This young sepoy’s sporting achievements are so remarkable that his birthday is celebrated as National Sports Day in India. This is the story of hockey legend, Jhansi’s Dhyan Chand.
How did a small town in Bundelkhand become a pilgrimage site for Jains? Deogarh’s Karnali Fort houses a remarkable complex of 31 Jain temples with over 2,000 sculptures from the 8th to the 17th centuries.
About 150 years ago, a series of excavations at Adichanallur in Tamil Nadu threw up many ancient artefacts that were dated to about 900 BCE. That included skeletons of people from all over the world! What explains this ancient, international, multi-racial cemetery?
Did you know that India is home to one of the oldest fossil parks in the world? About 100 kms from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, is a secluded forest called Salkhan, or Sonbhadra Fossils park. Here, you can see traces of a forest that was formed 1.4 BILLION years ago!
What makes river Ganga special? After a long descent from the mountains, Ganga first enters the plains at Haridwar. The fertile Gangetic plain, home to 40% of India’s population, has shaped mighty empires and nurtured ancient civilisations.
Mount Everest bears Sir George Everest's name. But did you know that it was an Indian mathematician named Radhanath Sikdar who first identified it as the tallest peak?
Did you know that until 1948, India had three official time-zones? Today we have one time-zone for the entire country, aligned with a Meridian that passes through the city of Mirzapur. The beautifully crafted Ghanta-Ghar in Mirzapur tells the story of Indian standard time.
Where does river Ganga originate? In Hindu tradition, it begins at Gangotri. But hydrologically, its main stem actually begins at Devprayag, where the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers unite.
Did you know that Qutb Minar is one of the tallest free-standing stone minarets in the world? But when Qutubuddin Aibak built it in 1192, it wasn’t nearly as tall. It grew over time with many subsequent kings adding to the tower.
Which is the oldest lighthouse in India? The Olakannesvara temple, an 8th century Siva temple in Mamallapuram, is one contender for the title. According to local legend, this structure served as a beacon guiding sailors over 1200 years ago.
