Things India Is Famous For - Updated 2024

things india is famous for
Esha
Esha 
Updated
| 4 min read
|
0 K+
34.5K+ readers and counting!

When you come across the name ‘India’ the first thoughts that comes to the minds are Bollywood and spices. India definitely has more to offer than just spices and Bollywood. It is the land of people of diverse traditions, religions and castes. It is a strong beholder of 'Unity in Diversity’, rich vegetation, wildlife, art, and entertainment are the lifelines of India. it also offers cool tablet hotels and private pool villas for the accommodation needs of travelers. If you are visiting India then you will be curious to know about the things India is famous for. If so, then continue reading below and make sure that you experience everything.

1. Mahatma Gandhi

Portrait Gandhi
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Unknown authorUnk... used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

While not exactly a famous ‘thing’, Mahatma Gandhi’s name is known worldwide to the point that his name and likeness have been used in the hit video game series called, “Sid Meier’s Civilization”. He was an Indian lawyer who fought for his country’s independence not through an armed revolution but through peaceful protest and speeches.

The man is known for his pacifist ways of resolving conflict and fighting for his country’s independence. One of his most famous moments was during the religious riots in 1947 when he did a hunger strike to stop the violence from escalating further.

Visited this place?

2. Henna tattoo

A aesthetic henna
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Thamizhpparithi M... used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Henna is a dye prepared from a henna tree that is endemic in India, North Africa, and the Middle East. A henna tattoo is a tattoo that uses a henna-based ink to draw designs on the skin and is not permanent when compared to contemporary tattoos.

This body art technique is called “Mehndi” and it was initially used to simply cool down the body until it eventually evolved into an Indian tradition where it is used in Hindu weddings and festivals.

Visited this place?

3. Curry

Dhansak
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Miansari66 used under CC0

One of the many things India is famous for is curry. It’s a dish seasoned with a sauce made of different spices. Curry comes in many varieties and the spices used to make the sauce varies from country to country, while the spiciness varies from mild to very hot. The dish, in and of itself, has been mainly associated with South Asian dishes.

India’s curry uses leaves from the curry tree to make its version of the dish and it comes in different types namely: (1) dhansak, (2) tikka masala, (3) korma, (4) jalfrezi, and (5) vindaloo.

Visited this place?

4. National parks (from USD 49.0)

India is known for its stunning natural scenery, boasting plenty of national parks you can explore. Ranthambore National Park, which is one of the most popular in the country, can offer tourists the opportunity to view several wildlife species such as tigers and leopards. You can enjoy a three-hour tour while you are here. You can choose whether you want to embark on a morning or evening safari, and it comes with a knowledgeable guide.

Visited this place?

Ranthambore National Park Shared Wildlife Safari

Duration: 2 to 3 hours

89 reviews

5. Origin of Ayurveda

Things India Is Famous For
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Hans Vivek used under CC0

Ayurveda, also known as ayurvedic medicine, has been practiced in India for more than a thousand years. The practice promotes wellness and is known to provide healing. Those who practice the medicine also believe that the body, mind, and spirit should have balance as this can affect the person’s well-being. As it is a natural kind of medicine, herbal remedies and other holistic therapies are used, such as meditation and changes in diet.

Visited this place?

6. Kumbh Mela

Kumbh Mela 2019, India (46367227725)
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Ninara used under CC BY 2.0

Known for being a country with a rich culture, India is home to several festivals. Kumbh Mela, a popular religious festival, is celebrated 4 times in 12 years. It takes place on four rivers, namely, Ganges River, Shipra River, Godavari River, and Prayag. As these rivers are considered to be sacred, during the festival, pilgrims bathe in these blessed waters. It is one of the largest celebrations in the world, attracting hundreds of millions of devotees, and can last more than a few weeks.

Visited this place?

7. World's largest postal network

Floating Post Office - Dal Lake - Srinagar- Jammu and Kashmir
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Vinayaraj used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Home to over 150,000 post offices, India is known to have the largest postal network in the world. These post offices have certain unique features that can especially make them stand out. There is a floating post office on Dal Lake, with every letter having a seal of a man rowing a shikara. Known as a national heritage, Nagpur’s General Post Office boasts a recreation club. Mumbai General Post Office is the largest in India, delivering to over 50,000 addresses.

Visited this place?

8. Highest number of official languages

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

With over 1.3 billion people living in India, the country is home to a high number of official languages. In fact, it is known to be one of the countries with most people who know and use quite a number of languages. Besides India’s official language, Hindi, it boasts 21 more official languages that are spoken throughout the country. Some of these include Assamese, Kashmiri, Punjabi, and Urdu. Apart from these, English is also a widely spoken language in India.

Visited this place?

9. Diamonds were first mined in India

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

The region of Guntur in India is popular for being one of the earliest sources of diamonds. These precious gems were found in the deposits along three rivers in South India. The country was once known to be the only place where diamonds were mined, having supplied plenty of different countries with the gems. Today, while the country is no longer considered a major source, diamond mining is still done in the Majhgawan mine in Panna.

Visited this place?

10. Largest producer of mangoes, bananas, and spices

Indian Spices
Source: Photo by Flickr user sara marlowe used under CC BY 2.0

India is a beautiful country popular for its diverse offerings. While India has long been known to be a large producer of spices such as turmeric, coriander, and saffron, the country also produces almost half of the world’s supplies of mangoes. India is also the largest supplier of bananas in the world, producing more than 30 million metric tons in a year. These products are then exported to several countries such as Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, the UK, and even the US.

Visited this place?

11. Spicy food

spicy
Source: Pixabay

One of the things associated with India is spicy food. India has been long known for its variety of spices and for its mouth-watering spicy food. The world once went crazy for the amount of taste Indians could infuse in their food. If you are someone who loves spicy food and happen to visit India then you should definitely try out some of these delicacies- Phaal Curry, made from Bhut jolokia, the hottest chillies in the world, Dum Aloo, Andhra Chilli Chicken, Kozhi Curry (a Kerala-style chicken curry), Chicken Chettinad, and Pork Vindaloo. These dishes are surely not for people who are faint-hearted and to gulp these down you will surely need a lot of water.

Visited this place?

12. Rich culture (from USD 24.0)

things india is famous for | rich culture

The culture of India is one of the oldest and unique ones. People of various religions differ in their language, food tradition, rituals, etc however they live with unity. There are almost 22 official languages and 400 other languages are spoken daily in India in its various states and territories. India is also home to some of the most ancient civilizations of the world, including four major religions Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. A cultural tour in India takes you beyond beaches and mountains, it also takes you through some of the historical places, famous buildings, various art forms, and authentic food trails.

Visited this place?

New Delhi: Faiths of Indian Culture Guided Tour

Duration: 6.0 hour

2 reviews

13. Temples

Sanchi, Stupa 3
Source: Photo by Flickr user Arian Zwegers used under CC BY 2.0

If you’re wondering what is India famous for, then the answer to your question lies in its beautiful temples. The land of India is the land which was once inhabited by the lords themselves, leaving their imprints and divine presence behind. These places are marked by a number of holy places. People from all over the world visit the temples of India in search of spirituality. Some of the famous temples are Akshardham temple, ISCKON temple, Meenakshi temple, Sanchi Stupa, Rameshwaram temple, Golden temple, Konark temple, Vaishno Devi mandir, and Kedarnath temple.

Visited this place?

14. Bollywood (from USD 120.0)

things india is famous for | bollywood

Bollywood is one of the most famous things in India. The Hindi movie industry, commonly known as Bollywood, is based in Mumbai. It began in the1930s and now it has developed into a massive film empire and is famous throughout the world from east to west. Bollywood movies are full of upbeat songs and dance and they are so popular that if you happen to visit any Indian wedding you can see people grooving to its beats and one will also find people humming Bollywood songs not only in India but also outside India. Also, when in Mumbai grab a chance to take the film city tour to get an essence of Bollywood. Some of the famous Bollywood stars are Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, Rekha, Salman Khan and so on.

Visited this place?

Mumbai: Private Bollywood Tour with Dance Show

Duration: 4.5 to 8.0 hour

22 reviews

15. Lively festivals

Diwali
Source: Photo by Flickr user Simon Fraser Univ... used under CC BY 2.0

Those wondering what is India known for will be delighted to learn about its myriad festivals. India is a land of festivals. From north to south, men and women from different cultures and traditions are seen celebrating festivals throughout the year. Every festival celebrated in India has its own history and reason of celebration. Some of the famous festivals celebrated in India are Holi, Diwali, Dussehra, Ganesh Chaturthi, Makar Sankranti and so on.

Lively festivals

Partner link:

Visited this place?

16. Population

population
Source: Pixabay

India is the world’s second most populated country with over 1.1 billion people. India makes up for about seventh of the world’s population. It amazes a lot of people how the administration is able to govern such a big population of such diversities.

Visited this place?

17. Taj Mahal (from USD 18.0)

Taj Mahal is one of the eight wonders of the world. The architecture stands as a symbol of love. Emperor Shah Jahan had built the Taj Mahal in the loving memory of his dear wife. The Taj Mahal is built entirely of white marble and it seems to glow in the light of the full moon.

Visited this place?

Taj Mahal + Agra Fort Day Tour from Delhi

392 reviews

18. Cricket (from USD 60.0)

cricket
Source: www.klook.com

Cricket has become the unofficial national sport of India. One can witness every Tom, Dick and Harry playing cricket in the streets of India. Families sit together, glued to the television, watching their favorite superstars playing. The whole country celebrates the victory of the Indian team by bursting crackers, even in the middle of the night and believe me no occasion can be as festive as this.

Visited this place?

Wankhede Stadium Experience in Mumbai

Duration: 4hrsDuration

19. Colourful clothing

colourful
Source: Pixabay

Bright colours are the very soul of India. A country that is so diverse and culturally vibrant, it is perhaps the common simple expressions of colour that holds together the multitudes of outlooks and lifestyle together. Wherever you travel in India, you will witness that neither men or women are afraid of colour. One just routinely picks up yellow saree and green shirt and go about their business without worrying about how bright their clothes are. The people of India are colourful and so are clothes.

Visited this place?

20. Yoga

India is one of the most spiritual countries in the world and is the birthplace of yoga. In recent years India has become the dream destination for many yogis and yoga lovers. There are many benefits of doing yoga retreat and there are so many wonderful places to enjoy yoga and meditation retreats in India, from mountainside towns to beach resorts. Some of yoga retreats are Omkarananda Patanjali Yoga Kendra, Uttrakhand, Bihar School of Yoga, Ashiyana Yoga Center, Goa and so on.

Visited this place?

Yoga and meditation experience in Fort Kochi

Duration: 2 to 3 hours

21. One-horned rhinos (from USD 812.0)

Have you always wanted to witness exotic wildlife? You can do so with a tour to Kaziranga National Park, where you can find several animals, including one-horned rhinos. This part of India is where most one-horned rhinos can be found, and you can enjoy a safari here to see these magnificent creatures. The small-group excursion comes with a five-night accommodation and national park fees, so you can be ensured a comfortable trip.

Visited this place?

North East Triangle 5 Nights 6 Days

Duration: 6 days

The most diverse country in the world

Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Indian, European, Asian, African, man, woman, trans, straight, gay, young, old, oldest, English, Hindi, Tamil, Bengali… the list goes on. India is a melting pot of culture, religion, languages, nationalities and more. With one of the oldest histories in the world, India is now a global and economic phenomenon. But India isn’t India without the people and the things that those people bring out in her. From festivals to adventure sports to yoga, India has taken root in the hearts and minds of not just Indians but in that of others across the world. These are just a few of the things that India is most famous for. Come to India to journey across the country and find out other things that make her unique.

Visited this place?
Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

History


Get Trip101 in your inbox

Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data

 Want to contribute as a Local Expert?
Explore India
x
Good things are meant to be shared!
Back to top
Visited any of these places? Click this button to activate our "Add a Tip" feature to share your experience.