The Republic of India is a vast country in South Asia. It is full of spiritual wonders, breathtaking landscapes, a rich history, and also a wealth of diversity and culture.
Famous as the largest democracy in the world, India is a fascinating country with many firsts and interesting facts. Thus, today many visitors around the globe wish to visit this incredible country.
So, in this article, we will now discuss some interesting facts about this captivating country called India.
Interesting India Facts:
👉 India has the second-largest population
According to an estimate for 2022, there are more than 1.4 billion people in India.
China is the most populous country globally, with 1.44 billion people; however, India is predicted to take the top position by 2027.
👉 The name of this nation comes from the river Indus
The name ‘Hind’ is derived from the word ‘Sindh,’ a Persian equivalent, as the Persian ‘H’ is cognate with the Sanskrit letter ‘S.’ Also, the Persian word ‘stan’ means country or land, hence the name: Hindustan.
Also, India is the 7th largest nation in the world because the total land area of this country is 3.287 million square kilometers.
👉 India gained independence in 1947
After almost a century of British rule, from 1858 to 1947, India gained independence 1947. Before British rule, the Mughal Empire ruled much of this country’s subcontinent for over 300 years.
Also, India is the second largest English-speaking nation in the world, and the first one is the US. India has about 125 million English-speaking people, while the US has over 300 million English speakers.
👉 Cows are believed to be sacred.
In this country, cows are protected by their own set of rules in the Constitution. Thus, in India, killing a cow is a crime.
Even on crowded streets, cows can roam around without any fear of being harassed by people.
👉 The highest rail bridge in the globe: Chenab Bridge
The fascinating bridge spanning the river Chenab in Jammu is actually 1178 feet above the water. So, if you love heights, you must see this.
👉 The wettest inhabited place on Earth is here.
Meghalaya village has won the Guinness world record title for the wettest place on Earth. This place has about 11873 milliliters of rain per year. Here, the monsoon season lasts for six months.
👉 There is a temple of rats in Rajasthan.
There is a temple in India’s Rajasthan dedicated to rats. Thousands of rats call this temple home and make it one of the unique attractions of this country.
Every year many pilgrims visit the temple during religious journeys.
👉 India has more than 2 million temples and 300,000 mosques
There is some really stunning architecture that India has to offer. Almost 15% of this country’s population is Muslim.
The mosques across India range from small village buildings to huge and famous ones, such as the Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad or New Delhi’s Jama Masjid.
The same can be said about the Hindu temples of India. The number of these temples surpasses two million to serve almost 79.8% Hindu population of India.
Only the whole city of Varanasi has more than 23000 temples.
👉 India was the first to mine diamonds.
From the 4th century BC for about 1000 years, India was the only source of diamonds on the planet. In the Krishna River Delta, the original diamonds were found.
In the 18th century, in Brazil, more diamond deposits were discovered, and soon after, the market for diamonds increased in South Africa.
👉 There is a mysterious skeleton lake.
Situated in the Himalayas at almost 16,470 feet, the glacial Lake Roopkund is well-known for the human skeletons found in the lake and also its surrounding areas.
It is believed that the skeletons are actually the remains of people from the 9th century who died during a severe hail storm.
👉 The oldest religion in the world, Hinduism: the most popular religion in India
With documents dating back to 5500 BC, Hinduism is believed to be the world’s oldest religion. There is not a known founder of this religion, and this religion is believed to be a way of life.
Almost 80% of the Indian population follows this religion. Islam is the second most popular, with 14.2%, and then comes Christianity with 2.3%. Some other religions in India are Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism.
👉 The origin of the ‘Snakes and Ladders game in India
Now sold worldwide and even popular as “Shoots and Ladders,” the board game ” Snakes and Ladders” traces its roots back to India.
This game was first created to teach lessons and morals about karma in a way that children would understand and remember.
👉 One of the Earth’s safest places: A village with no locks
The village of Shani Shingnapur is well-known for not having a lock or door on a single house. In addition to this, there has not been a recording of a criminal act for about 400 years.
According to people, the shared vulnerability has created a neighborly trust between the residents, eventually developing stronger protection than a heavy gate or a deadbolt.
👉 Most Indians eat with their fingers.
Eating food with your fingers, including meats, rice, sauces, and vegetables, is customary in this country.
According to some people, to completely enjoy an authentic Indian curry, you must eat the dish with your hands.
👉 There are a lot of holidays in India.
In 2019, India recorded 26 official holidays, including Deepavali, Independence Day, Christmas, and Holi.
The wide range of celebrations comes from the truth that so many different cultural groups are blended into the population of India, resulting in many festivals and holidays.
👉 This country has the highest population of vegetarians
It is estimated that between 15% and 30% of this country’s population follow a strict vegetarian diet, while some others will only eat fish and no land animals.
Vegetarianism is so widely spread that even Western food chains, such as KFC, offer a vegetarian menu for restaurant patrons.
Also, from New York City to London, Indian food has spread globally and continues to gain popularity. Many people argue that authentic spice and flavor are lost in many restaurants outside of India.
👉 Holi: The festival of colors
Holi, also famous as the festival of colors, is the popular Hindu spring festival that is celebrated across India.
The name of this festival comes from “Holika,” the sister of demon king “Hiranyakashyap,” and it displays the victory of good over evil. This festival even marks the welcoming of Spring.
Beyond being a national festival in this country, Holi is celebrated by Hindus all around the world.
👉 The Taj Mahal: One of the most famous and iconic landmarks
Perhaps the most iconic landmark in this country is the Taj Mahal. With its stunning and majestic white walls, the Taj Mahal is something that almost every traveler dreams of seeing.
However, because of contaminants in the air and pollution, the marble walls of this stunning building are slowly transforming from white to yellow. While visiting the Taj Mahal, you can even enjoy seeing the Agra Fort and Baby Taj.
👉 The largest sundial in the world is situated in India
The town of Jaipur is the location of the world’s largest sundial, which is a towering 90 feet or 27 meters tall.
Also, this sundial is constructed from attractive-looking polished stone to create an awe-inspiring product of architecture.
The sundial has been honored as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Every year, it attracts numerous visitors who wish to experience the shadow moving at about six centimeters per minute.
👉 The Taj Mahal was disguised as a bamboo stockpile during World War II.
Even if its color changes, the famous Taj Mahal is still one of India’s most important and beloved monuments.
To protect this monument during World War II, the whole palace was covered with bamboo scaffolding, completely hiding the actual structure from bomber planes flying overhead. This trick was effective as the Taj Mahal was never struck during the war.
👉 The Kumbh Mela can be seen from space.
The Kumbh Mela is a significant festival, pilgrimage site, and the largest gathering on Earth. While a celebration happens each year, there is a festival of greater importance at four-year and twelve-year intervals.
The number of people attending this festival is so large that the crowd can be seen in satellite photos taken from space.
👉 North Sentinel Island: The last untouched place on Earth
The government of India has prohibited anyone from going within three miles of this North Sentinel Island, which is home to the Sentinelese people.
In 1991, the anthropologist Madhumala Chattopadhyay had some peaceful encounters with the Sentinelese.
However, in subsequent years, the people clarified that they disliked being disturbed.
👉 Varanasi: The most ancient surviving city in the globe
Several countries around the globe claim they have the oldest living city on the planet, and India is no exception.
The holy city of Varanasi, also known as Kashi or Banaras, is believed to be one of the oldest living cities on the planet.
In reality, it is believed that this region was once the home of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva.
Also, some believe that the person inhaling his last breath here will attain salvation. This is why many Hindus visit this city to spend their last days on Earth.
👉 India is divided into 29 states.
Not many foreigners know that India is subdivided into 29 states.
Some of these Indian states, such as Kashmir, Assam, and Goa, are more easily recognized due to the products like Kashmir silk, Assam tea, or the famous tourist destinations in Goa.
👉 India’s national beverage is tea.
Tea is a beverage served in India throughout the day and with meals in almost every household. India is the world’s second-largest tea producer, following closely behind China.
Thus, India is a country rich in history, culture, stunning monuments, captivating architecture, interesting beliefs, delicious cuisine, etc.
At the end of this article, we have come to know 25 really fascinating facts about India. These facts offer us a clear picture of this beautiful and interesting country. To get some additional amazing facts, you can see our website.
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