India is a land of paradoxes. With such incredible diversity, India is a country that amazes and mesmerises. Here are some interesting and amazing facts about India that you might have never heard of.
Interesting and amazing facts about India
Fast Facts about India That Will Amaze You
- Cherrapunji in Meghalaya has the record to witness the world’s most rainfall ever in a month. On July 1861, it had 9,300 mm of rainfall. It is also one of the wettest inhabited places in the world.
- One of the most interesting facts about Indian history is that the world’s first ever university was established in Takshila during 700 B.C. Thousands of students from around the world studied over 60 subjects here.
- TirupatiBalaji Temple in the state of Andhra Pradesh is the world’s largest pilgrimage centre, with over 30,000 people visiting the shrine daily and donating around $6 million US dollars every day.
- The stairs of the world famous Golden Temple at Amritsar, Punjab, descend down instead of going up like in other religious places. This is designed to invoke humbleness in people.
- Aghoris, the Hindu sect dedicated to Lord Shiva, practice weird rituals like living in cremation grounds, performing cannibalism and more, which they consider as a part of spirituality.
- The swamps and marshes of Bengal, especially in Sunderbans, offer a hair-raising display of ‘paranormal’ activities where you may witness colourful shimmering lights in the distance. Local people believe that the lights are emanated from the stranded spirits of fishermen who died in accidents here.
- It is believed that Nalanda library was so enormous that it burned for 3 months when the invaders set the Nalanda University on fire. The smoke from the fire hung like dark cloud over the town.
- Tipu’s Drop, a 600 m high cliff in Nandi Hills near Bangalore, was used by Emperor Tipu Sultan to throw down the condemned prisoners of the kingdom, which is now a historical spot.
No! That’s Not All…We have more for you. Read on to know the facts behind many weird and interesting places in India.
A Village with No Doors
Shani Shingnapur in Maharashtra is an amazing village where all the houses, including the first commercial bank branch, have no front doors.People here do not see the need of security and even keep their valuables open. It is believed that Lord Shani protects the village from all evils. Villagers have the belief that Lord Shani, the Hindu deity, will never let thieves in the village go unpunished. Amazingly, no theft has been reported in the village yet.
The GOD Boy
A 13 years old boy from Punjab, Arshid Ali Khan, is worshipped as Lord Hanuman. He is known as Balaji due to his 7-inch long tail, which he has since birth. People from different parts of Punjab come to him to seek blessings to resolve their problems. This is certainly one of the weird and wonderful facts about India.
The Temple of Rats
One of the strange facts of India lie tucked in Karni Mata Temple, located 30 km from Bikaner. It is known as the Temple of Rats. It is the home to over 20,000 rats that are worshipped here and are believed to be reincarnated family members of Karni Mata.
The Tragic Waterfall of India
Standing high at 335 meters, Nohkalikai Falls in Meghalaya is the highest waterfall in India and the 4th highest in the world. However, the name of the waterfall is derived from a tragic legend that still whispers along the Khasi Hills. A woman, Ka Likai, remarried but her second husband was jealous of treating her daughter with love, perhaps more than him. One day, when Ka Likai was away from home, her husband killed the daughter and cooked her into pieces. When the woman returned from work, he served it to her. After having her food, she was about to look for her girl when she found her daughter’s finger in a betel nut basket. Immensely shocked by this, she jumped off the waterfall and it came to be known as Nohkalikai Falls, which literally means Jump of Ka Likai.
Jatinga in Assam is the Centre of Mass Bird SUICIDE
Unbelievable, right? Trust this unbelievable fact about India. Every year, between the months of September and October, a large number of birds fly in full speed to crash themselves to buildings and trees. This mass bird suicide mystery is still unsolved and Jatinga is considered as one of the weirdest places to visit in India.
Kumbh Mela – The World’s Biggest Congregation of Humans Visible from Space
Kumbh Mela, a mass Hindu pilgrimage of faith, is considered the biggest peaceful gathering in the world. The festival witnesses around 100 million people from around the world. The 2011 Kumbh Mela was the largest congregation of people with over 75 million pilgrims. The gathering was so big that it was visible from the space.
Varanasi – The Ancient City
Facts about Varanasi India is quite popular across the world. Also known as Benaras, it is called as the Ancient City when Lord Buddha visited it in 500 B.C. Varanasi is the oldest city in the world today.
Pilgrims Galore!
The Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi and Tirupati Balaji Temple in Andhra Pradesh witness more visitors every year than the Mecca and Vatican City combined. Isn’t it one of the interesting facts about India that highlights our religious system?
The Power of Gravity
One of the unusual facts about India’s landscape lies hidden in the Magnetic Hill, located near Leh in Ladakh, Kashmir. It is believed to have such high magnetic properties that can even pull cars uphill. It forces the passing aircrafts to increase their flying altitude to escape the magnetic interference.
King Cobra – The Most Feared Snake in the World
The King Cobra, almost 18 feet in length, is the longest and most venomous snake in the world. It can actually stand up like an adult, which makes it most scary. A single bite can deliver almost 7 millilitres of Neurotoxin that is enough to kill 20 people. Its hissing is often compared to the growling of an angry dog. This is one of the most interesting facts about Indian wildlife.
Indian Cuisine – A Perfect Blend of Culture
India’s cuisine is as rich and diverse as its culture. Every state of the country has its ownstyle of cooking, ingredients, spices and herbs that make it unique and delicious. Though fish, meat and poultry form a part of the Indian cuisine, a major portion of Indians are vegetarians. This is one of the most amazing facts about Indian cuisine.
Lambasingi – The Kashmir of South India
Yes, you read it right. Situated at a height of 1000 meters above sea level, Lambasingi in Andhra Pradesh is the considered as the Kashmir of South India, where temperatures often fall to zero during chilly winter nights.
Roopkund – The Skeleton Lake
India is a land of enigma. Some of the most unique facts about India circles around Roopkund, located at an altitude of over 5,000 metres in Uttarakhand. The lake is known for its scenic beauty and is extremely popular for trekking, but the enigma lies in the fact that hundreds of skeletons have been found in the lake. The skeletons are clearly visible in the swallow lake and it is truly a sight that will make you have goosebumps. According to a legend, the ruler of Kanauj, Raja Jasdhaval was travelling with his queen, Rani Balampa, and a troop of servants and dancers on a pilgrimage to Nanda Devi Temple. The group met with hailstorm so strong that everyone perished. The mass death occurred near the Roopkund Lake. It is believed that this can be the story behind a cluster of skeletons in the lake.
The Highest Motorable Road in the World
Khardung La in Ladakh is the highest motorable road in the world and a popular biking adventure destination in India. The road lies at an altitude of 5,682 metres.