Indian states and Capital

India is a federal union that comprises 28 states and 8 union territories.

Each state in India has its own elected government, while the union territories are administered by the President of India through an appointed administrator.

The 28 states and their capitals:

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 

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 (Summer), Gairsain (Winter)

28.West Bengal - Kolkata

Here are the 8 union territories and their capitals

1.Andaman and Nicobar Islands - Port Blair

2.Chandigarh - Chandigarh

3.Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu - Daman

4.Delhi (National Capital Territory of Delhi) - New Delhi

5.Jammu and Kashmir - Srinagar (Summer), Jammu (Winter)

6.Lakshadweep - Kavaratti

7.Ladakh - Leh

8.Puducherry - Puducherry

1.Andhra Pradesh - Amaravati

 Amaravati has a rich history dating back over 2,000 years. It was the ancient capital of the Satavahana dynasty . It's a significant Buddhist pilgrimage site, home to the famous Amaravati Stupa (Mahachaitya), one of the oldest and most important Buddhist monuments in India. It's believed that Gautam Buddha himself spread his teachings of "Kalachakra" here. 

2.Arunachal Pradesh - Itanagar

Arunachal Pradesh is often referred to as "The Land of Dawn-Lit Mountains" due to its geographical position as the easternmost state, where the sun rises first in India.The city is surrounded by lush green forests, scenic hills, and has attractions like Ganga Lake , a beautiful natural lake surrounded by primeval vegetation and orchids

3.Assam - Dispur

Dispur became the capital of Assam in 1973. Prior to that, Shillong was the capital of Assam. However, when Meghalaya was carved out of Assam and Shillong became the capital of the newly formed state, Dispur was chosen as Assam's new capital.

4.Bihar - Patna

Patna is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Bihar, located in the eastern part of the country. It's a city with an incredibly rich and ancient history, making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world.

5.Chhattisgarh - Raipur

Raipur has a long history, believed to have been founded in the 9th century. It was part of the ancient Dakshina Kosala kingdom and witnessed the rule of various dynasties, including the Haihaya (Kalchuri) kings.

6.Goa - Panaji

Panaji, also commonly known by its Portuguese name Panjim, is the charming and picturesque capital city of the Indian state of Goa. It's situated on the banks of the Mandovi River estuary, near its confluence with the Arabian Sea, giving it a beautiful waterfront setting.

7.Gujarat - Gandhinagar

Gandhinagar is the capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat, located in the western part of the country. It's a relatively modern, meticulously planned city that stands out for its unique urban design and impressive green cover.

8.Haryana - Chandigarh

Chandigarh holds a unique and significant position in India, serving as the joint capital of two states, Punjab and Haryana, while simultaneously being a Union Territory administered directly by the central government.

9.Himachal Pradesh shimla

Shimla is the picturesque and historic capital city of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It's nestled in the Himalayan foothills and is famously known as the "Queen of the Hills" due to its stunning natural beauty and pleasant climate.

10.Jharkhand - Ranchi

Ranchi is the vibrant and scenic capital city of the Indian state of Jharkhand. Located in the eastern part of India, it's often called the "City of Waterfalls" due to the numerous beautiful waterfalls in and around the area.

11.Karnataka - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, often referred to as Bangalore, is the vibrant and sprawling capital city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It's globally recognized for its pivotal role in India's technology sector, earning it the moniker "Silicon Valley of India."

12.Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram, often referred to by its colonial name Trivandrum, is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Kerala, located in the southwestern part of the country. It's a city known for its rich history, stunning natural beauty, vibrant cultural scene, and growing importance as an IT and educational hub.

13.Madhya Pradesh - Bhopal

The Bhojtal, a vast artificial lake, was constructed in the 11th century by the Paramara king Raja Bhoja, showcasing ancient Indian engineering expertise.

14.Maharashtra - Mumbai 

Mumbai is synonymous with Bollywood, the colossal Hindi film industry. It's one of the world's largest film producers, drawing talent and dreams from across the country.

15.Manipur - Imphal

Imphal is the capital city of the Indian state of Manipur, located in the northeastern part of the country. Nestled in a picturesque valley surrounded by verdant hills, Imphal is a city rich in history, culture, and natural beauty.

16.Meghalaya - Shillong

Imphal is the capital city of the Indian state of Manipur, located in the northeastern part of the country. Nestled in a picturesque valley surrounded by verdant hills, Imphal is a city rich in history, culture, and natural beauty.

17.Mizoram - Aizawl

Aizawl is the scenic and culturally rich capital city of the Indian state of Mizoram, located in the northeastern part of the country. Perched atop a series of ridges at an average elevation of around 1,132 meters (3,715 feet) above sea level, it offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding hills and valleys.

18.Nagaland - Kohima

Just outside Kohima, at the Naga Heritage Village in Kisama, the famous Hornbill Festival is held annually from December 1st to 10th. This "Festival of Festivals" is a vibrant showcase of Naga culture, with traditional dances, music, crafts, food, and sports from various tribes. It's a major tourist draw.

19.Odisha - Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar is the capital city of the Indian state of Odisha (formerly Orissa), located in eastern India. It's often referred to as the "Temple City of India" due to the extraordinary concentration of ancient temples and architectural marvels, particularly from the Kalinga period.

20.Punjab - Chandigarh

Chandigarh consistently ranks high on various livability indices in India due to its extensive green belts, numerous parks, well-maintained infrastructure, and relatively low pollution levels. It's often praised for its high quality of life.

21.Rajasthan - Jaipur

Jaipur is the beautiful and historic capital city of the Indian state of Rajasthan, located in the northwestern part of the country. It's globally renowned as the "Pink City" due to the distinctive terracotta-pink color of its buildings in the old walled city.

22.Sikkim - Gangtok

Gangtok is the beautiful and serene capital city of the Indian state of Sikkim, located in the eastern Himalayas. It's a significant center of Tibetan Buddhist culture and a popular tourist destination, offering stunning views of Mount Kanchenjunga .

23.Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Chennai, formerly known as Madras (its official name until 1996), is the bustling and culturally rich capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal, it serves as a major commercial, cultural, economic, and educational hub in South India. It's often hailed as the "Cultural Capital of South India" and the "Gateway to South India."

24.Telangana - Hyderabad

Hyderabad is a major metropolitan city in south-central India, holding the significant distinction of being the capital of the state of Telangana. From 2014 to 2024, it also served as the joint capital for the state of Andhra Pradesh, before Amaravati became the sole capital of Andhra Pradesh.

Hyderabad is a city of immense historical depth, vibrant culture, and rapid modern development, often called the "City of Pearls" and, more recently, "Cyberabad" or "HITECH City."

25.Tripura - Agartala

Agartala is the capital city of the Indian state of Tripura, located in the northeastern part of the country. Situated on the banks of the Howrah River, it lies very close to the international border with Bangladesh, giving it a unique strategic and cultural significance.

26.Uttar Pradesh - Lucknow

Lucknow is the vibrant and historically rich capital city of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Situated on the banks of the Gomti River, it is often referred to as the "City of Nawabs" or the "Golden City of the East," reflecting its opulent past as a cultural and artistic hub under the Nawabs of Awadh.

27.Uttarakhand - Dehradun

Dehradun is the winter capital and the most populous city of the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It's situated in the Doon Valley, at the foothills of the Himalayan mountain range, and is known for its pleasant climate, educational institutions, and as a gateway to popular hill stations and pilgrimage sites. 

28.West Bengal - Kolkata

Kolkata, formerly known as Calcutta (its official name until 2001), is the vibrant and historically rich capital city of the Indian state of West Bengal. Situated on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, it's a major metropolitan area and a key economic, cultural, and educational center for eastern and northeastern India.

Here are the 8 union territories and their capitals

1.Andaman and Nicobar Islands - Port Blair

Port Blair is the capital city of the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India. It serves as the main entry point to these islands and is located on South Andaman Island.

2.Chandigarh - Chandigarh

Chandigarh consistently ranks high on various livability indices in India due to its extensive green belts, numerous parks, well-maintained infrastructure, and relatively low pollution levels. It's often praised for its high quality of life.

3.Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu - Daman

Daman is a coastal town located on the Arabian Sea, and it is the administrative capital of the Daman district within the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. This Union Territory was formed in January 2020 by merging the former Union Territories of Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli.

4.Delhi (National Capital Territory of Delhi - New Delhi

New Delhi is the official capital city of India and a constituent part of the larger National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi. While "Delhi" often refers to the sprawling metropolis, "New Delhi" specifically denotes the planned city that houses the central government institutions.

5.Jammu and Kashmir - Srinagar 

Srinagar is the summer capital of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, located in the northernmost part of India. Nestled in the heart of the Kashmir Valley on the banks of the Jhelum River and surrounded by majestic Himalayan peaks, it's renowned for its stunning natural beauty, serene lakes, picturesque gardens, and unique houseboat culture.

6.Lakshadweep - Kavaratti

Kavaratti is the serene and picturesque capital of Lakshadweep, a Union Territory of India. Lakshadweep is an archipelago of coral islands located in the Arabian Sea, off the southwestern coast of India.

7.Ladakh - Leh

Leh is a historically significant town and the largest town and former capital of the Himalayan Kingdom of Ladakh. Since August 2019, when Ladakh was carved out as a separate Union Territory, Leh serves as one of its two district headquarters 

8.Puducherry - Puducherry

Puducherry, also widely known by its former name Pondicherry. It is the capital city of the Union Territory of Puducherry, located on the southeastern coast of India. It's famous for its unique blend of French colonial heritage and Indian culture, offering a distinct charm unlike any other city in India.