Gold Face Mask
In 2020, the world was battling a struggle with the pandemic, and since vaccines were not yet available, masks were the first line of defense while trying to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Businessman Shankar Karhade felt that he needed something more than just the basic cloth mask, so he commissioned a craftsman to create him a mask out of solid gold. He said that it features tiny pores that allow him to breathe.
Gold Face Mask
Red Rain
Kerala is a southwestern district of the country that’s well known for its gorgeous seas with black sand. Over the past 200 years, red rains have fallen here, first seen in 1818, and there are many theories about as to why this happens. The first theory was that the rains were colored by a potential meteor burst, the the government of India commissioned a study that concluded that the rains come from airborne spores from a local algae.
Red Rain
True To Life Mannequins
While most mannequins depict body types that are far from realistic for most people, some major cities in India have started to use mannequins that are much more helpful for customers to envision what the clothing will actually look like on them, without making them feel bad for not looking a certain way.
True To Life Mannequins
Chaotic Electrical Lines
The more people move into a city, the more accommodations that need to be made, and that includes electrical lines. Of course, India’s cities are densely populated which means more resources are needed, which is why you can see these endless cables on top of one another. We wonder if that means that electricians are in constant need around here.
Chaotic Electrical Lines
Around Two Million Temples
There is no shortage of historical sites to visit in India, including religious sites like tombs, mosques, and temples. There are about two million Hindu temples, with 23,000 of them located in Varanasi alone. There are also 300,000 mosques. There are actually more Hindu temples in India than there are people in the entire country of Estonia.
Around Two Million Temples
Highest Rail Bridge
Located way up north in India, you’ll find the highest rail bridge in the whole world. Its construction started in 2004 and once completed, will allow travelers to cross over the Chenab River, between Bakkal and Kauri, at 1178 feet above ground. The views will certainly be reason alone to take this route.
Highest Rail Bridge
Amritsar Golden Temple
Sri Harmandir Sahib, or the Amristar Golden Temple, is a gurdwara (place of worship), and the most important site of Sikhism. Built in the mid-1500s, the temple brings in not only worshippers but visitors from all around the world. The temple allows visitors of all religions to come and explore the incredible golden temple. The temple also provides free vegetarian meals to all visitors, which can reach 50,000 per day.
Amritsar Golden Temple
Nuisance Detector
Have you ever heard of a nuisance detector? A nuisance detector’s job is to give out tickets to people who are causing disturbances, including urinating and defecating in public. Additionally, spitting will cause people to get a ticket as well.
Nuisance Detector
The Dog Temple
In the village of Channapatna, located in the southern central area of the country, has a temple located next to one dedicated to the Goddess Kempamma. What makes this new temple notable is that it was built to honor the two dogs of the village, who disappeared. Now, around the temple you’ll find statues of missing dogs. Each year, the village has a festival dedicated to lost dogs.
The Dog Temple
Elephants On Boats
While it is not uncommon to see elephants around India, we’re sure that the sight of an elephant on a boat will still be surprising, even to those who are familiar with the country. It certainly is not an easy task to move an elephant around, so it’s pretty incredible that this elephant is able to balance on this boat.
Elephants On Boats
Mini Taj Mahal
Pretty much everyone is familiar with the Taj Mahal, but have you heard about Bibi Ka Maqbara? It’s basically the mini Taj, and it can be found about 615 miles southwest of the Taj Mahal. Commissioned by Mumtaz Mahal’s son, Azim Shah in memory of his mother. The fact that it resembles the Taj Mahal so much is actually the reason why its overshadowed.
Mini Taj Mahal
Decorated Camel
Camels are venerated in India, and in Bikaner, Rajasthan, people celebrate camels as they see them as the “ships of the desert.” The International Camel Festival is held each year in January, where you’ll find camels that are adorned with colorful sashes and amazing intricate designs carved into their fur.
Decorated Camel
Money For Mustache
In the region of Madhya Pradesh, the police chief has incentivized people to grow out mustaches. Police officers that grow out their facial hair will receive a pay raise. Why? It’s because he believes that mustached police officers garner more respect, and therefore are more successful.
Money For Mustache
The Star Of India
This 1934 Rolls Royce, nicknamed “The Star of India,” is a custom made Phantom II that was made for the Maharaja of Rajkot, Gujarat. Three decades later, his grandson sold the car, and later it was on sale at an auction in Monaco, where it was purchased by the same grandson who sold it in 1968.
The Star Of India
Exotica Dessert
If you’re in the mood for an extravagant dessert, head over to Lucknow in northern India. The Exotica mithai dessert is made of ingredients from around the world, like macadamia nuts from South Africa, blueberries from the US, and hazelnuts from Europe. What makes it so expensive is the fact that they also include 100% edible gold leaves that encase the other ingredients.
Exotica Dessert
The Most Prized Buffalo
Meet Bheem, a Murrah buffalo that weights 3300 pounds and measures 6 feet from hoof to head, as well as 14 feet long. This massive buffalo drinks 25 liters of milk and eats 2.2 pounds of ghee as well as cashews and almonds every single day. The man who raised him, Arvind Jangid, turned down an offer $3.12 million for the buffalo.
The Most Prized Buffalo
Snake Village
In the village of Shetpal, the residents live alongside many snakes and have even built them “cobra huts” in their homes, so that the cobras can stay there during the night. While snakes are mostly terrifying to many people around the world, here they are revered and worshipped, even letting their kids touch them without any supervision. There are also no reported snake fatalities in the village.
Snake Village
Golden Dosa
Dosa have been enjoyed as part of southern Indian cuisines for many years. They are inexpensive to make, don’t take a long time to prepare, and require few ingredients. If you visit Bangalore, you’ll find a restaurant named Raj Bhog, where they serve dosa with 24 carat gold leaves wrapped around them, causing the price to be increased forty times the original price.
Golden Dosa
Knock Off Stores With Familiar Names
Since there are so many shops located around the massive country, stores will do anything it takes in order to stand out from the crowd. Therefore, many of them have no problem to take familiar names of successful companies and name their stores after them, even if these have nothing to do with the products they’re selling.
Knock Off Stores With Familiar Names
Onam Festival
At the beginning of the Malayalam year in Kerala, the Onam Festival takes place in order to celebrate the return of King Mahabali and also Vishnu’s appearance as Vamana. The festival lasts for 10 days and includes flower carpets called Pookkalam, Snake Boat Races, and the traditional dance called the Kaikottikali.
Onam Festival
Gold and Diamond Contact Lenses
If you have been looking for a unique way to embellish your eyes, then Dr. Chawan from the Shekhar Eye Research Center, located in Mumbai, has the solution for you. He designed contact lenses with gold and diamonds intended to help limit ocular irritation by letting in an increased amount of oxygen to pass through. They’ll set you back $15,000, so we hope that they’ll benefit your eyes in some way.
Gold And Diamond Contact Lenses
Public Transportation Animals
While traveling on public transportation is a great way to get around in an affordable way, and though it might be common to have to fight for a spot to sit with other people, you have something else to content with while in India. It isn’t out of place to see cows making their way onto busses.
Public Transportation Animals
Hammock Seating
Speaking of busses, due to the fact that there are so many people who need to use public transportation, a creative solution for fitting many people onto the bus had to be made, and that’s why you’ll commonly see bus hammocks, creating more space on the bus. Just make sure to watch your head.
Hammock Seating
The Most Expensive Cheap Car
The Tata Nano, an Indian made car, is one of the cheapest cars you can buy in the world. It’s also quite small. In order to celebrate five millennia of Indian jewelry making, company Goldplus decided to encrust a Nano car with 175 pounds of 22 carat gold plating, as well as 33 pounds of silver, and then 10,000 gems on top of that.
The Most Expensive Cheap Car
The Holy Cows
As you might already know, cows are considered to be holy and are very revered here. Tuk Tuk drivers will often pull over in order to buy food and even flowers for cows they may encounter on the road. Cows are allowed to roam free all around the country, since in Hinduism, cows represent Mother Earth.
The Holy Cows
Largest Family In The World
If you’re looking for the largest family in the world, you’ll find it in India. Before he passed away in 2021, Ziona Chana was father to 94 children, as he had 39 known wives. Before he passed, he also saw 33 grandchildren born and even one great grandchild. That means that he had a total of 181 family members, and growing.
Largest Family In The World
Mysterious Step Wells
The step wells found in northern India are an ancient mystery that has yet to be solved. Estimated to have been built sometime in the 6th century, they have held several purposes throughout the years. They were used to retrieve water, then for storage, as well as irrigation tanks. Villagers also used them to reach riverbeds in order to bathe, wash their clothes, and go to religious ceremonies.
Mysterious Step Wells
Makeshift Cars
Since most people living in India are not earning a decent wage, it can be very difficult to purchase a brand new car. This is why so many creative makeshift transportation solutions can be found here. While they’re no sports cars, and their safety is questionable, they do help get commuters from point A to point B.
Makeshift Cars
Golden Donuts
The obsession with gold-encrusted foods continues, this time with the beloved fried dough ring, first popularized in the United States, the donut. These special order donuts will set you back about $100 each. Why pay just a few dollars for a regular donut when you can order a golden one for 100 times the price?
Golden Donuts
$2 Billion Mumbai Mansion
This $2 billion 400,000 square food mansion, called Antilia, is an architectural marvel. While it looks like a huge skyscraper, this mansion is actually a 27 story personal residence that is so expensive, only Buckingham Palace is more expensive. It is owned by India’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani. It features three helipads an a 50 seat cinema.
$2 Billion Mumbai Mansion
Pre-Wedding Detectives
Weddings are incredibly important in India, and a common practice is to hire private detectives to investigate any potential matches in order to make sure they are who they say they are and to avoid any issues. These pre-wedding detectives earn $200 for a one day mission, which is a huge amount considering that’s about half of the average monthly salary in India.
Pre Wedding Detectives
Highest Road In The World
Right in the middle of the Himalayas, in Eastern Ladakh, you’ll find a road that’s 19,300 feet above sea level, making it the highest road in the world that’s accessible by car. Many people take road trips to this road, but it is crucially important to drive a car that’s able to handle it.
Highest Road In The World
Floating Post Office
This amazing floating post office can be found in the Kashmir Valley in Northeast India in the city of Srinagar. It’s situated on Dal Lake, where the local community has been living in houseboats for hundreds of years. Since everything there is on the lake, so is the post office!
Floating Post Office
Town With No Locks
Can you imagine a town with no locked doors? Well, in Shani Shingnapur, about 170 miles east of Mumbai, the town believe in Shani, the personification of Saturn in the Hindu faith, and they believe that Shani will protect them from theft. This is why the whole town doesn’t lock their doors, including their personal homes, shops, and even banks!
Town With No Locks
Recycle By Bike
While actual recycling is not a new concept, it is not very common in India. Instead, people will toss out their bottles in the trash, on the streets, and everywhere in between. Then, people on bikes will ride around to collect them and then turn them in to receive one rupee per bottle.
Recycle By Bike
Twin Town
In the Indian town of Kodinhi, where the population is around 2000, there are 220 pairs of twins, which is pretty unusual. Twins are not so common, but here 42 out of 1000 births result in the birth of twins. Another Indian town called Mohammedpur Umi also has a staggering amount of twins, where 120 of the 900 residents are twins.
Twin Town
Carpooling Buddy
Carpooling is a great strategy to get to where you need to go while saving money while you’re at it. However, most people visiting India may be surprised to see people carpooling with monkeys here, as they tend to jump onto the back of busses, cars, trains, and motorcycles.
Carpooling Buddy
Bull In A Fabric Shop
Here we see another example of the veneration of bovines in India. This bull has wandered into this fabric shop, and since they are considered holy, there is no big rush to kick the bull out of the shop, and instead the animal is welcome to stay as long as he wishes.
Bull In A Fabric Shop
Floating Lake
This floating lake found in Manipur has been a helpful part of the survival of the town for hundreds of years. It has allowed for fishing to be done here, serves as the main source of drinking water, and now helps with hydropower.
Floating Lake
Overcrowded Trains
While traveling by train is a great way to get around, in India they can get pretty crowded. In fact, they get so crowded that people cram into the train cars and even climb on top of and on the sides of the train to hitch a ride.
Overcrowded Trains
