8 Astonishing Facts About Incredible India

Hey there, folks! Have you ever heard of India? It’s a country that’s been around for centuries and has a pretty impressive track record. They were the very old civilization that brought us writing, math, astronomy, medicine, architecture, metallurgy, and other cool stuff. Basically, they were the original nerds that everyone looked up to.

But wait, there’s more! India also knows how to party! They have a festival culture that’s off the hook. From Holi, where they throw the colourful powder at each other like it’s going out of style, to Diwali, where they light up the whole place like it’s Christmas on steroids. And let’s not forget about Eid, where they chow down on some of the most delicious food you’ve ever tasted. I mean, who wouldn’t want to join in on that kind of fun?

Oh, and did we mention religion? Yeah, India has got that covered too. Hinduism is the big one, but they also have Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Zoroastrianism. Each religion has its own unique customs and traditions, which just adds to the excitement.

All in all, India is an incredible country with a rich history and culture that will blow your mind. Whether you’re into science, art, religion, or just plain old fun, India has got something for everyone. So, what are you waiting for? Get your butt over there and join us in this beautiful adventure about this amazing country.

Unravelling the Mystery of India’s Name

The name ‘India‘ has its roots in the Indus River, which flows through modern-day Pakistan and India. The valley around the river was home to the first settlers, who referred to the river as ‘Sindhu‘.

When Persian invaders arrived in the region, they began referring to the river as ‘Hindu‘, which eventually became the name for the entire region. The term ‘Hindustan’ was coined by combining the words ‘Sindhu’ and ‘Hindu’, and referred to the lands of Hindus.

Today, ‘Hindustan‘ is no longer used as the official name for India, but the country’s name ‘India’ continues to be rooted in its ancient history and culture.

World’s Second-Largest English-Speaking Country

India has a significant population that can speak and understand the English language. With around 125 million people or approximately 10% of the total population, India claims to be the world’s second-largest English-speaking country. The only country with a larger English-speaking population is the United States of America.

Moreover, it’s noteworthy that English is just one of the 22 official languages recognized in India. The Indian Constitution recognizes all 22 languages as official languages, with Hindi being the primary language used for official purposes.

As India continues to grow and develop, there is a high expectation that the number of English speakers in the country will quadruple in the next decade. The importance of English in India’s global connections and international trade is ever-increasing, and thus English language education is highly emphasized in the Indian education system.

World’s First Granite Temple

The World’s First Granite Temple is the Brihadeswara Temple at Tanjavur, Tamil Nadu. This magnificent temple was built in just five years, (between 1004 AD and 1009 AD) during the reign of  Raja Chola.

The shikhara of the temple is made from a single 80-tonne piece of granite.

World’s Largest And Highest Postal Network

India has the largest postal network in the world with 1,55,618 post offices and over 5,66,000 employees. The world’s highest post office is also located in Hikkim (India) which is located at 15,500 feet, Hikkim is part of the Lahaul and Spiti district in Himachal Pradesh.

World’s Largest Religious Gathering Seen From Space

The Kumbh Mela of 2019, a major Hindu festival, set a new record as the largest religious gathering of people. With over 2.25 crore (22.5 million) devotees attending the first Shahi Snan ritual, it was an extraordinary event that drew in participants from all over India and beyond. The sheer size of the gathering was so remarkable that it was even visible from space.

The Kumbh Mela is also known for its incredible infrastructure, particularly its tented city, which is the only one of its kind in the world. This tented city spans an area of 32 square kilometres, which is even larger than the Vatican City in Rome. The Kumbh Mela is a testament to the grandeur and scale of India’s religious and cultural festivals.

Indian National Kabbadi Team

India’s dominance in Kabaddi is unparalleled, with the country winning all six men’s Kabaddi World Cups played to date. The Indian men’s team has remained unbeaten throughout all the tournaments, with Iran being the runner-up three times in the world cup.

The Indian women’s team has also been extremely successful, winning all Kabaddi World Cups held to date. Such incredible success in Kabaddi has helped to put India on the world map of sports and has made it one of the most respected and feared teams in the sport.

The World’s First University

The world’s first university- Nalanda University was established in Takshila in 700 BC. More than 10,500 students and 2000 teachers from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects.

The University of Nalanda was built by the Gupta dynasty in the 4th century and was one of the greatest achievements of ancient India in the field of education.

The ancient Nalanda University was destroyed by the Muslim army led by the Turkish leader Bakhtiyar Khilji in 1193. It is believed that Buddhism as a major religion in India had a setback for hundreds of years due to the loss of the religious texts during the attack.

Snakes and Ladders Game originated in India

The board game called snakes and ladders or originally called ‘Mokshpat’ was invented by saint Gyandev in the 13th century AD. though it was believed that the game was played at a time as early as 2 century BC.

The ladders signify good deeds while the snakes represent all the evil we do. All the good deeds we do take us closer to 100, which symbolizes Moksha or Salvation, while the evil we do results in rebirth as a lower life form.

If you have any other questions, or doubts or do you know any other interesting & random facts about India, then feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section below! We will reply as soon as possible. And please visit our Telegram, Twitter, Pinterest And Facebook pages for more Fun Facts.

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