India

Country in South Asia, the second largest in the world by population and the seventh largest by area. It became an independent member of the British Commonwealth in 1947.
Languages: Hindi, English.
Currency: rupee.
Capital: New Delhi.
Population: 1,166,079,200 (2009 estimate).
Area: 3,165,596 sq km (1,222,243 sq mi)
Official Name: Republic of India
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital of the Republic of India. It serves as the center of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. The foundation of the city was laid on December 15, 1911, and was planned by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker, leading 20th century British architects. Inaugurated on February 13, 1931 by Viceroy, Lord Irwin, the city is known for its wide, tree-lined boulevards and is home to numerous national institutions and landmarks. It is situated within the metropolis of Delhi, one of the fastest growing cities in the world, and is home to a population of 302,363. New Delhi is one of the nine districts of Delhi.
______________________________________________________________________________ Mumbai
Mumbai formerly called Bombay, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai, the most populous city in India, is the second most populous city in the world, with a population of approximately 14 million. Along with the neighbouring urban areas, including the cities of Navi Mumbai and Thane, it is one of the most populous urban regions in the world. Mumbai lies on the west coast of India and has a deep natural harbour. As of 2009, Mumbai was named an Alpha world city. Mumbai is also the richest city in India, and has the highest GDP of any city in South or Central Asia. The seven islands that came to constitute Mumbai were home to communities of fishing colonies. For centuries, the islands came under the control of successive indigenous empires before being ceded to the Portuguese and subsequently to the British East India Company. During the mid-18th century, Bombay was reshaped by the British with large-scale civil engineering projects, and emerged as a significant trading town. Economic and educational development characterised the city during the 19th century. It became a strong base for the Indian independence movement during the early 20th century. When India became independent in 1947, the city was incorporated into Bombay State. In 1960, following the Samyukta Maharashtra movement, a new state of Maharashtra was created with Bombay as capital. It was renamed Mumbai in 1995. Mumbai is the commercial and entertainment centre of India, generating 5% of India's GDP, and accounting for 25% of industrial output, 40% of maritime trade, and 70% of capital transactions to India's economy. Mumbai is home to important financial institutions such as the Reserve Bank of India, the Bombay Stock Exchange, the National Stock Exchange of India and the corporate headquarters of numerous Indian companies and multinational corporations. The city also houses India's Hindi film and television industry, known as Bollywood. Mumbai's business opportunities, as well as its potential to offer a higher standard of living, attract migrants from all over India and, in turn, make the city a potpourri of many communities and cultures.
______________________________________________________________________________ Bangalore
Bangalore is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Silicon Valley of India, Silicon City of India, Garden City, Metropolitan City, India's Most Expensive City, IT/BT Capital Of India. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and fifth-most populous urban agglomeration. Though historical references to the city predate 900 AD, a modern written history of continuous settlement exists only from 1537, when Kempe Gowda, who many regard as the architect of modern Bangalore, built a mud-brick fort at the site and established it as a province of the imperial Vijayanagara Empire. During the British Raj, it became a centre of colonial rule in South India. The establishment of the Bangalore Cantonment brought in large numbers of migrants from other parts of the country. Today as a large city and growing metropolis, Bangalore is home to many of the most well-recognized colleges and research institutions in India. Numerous public sector heavy industries, software companies, aerospace, telecommunications, and defence organisations are located in the city. Bangalore is known as the Silicon Valley of India because of its position as the nation's leading IT exporter. A demographically diverse city, Bangalore is a major economic and cultural hub and the fastest growing major metropolis in India.
______________________________________________________________________________ Kolkata
Kolkata formerly called Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Kolkata is the cultural capital of India and the commercial capital of Eastern India. It is located in eastern India on the east bank of the Hooghly River. The Kolkata metropolitan area including suburbs has a population exceeding 15 million, making it the third most populous metropolitan area in India and one of the most populous urban areas in the world. The city is also classified as the eighth largest urban agglomeration in the world. Kolkata served as the capital of India during the British Raj until 1912. Since the year 2001, economic rejuvenation has spurred on the city's growth with extensive urbanization, commercialization and job creation. Kolkata boasts of Eastern India's only IT hub, its Software sector growth by large growing in leaps and bounds transforming Kolkata as one of the Hotbeds of Indian IT Industry. It has one of the fastest developing corporate sectors with an influx of a plethora of multinational corporations. Kolkata is noted for its revolutionary history, ranging from the Indian struggle for independence to the leftist and trade union movements. Kolkata was the Launchpad of the Bengal Renaissance era of the 19th Century.
______________________________________________________________________________ Chennai
Chennai formerly known as Madras, is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the fifth most populous city in India. Located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, Chennai city had a population of 4.34 million in the 2001 census within the area administered by the Corporation of Chennai and an extended Metropolitan Population of 6.5 million. a The urban agglomeration of metropolitan Chennai has an estimated population over 8.2 million people. Though the city itself was established only in the 17th century by the British, some parts of the city like Mylapore predate this by several centuries. The British on settling developed it into a major urban centre and naval base. By the 20th century, it had become an important administrative centre, as the capital of the Madras Presidency. Chennai's economy has a broad industrial base in the car, technology, hardware manufacturing, and healthcare industries. The city is India's second largest exporter of software, information technology (IT) and information-technology-enabled services (ITES). A major chunk of India's car manufacturing industry is based in and around the city. Chennai Zone contributes 39 per cent of the State's GDP. Chennai accounts for 60 per cent of the country's automotive exports. Chennai is an important centre for Carnatic Music and hosts a large cultural event, the annual Madras Music Season, which includes performances by hundreds of artists. The city has a vibrant theatre scene and is an important centre for the Bharatanatyam, a classical dance form. The Tamil film industry, one of the largest film industries in India, is based in the city; the soundtracks of the films dominate its music scene.
______________________________________________________________________________ Ahmadabad
Ahmedabad is the seventh largest metropolitan city in India, with a population of approximately 5.2 million. Located on the banks of the River Sabarmati, the city is the administrative centre of Ahmedabad district and was the capital of Gujarat from 1960 to 1970; the capital was shifted to Gandhinagar thereafter. In colloquial Gujarati, the city is commonly called Amdavad. Ahmedabad was founded in 1411 by Sultan Ahmed Shah to serve as the capital of the Gujarat Sultanate, and was named after him. Under the British rule, a military cantonment was established and the city infrastructure was modernized and expanded. Though incorporated into the Bombay Presidency during British rule, Ahmedabad remained the most important city in the Gujarat region. The city established itself as the home of a booming textile industry, which earned it the nickname the "Manchester of the East." The city was at the forefront of the Indian independence movement in the first half of the 20th century. It was the centre of many campaigns of civil disobedience to promote workers' rights civil rights and political independence. With the creation of the state of Gujarat in 1960, Ahmedabad gained prominence as commercial capital of the state. The city is witnessing a major construction boom and population increase. A rising centre of education, information technology and scientific industries, Ahmedabad remains the cultural and commercial heart of Gujarat and much of western India.
______________________________________________________________________________ Hyderabad
Hyderabad is the capital and the most populous city of the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is known as the "City of Pearls" and the "City of Nizams". Hyderabad has a population of over 4 million. The twin cities Hyderabad and Secunderabad are collectively known just as Hyderabad outside the state and together they form the sixth largest metropolis in India, with a population of 6.38 million. The city has been classified as an A-1 city in terms of development priorities, due to its size, population and impact. Hyderabad has developed into a major hub for the information technology industry in India. Madhapur and the HITEC city are the center of the IT boom in the region. It is the capital of biotechnology and pharmaceutics of the country. The city houses the most costly residential real estate in Andhra Pradesh in the posh Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills. The city is home to the world's largest film studio, the Ramoji Film City, as well as the Telugu Film Industry, the second-largest in India, known regionally as Tollywood. It is also a sporting destination with numerous sporting venues and stadia. Various national and international games are conducted here, and the city is the home of the Deccan Chargers, an Indian Premier League team. Residents of Hyderabad are called Hyderabadis. The city is regarded as a blend of traditions with modernity.
______________________________________________________________________________ Pune
Pune, also known as 'Punawadi' or Punya-Nagari, is the eighth largest city and eighth largest metropolis in India, and the second largest in the state of Maharashtra, after Mumbai. Pune is the administrative capital of Pune district. Pune is known to have existed as a town since 937 AD. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Maratha Empire, lived in Pune as a young boy, and later oversaw significant growth and development of the town during his reign. In 1730, Pune became an important political centre as the seat of the Peshwa, the prime minister of the Chhatrapati of Satara. After the town was annexed to British India in 1817, it served as a cantonment town and as the "monsoon capital" of the Bombay Presidency until the independence of India. Today, Pune is known for its educational facilities, having more than a hundred educational institutions and nine universities. Pune has well-established manufacturing, glass, sugar and forging industries since the 1950-60s. Pune has a growing industrial hinterland, with many information technology and automotive companies setting up factories in Pune district. Pune is known for various cultural activities like classical music, spirituality, drama, sports, and literature. These activities and job opportunities attract migrants and students from all over India and abroad, which makes for a city of many communities and cultures.
______________________________________________________________________________ Surat
Surat formerly known as Suryapur, is the commercial capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat and also Second largest commercial hub of western India after Mumbai. The city proper is the one of the most populous cities in the world. Surat is the administrative capital of Surat district and Surat Metropolitan Region. Surat is India's eighth largest metropolitan city. Surat is India's cleanest Mertropolitan Region. The city is situated on the left bank of the Tapti River, 14 miles from its mouth. The Population of Surat with its twin city Navsari is above 6.2 million as of 2010. A moat divides the older parts of the city, with its narrow streets and handsome houses, and the newer suburbs. The city is largely recognized for its textile and diamond businesses. It is also known as the diamond capital of the world and the textile capital of India. 92% of the world's diamonds are cut and polished in Surat. Surat is also the Third cleanest city in India after Chandigarh and Mysore. Surat was once the largest city in India. It has one of the highest GDP growth rates in India at 11.5% as of 2008. Surat was the primary port of India during the Mughal period, a distinction it lost to Bombay during the British Raj.
______________________________________________________________________________ Kanpur
Kanpur, spelled as Cawnpore before 1948, is the ninth most populous city in India and the largest within the state of Uttar Pradesh. It is the second largest city of the Hindi speaking belt after Delhi. Remains one of the oldest industrial townships of North India, although it has not kept pace with industrial growth in the rest of India. It has an area of over 200 square kilometres (77 sq mi) and a population over 4.9 million, which is estimated to grow up to 6 million by 2011. With the Current population of 50 lacks city also has lot of problems with traffic and pollution. Continuous development in the city like over-bridges,sewage lines and roads caused problems to citizens for last 2 to 3 years.The status of the city was upgraded when it was included in the "Counter Magnets" of National Capital Region (NCR). To tackle with the traffic problem state goverment and local administration have planned to set up metro service in city known as Kanpur Metro. Owing to the city's industrial importance, one of the few branches of the Reserve Banks of India and Institute of Chartered Accountants of India were established in the city. It is also home to several globally recognized institutions such as IIT Kanpur, Harcourt Butler Technological Institute (HBTI) and GSVM Medical College.
______________________________________________________________________________ Jaipur
Jaipur, also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. During the British rule in India, Jaipur was the capital of the princely state of Jaipur. Founded on 18 November 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber, the city today has a population of more than 3.2 million. Jaipur is the first planned city of India, located in the semi-desert lands of Rajasthan. The city which once had been the capital of the royalty now is the capital city of Rajasthan. The very structure of Jaipur resembles the taste of the Rajputs and the Royal families. At present, Jaipur is a major business center with all requisites of a metropolitan city. The city is remarkable among pre-modern Indian cities for the width and regularity of its streets which are laid out into six sectors separated by broad streets 111 ft (34 m) wide. The urban quarters are further divided by networks of gridded streets. Five quarters wrap around the east, south, and west sides of a central palace quarter, with a sixth quarter immediately to the east. The Palace quarter encloses a sprawling palace complex, (Hawa Mahal), formal gardens, and a small lake. Nahargarh Fort, which was the residence of the King Sawai Jai Singh II, crowns the hill in the northwest corner of the old city. Another noteworthy building is the observatory, Jantar Mantar. Jaipur is a popular tourist destination in Rajasthan and India.
______________________________________________________________________________ Lakhnau
Lucknow is the capital city of the most populous state of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow city is also the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division. Lucknow is primarily known for its finesse and syncretic multicultural (Ganga-Jamuni) identity, orchards of Dussehri mangoes, and Chikan embroidery work. In 2006, Lucknow had a population of 2,541,101 and literacy rate of 68.63%. According to Government of India, the Lucknow district is one of the ninety Minority Concentrated Districts in India, shown by 2001 census data on population, socio-economic indicators and basic amenities indicators. Lucknow is the second largest urban agglomeration of Uttar Pradesh after Kanpur. The river Gomti which flows through the heart of the city is also a part of city's culture. Lucknow is located in the historically known region of Awadh. It has always been a multicultural city. Courtly manners, beautiful gardens, poetry, music, and fine cuisine which were always patronized by the Persian-loving Shia Nawabs of the city are well known amongst Indians and students of South Asian culture and history. Lucknow is popularly known as the The City of Nawabs. It is also known as the Golden City of the East, Shiraz-i-Hind and The Constantinople of India. Contemporary Lucknow is a vibrant city experiencing economic progress and is among India's top ten fastest growing mini metro cities.
______________________________________________________________________________ Agra
Agra is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India. With a population of 1,686,976 (2010 est.), it is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh and the 19th most populous in India. Agra can also refer to the administrative district that has its headquarters in Agra city. The city finds mention in the epic Mahābhārata where it was called Agrevaṇa, or 'the border of the forest'. Legend ascribes the founding of the city to Rājā Badal Singh (around 1475), whose fort, Badalgarh, stood on or near the site of the present Fort. However, the 11th century Persian poet Mas'ūd Sa'd Salmān writes of a desperate assault on the fortress of Agra, then held by the Shāhī King Jayapala, by Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni. Sultan Sikandar Lodī was the first to move his capital from Delhi to Agra in the year 1506; he died in 1517 and his son Ibrāhīm Lodī remained in power there for nine more years, finally being defeated at the Battle of Panipat in 1526. It achieved fame as the capital of the Mughal emperors from 1526 to 1658 and remains a major tourist destination because of its many splendid Mughal-era buildings, most notably the Tāj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpūr Sikrī, all three of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
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