Not everyone knows the most Interesting Facts about the country of India, but first things first. India is an incredible country with an amazing history, very colorful population, unusual cuisine, beautiful nature, rich flora and fauna.

Someone, having been here, will want to return to India again. Well, for some, one trip will be enough to get a vivid impression. But it is clear that visiting this country greatly affects the mind of a person, forcing you to look at some things from a completely different angle.

As practice shows, we know very little about this state. Well, for example, Did you know that chess comes from India? And the fact that many basic sciences became known to the world precisely thanks to the ancient scientists living in India? But she is much older Ancient Greece and ancient rome !

If you are curious about what else India is famous for, interesting facts about the country will really surprise you. Read on.

General Facts

Let's start with the facts that you need to know if you are interested in India and Indian culture:

• India is the seventh largest country in the world in terms of land area and the second by population (1 billion 170 million people).
• Samo The country got its name "India" due to the fact that the first settlements were located along the banks of the Indus River. .
• Flag of India consisting of three horizontal stripes different color, carries a deep symbolic background. Bright orange - altruism, courage. White - the desire for peace and truth. Green - fertility, fidelity, nobility. In those days when India was not yet independent, the symbol of a spinning wheel was depicted in the middle of the white stripe. But when the long-awaited independence was gained, the symbol, personifying the wheel of life, began to decorate the flag instead of a spinning wheel.
• India is a multinational country. This is confirmed by the fact that 780 languages ​​​​and more than 1000 dialects formed from them are spoken on its territory.. It is striking that one of the dialects - Tamil - is considered one of the most ancient. True, over the past 50 years, about 250 dialects have ceased to be used. Or the constitution.
• It is forbidden to export from the country and import Indian rupees into its territory.
• For the last 10 thousand years, India has not invaded foreign territories. .

Unusual facts about traditions and religions

It is known that India is a very religious, spiritual country, saturated with ancient philosophy. At the same time, there is an amazing diversity of religions and very tolerant attitude inhabitants to this. About 80% of the population are Hindus, approximately 11% are Muslims, the rest are Sikhs, Christians, Zoroastrians, etc.. Here are some more known facts:

• A wedding is highly anticipated and an important event in Indian life. Even those who have an average income invite very a large number of guests (300-1500 people) for the celebration. Usually the tables were vegetarian (unless, of course, we are talking about Muslim weddings). Yes and. However, the dishes are prepared in such a volume that they could feed several thousand guests. Read more about this in the article "".
• In the city of Tirupati in the X century was erected a temple of Vishnu. He is one of the most famous places pilgrimages. It is visited by approximately 30 thousand visitors per day. Mecca and Rome are visited by a much smaller number of pilgrims.
• Cows roaming freely on the streets of India. These animals are sacred to the Indians, as it is believed that one of the progenitors of all mankind was just a cow. You can also find out.
• India is a country of fables and fairy tales. Moreover, many of them are very ancient and there are a whole lot of them.
• The color of clothes, folds and even the order of strands in a woman's hair is of great importance. By such signs, a resident of India can accurately determine who exactly is in front of him: practically a saint or a representative of an ancient profession.. You can also learn more about Indian clothes or.

Facts about the daily life of Indians

The life of Indians is very different from the life of a European person. 35% of the inhabitants of this country are below the poverty line and barely make ends meet. But at the same time, more than a million Indians are. This, of course, affects the way of life of the population:

• Finding a washing machine at home in Indians is almost unbelievable. Those who have that kind of money to buy such equipment can usually afford a housekeeper who does laundry, cleaning and cooking. The rest are washed by hand in the nearest body of water.
• The labor force in India is one of the cheapest in India. For example, daily cleaning of a 3-room apartment and cooking dinner for several people per month will cost approximately 3,500 rubles ie 3 thousand rupees. True, the quality of such services is far from always good level.
• The most developed art is dancing. They are given great importance. With the help of dances, accompanied by expressive gestures, any information is transmitted. In various ceremonies, as well as in temples, you can see the corresponding ritual dances. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with.
• It is not customary among Indians for a wife to address her husband by his first name. Otherwise, it is considered disrespectful..
• It is very difficult for widows in India. And all because there is a belief here: a good wife’s husband would not die . Some communities do not even allow such women to attend important social events and be near the newlyweds.
• In the ancient and Middle Ages in India, such a rite was practiced as. It consisted in the fact that after the death of her husband, his body, along with the living widow, were indulged in public burning.
• Most Indians don't use toilet paper. . To carry out relevant hygiene procedures in decent places in the toilets near the toilet hangs a small shower. In simpler places, a tap with water is equipped for this and there is a small bucket nearby.

Facts about Indian medicine and science

Despite the fact that there are many uneducated and non-literate people in India, this country has its own great achievements in science and the field of medicine:

• Algebra and geometry originated here.
• Indian medicine appeared 2500 years ago thanks to the first physician Chakara. But the first operation was carried out much earlier. Sushruta is considered the progenitor of surgery. He performs operations to remove cataracts, on the brain, caesarean sections and even prosthetics! You can learn more about Indian medicine from ours.
• In ancient India, they knew a lot about anatomy and physiology, and also possessed knowledge of the implementation of anesthesia.
• Back in the 6th century, the Indian mathematician Baudhayana managed to formulate the Pythagorean law and calculate the number Pi with high accuracy.
• The first concepts of the science of navigation were also presented to the world by ancient Indian scientists.
• Incredibly, back in the 12th century, the talented astronomer and mathematician Bhaskara was able to accurately calculate the time during which the Earth full turn around the sun. There is also interesting article about .

So we talked about some interesting facts about India. This country has rich history several millennia long.

Although it was once prosperous, today it has to endure difficult times. But we still love her because she is so bright, amazing and extraordinary.

The state of India is located in South Asia. It borders with Burma and Bangladesh in the east, with China, Nepal, Bhutan and Afghanistan in the north, with Pakistan in the west.

With south side it is washed by the Strait of Polk and, on the eastern side, by the Bay of Bengal, and on the western side by the Arabian Sea.

Today, India is partly territories of Kashmir and Jammu, which are disputed by Pakistan. The area of ​​the country is 3,165,596 square kilometers.

India can be conditionally divided into 4 regions: the northern river valleys, the Himalayas, the Western and Eastern Ghats, and the Deccan plateau.

The Himalayas are the highest mountain range in the world with a width of 160 to 320 kilometers., which stretches along the eastern and northern borders at 2400 km.

The highest mountain peaks, which are wholly or partially located in India:

• 8598 m - Kanchendzhanga;
• 8126 m - Nanga Parabat;
• 7817 m - Nanda Devi;
• 7788 m - Rakaposhi;
• 7756 m - Kamet.

Parallel to the Himalayas in the south is the region of the northern river valleys - this region is a flat strip reaching a width of 400 km. This region has taken most flat area, through which the Brahmaputra, Ganges and Indus flow. The western and central parts of India receive water from the Ganges and the Ganges valley (its tributaries).

The Brahmaputra flows into Bangladesh and originates in the northern Himalayas- it is from it that the Assam region receives water. The Indus flows into Pakistan, originating in Tibet.

The region of the northern river valleys is the most populated region of the country, and this is due to fertile lands and plenty of water. It was in this region that Indian civilization was born.

The Deccan Plateau, which has triangular shape, located south of this region and occupies almost the entire area of ​​the Indian Peninsula. The height of this plateau varies from 300 m to 900 m, but sometimes you can find chains that have a height of up to 1200 m. The plateau is crossed by rivers in many places. From the west and east, the plateau is framed by the Western Ghats (rise to a height of up to 900 m) and the Eastern Ghats (rise to a height of up to 460 m).

In 1998, India's population was estimated at over 984 million, respectively. average density population on square kilometer – 311.

Ethnic groups:

If we talk about India as a whole, then more than 1600 languages ​​​​and dialects are used in this country.

Religion:

• 80% are Hindus;
• 14 percent are Muslims;
• 2.4 percent are people with a Christian faith;
• 2% are Sikhs;
• 0,7% — ;
• 0,5% .

The capital of India is New Delhi

Largest cities countries with their populations:

• About 10 million people -;
• More than 7 million people -;
• 4.4 million people - Kolkata ()
• 4.2 million people - Hyderabad;
• 4.1 million people - Bangalore;
• 3.8 million people - Madras;
• More than 1 million people have 12 more cities.

State structure of India federal Republic . monetary unit is the Indian rupee. The average life expectancy for both men and women is 60 years. The death rate per one thousand people of the population is 8.7, the birth rate per thousand people is 25.9.

India is one of the oldest civilizations in the world. Until the middle of the 3rd century BC, the Dravidian civilization successfully developed in India, which not only was not inferior, but even surpassed the civilizations of Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt in some respects.

In the period from 2500 to 1500 BC, the Indo-Aryan tribes conquered India, displacing the Dravidians.

Various kingdoms predominantly with Hinduism at the head religious factor developed on the territory of this country until the 8th century AD. After the Muslim conquerors brought Islam to the country. Muslim rule continued until 1398 in the largest part of India, until the arrival of the armies of Tamerlane in the country. However, the Mongols stayed in India for a short time and soon left the country, so that until the end of the first quarter of the 16th century, India was ruled by the Muslim dynasties of the Saids and Tugluks.

Babur, a descendant of Tamerlane, in 1526 conquered almost all of India and founded the empire of the Great Mongols that existed until 1857 on its territory.

The Portuguese established several trading posts along the coast between 1498 and 1503 and were quickly followed by the British and Dutch. In 1603, the British East India Company obtained the right to trade in textiles and spices from the Mongols, and as a result of a prudent trade policy, the British gained political influence in most of India.

In 1828-1935, full political leadership passed to Great Britain, and India became a protectorate of Great Britain in 1857.

Gaining Independence

Independence was gained by India on August 15, 1847, but the country was divided into two - Pakistan (later Bangladesh separated from it) and modern India on religious grounds.

The conflict between India and Pakistan is still ongoing, which began in 1947 (at first the conflict had an open form, now it is more hidden). The conflict concerns the issue of ownership of the territories of Kashmir and Jammu, which are separated by a state border and are located in both states (two tritia of the territory belongs to India, one third to Pakistan).

India is a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations, UNESCO, World Bank, IMF, UN.

Climate of India

Due to the size of the country and the regions differing in topography, the climate is very different. In India, with the exception of the mountainous regions, there is a tropical climate with two seasons - dry and wet, lasting from June to September. At this time, heavy rains are brought by monsoons (up to 10800 mm per year in the Khasi hills). The hot season starts in March and reaches its peak in May. At this time, the thermometer is able to rise to the mark of 49 degrees Celsius.

In Kolkata, the air temperature in January ranges from 13 to 27 degrees, and in July it rises to 32 degrees. In Madras, the thermometer in January shows from 19 to 29 degrees, and in July to 36 degrees. In Bombay, January is 19-28 degrees, July is 26-36 degrees.

Flora

The arid regions that border Pakistan boast only rather sparse vegetation. Palm trees and bamboo grow in some areas.

The valley of the Ganges is rich in a wide variety of vegetation, because it receives a fairly serious amount of rainfall. Most of the vegetation is located in the southern part of the region - there are many hardwoods and mangroves.

Dense coniferous forests are located in the northwest of the Himalayas, and subtropical forests are located in the east of the region. The slopes of the Western Ghats and the coastal region of southwestern India are rich in dense tropical forests- teak, bamboo and other evergreen trees grow here.

The Deccan Plateau is sparsely vegetated, but forests with deciduous trees, bamboo and palms can be found.

Fauna of India

Representatives of cats: panther, tiger, snow leopard, leopard, clouded leopard, cheetah. Other large mammals include the rhinoceros, Indian elephant, antelope, wolf, jackal, buffalo, black bear, deer, and several species of monkeys.

AT mountainous areas quite a lot of mountain goats. India is especially rich in poisonous snakes, such as scales, cobras and others. Reptiles also include crocodiles and pythons. Among the many birds, it is especially worth highlighting the heron, peacock, kingfisher and parrots.

Museums and reserves

There are more than 460 different museums on the territory of India, among which the main ones are the museums of Madras - the National Art Gallery and the Government Museum. In Varnassi - the Sarnat Museum, in New Delhi - National Museum. In Bombay - the Museum of Western India, in Calcutta - the Birla Technology Museum, the Museum of India.

In addition to museums, India is rich in monuments of architecture and history. In Calcutta, in Maidan Park, there is a memorial to Victoria, in the same city there is Botanical Garden, St Paul's Cathedral. There are several Hindu temples in New Delhi, among which Lakshminarasi and Balkesh are considered the main ones. In Agra - the Pearl Mosque, the Marble Mausoleum of Jahangri Mahal.

There are 1,500 temples in Varanasi, including the Golden Temple. In Bombay - Kanheri caves with rock bas-reliefs, Victoria Gardens Park (it houses a zoo). In Delhi - the Great Mosque, the Red Fort, the Rang Mahal Palace, the Hall of Public Receptions of the Great Mongols.

In Patna, there are many Sikh temples and a mosque built in 1499. In Armitsar, there is the Golden Temple, which is surrounded by a reservoir of immortality (Sikhs bathe in it to find spiritual purification).

Without a doubt, India is considered one of the most beautiful and interesting countries in the world. She still remains a mystery to most, despite the fact that everyone knows about her, about her traditions, cooking, history. Everyone knows that this is a country of contrasts. And yet in India, in a country with a democracy, mobile phones, the developed pharmaceutical industry and Bollywood, there are many strange and incomprehensible phenomena.

It is known that more than a billion people live in India, it is the largest democratic country in the world. It is difficult to imagine such a huge amount of public support for the government, but society, in turn, makes the government work hard. Well, or so it seems! Until now, India has preserved the caste system, which indicates to each member of society his place.

In most countries of the world there are only 4 seasons, there are countries in which even less. For example, in countries located on the equator, all year round warm, and vice versa, in countries beyond the Arctic Circle it is constantly cold. In India, there are 6 seasons according to the calendar of Hinduism, the main religion of the country: summer, monsoon season, autumn, winter, pre-spring season, spring.

Unfortunately, the national currency of India, the rupee, is not allowed to be taken out of the country. This news will upset tourists, but it rules out currency speculation. Although locals trying to export currency and speculate with neighboring Bangladesh, this is all happening on a small scale. More and more people in India are starting to use cards.

India is a country of contrasts. In the country next to live poor and rich, literate and people who cannot write and read, and such majestic building how the Taj Mahal is adjacent to the shacks. The country has only 65% ​​of the literate population. There are 45% of literate women and 75% of men. Despite the relatively high literacy rate in India high level poverty.

The country's population continues to grow. India is said to overtake China by 2028. Already today it has exceeded total population Western Europe.

At the time of Pangea, all the continents were one large piece of land. Thanks to tectonic processes huge parts began to separate. It was then that India began the journey separately from other parts. Later, she came across the piece that is Asia today and stopped.

In India people speak 1000 different languages and dialects. A traveler will not be helped by a phrase book, as many local dialects and the languages ​​are very different. True, most people know Hindi.

In India the most high percent mortality in the world. The main reason for this phenomenon is traffic accidents. Traffic on the roads in India, especially in cities, is extremely heavy and there is no regulation. It takes talent to maneuver safely between cars, motorcycles, rickshaws, animals, and pedestrians. People die under the wheels of cars or due to suffocation in overcrowded buses. The death rate of newborns and pregnant women also contributes to the high mortality rate due to insufficiently qualified medical care. In addition, they still kill for infidelity and for dowry.

When it comes to cinema, everyone has associations with Hollywood. However, about 1,100 films are released annually in India, which is twice as many as in the US. Believe it or not, most Indian films are not made in Bollywood. Although many people like the colorful, emotional, expressive films of Bollywood stars, this is only a small part of the entire Indian film production.

The passion of Indians for records in different areas can be called strange. For example, the Guinness Book of Records holds the record for the largest crocheted blanket in the world. The largest metal peacock in the world was erected in India. The record for the most massive performance of the national anthem was recorded.

Everyone knows the problem that occurs in multimillion-dollar megacities around the world - this is air pollution from car exhaust, which manifests itself visually in the presence of smog, and physically in shortness of breath. China is most famous for this, but in Mumbai the situation is even worse. Staying in Mumbai or Delhi for one day is equivalent to smoking 100 cigarettes. According to the World Health Organization, 1.5 million people die each year from lung cancer and asthma in these cities.

Although most people in India eat plant-based foods, Indian cuisine has very tasty dishes made from chicken, goat, lamb. But India has the largest number of vegetarians. At the Indian Golden Temple, several thousand free vegetarian meals are handed out daily to the poor and homeless. Be sure to try paneer, naan and biryani - vegetable and rice dishes.

8. 53% of houses without running water and sewerage

In the cities of India, people die under the wheels of cars, from polluted air, and also from unsanitary conditions, since 53% of houses lack running water and sewerage.

Dowry is an ancient Indian tradition. When a guy and a girl are going to get married (very often parents make the choice for them), the bride and her family give a large amount of money to the groom's family. Especially these are large sums when through marriage they are going to improve their social and caste position. Unfortunately, because of this money, one girl is killed every hour in India.

In every spoon of almost all Indian dishes you can find turmeric, coriander, mustard, cumin, cinnamon, cardamom, chili pepper. Not surprisingly, 70% of the world's spices are of Indian origin. If you want to try an authentic Indian dish, then it is better to visit any Indian family. They spend several hours preparing the dish, a huge variety of spices - this art is difficult to learn.

Unfortunately, slavery still exists in India today. The number of slaves reaches 14 million people. Long time this topic was hushed up and ignored. People in many countries of the world could not even think that in India there is slavery, which exists due to imperfect legislation, corruption local authorities. Most of the slaves are poor, illiterate women and children who are forced into hard labor and prostitution.

In addition to slaves, there are a lot of poor people in India. A large number of families with children live on the street, collect alms. In India, the average person has to work 14-16 hours to earn little money. On average, they earn up to $1.25 a day. The government is trying to provide benefits to the poor, stimulate the development of agricultural areas and motivate the poor to take up farming, but so far to no avail.

There is in the world whole line developed countries, where the rights of men and women are equally respected. In India, in some families, newborn girls are deliberately killed, as they will not be able to continue the race. Between 100,000 and 500,000 girls are killed annually in the country, just because of their gender. Selective abortions are practiced here, which were officially banned back in 1994. Those girls who manage to survive are often humiliated all their lives by the male population. If we talk about medicine, then more attention and respect, when talking about vaccinations and treatment, is shown to boys and men.

In accordance with the traditions of Hinduism, which is very common in India, the day of the funeral of the deceased is celebrated and commemorated by relatives. Most often in India, corpses are burned, and at the funeral they are not allowed to drink alcohol or eat meat products, this rule also applies to the next 12 days. The eldest son in the family pours the ashes of the deceased into the water of any reservoir nearby, it can be the ocean, sea, river, lake. Relatives and family friends celebrate the death of the deceased, wishing him a happy afterlife.

In ancient times in India, marijuana was used in different purposes. Today it is an absolutely legal action, marijuana is used in different types, although there are some restrictions that are associated with religion and traditions. For example, it is added to dishes, milkshakes are prepared from it. It is one of the five sacred plants that are mentioned in ancient Hindu texts. Marijuana is also used to treat various diseases and during religious ceremonies. Hindus are sure that Shiva also used marijuana.
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brief information

Far India Presents huge interest for tourists. This country has thousands of ancient sights that will be of interest to any traveler. India is the birthplace of such religions as Buddhism and Jainism. However, millions of foreign tourists annually come to India not only, for example, to visit the places where the Buddha preached. India now has a large number of attractions, spa resorts, as well as ski and beach resorts.

Geography of India

India is located in South Asia. India borders Pakistan to the west, China, Nepal and Bhutan to the northeast, and Myanmar and Bangladesh to the east. In the south, India is washed by the Indian Ocean, in the southwest - by the Arabian Sea. The Bay of Bengal is located in the southwest of the country. total area this country - 3,287,590 sq. km, including the islands, and the total length state border- 15 106 km.

India owns several islands. The largest of them are the Laccadive, Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Indian Ocean.

The Himalayas stretch across India from north to northeast. The most high peak in India - Mount Kanchenjunga, whose height reaches 8,856 meters.

There are several very large rivers in India - the Indus (its length is 3,180 km) and the Ganges (its length is 2,700 km). Among other Indian rivers, one should also highlight the Brahmaputra, Yamuna and Koshi.

Capital

The capital of India is New Delhi, which is now home to about 350 thousand people. New Delhi became the capital of India at the beginning of the 20th century. The "old" city in New Delhi was built back in mid-seventeenth century by Emperor Shah Jahan, ruler of the Mughal Empire.

Official language

The official language in India is Hindi. In its turn English language is "auxiliary state language" in India. In addition, 21 more languages ​​​​have official status in this country.

Religion

Over 80% of India's population is Hindu. More than 13% of the inhabitants of this country are Muslims, more than 2.3% are Christians, about 2% are Sikhs, and 0.7% are Buddhists.

State structure of India

Under the current Constitution of 1950, India is a parliamentary republic. Its head is the President, elected by a special collegium for 5 years (this collegium consists of deputies of parliament and members of state assemblies).

Parliament in India is bicameral - the Council of States (245 deputies) and the House of the People (545 deputies). executive power in this country belongs to the President, the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers.

Main political parties in India - the Indian National Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Socialist Party, the Communist Party of India, the National People's Party, etc.

Climate and weather

The climate in India varies from tropical monsoon in the south to temperate in the north. The Himalayas, the Indian Ocean, and the Thar Desert have a great influence on the climate in India.

There are three seasons in India:
- from March to June - summer
- from July to October - monsoons
- from November to February - winter

The average annual air temperature in India is +25.3C. The hottest month in India is May, when the average maximum air temperature is +41C. The coldest month is January, when the average minimum temperature is +7C. The average annual rainfall is 715 mm.

Average air temperature in New Delhi:

January - +14C
- February - +17C
- March - +22C
- April - +28C
- May - +34C
- June - +34С
- July - +31C
- August - +30C
- September - +29С
- October - +26С
- November - +20C
- December - +15С

Seas and oceans of India

In the south, India is washed by the Indian Ocean, in the southwest - by the Arabian Sea. The Bay of Bengal is located in the southwest of the country. General coastline in India, including the islands, is more than 7.5 thousand km.

Average sea temperature near Goa, India:

January - +28С
- February - +28С
- March - +28C
- April - +29C
- May - +30C
- June - +29C
- July - +28C
- August - +28С
- September - +28С
- October - +29С
- November - +29С
- December - +29С

Rivers and lakes

India has two river systems different regime"nutrition". These are the Himalayan rivers (Ganges, Brahmaputra, etc.) and the rivers flowing into the ocean - Godavari, Krishna and Mahanadi.

One of the longest rivers in the world, the Indus, also flows through India, with a length of 3,180 km.

As for the lakes, there are not very many of them in India, but, nevertheless, there are very beautiful ones among them. The largest Indian lakes are Chilika, Sambhar, Koleru, Loktak, and Wular.

Story

Neolithic human settlements on the territory of modern India appeared about 8 thousand years ago. In the years 2500-1900 BC. in Western India, there was the first urban culture, which formed around the cities of Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa, and Dhalavira.

In 2000-500 BC. Hinduism spread in India, and at the same time a caste system began to take shape there, consisting of priests, warriors, and free peasants. Subsequently, castes of merchants and servants were formed.

Around the 5th century BC. India already had 16 independent states - Mahajanapada. At the same time, two religions were formed - Buddhism, founded by Siddhartha Gautama Buddha, and Jainism, founded by Mahavira.

In the VI century BC. some territories of India were conquered by the Persians, and in the 4th century the troops of Alexander the Great conquered some northwestern parts of this country.

In the II century BC. The Mauryan kingdom reaches its peak, conquering several neighboring Indian states.

In the 1st century BC. Indian kingdoms traded with ancient Rome. In the 7th century, most of the Indian kingdoms were united by King Harsha into a single state.

In 1526, the Mughal Empire was founded on the territory of modern India, the rulers of which were the descendants of Genghis Khan and Timur.

In the XVII-XIX centuries, the English East India Company, which even had its own army, was in charge of the territory of modern India.

In 1857, the so-called. "Rebellion of the sepoys", whose dissatisfaction was just caused by the East India Company. After the suppression of the Sepoy Rebellion, the British liquidated the East India Company, and India became a colony of the British Empire.

In the 1920s, a massive national liberation movement began in India against British rule. In 1929, Great Britain gave India the rights of a dominion, but this did not help the British. In 1947, the independence of India was declared. Part of the Indian territories after some time became the independent state of Pakistan.

India was admitted to the UN back in 1945 (however, then this country was still British India).

culture

India is a country with a huge cultural heritage. Indian culture has had (and continues to have) an impact not only on neighbouring countries but also to other states located far from it.

Until now, India has a caste system of society, thanks to which Indian culture retains all its traditional values.

The expression of Indian traditions is music and dance. There is nothing like it anywhere else in the world.

Tourists in India, we recommend that you definitely see the local festivals and parades, of which there are a lot. Elephant processions, musical performances, "tiger dances", fireworks, sweets distribution, etc. often take place during festivals. The most famous Indian festivals are the Onam festival (dedicated to the memory of the mythical king Bali), the Tea Festival in Calcutta, Diwali, Ratha Yatra (Chariot Festival), Dussera in Delhi, Ganapati Festival in honor of god Ganesh.

It should also be noted interesting holiday sisters and brothers "Raksha Bandhan", celebrated every year in July. On this day, the sisters wrap their brothers' wrists with handkerchiefs, ribbons that protect them from evil forces. In return, the brothers give their sisters various gifts and swear to protect them.

Indian Cuisine

Indian cuisine is known throughout the world for its use of spices. It is thanks to the Indians that various seasonings and spices, including black pepper and curry, have become widespread in the world.

India is very big country, and therefore it is not surprising that each of its regions has its own culinary traditions. However, all regions of India are characterized by the use of rice. This product is the basis of Indian cuisine.

It is generally accepted that the inhabitants of India are vegetarians, as required by their religious doctrine. However, in fact, in India they are quite popular and meat dishes because there are also Muslims in this country. The most famous Indian meat dish is "tandoori chicken", when the chicken is marinated in spices and then baked in a special oven. Other famous Indian meat dishes are biryani (chicken with rice), gushtaba (meatballs stewed in yogurt with spices).

In general, meat dishes are most often included in the diet of the inhabitants of northern India. Fish and seafood are popular in coastal areas, while vegetables are popular in southern India.

Tourists in India are also recommended to try dal puree soup, naan wheat flatbread, vegetable stew“Sabji”, rice cakes “chapati” and “samba”, “kichari” (stewed rice with mung bean and spices), “jalebi” (pancakes in syrup), “rasgulla” (balls of cottage cheese), “gulab-jamun” ( yogurt with flour and almonds).

Traditional non-alcoholic Indian drinks - "dhai" (yogurt or yogurt), "raita" (yogurt with mint and grated cucumber).

Landmarks of India

There are so many attractions in India that it is difficult for us to single out the most interesting ones. Perhaps the top ten Indian attractions, in our opinion, may include the following:

Red Fort in Delhi

The construction of the Red Fort in Delhi began in 1638 and ended in 1648. This fortification was built by order of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Now the Red Fort is included in the list world heritage UNESCO.

Mausoleum-mosque Taj Mahal in Agra

The Taj Mahal was built in 1653 by order of Shah Jahan, Emperor of the Mughal Empire. This mausoleum was built by 20 thousand people over 20 years. The Taj Mahal is now on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Minaret Qutub Minar in Delhi

The height of this brick minaret is 72.6 meters. Its construction lasted from 1193 to 1368.

Elephant Cave near Mumbai

In the Cave of the Elephants there is an underground temple of Shiva with her sculptures. It was built several thousand years ago. The Elephant Cave is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Virupaksha Temple in Hampi

The first small temple on the territory modern city Hampi was built back in the 7th century AD. Gradually, other religious buildings were built around it, and after a while there was already a huge beautiful temple complex in Hampi.

Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar

Harmandir Sahib is more commonly known as the Golden Temple. This is the most important religious building for the Sikhs. The construction of the Golden Temple in Amritsar began in the 16th century. In the 19th century, the upper floors of this temple were covered with gold.

Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra

Buddhist monks began to build their Ajanta caves around the 2nd century BC. These caves were abandoned around 650 AD. Only in 1819 did the British accidentally stumble upon the Ajanta Caves. To this day, unique frescoes have been preserved in these caves, telling about the life of people in the distant past.

Jaigarh fort

This fort was built near the city of Amber in 1726. According to legend, once upon a time the largest cannon in the world was placed in Jaigarh Fort (it can still be seen now, because the ancient fort is now a museum).

Raj Ghat Palace in Delhi

Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi were cremated in this palace.

Pearl Mosque in Agra

This mosque in Agra was built in the middle of the 17th century under the emperor Shah Jahan. No, there are no pearls in this mosque, just its domes shine very strongly in the sun.

Cities and resorts

The largest Indian cities are Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Surat, and Kanpur.

In India, there are a large number of beautiful seaside resorts with magnificent beaches. The sand on Indian beaches is white and fine. The most popular beach resort in India is Goa. Among other Indian beach resorts, the following should be mentioned: Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, as well as beaches on the Andaman, Nicobar and Laccadive Islands.

There are several ski resorts in India that are considered the best in Asia. Of course, the winter resorts of India cannot be compared with the ski slopes of Austria, Italy and Switzerland. However, for those travelers who love to ski, and who at the same time want to get to know the unique India, holidays in Indian ski resorts will be remembered forever.

The most popular ski resorts in India are Auli, Dayara Bugayal, Mundali, Munsiari, Solang, Narkanda, Kufri, and Gulmarg. By the way, the skiing season in India lasts from mid-December to mid-May.

Many foreign tourists come to India to relax in the spa resorts. Indian spa centers offer clients various Ayurvedic programs. Among such spa resorts, first of all, Beach & Lake, Ayurma, and Ananda should be named.

Souvenirs/Shopping

Before you go to India think about what you want to buy there. Otherwise, the Indian merchants in the bazaars and shops will sell you a lot of different unnecessary goods, and you will lose thousands of rupees. We recommend tourists from India to bring Indian tea, various incense, bracelets (glass, metal, precious metals), amulets, talismans, marble souvenirs (for example, a small marble Taj Mahal), scarves, shawls, saris (traditional Indian dress ), leather shoes, sets of Indian dry spice mixes, henna paint, carpets, musical instruments (such as drums or an elegant wooden flute).

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India is a country with ancient history who gave the world many scientific knowledge, discoveries and achievements in culture and art. Until the 17th century, until the English colonialists set foot on this land, India was the most rich country peace. Having regained its independence, India remains the country of the wealthy. historical heritage that has retained its originality and traditions in various fields life, about which many interesting facts speak.

History facts

The country got its name from the Hindu River, which in turn got its name from the Sanskrit word “Sindhu”, which simply translates as “river”.

Indian city recognized as the oldest in the world populated city peace. It was considered "ancient" as early as the time of the Buddha's visit in 500 BC.


India is the birthplace of the first dams and reservoirs for irrigation. In 150 AD, the world's first artificial river, named Sudarshana which translates as "beautiful".

India is the birthplace of erotic art - the Kamasutra. In the Temples, erotic scenes from the Kama Sutra are depicted on the walls.

The country has about ten million wild dogs, from the bites of which, having become infected with rabies, about 200,000 inhabitants. Hordes of monkeys are attacking Indian cities. Considering these animals sacred, it is forbidden to destroy them. Fighting monkey arbitrariness, they are taken to special “sacred” places, from which they return to the city again.

It turns out that Indian elephants are lovers of strong alcoholic beverages. It is known that in 2012, a herd of 50 elephants, smelling the smell of alcohol from the village in the jungle, raided the place of its manufacture and drank 500 liters of alcohol, after which they destroyed more than a dozen houses in the village.


Cows are revered as sacred animals in India. They are allowed to walk independently along the beaches and streets, looking into the shops.


Turns out the river Ganges very dangerous predators live - freshwater sharks that love human meat. It is believed that their presence in the river is due to the many unburned corpses floating in the river.

Interesting facts from the life of Indian society

India is the seventh largest in the world in terms of area, with about 1.2 billion people, ranks second in the world ranking for this indicator.

• The official languages ​​of India are Hindi and English. In addition, there are more than 780 languages ​​​​and 1000 dialects on its territory, among which the Tamil dialect is considered the most ancient in the world.
• In India, there is a cult of gold, which is honored as a symbol of wealth, purity and good luck. It is estimated that 11 percent of the world's gold reserves are owned by Indian women. This amount exceeds the total gold reserves of the US, Germany, Switzerland and the IMF.
• The main religion of the Hindus is Hinduism, which is followed by more than 80% of the population. About 13% are Muslims, and the country ranks third in the world in terms of the number of Muslims.
• In the common carriages of trains, in the absence of seats, passengers are placed on luggage racks. There are two types of toilets in each car: according to Western style - a toilet bowl, and according to local custom - a hole in the floor.
• Cities in India do not have centralized hot water supply, best case water is heated by individual boilers.

India is a country of pioneers in science

• A resident of India, Brasharacharya, in the 5th century AD calculated that the sun makes a full circle, moving around the Earth in 365 days. This discovery was made several centuries before the famous astronomer Smart.
• About 6000 years ago, on the Indus River, a scientific approach to navigation was first applied, which in Sanskrit was denoted by the word "navgatih", which served as modern concept- "navigation".
• More than 2600 years ago, surgical operations began to be performed in India. Shushruta is considered the father of surgery. Surgeons of that time used 125 surgical instruments for prosthetics, removal of cataracts and bladder stones, for caesarean sections and plastic surgery. In this case, anesthesia was widely used.
• It is known that veterinary medicine, as a science and field of medicine, originated in India. It was based on the treatises of Hay Ayurweg on the anatomy, physiology and treatment of horses and Dr. Shapihort, who was born in 2352 BC.

Indian customs and traditions

• Polygamy is not condemned in India. A fact was recorded here when a man had a family with 39 wives, from whom 94 children were born.
• In most families, the tradition persists that the wife is not allowed to say her husband's name aloud, considering this a manifestation of disrespect for her husband. You should address with the word - “listen” or “father of my child”.
• Widows in India wear white clothes. This color is considered mourning here. It is believed that widows have bad karma, which causes the death of their husband. In many states, they are not allowed to approach the newlyweds and appear at various public events.
• It is customary among Indian supporters of Zoroastrianism not to bury and cremate the dead, but to put the bodies of the dead on the “towers of silence”, where they are eaten by birds after time has passed. Then the bones are thrown into the fraternal well. It is believed that four vital elements are not polluted in this way: fire, air, water and earth.
• Indians don't use toilet paper for hygiene. The “cool” toilets have a small shower next to the toilet, while the simple ones have a faucet with water and a bucket.

Culture and art

In the Indian city of Mumbai is the world's largest "film factory" -. She got her name from the old name of the city - Bombay. Between 600 and 800 films are shot here every year.


India is the birthplace of chess. They call this game chaturanga”, which translates as “four divisions of the army”: elephants, horses, chariot and pawns.

In India, every 12 years in one of the cities the religious festival of Kumbh Mela is celebrated. Over 100 million people gathered to bow to Hindu shrines in 2013, which is registered as a record for gatherings of people for festivities.

Features of Indian cuisine

• Cuisine in India is very spicy. Most often, places where you can eat are indicated by the word Hotel. In small restaurants there is no menu, and people order the dishes they know.
• Here it is customary to serve certain dishes for different tricks food: for breakfast (until 11), lunch (from 12 to 15) and dinner (from 19 to 21). You will not be able to order a dish for lunch from the morning or evening menu.
• It is customary for Hindus to rinse their hands, feet, and face before eating. You can only eat with your right hand.
• Indigent residents, as a rule, do not use dishes, but eat dishes from banana leaves, which are then thrown away.
• In India, kerd (an analogue of ryazhenka) and lassi are used from dairy products, which taste similar to kefir. Cottage cheese and sour cream are not produced here, and you will not find them on store shelves.

• Hindus are the largest English-speaking nation in the world.
• There are six seasons in the Hindu calendar: spring, monson (summer rainy season), autumn, winter and winter rainy season.
• From India it is forbidden by law to export the national currency - rupees.
• There are more poor people in eight states of the country than in 26 African countries.
• Until 1896, India was the only country in the world where diamonds were mined.
• Even 700 years before our era, the first university in the world was founded in India.
• Local buses to southern states they drive without glasses with bars on the windows.
• The “yes” gesture here is indicated not by a nod of the head, but by rocking from side to side.