Talk:India/Old cities

Cities
India has many large and famous cities. Below is a list of the most well-known. Other cities are listed under their specific regional section.

Largest cities

 * New Delhi, the Capital of Ancient Bharat (then called "Indraprastha") and Modern India - The political capital of India


 * Ahmedabad
 * Bangalore - The Garden City, Pub City, Silicon Valley of India, Land of Silk, Gold, Sandal Wood, Incense etc.
 * Bombay (Mumbai) - The financial capital of India, "Bollywood" (Indian Film Industry's hub)
 * Calcutta (Kolkata) - Known as City of Joy.
 * Hyderabad - Pearl city of India, and part of the Silicon Plateau with Bangalore
 * Madras (Chennai) - City of Temples, Home of famous Marina Beach, Automobile Capital of India
 * Pune - Pune is located in the Western India and is Maharashtra's cultural capital.

Tourist destinations

 * Agra - Home of the Taj Mahal
 * Amritsar - The Golden Temple, Sikh holy city
 * Shimla - The summer capital of former British India is a small jewel in the lush Himalayan foothills.
 * Srinagar - Famous for Dal lake, located in the picturesque Himalayas
 * Varanasi - A sacred Hindu city located on the banks of the Ganges.

Other destinations

 * National reserves, sanctuaries Thekkady, Muthumala, Yercaud, Kumarakom
 * Hill StationsOoty, Kodaikanal, Munnar, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Ladakh, Leh, Kufri, Auli, Narkanda, Kullu, Manali, Dharamsala, Dalhousie, Lahaul, Spiti, Sarahan, Nainital, Mussoorie, Rishikesh, Char Dham, Kumaon, Garhwal, Gangtok, Darjeeling, Zanskar, Nandi Hills
 * Beaches Kovalam, Beaches in Goa, Andaman and Nicobar.

Sacred sites
As the birth place of several world religions, India is home to many sacred and holy sites:


 * Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra State - a complex of caves representing some of the best of early Buddhist art.
 * Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh - Birth Place of Lord Rama.
 * Bodh Gaya, Bihar State - the place where the Buddha Shakyamuni attained enlightenment.
 * Ellora Caves, Maharashtra State - a complex of caves representing Buddhism, Brahmanism and Jainism.
 * Guruvayur, Kerala - Bhulooka Vaikuntam, abode of Lord Sri Guruvayurappan
 * Golden Temple, Punjab State - the site of the holiest Sikh temple.
 * Haridwar/Rishikesh, Uttaranchal State - Important pilgrimage centres.
 * Karnak temple on the East coast with erotic sculpture
 * Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh - the site of the Buddha Shakyamuni's death.
 * Madurai, Tamil Nadu - Temple of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sri Sundareswara(Shiva).
 * Mahabalipuram a seaside temple town South of Madras
 * Manthralayam, Andhra Pradesh - Sri Guru Ragavendhra Temple
 * Mathura, Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh - Birth Place of Lord Krishna
 * Nalanda, Bihar State - Site of an early Buddhist University/monastic center
 * Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh is the site of a great Buddhist stupa.
 * Sarnath, near Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh - the site of the deer park where the Buddha Shakyamuni first taught the Buddha Dharma.
 * Swamithoppepathi, Tamil Nadu - The head quarters of religion of Ayyavazhi.
 * Tirupati and Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh - Kaliyuga Vaikuntam, abode of Lord Sri Venkateswara
 * Tiruvallur, Tamil Nadu - Temples of Sri Vaidhya Veeraraghava Swami and Sri Viswaroopa Panchamukha AnjaneyaSwami
 * Tiruvannamalai,Tamil Nadu - Temple of Lord Shiva