Sanskrit is one of the world's oldest languages, with a history that dates back over 3500 years. Many linguists regard it as the mother tongue of many (almost all) languages. It is a member of the Proto-Indo-Aryan, Proto-Indo-Iranian, and Proto-Indo-Europian language families. Sanskrit has also been shown to be the best language for computers. Isn't it awesome?

Barren Island is the only active volcano in South Asia, not just India. This small 3-km-wide island, located approximately 135 km northeast of Port Blair, contains a 1.6-km-wide crater partially filled by a cinder cone that has been the source of eruptions since the first was recorded in 1787.

Nagpur was Madhya Pradesh's first capital city. Madhya Pradesh was formed after independence from the southern parts of today's Madhya Pradesh and the north-eastern parts of today's Maharashtra. Nagpur served as the state's capital.

The Vedas are a collection of ancient Indian texts. They were written in Sanskrit between 1700 and 1100 BCE, making them the world's oldest religious texts. They wielded considerable power over Hinduism and Indians. Rig Ved, Sama Ved, Yajur Ved, and Atharva Ved are the four Vedas. Because knowledge of the Vedas was passed down orally from generation to generation thousands of years ago, they are also known as 'Sruti.'

Every 12 years, the Kumbh Mela, a Hindu spiritual gathering, is held on the banks of the Holy River Ganga. Millions of people flock to the holy river to bathe. The crowds are so large that they can be seen from space, and on February 10, 2013, more than 30 million people gathered in a single day! UNESCO has also designated it as a cultural heritage site.

Indian food may be the world's oldest continually cooked dish. Of all, what we call "Indian food" in the United States differs greatly across the country. There is a multitude of varied foods to discover during a vacation to the nation, from the Portuguese-inspired delicacies of Goa to the tandoori ovens of the Punjab.

Yes, you read that correctly. Bacteriophage bacteria can be found in the holy river Ganga. It infects and kills other harmful bacteria that have infiltrated the river. That is why, even if stored for an extended period of time, river Ganga water does not spoil. According to D.S. Bhargava, an environmental engineer at the University of Roorkee, the Ganga is the only river in the world that decomposes organic wastes 15 to 20 times faster than any other river.

The Hindu deity Lord Jagannath inspired the English word Juggernaut, which means "huge or powerful." Every year, a cart festival known as The Holy Rath Yatra is held in Puri, Odisha. The carts used for Lord Jagannath, his brother Lord Balavadra, and his sister Goddess Suvadra are enormous, and devotees would crush themselves under the wheels of the carts in order to achieve salvation. That is where the term originated.

The Kohinoor Diamond was discovered in the royal jeweled Mughal Peacock Throne, where the emperor sat. The great jewel stolen from India is now kept in the Tower of London.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have the best nesting beaches in India for three species of marine turtles: Hawksbill, Green turtle, and the world's largest sea turtle, the Leatherback (Dermochelys Coriacea). The nesting population of Leatherback turtles in Nicobar is one of the few in the Indo-Pacific that exceeds 1,000 individuals and is thus of global significance.

Malas, or prayer bead garlands, are made up of 108 beads strung together. Vedic mathematicians saw this number as a completeness of existence, connecting the Sun, Moon, and Earth. For Hindus, the number 108 has long been considered sacred.

The Indian government has forbidden anybody from approaching North Sentinel Island, the Sentinelese people's home, within three miles. The anthropologist Madhumala Chattophadhyay had numerous calm meetings with the Sentinelese in 1991, but the inhabitants made it obvious (sometimes forcefully) that they did not want to be disturbed in later years. It is today regarded as one of the remaining areas on the planet that has remained undisturbed by the outside world.

After the conflict in Lanka, Hanuman traveled to the Himalayas to continue his devotion to Lord Ram. With his nails, Hanuman inscribed his version of Ram's story into the walls of the Himalayas. When Maharshi Valmiki went to Hanuman to present him with his version of the Ramayana, he saw the walls and was saddened because Valmiki believed Hanuman's Ramayana was greater and that his painstakingly produced version of the Ramayana would go undetected. When Hanuman realized this, he abandoned his version. Valmiki, taken aback, stated that he would want to be reincarnated to sing Hanuman's glories!

Have you ever thought of a post office that is floating? But in this incredible world, we have it too. India has a floating post office in Srinagar. The post office is built on a houseboat and even houses a museum in it. Interesting, isn't it?

Kerala, along with Sikkim, is claimed to be the cleanest state in India, according to a poll performed by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO). The only state in which hospitals and banking may be found in every community. In addition to being the cleanest state, it also has all of the required facilities in every area. Kerala is the only state that has offered banking facilities and hospitals in its most rural areas, contributing to the state's overall growth.

Babur Introduced Gunpowder to India. After defeating Ibrahim Lodhi in the First Battle of Panipat in 1526, Babur established the Mughal empire. Historians believe he brought gunpowder to India and used it extensively during wars.

These ancient and one-of-a-kind temples are decorated with intricate erotic and sensual carvings. The sculptures reflect the time's open, progressive, and artistic heritage. These structures are architectural marvels and works of art.

Hinduism, or Hindu dharma as it is known in India, is not the official name of this religion. Santana Dharma, which means the Eternal Way of Salvation, is its full name. Hindu or Indu is derived from the Sanskrit word Sindhu, which means a large body of water or a river. The Greeks referred to the people who lived along the Indus River as Hindus.

With the agility and power Lord Hanuman has, it is difficult to believe that the Lord was a Yogi. Surya Namaskar (sun salutation) was invented by him as a manner of welcoming his instructor, Surya Devta. And the Lord was the first to teach humans Pranayama.

St Thomas, Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in Palayur was founded in 52 AD by St Thomas, one of Jesus Christ's 12 apostles. The earliest mosque in India, Cheraman Juma Mosque, was built in 629 AD at Methala, Kodungallur, Kerala. Malik Deenar designed it. In terms of synagogues, the Paradesi Synagogue in Kochi, Kerala, is the oldest operational synagogue. It is one of seven synagogues built in 1567 by the Cochin Jewish community or the Yehudan Mapila people.

Somnath temple is located on the western coast of Gujarat and is one of the oldest and most respected temples in India. It is mentioned in the most ancient literature such as Shreemad Bhagavat, Skandpuran, Shivpuran, and Rig-Veda, indicating its significance as a Tirthdham.

We all know that the Peepal tree produces a lot of oxygen during the day and a lot of carbon dioxide at night. So, while there is no truth to the belief that a peepal tree is inhabited by spirits and ghosts, the aforementioned reason is most likely why and how this superstition arose.

Lord Hanuman is one of eight Chiranjivis (immortal creatures) mentioned in Hindu literature. He is reported to roam the planet singing Shree Ram's name and telling stories till the end of Kaliyuga. Madhvacharya (13th century CE), Tulsidas (16th century), Samarth Ramdas (17th century), Raghavendra Swami (17th century), and Swami Ramdas (17th century) are among the great religious reformers who claim to have met Lord Hanuman in their lifetime (20th century).

Yes, the tall, pleated white hat worn by cooks, known officially as a toque, has 100 folds for a purpose! According to Reclutant Gourmet, pleats were used to indicate a chef's level of experience, such as the number of ways he or she understood how to cook eggs.

Some of the rock shelters were inhabited more than 100,000 years ago, making this one of India's oldest cave collections. The rock art at Bhimbetka is the oldest known in the Indian subcontinent, dating back more than 30,000 years.