List of Cities in India

India is widely known for its rich culture and heritage. It occupies almost 139.34 crores population making it the second most populated country in the world. Being the seventh-largest country in the world it has various places to explore. India is a nation with diversified cultures and religious beliefs. Apart from the big metropolitan cities of India, there are places that give you peace and serenity. Let us see some of the popular cities in India.

1) Bengaluru (previously known as Bangalore)

Bengaluru is a metropolitan city with an almost 11 million population. Bengaluru is also known as the "Silicon Valley" of India because of the big IT hub and the number of IT companies that have been established. Bengaluru is the capital of Karnataka and is one of the largest cities in India. Although one might think that a city with so much population might not have anything noteworthy to explore. Well, this is where you are wrong, although Bengaluru is a lively city, there are places that give you peace and serenity and some time out of your usual hustle-bustle life. Let's see some of the popular places in Bengaluru.

i) Lalbagh

Lalbagh is a botanical garden spread across almost 240 acres of land. This garden was built under Hyder Ali the then ruler of Mysore during the 1760s. This was later expanded and completed by his son Tipu Sultan. This garden has more than 1000 species of plants and different types of flowers. It has a glasshouse wherein the flower show takes place. The main attraction is the Lalbagh rock which is almost 3000 million years old. This garden also has a lake where you can do boating. Another attraction in this garden is the Fossil of a coniferous tree that is said to be 20 million years old.

ii) Bannerghatta National Park

It would be surprising to note that a city like Bengaluru might have a national park. Bannerghatta National Park is situated in the outskirts and is spread over 104.27sq.km. This park was established in 1971. It is said that for a better view of animals and for one's own enjoyment, one must visit during the time from November to June as the climate is pretty cool and you can enjoy the safari. In this wildlife park, you would find a butterfly garden with artificial waterfalls that adds to the scenic beauty. Many animals like Elephants, leopards, sambars, wild boars and sloth bears are visible when you go on safari. For getting a close-up look at animals and having the time of your life do experience the safari. The national park is bifurcated into three categories: Zoo, Butterfly Park and Safari.

iii) Cubbon Park

Another tourist attraction is Cubbon park which is a serene place expanded for about 300 acres and consisting of more than 6000 trees.

iv) Bangalore Palace

One of the main tourist attraction spots seems to be the Bangalore Palace. Its beautiful structure depicts the castles of medieval France and England times.

v) Vidhana Soudha

One of the prestigious places having a grandeur appearance, the broad staircase and its architecture just stand out from rest. As it is a government building the entries are restricted to only those having permission letters.

2) Mumbai - The City of Dreams

Mumbai also known as Bombay is the capital of Maharashtra state. It is the second-most populous city after Delhi. It is the 7th most populous city in the world rounding up to 20 million. Mumbai has three of the UNESCO world heritage sites namely: the Elephanta Caves, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, and the Victorian art Buildings. Mumbai is home to Marathi-speaking people. Mumbai is home to various Billionaires. Apart from being a commercial and IT hub, Mumbai has more to offer. Let us take a look at some tourist spots for you to visit in Mumbai.

i) Gateway of India

It is one of the best places to visit in Mumbai. With the cool sea breeze and bubbly crowd, one can enjoy a good family time here. Exactly opposite stands the Taj Palace. Here Ferry service is offered which can take you around.

ii) Haji Ali Dargah

One of the famous shrines is Haji Ali Dargah. Here the tomb of Sayed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari is kept. This great art piece is made of marble and is of Indo-Islamic Architecture.

iii) Elephanta caves

You are in for a time-lapse. This heritage holds up various rock carvings that go way back into history. The way each rock is carved into humans is a sight worth seeing. It has mainly seven caves. Five of them are dedicated to God Shiva and the rest two depict Buddhist architecture. One has to travel here through Ferry as it is located on an island. You will get the Ferry from the Gateway of India.

iv) Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus

Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus is situated right in the heart of Mumbai. Depicting the glory of the Victorian era this artifact is a must-visit.

v) Marine Drive

The hot spot as it is; a walkway that stretches across the shore. When seen from above at night it looks like a necklace. You can find various food stalls here. If you are looking for just having a laid-back evening this place is for you.

vi) Bandra-Worli Sea Link

A modern-day architecture that stretches for 5.6 km across Mahim Bay. The Bandra-Worli Sea Link is made with concrete and steel and is balanced by cable wires. It remains open 24/7.

3) Delhi

Delhi is a union territory that contains our capital New Delhi. It is one of the oldest cities in the world. Delhi was previously known as Indraprastha, which was the capital of Pandavas in Mahabharat. There are many places that one can visit in Delhi such as;

i) Red Fort

This Fort was constructed in the 16th century. The red colour of the fort is due to the sandstone used to build it. This Fort is spread over 254 acres of land. The structure of this amazing fort is a mixture of Mughal, Persian, Hindu, and Timurid traditions. This fort holds various artifacts of the Mughal Era. The noteworthy elements to see here are the peacock Throne, the Stepwell, the Moti Masjid, and the Hira Mahal.

ii) Qutub Minar

Qutub Minar is a minaret that is named after Qutb-ud-din Aibak. This tower is 73 meters tall and comprises of 5 storeys, out of which the first three storeys are embellished with red sandstone, the fourth storey is made up of marble and the fifth storey is made up of sandstone. This minaret is engraved with Quranic texts. It has a spiral stepwell which has around 379 steps. You can also find a mosque named "Quwwat-ul-Islam".

iii) Humayun's Tomb

It is another historic beauty that was built in 1565 A.D. The Humayun's Tomb was built in the memory of Humayun by his wife. The tomb was constructed nine years after his death. It is inspired by Persian architecture.

iv) Lotus Temple

Named after the structure of Lotus, this temple was built for humanity. The temple has 27 marble-clad petals and is surrounded by gardens and a pond. Its height is estimated to be 34 meters and the temple can accommodate 2500 people. The temple symbolizes the culture of the Baha`i` House of Worship, where all people of different religions are welcomed.

v) Jama Masjid

This Mosque is located in the heart of Old Delhi. It is the largest and most well-known mosque in India. The mosque was constructed under the monarch of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. This beautiful piece took about a work force of 5000 men to complete. It is built with red sandstone and marble. It has four towers, two high minarets, and a courtyard. The courtyard can occupy around 25,000 devotees. The one thing to keep in mind is that entry is not allowed during prayer service.

4) Chennai

Chennai which was previously known as Madras is the capital of Tamil Nadu. It is well known for its educational, cultural, and economic centers. Chennai is one of the safest cities in India. It is said to be the health capital of India. Chennai was added to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) for the rich musical tradition that it beholds. Some tourist attractions in this southern city are as follows:

i) The Marina Beach

Located along the coast of the Bay of Bengal, this beach is said to be the longest beach in India. There is an old lighthouse that is situated at the southern end of the beach. There are many stalls for food and imitation jewelry that might suit your interest.

ii) Valluvar Kottam

For literature enthusiasts, this place is perfect to visit. Tamil Nadu's love for literature and culture is pretty much evident. This monument in the shape of a chariot is built in remembrance of the great poet Thiruvalluvar. It is built using 3000 stones.

iii) Thousand Lights Mosque

This mosque is said to be one of the biggest mosques in India. The name is so because there are 1000 lamps that are lit in the hall of the mosque.

iv) Ashtalakshmi Temple

Lakshmi, the goddess of Wealth and Knowledge is the epitome of this shrine. In this temple, eight avatars of Lakshmi are constructed. One can hear the waves of the ocean from within the temple's complex.

5) Hyderabad

Hyderabad is the capital of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. It is termed to be the fifth-largest economic generation. Hyderabad was established by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah. In 2014, Andhra Pradesh was separated from Telanagana making Hyderabad the capital of both states. Hyderabad is widely known for its cultural heritage and its authentic cuisine. Some of the popular places to visit in Hyderabad are as follows;

i) Golconda fort

This marvelous fort build by the Qutub Shahi kings consists of eight gates and 87 bastions. The prisons consisting of some carved deities and the canons are a very captivating sight. This fort also holds light and sound shows which is must watch.

ii) Ramoji film City

It is located on NH-9, 30 km away from Hyderabad. It was established by Ramoji Rao a very well-known Telugu film producer. His main goal was to build a studio similar to that of Hollywood. Ramoji Film city is known to be one of the largest film studios in the world, it is also recorded in the Guinness Book of World records. It spreads over around 2500 acres of land. It has various film sets, for example, Hollywood sign, Japanese gardens, hospitals, London streets, etc.

iii) Chowmahalla Palace

This palace was built almost 200 years ago. As the name suggests, this palace consists of four palaces. The word Chowmahalla is an Urdu word that means "Chow - Four" and "Mahalla - Palace". It is very much in resemblance to the Shah palace in Iran. In the beginning, the palace is said to have covered around 45 acres but now it covers about 12 acres of land. There are two Courtyards in this palace namely the southern and the northern courtyard. The southern courtyard has four palaces: Afzal Mahal, Tahniyat Mahal, Mahtab Mahal, and Aftab Mahal. Aftab Mahal is the biggest of all four that has two storeys.

iv) Qutub Shahi Tombs

Qutub Shahi Tombs consists of Seven tombs of the Shahi rulers. These tombs boast the architectural beauty of Persian and Indian Styles. The seven tombs differ in their sizes. The smaller tombs have a single storey while the bigger tombs have two storeys. The tomb of Quli Qutub Shah is the biggest of all. Each tomb is surrounded by the minaret.

v) Mecca Masjid

Mecca Masjid is one of the popular spots among tourists. It is one of the largest mosques in the world. This beautiful artifact took around 80 years to complete with its construction and took about 8000 men to do so. It is said that the main hall itself can accommodate around 10,000 devotees. There are 15 arches that are supporting the main hall. The pillars here are carved from a single slab of granite. The construction of this masjid was initiated by Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah.

List of major cities of India