Before you learn interesting facts about India, let’s introduce you to the country that is home to diverse cultures and religions.India is a country in South Asia with its capital in New Delhi. It is the seventh-largest country by area and the second-most populous country in the world.Surrounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Bay of Bengal on the southeast, and the Arabian Sea on the southwest, the Indian subcontinent’s triangular shape is an unmistakable one on the world map. India shares its international border with seven countries: Nepal, China, and Bhutan to the north, Pakistan and Afghanistan to the west, and Myanmar and Bangladesh to the east. Sri Lanka and the Maldives are India’s neighbors in the Indian Ocean. India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands share maritime borders with Indonesia, Myanmar, and Thailand.One of the most ancient civilizations in the world, India is a medley of multicultural elements. While Hinduism seems to be the dominant religion in the country, it is closely followed by Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, and several other faiths. It is also home to two major language families, the Indo-Aryan, and the Dravidian. Moreover, each state and union territory has one or more official languages.India’s unique geographical identity owes to the diverse landscape of the country. Be it the mighty snow-capped Himalayas in the north, the charming beaches of the south, the dry desert of the west, or the wet and dense forests of the east, India’s geographical diversity is unparalleled. Likewise, the country has different climate types in each of its corners which, in turn, lends to its varied natural vegetation cover, soil, wildlife, and biodiversity.If you want to know more about this vibrant country, explore these fun facts about India for kids!If you enjoyed this article on interesting facts about India, why not also read about fun facts about Mexico or facts about Hawaii here on Kidadl?India Facts: All You Need To Know About Its Thriving PopulationIndia is the second-most populous country in the world with a population of over one billion.According to the latest census report, India’s total population is over 1.2 billion. It is the second-most populous country in the world after China. In addition to having the second largest population in the world, India’s religious diversity calls for a special mention of the different faiths and religions that make up various proportions of the densely populated country.While followers of the Hindu religion make up as much as 79.8% of the population, Islam has the second-largest majority, with 14.23%. In fact, India has the third-largest Muslim population in the world. Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism are some of the other prominent faiths in India. India is also the world’s largest democracy in terms of population size.Historically, the majority of the Indian population has been known to reside in rural areas. Villages, which still form an integral part of the Indian society and culture, have traditionally been home to a large chunk of the national population. However, the want for better education, employment, housing, and financial opportunities has compelled more and more people to migrate from villages to developed cities. There are over 50 million urban clusters in the country, with cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad topping the list.The federal union of India consists of 28 states and eight union territories, with each state having its own capital. The national capital of New Delhi in northern India is the seat of the Central Government of the country, modeled after the Westminster system of governance. The country has an elected Prime Minister who runs the Union Government. The head of the state is the President of India. In addition, the President is also the commander-in-chief of the Indian Armed Forces. The apex judicial body is the Supreme Court of India.Interesting Facts About India: Cultural And Culinary DiversityIndian culture and Indian food are two of the fascinating aspects of the subcontinent that attract people from all over the world.The diverse culture of India is a harmonious blend of its religions, languages, food habits, lifestyles, art, architecture, festivals, and celebrations. India is one of those very few countries with a mind-boggling variety of religions. While Hinduism remains the majority and the most popular, Islam follows close with Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism as some of the prominent faiths of the Indian people. Not just that, there are thousands of languages and dialects spoken across India, including the forgotten and obsolete ones that have traditionally been a part of the tribes and indigenous communities.While English and Hindi languages enjoy the maximum popularity, some of the other dominant ones spoken in India are Bengali, Urdu, Tamil, Telugu, Punjabi, Marathi, Kannada, Gujarati, Odia, Sindhi, Konkani, Malayalam, Nepali, and many more. Even though the different parts of India have traditionally been associated with a particular language, urbanization has resulted in the mixing of people of different tongues across the length and breadth of the subcontinent.With a religious diversity as distinguished as India, it is evident that the Indians celebrate countless festivals throughout the year. Even though each festival has its roots in a specific religion, the secular spirit of India is such that people of all faiths and backgrounds come together to revel in the celebrations. Diwali, the festival of lights, is one of the major Hindu festivals in India. The Durga Puja festival is a highlight of the eastern Indian state of West Bengal, while Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with much pomp in the state of Maharashtra. The Pongal festival of South India is popular among the Tamil community, whereas Holi, or the festival of colors, is popular in North India. Other notable festivals in India are Vaisakhi, Bakr-Id, Eid ul-Fitr, and Christmas.An equally integral part of the Indian culture is its literature and arts. Ramayana and Mahabharata, the two colossal works of Sanskrit literature, have their roots in India. Besides, India is home to the famous 19th century Bengali poet, author, philosopher, and Nobel Prize winner Rabindranath Tagore.The influence of various dynasties and religions that dominated India from time to time find reflection in its sculptures, monuments, and artworks. Some of the most striking specimens of visual arts can be seen in the Buddhist stupas of Sarnath and Sanchi, rock-cut reliefs of the Ajanta and Ellora caves, and the Mughal paintings.Indian music and dance also have several forms and include both classical styles and folk elements. Popular folk dances of India include Bhangra, Bihu, Chhau, Garba, Lavani, and Ghoomar. In addition, there are eight classical dance forms in India: Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Odissi, Manipuri, Kuchipudi, and Sattriya.India is famous worldwide for its culinary variety. Tea and spices form an integral part of the national diet along with pulses, lentils, rice, and wheat. Although the food habits of Indians have undergone major changes and include western dishes as well, the traditionally famous delicacies have not lost their charm. Every nook and cranny of India is associated with a culinary specialty that is unique in itself. From mouthwatering and affordable street foods to traditional and fusion cuisines in modern diners, the culinary diversity of India is a treat in the literal sense. The use of forks and spoons is not traditional in India since the food here is best relished with the hands!A Visit To India’s Ancient PastFrom the Indus Valley civilization to the independence of India from the United Kingdom, fun facts about ancient India and contemporary times are worth a read.The ancient history of India dates back to 2500-1900 BCE when the Indus Valley civilization flourished in modern-day western India and Pakistan. During 2000-500 BCE, several regions of the subcontinent entered into the Iron Age. It was marked by the composition of the four Vedas, the oldest Hindu scriptures.Gradually, urbanization made way to the emergence of monarchies and non-Vedic religious movements such as Jainism and Buddhism. By the 3rd-century BCE, the Mauryan Empire had established its foothold in the political landscape of India. The Gupta Empire dominated the subcontinent during the 4th and 5th centuries. During that time, India made several advancements and breakthroughs in sculpture, architecture, classical literature, astronomy, science, mathematics, medicine, and even religion.Medieval India was characterized by the prominence of regional kingdoms in different parts of the subcontinent. While much of northern India was ruled by King Harsha of Kannauj, the southern parts of the subcontinent were dominated by the Chalukya, Pandya, and Chola dynasties. In the east, the Pala regime of Bengal was eminent. The later part of India’s medieval era was marked by the rule of the Islamic Delhi Sultanate. The Sultans were instrumental in defending the boundaries of India from repeated invasions of the Mongols and also had noteworthy contributions in the establishment of numerous architectural wonders.Early modern India was also marked by Muslim rule, but this time, the Mughals. The Mughal rule in India carved a new chapter in the country’s history with a slew of political conquests, administrative and economic reforms, agricultural developments, cultural revolutions, and architectural creations. With the gradual disintegration of the mighty Mughal empire, several European trading companies set up outposts in different parts of India in the 18th century. The most noteworthy among them was the English East India Company, known for its spice, tea, silk, cotton, indigo, saltpeter, and opium trade. Moreover, the Company laid the groundwork for the establishment of British colonial rule in India.The British domination of India is marked by countless rebellions and movements against the injustice and oppression of the rulers. After 200 long and arduous years of British rule, India gained freedom on August 15, 1947. Every year, August 15 is observed as Independence Day across India with the hoisting of the national flag and singing of the national anthem.The Taj Mahal: A Marvel In Marble And Other Landmarks In IndiaIndia is dotted with numerous architectural landmarks, and the Taj Mahal is one of them. So, read on for some fun facts about the Taj Mahal in India.The Taj Mahal is a massive marble mausoleum built by order of Mughal emperor Shahjahan in the loving memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Constructed between 1631-1648 in the city of Agra, the Taj is a UNESCO world heritage site and is considered to be the crowning architectural wonder of Muslim art in India.The main architect of the masterpiece in ivory-white was Ustad Ahmad Lahori. For its construction, stone-cutters, masons, carvers, inlayers, calligraphers, painters, and other artisans were acquired from the entire Mughal empire, Iran, and Central Asia. The Taj combines several elements of Indo-Islamic architecture, reflected in the arches and domes of the mausoleum. The inlay work with precious and semi-precious stones makes it all the more sublime. The free-standing minarets at the four corners of the raised tomb platform add a three-dimensional effect to the structure.Besides the Taj Mahal, some other famous landmarks of India include: Victoria Memorial, Kolkata, India Gate, Delhi, Gateway of India, Mumbai, Rashtrapati Bhawan, Delhi, Red Fort, Delhi, Sun Temple, Odisha, Golden Temple, Amritsar, Dal Lake, Srinagar, Varanasi Ghats on the banks of the Ganges River, Uttar Pradesh, Chenab Bridge, the world’s tallest rail bridge on the Chenab River, Jammu and Kashmir, The Statue of Unity on the Narmada River, Gujarat, Nilgiri tea plantations, Tamil Nadu, The world’s first floating post office, Srinagar, Hikkim post office, the world’s highest post office, Himachal Pradesh, The Sunderbans, the world’s largest mangrove forests on the Bay of Bengal, Mawsynram, the wettest place on earth, is located in the northeastern state of Meghalaya.Mumbai: The Financial And Entertainment Capital Of IndiaBesides being the financial hub of India, the city of Mumbai is home to the Indian film industry. Here are some fun facts about Mumbai, India.The name Mumbai comes from the local deity Mumba Devi.The old name of the city was Bombay. It was renamed Mumbai in 1995.The metropolis of Mumbai is an amalgamation of seven islands.Mumbai is the financial capital of India. The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE)is the oldest stock exchange in South Asia. The city also houses several other key financial centers, such as the Reserve Bank of India headquarters and the National Stock Exchange of India.Mumbai is the entertainment capital of India and home to Bollywood, the Hindi cinema industry.The first-ever train in India operated between Mumbai Central and Thane.The first public bus service in India started in Mumbai.The first airport in India was the Juhu Aerodrome in Mumbai, founded in 1928.Writer of The Jungle Book, Rudyard Kipling, was born in the city of Mumbai.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for fun facts about India then why not take a look at why do we celebrate Dussehra, or facts about Machu Picchu.
Before you learn interesting facts about India, let’s introduce you to the country that is home to diverse cultures and religions.
