India is one of the most populous countries in the world with over 1.4 billion people, 22 official languages, incredible natural landscapes, world-class cuisine, and much more.
No wonder why India has become an increasingly popular tourist destination in recent years.
However, listed below are some fun facts about India that you probably didn’t know;
India is the Tiger Capital of the World
India proudly holds the title of the tiger capital of the world. Incredibly, a whopping 75% of the global tiger population inhabits the country. These majestic creatures roam across various landscapes in India, from dense forests to grasslands. The tiger population hit an all-time low in the 1970s, leading to an increased effort to preserve the tiger population. Thanks to the establishment of reserves, anti-poaching measures, and awareness campaigns, the tiger population today is growing.
India has the Largest Producer of Films in the World
Another fact about India is that it is the world’s largest film producer and boasts the second-oldest film industry globally. With an extensive domestic following and a substantial international audience, the impact of Indian cinema is significant and far-reaching. At the forefront of this cinematic landscape is Bollywood in Mumbai—a dynamic and influential component of Indian cinema.
India Is a country with more vegetarians
According to a recent study, the country with the highest proportion of vegetarianism is India, with a staggering 38% of the population identifying as vegetarian.
There are a number of reasons why there is such a high rate of vegetarians in the country, and why about 80% of people also limit their meat consumption. A significant factor is that all of India’s most widely practised religions have dietary laws and traditions.
As such, it stands to reason that India is an excellent country to visit for vegetarians. And Of course, it has lots of restaurants and street food which cater to vegetarians.
‘Snakes and Ladders’ hails from India
One of the most popular games of all time, not many people know that this household classic emerged from the nation of India, with a history dating back to the 2nd century BC.
Some historians place its history even further back, to the 13th century BC! In the game wall, The ladders represented virtues such as generosity, faith, and humility, while the snakes represented vices such as lust, anger, murder, and theft.
The Taj Mahal is Not a Palace
Thought by many to be a palace, the iconic Taj Mahal, one of the new 7 Wonders of the World, is in fact a mausoleum. Commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, the Taj Mahal was constructed between 1632 and 1653. The architectural masterpiece is renowned for its symmetrical beauty and exquisite craftsmanship and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
Cows are sacred
Somewhat related to the entry about vegetarianism, many people are aware cows are sacred in India. This comes down to the cow’s importance in some of the nation’s primary religions, principally Hinduism, but also Jainism and Buddhism.
In ancient Hindu texts, the cow appears as “Kamdhenu” or the ‘divine cow’. It is believed to be the earthly representative of the divine and nourishing Mother Goddess, who represents fertility and bountifulness.
Linguistic diversity
Contrary to popular thought, India is second only to the United States of America, 10% of India’s population (125 million people) are fluent in English, and around 30% of the population can speak English to a certain level.
Even more interesting is that English is one of 23 officially recognised languages spoken in the country. In fact, there are many more languages than that spoken in the country, with over 19,500 languages/dialects recorded as mother tongues in the 2018 census.
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