==
[[Image:Megwhal woman.jpg|thumb|right|150px|A [[Megwhal]] woman in the [[Hodka]] village, north of [[Bhuj]].]]
[[Image: Ileana.jpg|thumb|150px|left|[[Ileana D'Cruz]], a [[Goan]] working in the [[Telugu language]] film industry.]]
While [[Hinduism]] is practiced by the majority of the population in [[Gujarat]], [[Maharashtra]] is religiously very diverse. The majority being [[Hindus]], [[Islam]] is the second largest religion follwed by [[Christianity]]. Indigenous Jews called the [[Bene Israel]] who speak [[Marathi]] constitute a significant number. The [[Parsees]] who settled in [[Gujarat]] made [[Mumbai]] and [[Surat]] their home. Significant percentages of [[Jains]] and [[Buddhists]] can be found too. Christianity is dominant in the state of [[Goa]]. [[Ganesh Chaturthi]], [[Diwali]], [[Navratri]], [[Eid]] and [[Christmas]] are the most important festivals in Western India.
Overall, 83.66 % of the population is [[Hindu]], 10.12 % [[Muslim]], 4 % [[Buddhist]] with Christians in Goa and Maharashtra making up the majority of the remainder. [[Marathi]], with about 73 million speakers is the most widely spoken language, followed by [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] with about 46 million speakers and [[Konkani language|Konkani]] 2.5 million speakers, all of which are [[Indo-Aryan languages]]. <ref name="2001_census_lang">{{cite web |url = http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_Data_Online/Language/Statement4.htm| title=2001 Census language data|accessdate=2008-03-11}}</ref>. As in other parts of India, a high level of [[multilingualism]] is seen with English and Hindi being spoken as additional languages in urban areas<ref name="Tropf_India_lang_report">{{cite web| url = http://www.lilaproject.org/docs/India%20and%20its%20Languages%20v1.0.pdf India and its Languages|title = Indian and its languages|accessdate = 2008-03-11}}</ref>.
The average literacy rate of West India is around 76%, higher than the national average of 70.5%<ref name="nfhs_key_facts">{{cite web |url=http://www.nfhsindia.org/pdf/IN.pdf |title=NFHS fact sheet|accessdate=2008-03-11}}</ref>. The population density is around 290 per square km. The average fertility rate is about 2.2, while the average household size is about 4.7<ref name="nfhs_key_facts">{{cite web |url=http://www.nfhsindia.org/pdf/IN.pdf |title=NFHS fact sheet|accessdate=2008-03-11}}</ref>.
== Culture ==
[[Image:Se cathedral goa.jpg|180px|thumb|right|The [[Se Cathedral|Sé Cathedral of Santa Catarina]] is a [[cathedral]] dedicated to [[Catherine of Alexandria]], located in [[Old Goa]]]]
[[Image:Lagaan.jpg|120px|thumb|left|The [[Hindi]] language [[Bollywood]] movie industry is based in [[Mumbai]] ]]
The states of [[Maharashtra]], [[Goa]] and [[Gujarat]] are varied and distinct. [[Goa]] has a [[Latin]] aura due to centuries of Portuguese rule. The architecture and cuisine of [[Goa]] is a unique blend of [[India]]n and [[Portugal|Portuguese]] cultures. Goa is also well known for its [[beaches]] and [[churches]]. [[Maharashtra|Maharashtrian]] culture derives from the ancient [[Indo-Aryan]] [[Vedic]] culture influenced deeply by the [[Maratha Empire]] and [[United Kingdom|British]] colonial rule. [[Marathi people|Maharashtrians]] take great pride in the [[Maratha Empire]], and many places in [[Maharashtra]] are named after the founder of the Empire, [[Shivaji]]. [[Marathi literature]] and [[Marathi cinema|cinema]] are popular in the state as well as across [[India]].
Gujarati culture is a blend of Hindu and Jain traditions. It has also been influenced by the [[Parsis]], who migrated to [[Gujarat]] from [[Iran]] about a 1000 years ago. In recent years, [[Gujarat]] has been rocked by [[2002 Gujarat violence|communal violence]], damaging centuries old traditions of tolerance. [[Mumbai]] and [[Goa]] are renowned for their nightlifes. [[Bollywood]] has had a huge impact on the lifestyle and culture of this part of [[India]] as [[Bollywood]] is situated in [[Mumbai]].
== Cuisine ==
[[Image:Pav bhaji.jpg|thumb|150px|left|'''Pav bhaji''' from [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]]]]
[[Image:Chaat stand in mussoorie.jpg|right|thumb|150px|[[Chaat]], which originated in [[Gujarat]] is popular all over [[India]] ]]
The cuisine of Western India is diverse. [[Goan cuisine]] is dominated by the use of cashewnuts, coconuts and seafood. Pork [[Vindaloo]] and [[Xacuti]] are famous goan curries. [[Bebinca]] is a sweet prepared with eggs and coconuts. [[Maharashtrian cuisine]] is diverse and ranges from bland to fiery hot. [[Pohay]], [[Shrikhand]], [[Pav bhaji|Pav Bhaji]], [[Vada pav|Vada Pav]] are good examples of Maharashtrian cuisine.
[[Gujarati cuisine]] is almost exclusively vegetarian. Gujarat is one of three states in India, with prohibition on alcohol, along with [[Mizoram]] and [[Manipur]]<ref name="rahman_prohibition">{{cite web| url = http://www.eudnet.net/workshops/workshop10-2002/rahman.pdf| title = Alcohol Prohibition and Addictive Consumption in India| accessdate=2008-03-11}}</ref>. In contrast, [[Maharashtra]] has some of the best vineyards in India, with [[Nashik]] and [[Sangli]] districts being the country's biggest grape-producing districts<ref name="mitra_wineries_maharashtra">{{cite web| url = http://www.ccsindia.org/ccsindia/interns2003/chap21.pdf| title = Wine Industry in Maharashtra: An Analysis| accessdate=2008-03-11}}</ref>.
== Economy ==
[[Image:DowntownBombay.jpg|thumb|225px|left|[[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]] is the financial capital of the country]]
Overall, Western India has relatively high standards of living, although the city of [[Mumbai]] suffers from extreme overcrowding due to immigration from across the country. The region generates 20.34% of the national GDP of the country, with an annual growth rate of 14.5% as of 2006<ref name="states_gsdp">{{cite web| url = http://mospi.nic.in/6_gsdp_cur_9394ser.htm| title = STATEMENT : GROSS STATE DOMESTIC PRODUCT AT CURRENT PRICES| accessdate=2008-03-11}}</ref>. The states generate about 23 % of the [[States of India by tax revenues|tax revenues]] of the country. More than 85% of the households have access to electricity with about 55% owning a television. [[Agriculture]] employs most people in the region, while [[services]] have largest share in the total GDP.
==References==
{{reflist}}
==See also==
* [[North India]]
* [[North-East India]]
* [[South India]]
* [[East India]]
----
{{india-geo-stub}}
[[Category:Regions of India]]
[[nl:West-India]]
[[nn:Vest-India]]
[[ta:மேற்கு இந்தியா]]