1. Cows are considered sacred
If hamburgers are a regular part of your diet, you’ll need to make some adjustments before visiting India! Cows are protected by their own set of rules in the Constitution, making killing a cow a crime.
Even on crowded city streets, cows have the liberty to roam where they please without fear of being harassed by humans.
2. India is the wettest inhabited place on Earth
Meghalaya village has won the Guinness world record title for the wettest place on Earth, with about 11,873 milliliters of rain annually. The monsoon season lasts six months, so make sure you pack an umbrella!
3. India has over 300,000 mosques and over 2 million Hindu temples
Get ready to be awed and amazed by all the stunning architecture India has to offer. About 15% of India’s population is Muslim.
The mosques across the country range from small village buildings to immense, famous ones, like the Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad or the Jama Masjid in New Delhi.
The same can be said about India’s Hindu temples, which surpass two million to serve the 79.8% of India’s Hindu population.
Just the holy city of Varanasi has over 23,000 temples. It is safe to say India is the land of temples!
4. Chenab Bridge is the highest rail bridge in the world
Not all of India’s famous monuments are religious. The jaw-dropping bridge spanning the Che nab river in Jammu is 1,178 feet above the water. If you’re afraid of heights, you might want to skip this one!
5. Rajasthan has a Temple of Rats
The animal wonders of India continue. Although rats might not be the first species you think of to worship, there is a temple in Rajasthan dedicated to rats.
Thousands of rats call the temple home, making it one of the country’s unique attractions.
Many pilgrims visit the temple every year on their own religious journeys, so make sure to be respectful of local customs when visiting.
6. You can drive on the world’s highest motorable road
At over 19,300 feet, the Ladakh road is the highest motorable road in the world. Make sure you pack a warm jacket on before embarking on this particular adventure!
7. Home of a mysterious skeleton lake
Located in the Himalayas at about 16,470 feet, the glacial Lake Roopkund has become famous for the human skeletons found in the lake and surrounding areas.
It is thought that the skeletons are the remains of people from the 9th century who perished during a severe hail storm.
8. The popular game “Snakes and Ladders” originated in India
Now sold across the world (sometimes adapted to “shoots and ladders”), this board game traces its roots back to India.
It was first created to teach morals and lessons about karma in a way that young children would understand and remember.
9. India was the first country to mine diamonds
From the 4th century BC for around 1,000 years, India was the only source of diamonds in the world. The original diamonds were found in the Krishna River Delta.
In the 18th century, more diamond deposits were discovered in Brazil, and soon after, in South Africa, adding to the market of diamonds.
10. Hinduism is the oldest religion in the world, and it’s not a true polytheism
With documents dating back as early as 5,500 BCE, Hinduism is considered the oldest religion in the world.
There is not a known founder of Hinduism, and no one cares to know who started Hinduism, since Hinduism is a way of life.
Currently, Hinduism is the third-largest religion in the world, serving more than 1 billion people.
Regarding gods, Hinduism is not a pure polytheism. Hindus believe in one god, Brahma, who is manifested in thousands of other gods.
Along with Brahma as the main god, two other gods make up The Trimurti. Brahma is the creator of the universe, Vishnu is the preserver of the universe, and Shiva destroys the world to recreate it.
It is up to each Hindu to decide which god they worship.
And here’s another fun fact about Hinduism; the number 108 is the most sacred number for Hindus.
It is the ratio of the Sun’s distance from Earth to the Sun’s diameter, as well as the ratio of the Moon’s distance from Earth to the Moon’s diameter.
11. India has 22 recognized languages
The numerous languages spoken across India include San tali, Kashmiri, Bengali, Tamil, and Urdu. However, the official languages are English and Hindi.
India also has the world’s second-largest population of English speakers (first is the United States), since most Indians speak their own regional language as well as English for easier communication.
Sanskrit is considered the oldest language in the world, the “mother of all languages.” Every Hindu book is written in Sanskrit, and it is known as Sanskrit is the language of the demigods.
12. Ranked the second-most populous country in the world,
second only to China, India has roughly 1.37 billion people… and the number keeps climbing. It’s estimated that by the year 2050, India will have surpassed China to become the most populated country in the world.
13. Most Indians eat with only their fingers
It’s customary in India to eat food with your fingers, including rice, sauces, meats, and vegetables. Some people argue that to truly enjoy an authentic Indian curry, it’s a requirement to eat the dish with your hands!
Don’t be afraid to forgo the use of a fork, knife, and spoon while you’re in India; just watch how the locals do it and try finger food out for yourself.
14. A village with no locks and doors may be the safest on Earth
The village of Shani Shingnapur is famous for not having a door or lock on a single house. Beyond that, there has not been a recording of a criminal act for almost 400 years.
Many people think that the shared vulnerability has created a neighborly trust between the residents, which has formed a protection stronger than a deadbolt or heavy gate.
15. “Indian food” has become one of the most widespread cuisines in the world
From London to New York City, Indian food has spread across the world and continues to gain popularity. Many argue that authentic flavor and spice is lost in many of the restaurants outside of India itself.
16. India has the highest population of vegetarians
It’s estimated that between 15% and 30% of India’s population follow a strict vegetarian diet, while many others will only consume fish and no land animals.
Vegetarianism is so widely spread that even western food chains like KFC provide a vegetarian menu for restaurant patrons.
17. There are A LOT of holidays
In 2019, India recorded 26 official holidays, including Independence Day, Deepawali, Holi, and Christmas.
The wide range of celebrations comes from the fact that so many different cultural groups are blended in the Indian population, leading to a plethora of holidays and festivals.
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