On opposite sides of the Taj Mahal, there is a mosque and a guest pavilion. Both of these buildings, which are red in colour, are supposed to be completely identical and symmetrical. The mosque is located to the west of the mausoleum, towards the holy site of Mecca, while the guest house is located to the east of the mausoleum. Because the mosque is an active place of worship, the Taj's entire mausoleum complex is closed to visitors on Fridays for prayer.

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.

The song was officially declared the 'National Anthem of India' by the Constituent Assembly of India on January 24, 1950, in its Hindi version. Rabindranath Tagore, a Nobel Laureate, penned India's National Anthem, 'Jana Gana Mana.' On January 24, 1950, it was proclaimed the Indian National Anthem. It is one among India's national symbols.

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.

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.

The names 'Andaman' and 'Nicobar' are derived from Malay. The name Andaman is thought to be derived from Hanuman, also known as Handyman by the Malays. The name Nicobar appears to be a corruption of the South Indian term 'Nakkavaram' (Land of the Naked), which is mentioned in the great Tanjore inscription of AD 1050.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The rule book was handwritten in a flowing italics style by calligrapher Prem Behari Narain Raizada, rather than printed or typed. Jawaharlal Nehru asked Raizada, a calligrapher from a family of calligraphers, to write the first copy of the document. When asked how much he would charge, he only had one request: he wanted to sign every page and the final page with his grandfather.

The first bus service in India was established on July 15, 1926. The initial route connected Afghan Church and Crawford Market.

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.

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.

In India, there are more vegetarian options and consumables influenced by Indian food on the McDonald's menu. The Veg Pizza McPuff, Maharaja Mac (select veg or chicken), McAloo Tikki (potato patty), McSpicy Paneer (cheese patty), and Masala Grill Veg are some of the distinctive Indian McDonald's options.

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.

Social media and digital consumption have grown so pervasive in most areas of the world that it's easy to forget that reading is still a major form of pleasure for some individuals. A 2017 survey found that the average Indian spends 10 hours and 42 minutes per week reading. In comparison, Americans work five hours and 42 minutes each week. Thailand, China, the Philippines, and Egypt round out the top five nations.

Tamil Nadu has over 30,000 Hindu temples, many of which are centuries old. One of the most well-known is the vibrant Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple. Visitors flock to temple towns such as Madurai and Kanchipuram all year.

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?

The previous King of Jaipur, Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh II, entered the Guinness Book of World Records when he had two gigantic sterling silver containers, the biggest in the world, made to transport 'Ganga Jal on his journeys to England. 14,000 silver coins were melted to construct these massive jars. These "Gangajalis" are still on display at the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum and are a big draw for visitors.

What we do know is that the Taj Mahal's name is derived from Persian, the language of the Mughal court. The word Taj means "crown," and the word Mahal means "palace." As a result, the name "Taj Mahal" can be translated as "Crown Palace" or "Palace of the Crown."

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.

On September 11, 1942, in Hamburg, the first-ever musical composition of 'Jana Gana Mana' was performed (not sung) (Germany). Following that, Netaji Subash Chandra Bose declared it the 'Free India' national anthem (though at that time, the song did not receive any formal status).