India is a mystical country which you cannot explore it all in a single lifetime. Nowhere in the world you will find the rich and the not so rich co-exist gracefully. Vast and diverse, one can explore all that it can offer from the temples, seas, mountains, deserts, art, history and heritage and never get tired. Many have the perception that is a land of snake charmers and dust and diseases, but there is something about this country which draws people from all over the world. So here are the top 10 things India is famous for.
1. Culture
India is possibly the most culturally diverse country one can ever come across, with the variety in culture pretty evident as to wherever you go from the North to South to the East and the West differing from state to state. India has more than 30 official languages and they all follow different traditions, fashion, religions, food and music. Not many know this, but the origin of four major religions- Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainismare from India. The rich history couple with the naturally hospitable nature among the people truly makes this great nation united as a great source of attraction of many tourists from all over the world.
2. Bollywood
Mumbai is the base of the Hindi film industry which is also known as Bollywood. In the past decade due to improvement use of graphics and technology Indian filmmakers have been able to make catchy ad noteworthy films and have garnered praise from worldwide. People like Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan have a wide fan base and are also among the richest actors in the world.
3. Trains
India has the largest network connectivity in the railways sector and is among the oldest to have started services, with the first passenger train service way back in 1851. All the major cities in the country are connected to each other via multiple services, and the network even spreads to the remotest of the villages. Toy Train services also ply in hill stations such as Ooty and Darjeeling which are a major tourist attraction. 'The palace on Wheels' is a luxurious train service which is considered a heritage of Rajasthan's tourism.
4. Festivals
India, due to its diverse culture and secularity celebrates more number of festivals than any other country in the world. Staring from Diwali, Dusshera, Holi, Durga puja, Ganesh Chaturthi, Christmas, Eid all are celebrated with equal pomp and spirit with an open heart. Tourists flock to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights and Holi, festival of colors in India.
5. Spirituality
Seeking peace and tranquility in the form of meditation and yoga makes India one of the spiritual hotspots in the world and people from all over the world travel here seeking peace and enlightenment. Yoga is extremely popular in western countries along with Ayurveda treatments and people come and visit the ashrams of sages in Northern India hotspots such as Rishikesh and Haridwar for a more authentic experience.
6. Population
India is the second most populous country in the world, second only to China with more than 1.2 billion people. A massive population provides many challenges such as proper infrastructure for an individual's growth and development, basic amenities and so on. Still the government manages to do a pretty good job at managing such a huge population. It is an added bonus for many developed countries who outsource jobs to India since there are a large number of skilled workers available at considerably cheaper rates than in their native countries.
7. Freedom Struggle
Mahatma Gandhi is a world icon as a follower of peace and his freedom struggle to gain independence from the hands of the British is well documented. His actions coupled with actions of other freedom fighters are sought as a mark of inspiration that many people draw strength from.
8. Food
Indian Cuisine is a subject of intrigue among many foreigners and is loved by all. The addition of spices which are not present in continental and American cuisinesucceeds in making the food taste considerably different and much tastier. The variety that you can get on the food men of an Indian restaurant is simply unparalleled to any other country's cuisine.
9. Contribution to mathematics
An ancient Indian mathematician Aryabhata is credited with the invention of the concept 'Zero' which is basically the start of everything and anything in this universe. Even the great Albert Einstein acknowledged the fact that we all have learned the process of counting, without which no scientifictheories, explanations and discoveries could ever have been made.
10. Taj Mahal
And how could we ever forget the iconic Taj Mahal. One of the seven wonders of the world and an immortal symbol of love made by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the honor of his beloved wife. Made out of pure white marble this monument is a visual treat and the though process put into design the architecture is simply outstanding. It is the most visited landmark in India and tourists flock in here to catch a glimpse of this masterpiece.