Page 55 - KYTE INDIA E-MAGAZINE

• The Vishnu Temple in the city of Tirupathi built in the 10th century, is the world's largest
religious pilgrimage destination. Larger than either Rome or Mecca, an average of 30,000
visitors donate $6 million (US) to the temple everyday.

• Sikhism originated in the Holy city of Amritsar in Punjab. Famous for housing the
Golden Temple, the city was founded in 1577.

• Varanasi, also known as Benaras, was called "the Ancient City" when Lord Buddha
visited it in 500 B.C., and is the oldest, continuously inhabited city in the world today.

• India provides safety for more than 300,000 refugees originally from Sri Lanka, Tibet,
Bhutan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, who escaped to flee religious and political
persecution.

• His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists, runs his
government in exile from Dharmashala in northern India.
• Martial Arts were first created in India, and later spread to Asia by Buddhist missionaries.

• Yoga has its origins in India and has existed for over 5,000 years.

Presidents of India

Name Tenure
Dr Rajendra Prasad (1884-1963) January 26, 1950 - May 13, 1962
Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1888-1975) May 13, 1962 - May 13, 1967
Dr Zakir Hussain (1897-1969) May 13, 1967 - May 03, 1969
Varahagiri Venkatagiri (1884-1980) (Acting) May 03, 1969 - July 20, 1969
Justice Mohammad Hidayatullah (1905-1992) (Acting) July 20, 1969 - August 24, 1969
Varahagiri Venkatagiri (1884-1980) August 24, 1969 - August 24, 1974
Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed (1905-1977) August 24, 1974 - February 11, 1977
B.D. Jatti (1913-2002) (Acting) February 11, 1977 - July 25, 1977
Neelam Sanjiva Reddy (1913-1996) July 25, 1977 - July 25, 1982
Giani Zail Singh (1916-1994) July 25, 1982 - July 25, 1987
R. Venkataraman (1910-2009) July 25, 1987 - July 25, 1992
Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma (1918-1999) July 25, 1992 - July 25, 1997
K.R. Narayanan (1920-2005) July 25, 1997 - July 25, 2002
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (1931-2015) July 25, 2002 - July 25, 2007
Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil (Birth-1934) July 25, 2007 - July 25, 2012
Shri Pranab Mukherjee (Birth-1935) July 25, 2012 - July 25, 2017

SHRI RAM NATH KOVIND ( Birth - 1945 ) July 25, 2017 - Incumbent