What Is India Famous For? Fascinating Facts You Didn’t Know About

India is a land of extraordinary diversity, history, and innovation. It’s not just famous for the food or the culture, though those are great highlights. Did you know India invented important inventions that we use today? Even now, India continues to surprise us with its timeless wonders and achievements.

Check out some of the most interesting facts about India in this article!

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What is India Most Famous for?

India is famous for countless reasons. Here’s an overview of what makes India so famous worldwide:

• History: Ancient civilizations, empires, and cultural heritage.
• Diverse Culture: Languages, traditions, and festivals like Diwali and Holi.
• Spirituality: Birthplace of religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, yoga and meditation.
• Cuisine: Spices, flavorful dishes like biryani, curry, and street food.
• Bollywood: A prolific film industry is known globally.
• Landmarks: Taj Mahal, forts, and temples.
• Wildlife: Bengal tigers, Asian elephants, and rich biodiversity.
• IT Industry: Global hub for technology and innovation.
• Textiles: Silk, cotton, and handloom crafts.
• Sports: Cricket passion and achievements.

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17 Interesting Facts About India You Didn’t Know

India Is the Most Populous Country

India has indeed become the world’s most populous country, with over 1.45 billion people versus 1.42 billion for China. However, the population is not uniformly distributed across the country. There are more populated states such as Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.

India’s relatively young population whose median age is 28 years, continue to drive the growth of India.

Hannah Ritchie & Max Roser, Our World in Data, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

 

Indian Thrive in the Most Heavenly Densed Asian Cities in the US

Indian communities in places like Fremont, Edison, and Cupertino help shape local life with their great cultural contributions. Festivals like Diwali and Holi are celebrated in the US with great enthusiasm, bringing together diverse groups.

Indian food, temples, and cultural schools add to the mix. Many Indians work in tech, business, and other industries, playing a crucial role in driving both local and national economies in the United States.

 

India Is a Country of Many Languages

India has a total number of 22 official languages and over 1,600 dialects. Hindi and English are common at work and schools.

One surprising fun fact about India is that it’s the second-largest English-speaking country with over 125 million English speakers in India.

Every state is supportive of its own languages, which again contributes to the country’s diversity of languages. Many people can easily speak three or more languages meaning that communicating is relatively easy around India.

 

Yoga Originated In India

Yoga, a discipline that combines physical, mental, and spiritual practices, originated in India over 5,000 years ago. Some of the early mentions can be found in the Vedas and the Upanishads. The concepts of yoga were expressed in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. With time, Hatha Yoga developed an emphasis on bodily postures.

Yoga spread internationally in the 20th century through the efforts and initiatives of Swami Vivekananda and other yogis from that period. The International Yoga Day, for instance, has been held every 21st day of June each year.

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India Is the World’s Largest Milk Producer

A lesser-known fun fact is that India is the leading milk producer in the world, accounting for over 22% of the total world supply.

Major states that contribute to this sector include Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. The dairy groups, like Amul, assist millions of farmers in these areas.

Most of the milk produced in India remains within the country for local consumption in the form of tea, yogurt, and sweets.

 

Bollywood Produces the Most Films Globally

Bollywood produces more films than any other film industry. Bollywood produces approximately 1500 to 2000 films a year and sells an estimated 3.5 billion tickets annually. That surpasses Hollywood, which only sells 2.6 billion tickets a year.

The common staple of Indian films is their music and dance, which continue to shape pop culture today. Indian movies are quite popular not only in India but also in the US, UK, and other parts of Asia.

 

India Has A Floating Post Office in Kashmir

A unique fun fact is that India has a floating post office on Dal Lake in Kashmir, the only one of its kind in the world. It offers regular postal services and also has a small museum for visitors.

On the other hand In Andhra Pradesh, there’s a tree in the village of Sivanapalli that receives mail. Letters addressed to the “Tree with No Name” are left in a box tied to the tree, serving as a post office for nearby villagers. No doubt, an unusual fun fact about India you probably didn’t know!

Mike Prince from Bangalore, India, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

 

The Statue of Unity Is the World’s Tallest

If we talk about India, we cannot forget The Statue of Unity, located in Gujarat, the tallest statue in the world, standing at 182 meters tall. It is dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the major leaders in the independence and unification of India.

Facing the Narmada River, this statue attracts visitors from every part of the world. Visitors can observe the statue with a gallery provided for them, learn about Patel’s life at the museum, and gain more knowledge in the exhibition hall.

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India Has a Large Vegetarian Population

One interesting fact is that India has the highest percentage of vegetarians in the world, with around 42% of the population following a vegetarian diet, according to the World Animal Foundation. Many Indians also limit their meat consumption due to cultural, religious, or traditional practices, especially within Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist communities.

On the other hand, Indian cuisine has plenty of vegetarian options, including dishes like dal and paneer, and many different types of curries. So, it is easier for Indians to follow a vegetarian diet.

 

Indian Railways Is One of the Largest Networks

A vital fun fact about India: Indian Railways is one of the largest railway networks in the world. It spans over 67,000 kilometers in length and operates more than 22,000 trains on average every day, transporting over 23 million passengers across cities, towns, and villages.

As of August 2024, about 96.59% of the broad-gauge network has been electrified, making Indian Railways one of the leading green railway networks globally.

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Diamonds Were First Mined in India

India was the first country in the world from which diamonds were mined. These diamond mines date back over 2,000 years.

Early mining began in the region of Golconda, which produced the most famous gems, such as the Koh-i-Noor and Hope Diamond.

India was the only source in the world for diamonds for a long period until new mines were found in Brazil and South Africa. Still today, India remains one of the major players in the diamond-cutting and polishing industry.

 

Mawsynram Is the Wettest Place on Earth

A geographic fun fact: the tiny village of Mawsynram, in Meghalaya, India, is the wettest place on Earth, receiving about 467 inches of rain annually.

It is located in the Khasi Hills, part of the Eastern Himalayas, with exceptionally high rainfall due to the monsoon winds.

On 17 June 2022, Mawsynram recorded 1,003.6 mm of rain in just 24 hours, marking one of the highest single-day rainfall totals ever recorded.

Photo by Manghiam Kyrpang Nongsiej on Unsplash

 

India Is the Global Spice Leader

A culinary fun fact about India: 70% of the world’s spices come from India, making it the largest producer and exporter of spices. In fact, of the 109 known spice varieties, 75 are cultivated in India.

Common spices are turmeric, cumin, cardamom, and black pepper. Spices are also important in traditional medicine systems, such as Ayurveda, where many are valued for their perceived health benefits.

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The Indus Valley Civilization Is Among the World’s Oldest

The Indus Valley Civilization is one of the oldest in the world, dating back to 3300 BCE. It was known for its urban planning, with well-organized cities like Harappa and Mohenjo-daro.

A notable feature of the Indus Valley Civilization is its developed drainage systems. There were horizontal and vertical drains in homes that led into public sewage systems. Large public baths, like the Great Bath at Mohenjo-Daro, provide evidence for civic planning and social organization at a high level.

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Nalanda University: First Residential University

Nalanda University, established in the 5th century in Bihar, India, is now considered the first residential university in the world. At its peak, Nalanda hosted 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers, with scholars coming from Greece, China, Persia, and other regions.

The university offered studies in various subjects such as philosophy and medicine, besides astronomy. Famous visitors included the well-known Chinese traveler Xuanzang.

Nalanda University thrived for over 800 years before it was destroyed in the 12th century due to invasions.

Ankitnirala, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

 

India Invented The Concept of Zero

The concept of zero was first developed in ancient India. The earliest recorded use was attributed to mathematicians like Aryabhata around the 5th century.

Later, zero became widely used in Indian mathematics, especially by the great mathematician Brahmagupta, who defined its rules.

The revolutionary idea of zero would later spread into other parts of the world through trade and scholarly exchange. Ultimately changing mathematics and science forever.

 

Chess Was Invented in India

Chess originated in India around the 6th century, where it was called “Chaturanga” during the Gupta Empire. The game had pieces representing different military units: infantry, cavalry, elephants, and chariots.

Over time, it spread to Persia, where it was known as Shatranj, and later to Europe, evolving into modern chess. This ancient strategy game from India remains popular worldwide today.

Chaturaji, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

 

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