India: A Land of Diversity and States
India, the seventh-largest country by land area and the second-most populous nation, comprises 28 states and 8 union territories, each with its unique culture, language, and geography. Here’s a quick look at its states and key details:
- Andhra Pradesh – Known for its rich heritage and the Tirupati Temple, its capital is Amaravati.
- Arunachal Pradesh – Famous for scenic beauty and Buddhist monasteries, it is India’s northeastern frontier.
- Assam – Known for its tea gardens and Kaziranga National Park, Dispur is its capital.
- Bihar – The land of ancient universities like Nalanda, with Patna as its capital.
- Chhattisgarh – Rich in minerals and tribal culture, its capital is Raipur.
- Goa – Renowned for beaches and Portuguese heritage, Panaji is its capital.
- Gujarat – Known for Gir lions and vibrant culture, its capital is Gandhinagar.
- Haryana – A hub of agriculture and industry, Chandigarh serves as its capital.
- Himachal Pradesh – A hill state famed for Shimla and Manali, with Shimla as the capital.
- Jharkhand – Known for coal mines and waterfalls, Ranchi is the capital.
- Karnataka – Bengaluru, the IT hub, is the capital of this culturally rich state.
- Kerala – Known for backwaters and spices, Thiruvananthapuram is the capital.
- Madhya Pradesh – The heart of India, known for Khajuraho temples and tiger reserves, with Bhopal as the capital.
- Maharashtra – Home to Mumbai, the financial capital of India, with Mumbai and Nagpur sharing governance duties.
- Manipur – Famous for classical dance and Loktak Lake, Imphal is its capital.
- Meghalaya – Known as the abode of clouds, Shillong is the capital.
- Mizoram – A picturesque state with Aizawl as its capital.
- Nagaland – Known for tribal culture and Kohima as its capital.
- Odisha – Renowned for temples like Konark and Puri, Bhubaneswar is the capital.
- Punjab – Famous for Golden Temple and vibrant culture, Chandigarh is the capital.
- Rajasthan – Known for forts, deserts, and Jaipur as its capital.
- Sikkim – A small state known for Kanchenjunga and Gangtok as its capital.
- Tamil Nadu – Famous for temples like Meenakshi Amman, with Chennai as its capital.
- Telangana – Hyderabad is the capital, known for its tech industry and heritage sites.
- Tripura – Rich in tribal culture, Agartala is its capital.
- Uttar Pradesh – The most populous state, known for the Taj Mahal, with Lucknow as its capital.
- Uttarakhand – Known for Himalayan beauty and pilgrimage sites, Dehradun is the capital.
- West Bengal – Kolkata, the cultural capital of India, serves as its capital.
India’s union territories include Delhi (National Capital), Chandigarh, Puducherry, and others like Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir, known for their unique landscapes and governance.
This kaleidoscope of states and territories makes India a true blend of diversity and unity.