Interesting Facts about Incredible India
Housing the world's oldest religion and containing the most diverse culture, India has been home to incredible feats throughout its History.
1. India has never invaded any country in its 100000 years of history.
2. The game of Chess was invented in India.
3. The 'Place Value System' and the 'Decimal System' were developed in India in around 100 B.C.
4. India has the largest number of Post Offices in the world.
5. The largest employer in India is the Indian Railways, employing over a million people.
6. Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to mankind. The Father of Medicine, Charaka, consolidated Ayurveda 2500 years ago.
7. India was one of the richest countries till the time of British rule in the early 17th Century. Christopher Columbus, attracted by India's wealth, had come looking for a sea route to India when he discovered America by mistake.
8. The value of "pi" was first calculated by the Indian Mathematician Budhayana, and he explained the concept of what is known as the Pythagorean Theorem. He discovered this in the 6th century, long before the European mathematicians.
9. Until 1896, India was the only source of diamonds in the world
10. The Baily Bridge is the highest bridge in the world. It is located in the Ladakh valley between the Dras and Suru rivers in the Himalayan mountains. It was built by the Indian Army in August 1982.
11. India exports software to 90 countries.
12. The four religions born in India - Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, are followed by 25% of the world's population.
13. There are 300,000 active mosques in India, more than in any other country, including the Muslim world.
14. The Vishnu Temple in the city of Tirupathi built in the 10th century, is the world's largest religious pilgrimage destination. Larger than either Rome or Mecca, an average of 30,000 visitors donate $6 million (US) to the temple everyday.
15. Varanasi, also known as Benaras, was called "the Ancient City" when Lord Buddha visited it in 500 B.C., and is the oldest, continuously inhabited city in the world today.
16. Yoga has its origins in India and has existed for over 5,000 years.
