32 Interesting Facts About India You Probably Don't Know Yet

 

Did you know that India used to be an island more than 100 million years ago? About 50 million years ago, it collided with the Asian continent and thus was born the Himalayas. Fascinating, isn't it? With over a billion people from all kinds of religions and ethnicities, India is not only the second most populated country, but it also has in store some mind-blowing facts and achievements under its belt. 

Here are 33 Most Interesting Facts About India:

1. 5000 years old, Varanasi is One of The Oldest Inhabited Places in the World

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Situated on the banks of river Ganges and represented in the Parliament by the country's PM Narendra Modi, the holy city of Banaras or Varanasi is at least 3000 years old. According to Hindu Mythology, Lord Shiva found this city 5000 years ago. 

2. A Meteor formed the Breathtaking Lonar Lake in Maharashtra

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A 4-hour drive from Aurangabad and doubling as Maharashtra's best-kept secret, this lake was created by a plummeting meteor about 52,000 years ago. Travel enthusiasts must not miss this astronomical marvel and the temples around it.

3. Mysterious Anti-Gravity Hills In Ladakh, Magnetic Hill

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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.

4. Land of Many 'Firsts', India Invented Snakes & Ladders, Shampooing, Algebra and More!

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A plethora of objects and concepts originated in India starting from the game of snakes and ladders to chess a.k.a Chaturanga, buttons, shampooing, the number pi, diamond mining, zero, algebra, trigonometry along with the finding of the presence of water on the moon. Now isn't this an interesting fact about India?

5. World's Only Floating Post Office in Dal Lake in Srinagar

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India is not only known for the most significant number of post offices in the world, but it has its very own floating post office on Dal Lake in Srinagar. Perched on a houseboat, it also includes a philately museum within itself. Quite an unusual fact about India, isn't it?

6. Mawsynram is the Wettest Place on Earth with 11,873 Millimetres of Rain Annually

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Holding a Guinness record for highest average annual rainfall, this town in Meghalayagets about 11,873 millimetres of rain owing to its proximity to the Bay of Bengal. The winter months of this region are spent in preparation for the six-month-long monsoon ahead.

7. The Only Country With a Bill of Rights for Cows

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From the moment an Indian's born, he has two mothers. One, his birth mother and two, Gaumata. Cows are believed to be holy in Hinduism, and the Constitution has a set of rules in place that prevents the sale and slaughter of cows. Now isn't this a fantastic fact about India. 

8. A Voting Poll Booth Set Up For Just ONE Voter in Gujarat

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India's most privileged voter, Mahant Bharatdas, resides in a small hamlet called Banej in the middle of Gir Forest, Gujarat. The setting up of a particular polling booth for just one voter goes a long way in speaking decibels about the democratic spirit of the country.

9. Shani Shingnapur is Village Where the Houses Don't Have Doors!

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Attracting over 40,000 devotees each day due to a 300-yr old legend, this village in Maharashtra features establishments without any doors and locks. Its residents sleep soundly as they believe Lord Shani to be the guardian of the town. Hmm, I wonder how they keep the rain away...

10. The Tiny Village of Madhopatti is Called the 'Officer's Village of India'

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A small village in the Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh, Madhopatti has created history by producing the most number of IAS officers. With about 75 households, it has given 47 officers to Indian administration. Not just that, many from the same village have made their careers by joining prestigious organisations like ISRO, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and World Bank. Ask the villagers about their study schedules, maybe? :p 

11. Tulsi Shyam - The Hills that Defy Gravity

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Imagine if your car when left in free gear, starts rolling up a hill against the gravitational pull. Freaky, right? This strange phenomenon is indeed a reality at a road stretch near Tulsi Shyam in Amreli district, Gujarat.

12. The Largest Number of Vegetarians in the World

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Are you a vegetarian? You will fit right in here. With the majority of the population following Hinduism, around 29%-40% of the people are vegetarians.

13. The Highest Cricket Ground in the World

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India is a cricket-loving nation. It's only natural for it to also feature the highest cricket ground in the world recorded by the Guinness Book. It is situated at a level of 2,144 metres above sea level in Chail, Himachal Pradesh.

14. India is the Second Largest English-speaking Nation

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Second, only to the US, India has around 10% of its populace fluent in English. This statistic is expected to quadruple in the next decade.

15. First Rocket of India Transported by a Bicycle

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In 1963, ISRO launched its first-ever rocket from a church in Thumba, on the outskirts of modern-day Trivandrum. The said rocket was transported on a bicycle. The launching pad later came to be known as Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC).