Origin of names of some famous places in India and abroad
Origin of names of some famous places in India and abroad
Here are a few words which have interesting origins:
India: India was originally named Bharath Varsh after Bharath, the son of Shakuntala and Dushyant. When the Persians (from Persia, now Iran) came here they called it Sindhu Desh, after the river Sindh (Indus). The Greeks named it India, from the way they pronounced Sindh river. The name was brought back to use by the Europeans when they came here in the 15th century.
Colombia (South America) is named after Colombus who discovered America by chance!
Virginia (USA) is named after Queen Elizabeth I of England, who was a virgin.
Rhodesia (Africa) is named after Sir Cecil Rhodes who discovered it.
England was called 'Angle Land' after the "Angles", one of the three tribes which invaded the land land and settled there; the other two tribes which invaded the land and settled there; the other two tribes were Saxons and Jutes. The original inhabitants were called "Britons" after whom the country is known as "Britain".
Mysore is named after Mahishasura, a legendary demon. He is supposed to have been killed by Goddess Durga.
America is named after Amerigo Vespucci, who was a Italian sailor and explorer.
Kerala (South India) means coconut in Malayalam language spoken by the people there. The State grows plenty of coconuts.
Assam (North-Eastern India) means uneven, not level.
Bihar (Eastern India) was so called because of the large number of 'Viharas' (monasteries of Buddhists) which were set up there.
Rajasthan (North-Western India) is named after Rajputs which means sons of Raja (King).
Kashmir (Himalayas) is named after Sage Kashyap of Ancient India.
Punjab (North-Western India) comes from Panj-five, Aab-water - both Persian words.
Maharashtra (Western India) comes from Maha - great, rashtra - nation.
Gujarat (Western India) was named after the rulers called Gurjars.
Andhra Pradesh (South India), the land of Telugu speaking people, is named after a tribe 'Andhras' which ruled over it in ancient times.
Orissa on the coast of Bay of Bengal in Eastern India is derived from Odras, a prominent tribe which ruled over the region in olden days.
Meghalaya (North-Eastern state of India) means 'Land of Clouds'.
Haryana (a state in North-Western India) is from 'hari' meaning green.
Ajmer (Rajasthan), the capital of the lastHindu empire, owes its origin to its founder Ajay Raj and Meru mountain.
Bangalore (city in Karnataka, South India) is the anglicised version of 'Bengaluru' which is derived from 'benda kalu' (boiled beans).
Uttar Pradesh was formerly called North Western Province by the British rulers. In 1871 its boundaries were changed and it was called United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, shortened to U.P. After independence in 1947, it was renamed Uttar Pradesh.
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