India is a vast and diverse country, home to a wide variety of cities and towns of different sizes and significance. Some of the major cities in India include:
Mumbai:
Known as the financial and entertainment capital of India, Mumbai is the most populous city in the country and is home to the Bombay Stock Exchange and the Hindi film industry. It’s also known for its iconic Gateway of India, Marine Drive and Elephanta Caves.
Delhi:
The capital of India, Delhi is a historical city with a rich cultural heritage. It is home to many famous monuments such as the Red Fort, Qutub Minar, and India Gate. It’s also known for its street food, markets, and historical sites such as the Lotus Temple, Jama Masjid and Humayun’s Tomb.
Kolkata:
Known as the cultural capital of India, Kolkata is home to many famous poets, writers, and artists. It is also known for its colonial architecture and the famous Victoria Memorial. It’s also known for its famous Durga Puja festival and Howrah Bridge.
Bengaluru:
Known as the Silicon Valley of India, Bengaluru is a major center for the information technology industry. It is also known for its pleasant climate and many gardens and parks, such as the Lal Bagh and Cubbon Park.
Chennai:
Known as the Detroit of South Asia, Chennai is a major center for the automobile and manufacturing industries. It’s also known for its beaches, temples and the Kapaleeswarar Temple.
Hyderabad:
Known as the city of pearls, Hyderabad is known for its rich history, delicious cuisine, and its famous Charminar. It’s also a major center for the pharmaceutical industry.
Ahmedabad:
Known as the Manchester of India, Ahmedabad is a major center for the textile industry. It’s also known for its rich cultural heritage and famous monuments such as the Gandhi Ashram and the Jama Masjid.
India is divided into 28 states and 8 Union Territories. Each state and Union Territory has its own capital and several other major cities. Here is the list of major cities in each state of India in a tabular format:
| State | Major Cities |
|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Guntur |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Itanagar |
| Assam | Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Jorhat |
| Bihar | Patna, Gaya, Bhagalpur |
| Chhattisgarh | Raipur, Bilaspur, Korba |
| Goa | Panaji, Vasco da Gama, Margao |
| Gujarat | Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara |
| Haryana | Chandigarh, Faridabad, Gurgaon |
| Himachal Pradesh | Shimla, Dharamshala, Manali |
| Jharkhand | Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad |
| KarnATAKA | Bengaluru, Mysore, Belgaum |
| Kerala | Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kozhikode |
| Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur |
| Maharashtra | Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur |
| Manipur | Imphal |
| Meghalaya | Shillong |
| Mizoram | Aizawl |
| Nagaland | Kohima |
| Odisha | Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela |
| Punjab | Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Amritsar |
| Rajasthan | Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur |
| Sikkim | Gangtok |
| Tamil Nadu | Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai |
| Telangana | Hyderabad, Warangal, Nizamabad |
| Tripura | Agartala |
| Uttarakhand | Dehradun, Haridwar, Roorkee |
| Uttar Pradesh | Lucknow, Kanpur, Allahabad |
| West Bengal | Kolkata, Asansol, Darjeeling |
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Port Blair |
| Chandigarh | Chandigarh |
| Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | Silvassa |
| Daman | Daman |
| Delhi | New Delhi |
| Lakshadweep | Kavaratti |
| Puducherry | Puducherry |
Here is a more detailed list of major Indian cities along with some information about their significance:
Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay) – the financial capital of India and home to Bollywood. It is the most populous city in India and has a diverse population. It is also known for its historical landmarks such as the Gateway of India and the Elephanta Caves.
Delhi – the national capital of India and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It has a rich history, with landmarks such as the Red Fort, Qutub Minar, and the India Gate. It is also home to the seat of the Indian government and the President’s residence.
Kolkata (formerly known as Calcutta) – the cultural capital of India and known for its colonial architecture, art, and literature. It is also known for its rich history, including the British East India Company and the Bengal Renaissance.
Bengaluru (formerly known as Bangalore) – the IT capital of India and a major center for technology innovation and research. It is home to many of India’s premier educational and research institutions. It is also known for its pleasant climate and green spaces.
Chennai (formerly known as Madras) – known for its automobile and hardware manufacturing industries, as well as its rich cultural heritage. It is known for its beaches, temples and classical dance and music.
Hyderabad – known for its rich history, pearls and biryani. It was once the capital of the Nizams and has a rich legacy of Islamic architecture and culture. It is also a major center for the pharmaceuticals and biotechnology industries.
Ahmedabad – the largest city in Gujarat and known for its textile industry. It has a rich history, including being a center of the Indian independence movement and the home of Mahatma Gandhi.
Pune – Known for its educational institutions, automotive and IT industries. It is also known for its rich history, including being a center of the Maratha Empire.
Surat – known for its diamond cutting and textile industries. It is also an important center of trade and commerce.
Jaipur – known for its rich history and architecture, including the iconic Hawa Mahal and City Palace. It is also known as the “Pink City” for the pink colored buildings in the old part of the city.
These are just a few examples, India has many other cities that are important in their own way, each having their own unique cultural, historical and economic significance.