“India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great-grandmother of tradition,” as the renowned American writer Mark Twain once stated.

India is the largest populous democracy in the world, with over 1.4 billion people living in this South Asian country. The nation is renowned for its rich history, varied scenery, and abundance of cultures and religions. These ten fascinating facts about India will leave you in awe, whether you’re planning a trip there or you’re just captivated by it.

Top 10 Amazing Facts About India That You Should Know:

1. Varanasi is the oldest and continually inhabited city in the world

One of the oldest cities in the world, Varanasi is still thriving today and is filled with thousands of years of history. It is also known as Kashi or Benaras. Situated near the Ganges River, Varanasi is a revered city in Uttar Pradesh that plays a significant role in Hindu spirituality, poetry, culture, and pilgrimage. “It is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together,” as Mark Twain once said.

Varanasi is a charming location that is very important to tourists because of the Ganges River and its cultural significance. In Varanasi, there are more than a hundred ghats that have stairs that lead to the riverbank. It is not unusual to see sadhus and priests in the morning and evening, either worshiping or meditating. The intricate cremation rites of the Manikarnika Ghat, however, make it the most striking.

2. The first country to mine and lead diamond production

Since the fourth century BC, India has been the world’s only supply of diamonds for more than a millennium, according to historical documents. One of India’s most proud facts is this. The Krishna Nagar Delta’s alluvial deposits provided the diamonds for mining. Brazil did not discover diamonds until the 18th century. Diamond mining has continued even though India has not been the world’s leading producer of diamonds since the 1900s. The most well-liked locations for large-scale industrial diamond mining are Mahasamund in Chhattisgarh, Golconda in Andhra Pradesh, and Panna in Madhya Pradesh.

3. Cows have a sacred status cow

India is arguably the only nation on earth where the common cow is worshipped and has attained a position equal to that of God. According to mythology, cows have been a feature of significant Indian rites since the fourth century BC. It is closely related to Lord Krishna, who is frequently depicted in ancient epics as a cowherd. All items made from cows, such ghee, milk, curd, and so forth, are likewise prized. India is home to many Gaushalas, also known as Cow Shelters, where cows are cared after and fed.

4. The largest number of vegetarians in the world

This is not well known, according to the list of undiscovered facts about India. The world’s largest vegetarian population is in India. In India, the primary driver of vegetarianism is religion; more than 81% of adults abstain from meat on specific days. Furthermore, the great majority of Indian Buddhists and Jainites consume only plant-based diets and abstain from meat. It wouldn’t be shocking to find vegetarian menus in international fast food restaurants like KFC and McDonald’s in India.

5. The popular game ‘Snakes and Ladders’ is India’s contribution to the world

Many board games, most notably the traditional game Snakes and Ladders, are said to have originated in India. The majority of us have played a peculiar variation of this game without actually understanding where it came from. According to mythology, it was first established in the early 2nd century BC and was called Mokshapat or Moksha Patamu. According to a different narrative, Swami Gyandev created this dice game for use on boards around the 13th century BC. Kids learned moral lessons from the game, which also highlighted the consequences of Kama (desire) and Karma (destiny). In the end, the Milton Bradley Company released the British version of this game in 1943 under the title Chutes & Ladders.

6. India stands third for its hefty population of billionaires

According to Forbes’ 35th annual list of billionaires, India is home to the third-largest population of billionaires worldwide, behind the US and China. This is just another incredible truth about India. On the list of the richest men in Asia, chairman of Reliance Industries Limited Mukesh Ambani is ranked first, followed by chairman of the Adani Group Gautam Adani and HCL Technologies Founder Shiv Nadar. As astounding as it may appear, India already boasts more than 140 billionaires.

7. The largest religion in India, Hinduism is the oldest in the world

Based on the 2011 census, India has the highest Hindu population in the world, with approximately 966.3 million people identifying as Hindu. With more than 94% of the world’s Hindu population, India is undoubtedly the world’s largest Hindu hotspot, with over 5000 years of history. Hinduism has no recorded founder, although it took off when the Vedic doctrines appeared, about 1500–500 BC. Between 500 BC and 300 AD, however, it was known that the customs and cultural phenomena extended widely. Hinduism is not pure polytheism, despite what some people think. It has faith in the creator, Brahma.

8. India is the largest spice producer globally

What’s even more astounding about India is its share of the global spice trade. India is home to more than 70% of the world’s spice crops, including the widely used cardamom, cinnamon, saffron, turmeric, nutmeg, vanilla, and cloves. In addition, India is the world’s biggest user of spices. It makes sense that Indian kitchens are stocked to the brim with adaptable spices that are employed without fail in regular cooking.

The Vedas, a significant source of Indian culture, also describe the use of spices as a remedy for numerous illnesses. Visit Khari Baoli in Delhi if you’ve ever wanted to lose yourself in the smells and intricate maze of spice alleyways. Presumably the biggest spice market in Asia, it is breathtakingly gorgeous and a sensory overload. Nevertheless, if this is your first time, do bring a guide.

9. The magnetic hill that defies gravity

Magnetic Hill is perhaps one of the most unusual facts about India that not many people are aware of. In a literal sense, Magnetic Hill defies gravity. Yes, you did hear correctly! It’s about thirty km from Leh and is also known as Gravity Hill. This is in fact a section of the Leh-Kargil highway. There are signs with appropriate information that will enable you enjoy and maximize this strange phenomenon, which draws large numbers of tourists. Your car will begin to drift upward rather than downward. When your car is in neutral, all of this will occur. There are a lot of wild suggestions to explain this weird event. According to one scientific idea, there is a powerful magnetic field on the hill that pushes the cars downhill.

An further hypothesis proposes the existence of an optical illusion. The topography blocks the horizon, giving the eyes an illusion. We find it challenging to distinguish between the hill’s slopes as a result. The absence of a horizon or level surface gives the impression that the scene is getting worse while in reality the opposite is true. July to October is the perfect time to visit Magnetic Hill if you are planning a Leh Tour and wish to unravel its secrets.

10. Mystery glacial lake with skeletons

Unique high-altitude glacial lake in the Indian Himalayas called Roopkund, also called Skeleton Lake. Roopkund is an enigmatic lake in the state of Uttarakhand, perched 16,499 feet above sea level. The remains of hundreds of people with unknown origins are housed in what is basically a small body of water. The skeletal remains of this picturesque hike draw travelers from all over the world. A British forest warden named H K Madhwal found the skeleton floating in the lake in 1942, which led to its discovery.

When it first appeared during World War II, it was thought to be a component of the Japanese invasion troops. Still, the skeletons’ age was above 1200 years, according to the carbon dating. The skeletons had comparable head wounds, but because they passed away at separate times, the reason for their deaths is still a mystery. The possibility that a hailstorm caused their unexpected deaths is concluded, although it is still unclear why so many individuals were traveling at such high elevations. The Roopkund trek has a total length of approximately 53 km, and it can take you five to seven days to finish.