Month: October 2018

India has 29 states and 7 union territories, home to the 132.42 crore people. These 29 states are divided on the basis of different criteria. It can be geographical, cultural or even the language. Each state has something distinct to offer from every other state. Each one of them has a different theme when you think about a specific state and it’s very hard when it comes to finding the same theme from two different states.

India has a total area of 3,287,263 km².Making it 7th largest country in the world. That’s the reason why some states are larger than some countries too. so’ here is a list of  Top 10 Biggest States In India. 

1. Rajasthan

Known of its desserts and Rajput heritage Rajasthan is the largest state in terms of area with 342,239 km². This is 10.41 percent of the whole nation and is equivalent to the Republic of Congo. Rajasthan is a state having the 7th largest population in India. As mentioned above Rajasthan is famous for its deserts that’s home to one of the most distinct wildlife in India that includes Black Bucks, Cheetals and a verity of rodents and lizards.

Furthermore, Rajasthan has astonishing royal forts and palaces and have witnessed the great Rajputana Dinesty. If you are interested in Indian history and hot weather don’t bug you then Rajasthan is a must visit place for you.

2. Madhya Pradesh

With an area of 308,350 km² Madhya Pradesh is the 2nd largest state in India. It was the largest state before the year 2000 when Chattisgarh was a part of it. Madhya Pradesh is home 72,626,809 people that’s the fifth largest population in an Indian state. Madhya Pradesh is also home to a wide range of wildlife with 10 National Parks and several other National reserves. 

Madhya Pradesh has the Kanha National Park that is the inspiration behind Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book. Furthermore, Madhya Pradesh has the proof of one of the oldest civilization in India  Kayatha culture (2100–1800 BCE) and Malwa culture (1700–1500 BCE).

3. Maharashtra

Maharashtra is the home to the film industry of India-Bollywood and the financial capital of India Mumbai. And it is the third largest state in India with an area of 307,713 km² that is 1,000 lesser than that of Madhya Pradesh and almost equivalent to the area of Oman. Alongside the busy cities like Mumbai and Pune Maharashtra also has a great biodiversity too. It has 6 Tiger Reserves and it’s Amravati Region is home to the 121 species of birds.

Maharashtra also has a great historic value too. It was home of the Maratha Empire that fought foreign rulers in India for centuries.

4. Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh is the fourth largest state in India with an area of 243,290 km² making 7.33 percent of national share and is equivalent to the United Kingdom. Also, its the most populated state too with 199,812,341 people. Uttar Pradesh also has a very high historic value. Varanasi is located on the banks of Ganga river is one of the ancient cities in India. Agra is a city that has been a Mughal capital and one of the wonders of the world The Taj Mahal is also located there. Lucknow is it’s capital and is known for its cuisine and rich history.

Uttar Pradesh is also famous for its temples and mosques. It has some of the biggest mosques in India. It is known to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna and hosts the Kumbh Mela too that is the largest religious gathering in the world.

5. Jammu And Kashmir

Jammu And Kashmir are the North most and the fifth largest in India with an area of 101,338 km²making 6.76 percent of the national share. It has been divided into three regions Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh. It’s known for its diverse nature that offers you some of the most astonishing views of the world. However, due to some conflicts with China and Pakistan, the whole area isn’t completely accessible to tourism.

Jammu and Kashmir host 10,000 Hindu pilgrims every year and has several shrines that attract them. Furthermore, Ladakh is known for it’s various Buddhist Monasteries.

6. Gujarat

Gujarat is the west most state of India and has the longest coastline. With an area of 196,024 km² Gujarat is the 6th largest state.  The most astonishing thing about this state is that its Gir National Park is the last home to the Asiatic Lions. This state has a rich history, culture, and a distinct cuisine. Gujarat was an important area of Indus Valley civilization and there is clear evidence that it was a trade hub between 1000 BC to 600 BC that served India’s business with Egypt and Persia.

Gujrat also has a lot of temples that hosts a large number of Hindu pilgrims every year. Furthermore, it’s a state with one of the highest literacy rate of 76 percent.

7. Karnataka

Karnataka is the 7th largest state in India with an area of 191,791 km². Karnataka is 5th largest state economy in India with a per capita GDP of ₹174,000. Furthermore, it’s one of the most literate states in India with a literacy rate of 75 percent. Karnataka also has a rich history too. It was home to some ancient and medieval empires like the Nanda empire and Maurya Empire.

Karnataka also has a rich wildlife too. It has 27 wildlife sanctuaries and one of the densest rainforests in India—The Western Ghats.

8. Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh is the 8th largest state in India 162,968 km² contributing 4.87 percent to the national share. Andhra Pradesh’s rank was higher in the list of largest states before Telanga got separated from it. This state is highly known for its natural attraction like beaches of Vishakapatnam and hill stations like Araku Valley and Horsey Hills. Vishakapatnam has become a trade hub with a GDP of US$43.5 billion.

Andhra Pradesh also has one of the most visited religious locations in the world—Tirupati with  18.25 million visitors per year.

9. Odisha

Odisha is the 9th largest state in terms of area with 155,707 km². Which is comparable to the size of Bangladesh. Odisha also has a mention in Indian National Anthem Jana Gana Mana as the name of Utkala. Odisha also has mentioned in  Mahabharata, Vayu Purana, and Mahagovinda Suttanta by the name Kalinga. Hence it could be one of the oldest civilizations in India. Furthermore, the king Ashoka has evidenced to fought the war of Kalinga here. Thereafter, Buddish monuments like Shanti Stupa has been built here.

10. Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh the tenth-largest state, with an area of 135,191 km².  Before 2000 it was part of Madhya Pradesh and it’s currently the largest producer of steel in India contributing 15 percent to the total steel production in India. Despite being one of the fastest developing states it’s 44 percent land is covered in forest. These forests are home to a large flora and fauna.  Chhattisgarh is also a great tourist destination due to its carved temples and Buddhist sites.

India is a land with huge bio-diversity. You can find any type of environment in India whenever you want. From cold mountains to dense forests and from grasslands to deserts every kind of terrain is present in India. Owing to this diversity, India has become a home for a large variety of most deadly reptiles in the world—Snakes.

There are almost 300 native Indian species of snakes in India but out of them, only four are responsible for a majority of deaths. These deadly creatures are considered holy among Hindus and they are worshiped as Naag Devta. The reason for this is the connection between snakes and Hindu Gods Shiva and Vishnu.

1. Indian Cobra- Nag

Nagas are the most known and fearful snakes in India. The reason for this is there look that can be easily differentiated from other species. Naags can be easily recognized by their Hood. Nagas are one of the four most deadly snakes found in India and they are most populated too. They can grow up to 2 meters in length. They are highly seen in the road shows of Indian peddlers known as Speras. 

Nagas are found in almost every part of the Indian subcontinent except the cold tops of the Himalayas. Nag snakes are now a protected species in India under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972).

2. King Cobra

King Cobras are the largest venomous species of snakes found on earth. King Cobras can be easily recognized with the help of their hood their white stripes on a completely black body. These snakes can grow up to 18 feet in length. King Cobra is usually found in the areas with heavy rainfall hence southern rainforests make a perfect home for them. Particularly, the western ghats are famous for being home of King Cobras.

These Cobras become the cause of a lot of deaths in India and are included in four of the most deadly snakes found in India. They are also a protected species in India under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972) and killing them can cause 6 years in prison.

3. Rock Python– Ajgar

Indian Rock Python or Ajgar are the largest snakes found in India. They can be easily recognized due to their size, they can grow up to 23 feet and can weigh up to 160kg. Pythons are known to kill their prey by folding around it tightly.  However, they aren’t very deadly to humans because they are not venomous and relatively slow to attack a person.  This reason for their too being popular in road shows. But it doesn’t mean they are not dangerous their bite still can cause some infections.

Ajgars are usually found in middle or southern parts of India. Particularly, Deccan plateau and western ghats. Although they can survive anywhere grasslands, swamps, and woodlands.

4. Russels Viper– Daboia

Russel’s viper is also known as Daboia in some parts of India. It can be recognized through the large brown circles on its body. It is also a very venomous snake and its venom is known to destroy the affected organs. That is why Russel’s Viper is one of the four deadliest snakes in India.

Russel’s viper is spread all over India and can be found at any grassy and moist areas. They can strike there target in a second, they usually feed on rats but can eat other small rodents too.

5. Saw Scale Viper

Saw Scale Vipers are also one of the one most dangerous snakes in India. There are the smallest ones that fall into this category. They are usually 3 feet long and not easy to recognize but can be recognized by experts using the saw-shaped brown scales, due to which they got there name. They are also known as Echis.

Saw Scale vipers are usually found at barren lands instead of dense forests where the population is higher. Hence are responsible for relatively lesser deaths as compared to Cobras and Russell’s viper.

6. Indian Krait– Sakhra

Indian Kraits are also a venomous species found in India and are the fourth one in big four most dangerous snakes in India. They can be 5 feet long and can be recognized by thin white stripes on their body. In northern India, they are known as Sakhra.

They are usually found in fields where they usually come in contact with humans. Kraits usually feed on other small snakes and some rodents. They are also known to cannibalize other Kraits too.

7. Rat Snake– Dhaman

Rat Snakes are also called as Dhaman in India. They are non-venomous and completely unharmful to humans. Rat Snakes are found all over India and can be easily found near civilizations where they can feed on rodents. They can be up to 8 feet in length.

The most popular trait of rat snakes is that they are eaten by King Cobras. Rat Snakes are further categorized in several categories like Black Rat Snake, Grey Rat Snake, and Corn snake.

8.Trinket Snake

Trinket Snakes are found on mountains where the temperature is usually low and other snakes can’t survive. They are non-venomous and can be 4.5 feet long. It is considered a beautiful snake by experts due to black stripes on its golden body.

Due to their small size, they are really fast and aggressive. However, they are not venomous but can cause a lot of damage using their sharp teeth. They are known to feed on rodents and small lizards.

9.Boa

Boas are the small-sized pythons and are found in deserted areas. They are the largest snakes found in Thar desert the thing that differentiates them from pythons is their relatively small size. They use the same technique to kill their prey as pythons do.

However, they aren’t very deadly to humans because they are not venomous and relatively small to attack a person.

10. Keelback -Dhodia 

Keelback or Dhodia also called the water snake. They are found in fresh waters of India. It can be recognized with small black diamond shapes on its back. They are non-venomous and most of the time they are found in fresh water.

Keelback is mostly found in South India and can be up to 4 feet long. They mostly feed on water frogs and small fish.

11.Vine Snake

Vine Snake is a species that usually lives on trees. It is mildly venomous. These snakes are found in forests of South India and are extremely rare. Due to which ingredients of its venom are unknown.  Vine snakes are slender and their heads are shaped like leaves. These characteristics make them camouflage in the forest where they can catch their prey without getting much attention. They are usually known to feed on frogs and lizards.