Festivals & Traditions
Famous Places
Cuisine
Pop Culture & Entertainment
History & Achievements
100
This festival sees homes gleam, crackers burst, and Lakshmi welcomed.
What is Diwali?
Diwali, also known as the "Festival of Lights," is a major religious festival celebrated in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.
100
A symbol of love in marble, often mistaken for a palace.
What is the Taj Mahal?
The Taj Mahal, located in Agra, was built in the 1600s by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. It’s considered one of the world’s greatest architectural masterpieces and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
100
This is to India as coffee is to America.
What is Masala Chai?
Tea brewed with milk, spices (cardamom, ginger, cloves), and sugar. A daily ritual for many Indians.
100
India’s cinematic machine that adds music and dance to every plot twist.
What is Bollywood?
Producing over 1,000 films a year, Bollywood the popular nickname for the Hindi-language film industry in India, primarily based in Mumbai (formerly Bombay), and often mistakenly used to represent the entire Indian cinema industry
100
He fought an empire with salt, fabric, and silence.
Who is Mahatma Gandhi?
Gandhi led India’s independence movement with nonviolent resistance, including iconic acts like the Salt March.
200
A tilt of the head, hands pressed – no words, yet volumes spoken.
What is Namaste?
Namaste is a customary Hindu manner of respectfully greeting and honouring a person or group
200
This city of Rajasthan is famous for its terracotta-colored buildings.
What is Jaipur?
Called the “Pink City,” Jaipur was painted pink in 1876 to welcome the Prince of Wales.
200
This dish turns marinated chicken into a creamy tomato-based global superstar.
What is Butter Chicken?
200
This superstar is known as the King of Romance and outstretched arms.
Who is Shah Rukh Khan?
SRK is one of the most influential actors in Indian cinema, with fans worldwide and a career spanning over three decades.
200
The sun finally set on this empire in 1947.
What is the British Empire?
After nearly 200 years of colonial rule, India gained independence from Britain on August 15, 1947.
300
The only day you can drench your boss in water and colours, yet live to tell the tale.
What is Holi?
Holi, also known as the "festival of colors," is a vibrant Hindu celebration marking spring, the triumph of good over evil, and the love between Radha and Krishna, celebrated with playful tossing of colored powders and water
300
Cruise through its backwaters and you’ll see more coconut trees than people.
What is Kerala?
300
South India’s crispy answer to a savory crepe.
What is a Dosa?
Crepe made from a fermented batter of black gram and rice, often served hot with chutney and sambar
300
A Telugu film whose dance number won an Oscar.
What is RRR?
"Naatu Naatu" from the film RRR won the Oscar for Best Original Song in 2023, marking a historic moment for Indian cinema.
300
Before pills, powders, and pharma, there was this holistic healing system.
What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda is an ancient Indian medical system focusing on balance through diet, herbs, and natural remedies.
400
A festival when Kerala remembers a righteous ruler from below.
What is Onam?
A harvest festival in Kerala that commemorates King Mahabali’s annual visit from the underworld and the Malayali New Year
400
You’ll find funeral pyres burning here daily by the river, as the city is seen as a gateway to liberation.
What is Varanasi?
One of the world’s oldest cities and a spiritual hub for Hindus, especially for cremation rites on the Ganges.
400
This dessert is best described as sweet orbs of sticky nostalgia, swimming in syrup.
What are Gulab Jamuns?
400
This movie proved you can go from slum to stardom; with 8 Oscars to prove it.
What is Slumdog Millionaire?
Though directed by a British filmmaker, the story is deeply rooted in Mumbai’s underbelly and brought global attention to Indian narratives.
400
His math stunned Cambridge and inspired a Dev Patel biopic.
Who is Srinivasa Ramanujan?
A self-taught mathematical genius whose contributions to number theory and infinite series continue to influence modern mathematics.
500
Divine feminine energy takes center stage for nine nights of color and motion.
What is Navratri?
Navratri, meaning "nine nights" in Sanskrit, is a vibrant Hindu festival celebrated for nine nights, typically in the autumn, to honor the divine feminine and celebrate the triumph of good over evil, with various rituals, dances, and festivities.
500
Camels, forts, and golden dunes come together in this desert city.
What is Jaisalmer?
Located in Rajasthan, Jaisalmer is called the “Golden City” due to its yellow sandstone architecture.
500
Puffy, flat, or garlic-studded, this bread loves curry as much as you do.
What is Naan?
500
Eyes talk, hands sing, and feet stomp history in this classical dance.
What is Bharatanatyam?
Bharatanatyam is a traditional dance form from Tamil Nadu, originally performed in temples as a form of devotion.
500
A beacon of ancient knowledge, snuffed out in smoke, its wisdom turned to ash over months.
What is Nalanda?
Nalanda was an ancient university that flourished as a center of learning for centuries. It was destroyed by invaders in the 12th century, and its legendary library reportedly burned for months, symbolizing a massive loss of knowledge.
600
He comes with a trunk and a bang, welcomed with chants and sweets, farewelled by water and song
What is Ganesh Chaturthi?
Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, is a 10-day Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of wisdom and prosperity, and is marked by the installation of Ganesha idols in homes and public pandals. On the 10th day, the idols are immersed in a water body.
600
Flowing through myth and cities, this river is considered a goddess.
What is the Ganges?
It's a symbol of spiritual purity with magical healing properties and is one of the most important bodies of water in religious practices. Worshiped as the goddess Ganga Ma, the river is believed to have descended from the heavens to purify sins and protect those who encounter it.
600
A leafy green dish that makes paneer look heroic.
What is Palak Paneer?
Spinach and Indian cottage cheese cooked with spices; a hearty vegetarian classic.
600
Goa hosts this glitzy event annually in November.
What is the International Film Festival of India (IFFI)?
Held annually in Goa, IFFI is India’s most prestigious film festival, showcasing both Indian and international cinema.
600
Bangalore-born company that helped put India on the IT world map.
What is Infosys?
Infosys played a key role in India’s emergence as a global tech outsourcing and software powerhouse.