India as a country is one of the oldest cultures around, and that being the case, one shouldn’t be surprised to learn that it has a huge array of things to do unique to the culture. If you’re looking for a list of crazy things you can only do or see in India, then congratulations — you’ve found it! You won’t need any other excuse to plan a trip to this fascinating destination.
Toe Wedding Rings
In Tamil Nadu, a region of India, the wedding ring is not placed on the finger, but rather on the “index” toe of the foot. Two silver rings are placed on the foot of the soon-to-be groom’s beloved and are traditionally supposed to bring about a healthy pregnancy whilst gold rings are actually to be avoided in this case.
The World’s Worst Electrician Hassle
When you have over a billion people tucked into one country, you’re going to have issues with housing. Electricity is one such problem that many people in India face, not because they don’t have it, but because they need a whole lot of wires to make everything work.
Needless to say, we’re sure this is the worst place in the world for an electrician to work. Sure, they may always have something to do, but are they getting paid enough?
Extremely Risky Train Riding
You could probably see something like this in many countries, but it’s certainly something you’re going to see a lot of in India. Sometimes the name of your store is less important than having a logo that everyone can recognize. Who said everything had to make sense?
We’re assuming that the brands being mimicked here simply don’t care about trying to get any money from a few tiny stores in India that are making use of the names.
Mistaken Brand Identities
No waves, no problem! In the village of Anandapally, a harvest season sport race takes place called bull surfing, and it’s exactly what it sounds like. A pair of yoked bulls are used to plow football-field-sized rice fields covered in ankle-deep water, while their handlers surf a wooden plank, hanging onto nothing but the bull’s harnesses or even their tails.
We don’t think we would want to engage in such a sport personally, but there’s no denying that it would be extremely fun to watch.
A Man That Has Fasted for 80 Years
80% of the Indian population is Hindu, and in Hinduism, they worship one God – contrary to popular understanding. Brahman, the eternal origin, is the cause and foundation of all existence.
Different Hindu communities may have their own divinities whom they worship, but these are essentially just different ways of approaching the Supreme God. Hindus recognize three principal deities or gods including Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, and Shiva the Destroyer.
The Hindu Trinity
In India, there are special adornments that only a married woman may use. They are called the Sola Shringar, and there are 16 of them. Two of the most well known are the Bindi, the red dot placed on the forehead, as well as the Nath, a large circular nose piercing.
This type of jewelry adornment is definitely something you’ll only see in India, as it is a huge part of the marriage culture there.
The 16 Adornments of a Married Woman
The Padmanabhaswamy Temple is the richest Hindu temple in the world. Not only does it have that distinction, though, but it’s also the richest place of worship to ever exist. In 2011, secret compartments in the temple were opened to reveal items of gold, silver, and gems worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
Located in the capital of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, it’s a destination that many people are eager to pay a visit to – which isn’t surprising considering its reputation.
The World’s Richest Hindu Temple
Like something out of a fantasy setting, some of the bridges in the state of Meghalaya are made entirely out of roots. The purpose is to prevent these bridges from rotting due to moisture, which is a problem that traditional bridges face.
Of course, it takes many years to grow a bridge out of roots, but they are immensely sturdy and they look incredibly cool, so it’s well worth it in the long run.
Bridges Made of Roots
Oddly enough, India is one of the largest consumers in the world when it comes to gold. Indian demand has, on average, been 838 tons per year over the course of the last decade. In 2018 alone, 760.4 tons of gold were consumed, with the vast majority of it being used for festival and wedding jewelry.
Needless to say, you’ll find a lot more gold out and about in India than you will in almost any other country, making it something unique to experience there.
The World’s Largest Gold Consumerism
You can find endangered species anywhere, unfortunately. But, there are a few that are native to India, and you won’t find them anywhere else other than zoos. Two of the most well-known are the Asiatic Lion and the Purple Frog.
The Purple Frog is definitely the more noteworthy of the two, since it doesn’t look like anything one would expect it to. Honestly, it doesn’t even look like a frog, but that’s what makes it even more special compared to other animals out there.
Unique Endangered Species
India has some weird post offices, much different than the ones Westerners are likely used to. You can find one that floats, as it’s carved out of a boat, or you can even find the highest one in the world at 15,500 feet. You may not find these particular ones today, but in the past, India even had mobile camel post offices.