1. Cows are considered sacred
If hamburgers are a regular part of your diet, you’ll need to make some adjustments before visiting India! Cows are protected by their own set of rules in the Constitution, making killing a cow a crime.
Even on crowded city streets, cows have the liberty to roam where they please without fear of being harassed by humans.
2. India is the wettest inhabited place on Earth
Meghalaya village has won the Guinness world record title for the wettest place on Earth, with about 11,873 milliliters of rain annually. The monsoon season lasts six months, so make sure you pack an umbrella!
3. India has over 300,000 mosques and over 2 million Hindu temples
Get ready to be awed and amazed by all the stunning architecture India has to offer. About 15% of India’s population is Muslim. The mosques across the country range from small village buildings to immense famous ones, like the Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad or the Jama Masjid in New Delhi.
The same can be said about India’s Hindu temples, which surpass two million to serve the 79.8% of India’s Hindu population.
4. Chenab Bridge is the highest rail bridge in the world
Not all of India’s famous monuments are religious. The jaw-dropping bridge spanning the Chenab river in Jammu is 1,178 feet above the water. If you’re afraid of heights, you might want to skip this one!
5. Rajasthan has a Temple of Rats
The animal wonders of India continue. Although rats might not be the first species you think of to worship, there is a temple in Rajasthan dedicated to rats.
Thousands of rats call the temple home, making it one of the country’s most unique attractions. Many pilgrims visit the temple every year on their own religious journeys, so make sure to be respectful of local customs when visiting.
6. You can drive on the world’s highest motorable road
At over 19,300 feet, the Ladakh road is the highest motorable road in the world. Make sure you pack a warm jacket on before embarking on this particular adventure!
7. Home of a mysterious skeleton lake
Located in the Himalayas at about 16,470 feet, the glacial Lake Roopkund has become famous for the human skeletons found in the lake and surrounding areas.
It is thought that the skeletons are the remains of people from the 9th century who perished during a severe hail storm.
8. The popular game “Snakes and Ladders” originated in India
Now sold across the world (sometimes adapted to “shoots and ladders”), this board game traces its roots back to India. It was first created to teach morals and lessons about karma in a way that young children would understand and remember.
9. India was the first country to mine diamonds
From the 4th century BC for around 1,000 years, India was the only source of diamonds in the world. The original diamonds were found in the Krishna River Delta.
In the 18th century, more diamond deposits were discovered in Brazil, and soon after, in South Africa, adding to the market of diamonds.
10. India has 22 recognized languages
The numerous languages spoken across India include Santali, Kashmiri, Bengali, Tamil, and Urdu. However, the official languages are English and Hindi.
