The most chaotic and beautiful country in the world, seen through its quirks
If you thought you knew India, well, you might have to think again!
Even we never stop learning new things every time we visit it during our tours in this fantastic country. It is a constant surprise, and we do not want to spoil that for you either, so you will discover the coolest facts about India firsthand when you decide to leave with us.
In this article, though, we have gathered 6 more, just as a little taste to help you get somewhat ready for the experience.
Ready?
Let’s go!
Also read: The badly explained history of Istanbul
The world’s ultimate democracy
Hey, did you know that India is the largest democracy in the world? Pretty impressive, right?
Just think: in the latest elections, more than 553 million people voted! Almost as if every Italian had voted 10 times!
A real tsunami of democracy!
But how do they manage such a huge number of votes? Well, I would say they are used to it: with more than 1.3 billion inhabitants, big numbers are part of everyday life!
So, the next time someone asks you which country has the most voters in the world, do not get caught off guard: India! And I bet you did not know that, did you?
One of the youngest countries around
Do you know one of the best things about India? Its youth.
There, the average age is just 27, which means the country is full of energy, vitality, and drive.
To put that into perspective, in Italy the average age is 43... And it keeps rising every year!
So how on earth do they do it in India?
Simple: the birth rate has been very high for decades, and there are huge numbers of newborns, children, teenagers, and so on, all of whom dramatically lower the country’s average age.
Could that be why every day in India feels like an explosion of colors, music, dancing, and new ideas?
In India, understanding each other can be quite a challenge
Forget the clichés spread by the media, the old “everyone speaks Hindi” line! India is a true linguistic kaleidoscope: as many as 1,000 different languages intertwine through its vibrant streets!
Goodness, a thousand languages!
Among the most widely spoken are Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, and Urdu, each with millions and millions of speakers. But if you are in the mood for adventure, you can also discover languages like Gondi, spoken by around 7 million people, or Manipuri, used by “only” 1.5 million people.
In short, India is a true paradise for language lovers.
There are more deities than stars in the sky
Do you know how many deities Hindus worship?
Not just one like here in Italy. And not even 2 or 3, no way! We are talking about 33 million, a mind-blowing number! And among Vishnu, Shiva, and Brahma, who take turns creating, preserving, and destroying the universe, there is surely one that is perfect for you too.
Incredible, there are almost as many Hindu deities as there are Italians!
The best part is that this feature helps enrich local culture and makes the countless religious festivals celebrated across the country even more spectacular, like that amazing Holi festival we talked about in this article.
Take a look and then tell us it is not one of the wildest events you have ever heard of!
Hollywood can only keep up
You know Hollywood, right? Of course you do!
The factory of stars and blockbusters that, truth be told, has started to feel a bit repetitive.
What if we told you there is another film giant that turns out movies at a breakneck pace, even faster than Hollywood? Well, we are not kidding!
We are talking about Bollywood, the Indian film industry based in Mumbai (once Bombay, which is where the name comes from).
Get ready, because the numbers are staggering: around 1,100 films produced each year, compared with about 800 in Hollywood. A real river of stories, music, dancing, and colors flooding the whole world.
But wait, Bollywood is not the only star of Indian cinema! Think about it: if Mumbai produces “only” 200 films a year, where are the other 900 made?
There are in fact other prolific production hubs, such as Chennai and Hyderabad, turning out films in different languages and with different styles.
In short, if you are a film lover, India is a true paradise to explore, from action-packed and romantic Bollywood spectacles to auteur films in local languages and stories that portray India’s incredibly varied reality.
Also read: Sleeping in a monastery in Japan: one hell of an experience
The billion-dollar temple
Among India’s wonders, there is one temple that truly makes eyes sparkle... not only because of its architectural beauty, but also because of what it holds. We are talking about Padmanabhaswamy, located in Kerala’s capital, Thiruvananthapuram.
And no, we are not messing with you, the temple and the place really are called that.
Hidden among decorated walls and intricate sculptures, this temple houses a true fairy-tale treasure: its value is estimated to exceed 15 billion dollars, making it the richest temple on the planet! Gold, jewels, and precious stones form a real chest of riches accumulated over the centuries through donations from devotees.
But wait, not everything that glitters is gold!
Part of this treasure is still shrouded in mystery, kept in secret rooms inaccessible to the public. It is so far from prying eyes that several rumors circulate about it, including one claiming that the gold jewelry kept in the temple has long been replaced with cheap gold-plated imitations.
Could it be true?
Who knows. We like to think it is all still there, just as it should be.
