India is one of the most exotic countries in the world, that has long attracted tourists and adventurers. Incredible customs and unique culture that sets it apart from other Asian countries. We couldn’t bypass this wonderful country and have prepared for you some of the most interesting facts.
1. The official name of the country is derived from the name of the Indus River. The word "India" comes from the Indus River, which was called "Sindhu" in Sanskrit. The ancient Persians referred to it as "Hindu," and the Greeks later adapted it to "Indos," which eventually became "India" in Latin and English.
2. The Indian flag consists of three horizontal stripes: light orange, which represents courage and self-sacrifice; white, which stands for peace; and green, which symbolizes faith and chivalry. The white stripe is charged with the Buddhist symbol “Dharmachakra,” or the wheel of the law.
3. India has two official languages, Hindi and English, but there are 22 official languages recognized in the Constitution of India.
4. Approximately 25% of India’s population lives below the poverty line. However, more than a million Indians have more than a million dollars in wealth.
5. According to the traditional Indian calendar, the year is divided into six seasons with Sanskrit names: Vasanta (spring), Grishma (summer), Varsha (monsoon), Sharad (autumn), Hemanta (pre-winter), and Shishira (winter).
6. Algebra and trigonometry originated in India. The Indian astronomer and mathematician Brahmagupta (7th century AD) was the first to define the concept of zero as a number. The invention of zero is considered one of the key achievements in Indian mathematics.
Cows in India having personal IDs.
8. Chess originated in India, but it was far from the version we are used to seeing now. In the original form of chess, “Chaturanga,” four players were involved.
9. Mustaches are an integral part of Indian folklore, and they are associated with honor and courage. In some parts of India, including the state of Andhra Pradesh, police officers even receive extra pay for sporting mustaches, as it is considered a symbol of dignity and bravery.
10. The Indian subcontinent is the birthplace of four of the world’s major religions – Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Jainism, which together make up a quarter of the Earth’s population.
11. The Lotus Temple, the Baha’i House of Worship in New Delhi, is one of the most visited religious buildings in the world, receiving more than 50 million visitors a year.
12. The Bengal tiger is the national symbol of India. There are currently about 2,500 Bengal tigers living in the wild in India. One of the most famous tigers in history is the Champawat tiger, which killed 436 people before it was hunted down in 1907.
13. Few people know that the Ganges River is home to a rare species of shark, the Ganges shark (Glyphis gangeticus), which is considered endangered. While these sharks are potentially dangerous, attacks on humans are extremely rare.
Ganges Shark in the River.
15. The Maha Kumbh Mela festival is the largest religious festival in India, celebrated once every twelve years in one of the four sacred cities: Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain, or Nashik.
16. Close friendship between men is common in India, and it’s not unusual to see men holding hands or hugging in public. These gestures are understood as expressions of friendship and have no romantic meaning in the cultural context.
17. India was once the world’s only source of diamonds, holding a monopoly on diamond mining until the 18th century. One of the most famous diamonds, the Koh-i-Noor – known as “The Mountain of Light” – was discovered in India and is now part of the British royal crown.
18. India follows left-hand traffic rules, similar to the United Kingdom and many other former British colonies. However, due to high population density, traffic congestion, and inconsistent enforcement of road regulations, driving conditions can often be chaotic.
19. In some rural regions of India, there are old traditions where people organize symbolic weddings with animals, such as dogs, to remove birth curses or misfortunes.
20. In India, disposable tableware is often eco-friendly, with clay cups for tea and palm leaf plates being commonly used, especially in rural areas and at street food stalls.
