India Facts

India is the world's largest producer, consumer and exporter of spices. In 2021, it produced 75 of the 109 spices listed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and accounts for half of the global trading in spices.

The famous living root bridges found in Meghalaya state of India, have been included on the tentative list of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. The Living Root Bridges are grown from the secondary roots of rubber trees known as Ficus Elastica, the roots of this tree grow above the surface of the ground, hence making it easy to weave them into bridges. In a place where concrete bridges are unlikely to survive even a few decades because of earthquakes, landslides and floods, these root bridges grow stronger, more robust and resilient with age and are known to survive for up to 150 years. A single Ficus elastica tree was used as the backbone of a double-decker bridge near the village of Nongriat in the Indian state of Meghalaya.

Kumbh Mela is a major pilgrimage and festival in Hinduism. It is celebrated in a cycle of approximately 12 years. One of the recent Kumbh Mela's picture was captured from space by earth imaging satellite, CartoSat-2.

Varanasi, also known as Benaras or Kashi, is the holiest city for Hindus. As Mark Twain puts it, "Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together".

Though Yoga was being practiced in India for several centuries before him, the great Sage Maharshi Patanjali systematized and codified the then existing practices of Yoga, its meaning and its related knowledge through his Yoga Sutras.

The Statue of Unity, Gujarat, India, is the world's tallest statue with a height of 182 metres (597 feet) The 67,000-ton statue is a tribute to one of the greatest India leaders, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

Chenab Railway Bridge, with a height of 359 metres, is the world’s highest railway bridge. Crossing the River Chenab, it connected Indian mainland with the Jammu & Kashmir by rail for the first time.

For several centuries, India was the only source of diamonds in the world. The world-famous Kohinoor diamond was found in India

Shampoo was invented in India, about 4000 years ago. An early shampoo was made by boiling Sapindus with dried Indian gooseberry and a selection of other herbs. The word “shampoo” comes from the Hindi word “champu,” which means “to massage”

With more than 1.7 million km² under cultivation, India has more land under cultivation than any other country. About 10% all land cultivated in the world is in India.

India is the world's largest producer of milk, bananas, pulses and jute, and ranks as the second largest producer of rice, wheat, sugarcane, groundnut, vegetables, fruit and cotton

North Sentinel Island, part of Andaman Islands, is home to the Sentinelese, an indigenous people in voluntary isolation who have defended, often by force, their protected isolation from the outside world. The Indian government has prohibited anyone from going within three miles of North Sentinel Island, home of the Sentinelese people.

India is the world's largest democracy and the seventh largest country by area.
The country has a population of over 1.3 billion people, making it the second most populous country in the world.
India is home to some of the world's largest rivers, including the Ganges, Yamuna, and Brahmaputra.
The country is known for its rich cultural heritage, including its music, dance, architecture, and cuisine.
India is the birthplace of several major religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism.
The country is home to the largest number of vegetarians in the world, with approximately 40% of the population following a vegetarian diet.
India has the largest movie industry in the world, producing over 1,500 films each year in various languages.
India has a diverse climate, ranging from tropical in the south to subarctic in the Himalayas.
The country is known for its rich wildlife, including tigers, elephants, and monkeys, and is home to several national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
India has a rich tradition of classical dance, including Bharatanatyam, Kathak, and Manipuri.
The country is the birthplace of yoga, and is home to several ancient spiritual practices and philosophies.
India has a diverse economy, including agriculture, manufacturing, and services sectors.
The country is known for its hospitality and friendly people, and is a popular tourist destination, attracting millions of visitors each year.
India is known for its colorful festivals and celebrations, including Diwali, Holi, and Navratri.
The country is home to several UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort, and the Ajanta and Ellora Caves.
India has a rich tradition of Ayurvedic medicine, which has been practiced for thousands of years.
India is known for its rich and diverse cuisine, including dishes like biryani, dosa, and samosas.
The country has a rich tradition of textiles, including hand-woven fabrics like sarees and kurtas.
India is the birthplace of the game of chess, and is also known for its traditional board games like carrom and snake and ladder.
The country has a rich history of sports, including field hockey, badminton, and cricket, which is considered the national sport of India.
India has the largest postal network in the world, with over 154,000 post offices.
The country is the birthplace of the number system and the decimal system, which originated from ancient Hindu mathematics.
India has a rich tradition of storytelling, including folktales, legends, and myths, passed down through generations.
The country is home to the world's largest religious gathering, the Kumbh Mela, which takes place every 12 years and attracts millions of pilgrims.
India has a diverse landscape, including the Himalayan mountain range, the Thar Desert, and the Western Ghats.
The country has a rich tradition of handicrafts, including pottery, wood carving, and metalwork.
India is known for its love of spicy food, and is home to some of the world's hottest dishes.
The country has a rich tradition of ornate and colorful architecture, including the palaces of Rajasthan and the temples of Tamil Nadu.
India is known for its rich tradition of classical music, including Hindustani and Carnatic music.
The country is home to several ancient cities, including Varanasi, which is considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
India has a rich tradition of herbal medicine, and is home to several medicinal plants and herbs.
The country is known for its rich tradition of textiles, including hand-embroidered fabrics like kanthas and phulkaris.
India has a rich tradition of science and technology, including the development of advanced metallurgical and astronomical techniques.
The country is known for its rich tradition of painting, including the Ajanta and Ellora cave paintings and Rajasthani miniatures.
India is the birthplace of several martial arts, including kalarippayattu and mallakhamb.
The country is home to several species of wildlife found nowhere else in the world, including the Indian rhinoceros and the Bengal tiger.
India is known for its rich tradition of puppetry, including string puppets, shadow puppets, and glove puppets.
The country has a rich tradition of calligraphy, including the ancient Brahmi script and the more recent Devanagari script.
India is known for its rich tradition of performing arts, including classical dance and theater.
The country is known for its love of sweets, and is home to some of the world's most delicious desserts, including kulfi, laddu, and rasgulla.
India is home to several ancient universities, including Nalanda, Taxila, and Vikramashila, which were centers of learning and knowledge.
The country has a rich tradition of ornamental metalwork, including gold and silver jewelry, brass and copper vessels, and iron and steel weapons.
India is known for its rich tradition of folk music, including baul, lavani, and qawwali.
The country is home to several unique and diverse cultures, including the tribal communities of central and eastern India.
India is known for its rich tradition of textiles, including hand-printed fabrics like bandhini and block printing.
The country has a rich tradition of architecture, including the rock-cut temples of Mahabalipuram and the Mughal monuments of Agra and Fatehpur Sikri.
India is known for its rich tradition of sculptures, including the stone and bronze sculptures of the Chola and Pallava dynasties.
The country is home to several unique and diverse languages, including Hindi, Bengali, and Urdu.
India has a rich tradition of astrology and numerology, and is known for its system of Jyotish or Hindu astrology.
The country is known for its love of spices, and is home to some of the world's most flavorful and aromatic spices, including turmeric, cinnamon, and cardamom.
India is the birthplace of several major philosophical and spiritual traditions, including Vedanta and Tantra.
The country is known for its rich tradition of weaving, including hand-woven fabrics like kanjeevaram and banarasi.
India is home to several unique and diverse regional cuisines, including the spicy and flavorful cuisine of the South and the rich and creamy cuisine of the North.
The country has a rich tradition of jewelry making, including the intricate and ornate designs of gold and silver jewelry.
India is known for its rich tradition of wood carving, including the ornate and intricate carvings of temple doors and pillars.
The country is home to several unique and diverse wildlife, including the one-horned rhinoceros and the Asiatic lion.
India is known for its rich tradition of textiles, including hand-woven fabrics like ikat and patola.
The country has a rich tradition of calligraphy, including the ancient scripts of Brahmi and Kharosthi.
India is known for its rich tradition of puppetry, including rod puppets, glove puppets, and shadow puppets.
The country is home to several unique and diverse religious traditions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Islam.
India is the world's largest democracy.
The country is known for its rich tradition of dance, including classical dances like Bharatanatyam and Kathak.
India is home to several unique and diverse festivals, including Holi, Diwali, and Navaratri.
The country has a rich tradition of oral storytelling, including the epic poems of the Mahabharata and the Ramayana.
India is known for its rich tradition of painting, including miniature paintings and Madhubani paintings.
The country is home to several unique and diverse landscapes, including the Himalayan mountains, the Thar Desert, and the Western Ghats.
India is known for its rich tradition of silver and gold smithing, including the intricate and ornate designs of silver and gold jewelry.
The country is home to several unique and diverse bird species, including the colorful and exotic peacock.
India is known for its rich tradition of martial arts, including Kalarippayattu and Gatka.
The country has a rich tradition of weaving, including hand-woven fabrics like shawls and saris.
India is home to several unique and diverse flora, including the sacred lotus and the banyan tree.
The country is known for its rich tradition of herbal medicine, including Ayurveda and Unani.
India is home to several unique and diverse fauna, including the Bengal tiger and the Asian elephant.
The country has a rich tradition of woodblock printing, including the intricate and ornate designs of block-printed textiles.
India is known for its rich tradition of magic and illusion, including street magicians and traditional performers.
The country is home to several unique and diverse architecture, including the ornate and elaborate palaces of Rajasthan and the modernist buildings of Mumbai.
India is known for its rich tradition of craftsmanship, including the intricate and ornate designs of brass and ironwork.
The country is home to several unique and diverse musical instruments, including the sitar and the tabla.
India is known for its rich tradition of puppetry, including string puppets and hand puppets.
The country has a rich tradition of metalwork, including the intricate and ornate designs of silver and gold objects.
India has a coastline stretching over 7,517 km, making it one of the largest coastlines in the world.
India is the birthplace of yoga, and has a rich history of spiritual and philosophical traditions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism.
India is the largest producer of milk in the world and is also one of the largest consumers.
India is one of the largest producers of fruits and vegetables in the world, including mangoes, bananas, and guavas.
The country is home to several unique and diverse wildlife reserves, including the Kanha National Park and the Sariska Tiger Reserve.
India is the largest producer of spices in the world, including black pepper, cardamom, and turmeric.
The country is home to several unique and diverse handicrafts, including the intricate and ornate designs of silk and cotton textiles.
India has a rich tradition of calligraphy, including the beautiful scripts used for writing Sanskrit and Persian.
The country is home to several unique and diverse landscapes, including the lush tropical forests of the Western Ghats and the rugged mountains of Ladakh.
India is known for its rich tradition of textiles, including the intricate and ornate designs of hand-woven silk and cotton fabrics.
The country is home to several unique and diverse religious sites, including the sacred rivers of the Ganges and the Yamuna, and the holy city of Varanasi.
India is one of the largest producers of coal in the world, and also has large reserves of oil and natural gas.
The country is home to several unique and diverse flora, including the vibrant and fragrant flowers of the lotus and the jasmine.
India is known for its rich tradition of cuisine, including the delicious and aromatic dishes of biryani and tandoori chicken.
The country is home to several unique and diverse fauna, including the majestic and powerful Bengal tiger and the majestic Asian elephant.
India is one of the largest producers of tea in the world, and is also one of the largest consumers.
The country is home to several unique and diverse landscapes, including the tropical beaches of Goa and the snow-capped mountains of the Himalayas.
India has a rich tradition of metalworking, including the intricate and ornate designs of bronze and iron objects.
The country is home to several unique and diverse geographical features, including the Ganges Delta, the Deccan Plateau, and the Indo-Gangetic Plains.
India is known for its rich tradition of hospitality, and is famous for its warm and welcoming culture.