India is a land of diversity, home to 29 states, each with its own rich history, vibrant culture, and unique traditions. The capital of each state plays an important role as the center of governance, commerce, and culture. From the historic streets of Kolkata to the modern buzz of Bengaluru, these capitals reflect the essence of their states, offering a glimpse into the life and spirit of India.
Each state capital has its own charm, with some known for their natural beauty, like Shimla and Srinagar, while others shine as hubs of industry and innovation, such as Chennai and Hyderabad. Whether you’re interested in exploring ancient temples, enjoying local cuisines, or simply soaking in the diverse landscapes, the capitals of India are the perfect starting point for your journey through this incredible country. Let’s dive into the list of these 29 states and their capitals!
List of 29 States of India With Capital
Here’s is detailed list of the 29 states of India, including their capitals, official languages, major attractions, and cultural highlights.
Sr. No. | State | Capital |
---|---|---|
1 | Andhra Pradesh | Amaravati |
2 | Arunachal Pradesh | Itanagar |
3 | Assam | Dispur |
4 | Bihar | Patna |
5 | Chhattisgarh | Raipur |
6 | Goa | Panaji |
7 | Gujarat | Gandhinagar |
8 | Haryana | Chandigarh |
9 | Himachal Pradesh | Shimla |
10 | Jharkhand | Ranchi |
11 | Karnataka | Bengaluru |
12 | Kerala | Thiruvananthapuram |
13 | Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal |
14 | Maharashtra | Mumbai |
15 | Manipur | Imphal |
16 | Meghalaya | Shillong |
17 | Mizoram | Aizawl |
18 | Nagaland | Kohima |
19 | Odisha | Bhubaneswar |
20 | Punjab | Chandigarh |
21 | Rajasthan | Jaipur |
22 | Sikkim | Gangtok |
23 | Tamil Nadu | Chennai |
24 | Telangana | Hyderabad |
25 | Tripura | Agartala |
26 | Uttar Pradesh | Lucknow |
27 | Uttarakhand | Dehradun |
28 | West Bengal | Kolkata |
29 | Jammu and Kashmir | Srinagar (Summer), Jammu (Winter) |
1. Andhra Pradesh – Capital: Amaravati
Official Language: Telugu
Key Highlights: Known for Tirupati Temple, Amaravati Buddhist Stupa, and the beaches of Visakhapatnam. The state has a rich history in classical dance and arts, especially with Kuchipudi dance. Andhra cuisine is also famous for its spicy flavors.
2. Arunachal Pradesh – Capital: Itanagar
Official Language: English
Key Highlights: This “Land of the Rising Sun” is known for its serene mountains, monasteries like Tawang, and its indigenous tribal cultures. It’s a biodiversity hotspot, housing rare flora and fauna, including orchids and red pandas.
3. Assam – Capital: Dispur
Official Language: Assamese
Key Highlights: Assam is world-renowned for Assam tea and silk. The state is home to the Kaziranga and Manas National Parks, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the grand Brahmaputra River.
4. Bihar – Capital: Patna
Official Language: Hindi
Key Highlights: Rich in ancient history, Bihar is home to Nalanda University and Bodh Gaya, where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment. The state celebrates its cultural festivals, like Chhath Puja, with grandeur.
5. Chhattisgarh – Capital: Raipur
Official Language: Hindi
Key Highlights: Known for its lush forests and tribal culture, Chhattisgarh is a land of waterfalls, caves, and temples. Chitrakote Falls, the “Niagara of India,” is a popular attraction.
6. Goa – Capital: Panaji
Official Language: Konkani
Key Highlights: Goa is famous for its beaches, vibrant nightlife, and Portuguese-influenced architecture. Major attractions include churches in Old Goa, Dudhsagar Falls, and various beach festivals like Sunburn.
7. Gujarat – Capital: Gandhinagar
Official Language: Gujarati
Key Highlights: The birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, Gujarat is known for the Rann of Kutch, Gir National Park (home to Asiatic lions), and the Statue of Unity, the tallest statue in the world.
8. Haryana – Capital: Chandigarh
Official Language: Hindi
Key Highlights: Haryana has made significant contributions in agriculture and sports. Kurukshetra, a historic town in Haryana, is considered the battleground of the Mahabharata. It’s also known for its traditional wrestling culture.
9. Himachal Pradesh – Capital: Shimla
Official Language: Hindi
Key Highlights: Known for its picturesque landscapes and hill stations like Manali and Shimla, Himachal Pradesh is a paradise for trekkers and adventure enthusiasts. The state is also famous for Tibetan culture and monasteries in places like Dharamshala.
10. Jharkhand – Capital: Ranchi
Official Language: Hindi
Key Highlights: Jharkhand is known for its vast mineral resources, waterfalls (such as Dassam and Hundru), and rich tribal heritage. The Parasnath Hill, a major Jain pilgrimage site, is also located here.
11. Karnataka – Capital: Bengaluru
Official Language: Kannada
Key Highlights: Karnataka is home to historical sites like Hampi, Mysore Palace, and modern IT hubs like Bengaluru. Known for its rich cultural heritage, the state celebrates unique festivals and is also famous for its coffee plantations.
12. Kerala – Capital: Thiruvananthapuram
Official Language: Malayalam
Key Highlights: Kerala is known as “God’s Own Country” for its backwaters, beaches, and biodiversity. Major attractions include the hill station Munnar, houseboat cruises in Alleppey, and Ayurvedic wellness centers.
13. Madhya Pradesh – Capital: Bhopal
Official Language: Hindi
Key Highlights: Often called the “Heart of India,” Madhya Pradesh is known for its rich cultural heritage, with UNESCO sites like Khajuraho and Sanchi Stupa. The state is also famous for Kanha and Bandhavgarh National Parks, which have a thriving tiger population.
14. Maharashtra – Capital: Mumbai
Official Language: Marathi
Key Highlights: Maharashtra is home to India’s financial capital, Mumbai. The state is famous for its Bollywood industry, Ajanta and Ellora caves, and hill stations like Lonavala.
15. Manipur – Capital: Imphal
Official Language: Meitei (Manipuri)
Key Highlights: Known for its natural beauty, Manipur features Loktak Lake, the only floating lake in the world. Manipur is culturally rich and known for the Manipuri dance form.
16. Meghalaya – Capital: Shillong
Official Language: English
Key Highlights: Known as the “Abode of Clouds,” Meghalaya is famous for its living root bridges, Mawlynnong (Asia’s cleanest village), and Cherrapunji, one of the wettest places on Earth.
17. Mizoram – Capital: Aizawl
Official Language: Mizo
Key Highlights: Mizoram is known for its scenic landscapes, rich tribal culture, and bamboo forests. The state celebrates colorful festivals like Chapchar Kut.
18. Nagaland – Capital: Kohima
Official Language: English
Key Highlights: Known for its tribal festivals, especially the Hornbill Festival, Nagaland is rich in indigenous culture. The state is also known for its mountainous terrain and biodiversity.
19. Odisha – Capital: Bhubaneswar
Official Language: Odia
Key Highlights: Odisha is famous for its ancient temples like the Jagannath Temple and Konark Sun Temple. The state also has beautiful beaches, wildlife sanctuaries, and a vibrant classical dance form, Odissi.
20. Punjab – Capital: Chandigarh
Official Language: Punjabi
Key Highlights: Known for its rich culture, food, and festivals, Punjab is home to the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The state is known for its agricultural contributions and traditional Punjabi folk dances like Bhangra.
21. Rajasthan – Capital: Jaipur
Official Language: Hindi
Key Highlights: Known as the “Land of Kings,” Rajasthan is famous for its grand palaces, forts, and colorful festivals. Major attractions include the Thar Desert, Udaipur’s lakes, and Jaipur’s Hawa Mahal.
22. Sikkim – Capital: Gangtok
Official Language: English, Nepali
Key Highlights: Known for its breathtaking landscapes and as a major Buddhist pilgrimage destination, Sikkim is home to the famous Rumtek Monastery and the third-highest mountain in the world, Kanchenjunga.
23. Tamil Nadu – Capital: Chennai
Official Language: Tamil
Key Highlights: Tamil Nadu is known for its ancient temples, such as the Brihadeeswarar Temple, and classical dance forms like Bharatanatyam. The state is also known for its cuisine and beaches along the Coromandel Coast.
24. Telangana – Capital: Hyderabad
Official Language: Telugu
Key Highlights: Known for the Charminar, Golconda Fort, and the IT industry, Hyderabad is a cultural and commercial hub. The state is also famous for its spicy biryani and traditional festivals.
25. Tripura – Capital: Agartala
Official Language: Bengali, Kokborok
Key Highlights: Tripura is known for its palaces like Ujjayanta Palace and its lush landscapes. It has a rich tribal culture and celebrates unique festivals like Garia Puja.
26. Uttar Pradesh – Capital: Lucknow
Official Language: Hindi
Key Highlights: Uttar Pradesh is home to iconic historical and religious sites, including the Taj Mahal in Agra and the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi. The state also celebrates vibrant festivals and is known for its Mughal and Nawabi heritage.
27. Uttarakhand – Capital: Dehradun
Official Language: Hindi
Key Highlights: Known as the “Land of the Gods,” Uttarakhand has sacred pilgrimage sites like Haridwar and Rishikesh, and scenic hill stations like Nainital and Mussoorie.
28. West Bengal – Capital: Kolkata
Official Language: Bengali
Key Highlights: Known for its rich cultural heritage, West Bengal is famous for the Durga Puja festival, Howrah Bridge, and the Sundarbans mangrove forest.
29. Jammu and Kashmir – Capital: Srinagar (Summer), Jammu (Winter)
Official Language: Urdu
Key Highlights: Known for its breathtaking landscapes, Kashmir Valley is often referred to as “Paradise on Earth.”
Union Territories of India and its Capital
India has 8 Union Territories, each with its own unique features and importance. Unlike states, Union Territories are directly governed by the Central Government of India. Here’s a list of the 8 Union Territories of India:
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands – Capital: Port Blair
- Chandigarh – Capital: Chandigarh
- Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu – Capital: Daman
- Lakshadweep – Capital: Kavaratti
- Delhi (National Capital Territory of Delhi) – Capital: New Delhi
- Puducherry – Capital: Puducherry
- Ladakh – Capitals: Leh (Summer), Kargil (Winter)
- Lakshadweep – Capital: Kavaratti
Each Union Territory has its own special characteristics, with some offering beautiful landscapes and others serving as important cultural or political centers. For example, Delhi, the capital of India, serves as the heart of the nation’s politics and governance, while Andaman and Nicobar Islands are known for their pristine beaches and vibrant marine life.
FaQs
How many states in India 2024 28 or 29?
As of 2024, India has 28 states and 8 Union Territories.
Which state became the 29th state?
Telangana became the 29th state of India on June 2, 2014, when it was carved out from Andhra Pradesh.
What is the old name of states?
In 1947, this state was created from the princely state of Mysore. In 1956, the Kannada-speaking regions from neighboring states were merged with Mysore state. The state was renamed Karnataka in 1973.
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