Amazing Facts About India

Amazing Facts About India

India is the seventh-largest country in the world by area and it is also the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people. There are 29 states and 7 union territories in India and it is the largest democracy in the world. Many consider India as the most amazing country in the world. Let us check out some interesting facts and figures related to India, which make it truly incredible:

• The name ‘India’ is derived from the River Indus, which is one of the longest rivers in Asia. It flows through Pakistan, the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir and western Tibet. The valleys around the River Indus were once the home of the early settlers. The early Aryan settlers worshippers referred to the River Indus as the Sindhu.

• The Persian invaders converted the name Sindhu into Hindu. Thus, it led to the formation of the name ‘Hindustan,’ which is a combination of Sindhu and Hindu.

• India never invaded any country in her last 100000 years of history.

• The Game of Chess was invented in India.

• Algebra, Trigonometry and Calculus, all mathematical studies, were originated in India.

• The Number System was invented in India. Zero was invented by Aryabhatta.

• India had the world’s first university, which was established in Takshashila in 700BC.

• Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism – all these four religions were born in India. They are followed by 25% of the world’s population.

• India is the largest English speaking nation in the world.

• Islam is India’s and the world’s second largest religion.

• There are 300,000 active mosques in India, more than in any other country, including the Muslim world.

• The oldest European church and synagogue in India are in the city of Cochin.

• India has the largest number of Post Offices in the world with over 1, 55,015 post offices. The floating post office in Dal Lake, Srinagar, was inaugurated in August 2011.

• India has the highest cricket ground in the world. At an altitude of 2,444 meters, the Chail Cricket Ground in Chail, Himachal Pradesh, is the highest in the world.

• The Ex-Indian President, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, who is also known as the father of India’s missile programme had visited Switzerland back in 2006. Upon his arrival, Switzerland declared May 26th as Science Day.

• India has a spa for elephants. At the Punnathoor Cotta Elephant Yard Rejuvenation Centre in Kerala, Elephants receive baths, massages, and even food.

• Around 20-40% of Indians are vegetarians, which means India has the largest number of vegetarians in the world.

• Sanskrit is considered as the mother of all the European languages. In fact, Sanskrit is the most suitable language for computer software – according to a report in Forbes magazine, which was published in July 1987.

• The earliest reservoir and dam for irrigation was built in Saurashtra.

• India is the only country other than US and Japan, which have built an indigenous super-computer.

• Freddie Mercury, the legendary singer of the rock band ‘Queen’ and Ben Kingsley, the hugely popular Oscar-winning Hollywood actor, are both of Indian descent. Freddie Mercury was born a Parsi with the name Farrokh Bulsara while Ben Kingsley was born Krishna Pandit Bhanji.

• Lonar Lake, which is a saltwater lake in Maharashtra, was created by a meteor, after hitting the Earth and it is a one of its kind lake in India.

• Former Grand Master Viswanathan Anand is the first player in chess history to have won the World Championship in three different formats: knockout, tournament, and match.

• Buttons were invented in India.

• The 13th-century poet saint Gyandev created the game of Snakes and Ladders in India. It was originally called ‘Mokshapat’.

• Until 1896, India was the only country, which was the source of diamonds in the world.