Blended with diversity and rich culture, India enjoys its palette of everything right from finger-licking food to fun facts. For a country so diverse, not having facts would be so boring. Hopefully, that is not the case as India has enough to lure our curiosity as we dive straight into 30 amazing facts about the country.
1. India Has 6 Seasons
According to the lunisolar Hindu calendar, India has six seasons namely spring, summer, monsoon, autumn, winter and prevernal. Each season is two months longs and has its share of special events and festivals.
2. Foreigners Can’t Take Indian Currency Out of India
A foreigner except for individuals from Pakistan and Bangladesh can only carry up to Rs. 25,000 abroad with them. Carrying more than the mentioned amount is an offense for which one shall be punished.
3. Pay Upgrade For Keeping Moustache
Police officers in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh are given a slight pay upgrade for maintaining a moustache. It is believed that it lets them command more respect.
4. Ids For cows
To curb cow smuggling across the borders, all cows in West Bengal are tagged with a tamper-proof Unique Identification Number (UIN). Reportedly, a cow-smuggling tunnel was discovered in 2017 under the India–Pakistan border.
5. Polling Station For A Single Voter
A polling booth is set up in Banej in Gir forest for a lone voter in every election since 2004. Mahant Bharatdas Darshandas is the only resident in the forest and enjoys the likes of hassle-free voting.
6. Love Commandos
Love Commandos is a nonprofit organization in India that offers protection from harassment and honour killing to couples from different castes who fall in love because love knows no boundary.
7. Cancer Drug
Gleevec, a cancer drug that costs a whopping US$70,000 in the U.S. per year, costs just US$2,500 in India because it can’t be patented there.
8. Gypsy Tribe Celebrates Death
The Gypsy tribe that hails in Rajasthan, India is known for celebrating death as one of the happiest events in their lives while births as grief. At least someone understands life.
[Also Read: 10 Most Haunted Places In India]
9. A Meal For 100,000
The Golden Temple in India feeds a vegetarian meal to over 100,000 people a day irrespective of their race, religion and class. That’s some interesting facts about India you must know about.
10. Largest volunteer Army
During WW2, India produced the largest volunteer army in world history – over 2.5 million men. At least 38 Indians received the Victoria Cross or the George Cross.
11. Zero Rupee Notes
Yet another amazing fact about India is that there are 2.5 million Zero Rupee banknotes in India. They are “paid” in protest to government functionaries who ask for bribes.
12. World Record For Planting Trees
A reported 800,000 volunteers from Uttar Pradesh worked for 24 hours planting nearly 50 million trees along roads, railways, and on public land to script a new Guinness World Record.
13. Restaurants Abroad
An NRI craving Indian food? Well, no worries, because London has more Indian restaurants than Mumbai or Delhi.
14. Death By Meteorite Hit
In 2016, an Indian bus driver named V. Kamaraj became the first person in history to be struck dead by a meteorite. Life in India can be strange.
15. India’s Invention
Throughout history, Indian inventions have changed the world forever. These inventions include Zero, Buttons, Cotton cultivation, chess, shampoo, binary code, fiber optics, ayurvedic medicine, yoga, ruler, and radio/wireless communication.
16. Biggest Gathering of People
The biggest gathering of people happens in India during ‘Kumbha Mela’. 2001 Kumbh Mela was attended by a whopping 60 million people and was seen from space.
17. 300,000 Mosques
As per the stats revealed in 2013, India had 300,000 mosques, which are more than any Islamic nation across the length and breadth of the globe.
18. A Mango Heaven
India grows 1.2 million tons of mangos every year. Famous varieties of mangoes available in India include Bombay Green, Mulgoa, Sindoori, Raspuri, Gulaab Khaas, Kishenbhog, Mankurad and Fazli.
19. World’s Highest Cricket ground
The Chail Cricket Ground in Himachal Pradesh spanning at an elevation of 8,018 feet above sea level is the highest cricket ground in the world. It was built in 1893 and is a part of the Chail Military School.
20. Rocket On A Bicycle
The first Indian rocket was so light and small that it was transported on a bicycle to the Thumba Launching Station in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
21. Elephant Spa
If you have an overworked elephant craving pamper, take him to Punnathoor Cotta Elephant Yard Rejuvenation Centre in Kerala where he can receive baths, massages and even food.
22. An Indian Wrote Bangladesh National Anthem
Rabindranath Tagore is credited for writing the Indian Nationa Anthem Jana Gana Mana but less know that he also wrote the National Anthem For Bangladesh.
23. Floating Post Office
An amazing fact about India is that it is home to the World’s Only floating Post Office. Perched on a houseboat, the post office is located in Dal lake, Srinagar.
24. 9 Out Of 10 Highest Peaks
The mighty Himalayas boast of 9 out of 10 world’s highest peaks, the highest being Mt. Everest at 8,848 metres.
25. The Tallest Rail Bridge
Hung at a height of 1,198 feet over the river Chenab in Jammu and Kashmir, the arch-shaped Chenab bridge in Jammu and Kashmir is the world’s tallest rail bridge.
26. Highest Motorable Road
The world’s highest motorable road is in Ladakh at an elevation of over 19,300 feet. Thousands of bike enthusiasts every year plan an itinerary to the mountain and is one of the most sought adventure.
27. Only Magnetic Hill In India
With the anti-gravitational effect, this is the only magnetic hill in India. Landmarked by a yellow notice board that spells out instructions and asks you place your car on neutral gear right on the spot marked by white paint, this one will leave you in awe as your car will begin to move uphill on its own.
28. Most Celebrated Cricket League
The IPL is the most-attended and the most-celebrated cricket league in the world and ranks sixth among all sports leagues.
29. The Wettest Place On Earth
Maysynram, located in Meghalaya India, records the highest rainfall on the Earth and is also the wettest place on the planet.
30. World’s highest battlefield
World’s highest battlefield – Siachen – is under India’s control. The glacier is situated at an average altitude of 18,000 feet above sea level.
Among these India’s facts and information, what fact you like the most? Do let us know in the comment section below.
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