India’s 1,147,955 Square Miles

India is often described as a subcontinent, and for good reason. In terms of size, it ranks as the world’s seventh-largest country, vast enough to accommodate 31 Indian as and about 86 Manhattans for added flair (though India is anything but short on flair). Its cultural and historical significance is profound—as historian Will Durant aptly noted, “In many ways, India is the mother of us all.” And its breathtaking beauty and wonders led Mark Twain to call it “the most extraordinary country the sun visits on his round.”