Interesting facts about India!

We know India is a diverse country. We also know that India was the 'first' in many fields. The most well-known first is the discovery of the number Zero. Sometime back, I was surprised that our country has many more 'firsts' that have not been highlighted. It made me feel very proud. Hence thinking of sharing just a few here, so that you also feel the same pride. 

1. The popular game “Snakes and Ladders” originated in India - The game was popular in ancient India with the name Moksha Patam. It was also associated with traditional Hindu philosophy contrasting karma (action + destiny) and kama (desire). The game was used to teach the effects of good deeds versus bad.
2. First to mine diamonds - From ancient times, maybe around the 4th century BC, for around 1000 years, India was the source of diamonds, until the discovery of diamonds in South Africa in 1896. Till then India was the only place where diamonds were mined. The original diamonds were found in the Krishna River Delta. No wonder, the diamond jewelry lures us...home-ground after!!
3. Cricket ground at the highest altitude - Cricket is the lifeline for every Indian. But did you know this fact? Chail Cricket Ground located in Chail, Himachal Pradesh built in the 19th century sits at an altitude of 2,444 meters. 
4. Human calculator - Shakuntala Devi from Bengaluru earned a mention in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1982 when she multiplied two, thirteen-digit numbers in 28 seconds! India gave the world its first human calculator. 
5. Sugar production - India has been producing sugar since ancient times, almost after the first century AD. The derivation of the word "sugar" is thought to be from Sanskrit शर्करा (śarkarā), meaning "ground or candied sugar." No wonder we have such a variety of Indian desserts. Which is your favorite sweet dish?