INDIA HAS 20 SMART CITIES

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INDIA HAS 20 SMART CITIES

INDIA HAS 20 SMART CITIES

LEARN MORE ABOUT INDIA HAS 20 SMART CITIES AND DISCOVER SMART TOWNS AND CITIES IN INDIA AND A LOT OF MODERNE THINGS

Four Day Private Luxury Golden Triangle Tour to Agra and Jaipur From New Delhi

INDIA HAS 20 SMART CITIES

When you mentioned visiting India not so long ago, you probably imagined yourself squeezing through crowds in a chaotic nation with long queues, regular traffic jams, and a public transit system that only the most daring tourists would be willing to attempt. With the implementation of its Smart Cities initiative, India is rapidly improving its infrastructure, so that is no longer the case. Imagine living in a city where everything is interconnected. You could use your smartphone to access Wi-Fi across the city, pay for public transit, find a parking place, or even order meals from wherever you are. The Smart Cities project claims that hundreds of Indian cities will provide these.

 

1- AGRA

Taj Mahal In Agra India
Agra is one of the most famous cities in India and home to the Taj Mahal.

Agra is part of the Golden Triangle of tourism, including New Delhi, Jaipur and Agra.

If there is one monument in India that everyone knows, it’s the magnificent Taj Mahal.

One of the World’s Seven Wonders, the Taj Mahal alone is worth visiting Agra for, but with the city’s improved infrastructure and clean surroundings, Agra has much more appeal.

If you visited Agra before 2015 and are re-visiting now, you’ll realise how much has changed in this smart city.

Congested roads and not-so-great infrastructure have been upgraded or freshly built.

You can enjoy a state-of-the-art metro system, better air quality, and better and safer public infrastructure.

Compared to your previous visit, you’ll notice an efficiently managed smart power grid, street lighting and environmental initiatives such as a ban on plastic bags and many trees.

Visit the impressive Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri, for views of the Taj Mahal from a distance.

Another way to enjoy the Taj Mahal is to cruise the Yamuna River and admire it from the water.

If you’re travelling with kids, a visit the Agra Bird Park is a great way to spend some time.

And don’t forget to taste the delightfully sweet Agra Petha and the mutton kebabs prepared in Mughlai cuisine, which Agra is famous for.

Recommended tours:

  • Four-Day Private Luxury Golden Triangle Tour – to Agra and Jaipur From New Delhi.
  • Agra Walking Tour – explore with a local.
  • Skip the Line Taj Mahal Private Tour – an iconic landmark worth seeing.

2- VARANASI

Varanasi In India
Varanasi is one of the classic cities in India for visitors to explore.

If there’s one city with great historical and cultural significance for Indians, it’s Varanasi.

If you’re revisiting Varanasi, you are in for a surprise, as the city has seen tremendous change in the past few years.

From cleaner and greener surroundings to better transport infrastructure, the city is a perfect example of how smart solutions and technology can improve quality of life.

Before Varanasi became a smart city, you could see a city with decades-old infrastructure, overburdened waste management and haphazard traffic leading to congestion and delays.

The government’s smart city initiatives, like traffic management systems, intelligent waste management practices, and improved public transportation, have resulted in efficient healthcare services and sustainable practices.

A visit to Varanasi will immerse you in a spiritual atmosphere of sacred riverside ghats on the Ganges and ancient temples.

Kashi Vishwanath Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of India’s most visited temples, while the mesmerising Ganga Aarti (ritual worship of the Ganges) will be etched in your memory.

Taking a boat ride along the Ganges during sunrise or sunset is a magical experience.

Explore the old city’s narrow lanes lined with houses, bustling markets, traditional crafts and street food stalls.

Don’t miss the mouthwatering Indian snacks like kachoris, samosas, chaats, and lassi and finish your meal with a traditional Banarasi paan, a betel leaf preparation with various sweet and savoury fillings.

If you like traditional Indian ethnic wear, shopping for a Banarasi saree in Varanasi must be on your to-do list.

Recommended tours:

  • Banaras Wala Tours Varanasi – immersion with a local.
  • Varanasi Landmark Evening City Tour – Aarti, Boating and Witnessing the GOD

3- UDAIPUR

Udaipur City At Lake Pichola In The Evening, Rajasthan, India
Udaipur is one of the best cities to visit in India for royal history.

One of the popular tourist cities in Rajasthan is Udaipur, the “City of Lakes”.

Home to many lakes, royal palaces and interesting customs, Udaipur is an opulent city that is especially popular among foreign tourists.

So many smart initiatives have been geared towards improving infrastructure and systems that make exploring easier for visitors.

Newer roads and public transport systems, improved security through new security cameras and personnel, and user-friendly and informative apps and websites are some tourist-friendly initiatives that are part of Udaipur’s smart city rollout.

A visit to Udaipur will take you through its majestic palaces and havelis (mansions), such as the magnificent City Palace, the regal Lake Palace inside a lake, and well-maintained gardens.

Udaipur’s scenic and serene lakes, like Lake Pichola, Fateh Sagar Lake, and Udai Sagar, are worth exploring, especially on a boat ride.

Udaipur is known for traditional handicrafts like miniature paintings, textiles, silver jewellery and colourful Rajasthani handicrafts.

A trip to this iconic city in India isn’t complete without savouring dishes like Daal Baati Churma, Gatte Ki Sabzi, Kachori and sweets like Ghewar and Malai Ladoo.

Recommended tours:

  • Udaipur Sightseeing Tour – this tour will give you a highlight of Udaipur’s best attractions.
  • Durga Cooking Class – don’t just eat, learn how to prepare local treats for when you go back home.

4- BHOPAL

Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh state, is a smart city that’s historical and modern in equal proportions.

The city has several natural and artificial lakes and is one of India’s greenest cities.

One of the most famous attractions in Bhopal is the magnificent Taj-ul-Masajid, one of the largest mosques in Asia.

You can also visit other impressive landmarks, such as the Gohar Mahal, the beautiful Upper Lake, and the archaeological site of Bhimbetka, which showcases prehistoric rock paintings.

Shop for traditional handicrafts in Bhopal’s old city, the Chowk, and delve into the city’s past by visiting the State Museum.

Since being selected for the Smart Cities Mission in 2015, Bhopal has seen significant development and integration of modern technology and infrastructure.

The city is now much easier to commute due to intelligent traffic management, has efficient waste management and improved safety due to advanced surveillance systems.

Bhopal is one of the best cities to taste the delightful Nawabi cuisine (others being Hyderabad and Lucknow).

The local cuisine is a tasty blend of Mughlai and regional flavours, resulting in a mouthwatering array of dishes like Bhopali Murgh Rezala and Bhopali Gosht Korma and delicious vegetarian options like Paneer Rezala and Sabz Navratan Korma.

Recommended tours:

  • Excursion To Sanchi Stupa And Udayeshwara Temple – from Bhopal with lunch.
  • Maheshwar Fort and River Banks temples – from Bhopal.

5- INDORE

front view of impressive hall
Mahatma Ghandhi Hall in Indore, which is one of the interesting cities in India to visit. It has a population of around 2.4 million.

Indore is one of India’s cleanest cities.

Known as mini-Mumbai for its number of businesses, markets and entrepreneurial spirit, Indore is also one of the best-planned smart cities in India.

To taste Indore’s history and royalty, visit the Rajwada Palace and Lal Bagh Palace.

Indore is also famous for its exquisite temples, like the Kanch Mandir (Glass Temple) and the Annapurna Temple, but make sure you have the proper attire.

An already well-planned city, being a smart city, takes Indore to the next step with an efficient transportation system, environment-friendly waste management and technology integration into public life.

Almost every area in the city has automated surveillance, making Indore a safe city.

Smart parking solutions will surely make you appreciate the convenience and safety of Indore’s roads.

Taste Indore’s delightful street food in one of the many night markets like the Sarafa Night Food Market and Chhappan Dukan, a food market with 56 shops.

Indore’s vegetarian options, like Indori Poha, Sabudana Khichidi and Bhutte Ka Kees, and famous Indore-style chaats and sweet treats like Jalebi and Malpua, will make you crave more.

Recommended tours:

  • Indore Local Tour – get insights into the city from a local.
  • Heritage and History – Maheshwar Day Tour from Indore

6- BHUBANESWAR

temples in Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar is a city of a thousand temples and one of the smaller cities in India with a population of around 1.2 million!

Bhubaneswar lives up to its name, the “Temple City of India,” for good reason.

The city is home to over 500 Hindu temples and a popular cultural destination and a great place to explore the architectural styles of ancient India, including Kalinga, Nagara, Dravidian and Buddhist sites.

Before the city became “smart,” Bhubaneswar was already a busy tourist destination among domestic travellers.

Like other cities on this list, Bhubaneswar faced urban challenges related to traffic congestion and inadequate infrastructure.

Becoming a smart city helped the city through improved infrastructure, efficient transportation systems, intelligent traffic management, and waste management.

While many visited the city for its old-world charm, the quality of life improvements certainly makes Bhubaneswar worth visiting even more.

Being a temple city, your visit should include a trip to prominent temples like the Lingaraj Temple, an example of the Kalinga style of architecture, Mukteshwar Temple, Rajarani Temple and the Brahmeswar Temple.

If you like history, the Odisha State Museum has a good collection of artifacts, sculptures, and ancient manuscripts.

The Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves on the city’s outskirts will make you gasp at their intricately carved rock-cut caves.

 

7- CHENNAI

distant aerial view of Chennai
Chennai is one of the large cities in India, with around 9.7 million people.

Chennai is a major port city in southern India in the state of Tamil Nadu that will give you a perfect South Indian experience.

With a characteristic cuisine, culture and climate, Chennai’s role as an important power centre is evident in its architecture and infrastructure.

Whether it is beautifully carved ancient temples, centuries-old buildings with exquisite architecture, museums, classical music and dance shows, or even the second-longest urban beach in the world, Chennai has a lot to keep you engaged.

Chennai got a much-needed makeover as a smart city.

Prior to 2015, the city’s legacy infrastructure and roads were stretched to the limit.

The smart city initiatives in Chennai have now made the city’s infrastructure and services more suitable to serve a larger population.

Travelling within Chennai is now a breeze with a much better transportation system, better traffic management, and a well-connected metro rail system.

A cleaner Chennai city and its beaches, like Marina Beach, make it more suitable for tourism activities, including leisurely walks and beachside activities.

To get a taste of traditional Chennai, you must visit the popular Kapaleeshwar Temple and Parthasarathy Temples and consume the delicious prasadams (a small portion of food served to devotees as a blessing from the temple deity).

To explore Chennai’s colonial history, visit Fort St. George, India’s oldest surviving British-built fort, or the iconic buildings of Chennai High Court and the Chepauk Palace.

Don’t miss the healthy and delicious South Indian cuisine with famous dishes like idli, dosa, and vada, and try the traditional South Indian meals served on banana leaves.

Recommended tours:

  • Mahabalipuram & Kanchipuram in a day – from Chennai by private car with a guide.
  • Small-Group Guided Food Trail – in the Sowcarpet Market Chennai

8- COIMBATORE

Isha Yoga Centre Coimbatore

Coimbatore is a popular smart city in Southern India that’s a treat to visit.

The city serves as a base to explore the nearby Nilgiri hills and sees a lot of tourists who want to visit the famous hill station of Ooty.

Coimbatore is where natural beauty and cultural heritage go hand in hand.

Yet, it’s also one of India’s best transformed smart cities, completing the highest number of projects to upgrade its infrastructure.

Whether it is improved transport infrastructure, advanced surveillance systems, use of technology for smart governance, environment battery-operated garbage trucks or restored lakes, Coimbatore has seen a lot of improvements as a smart city.

If you heard the city’s nickname, “Manchester of South India”, you’ll know that Coimbatore is famous for its textile industry.

The panoramic Marudamalai Temple on a hilltop and the Dhyanalinga Temple, a spiritual centre dedicated to meditation, must be on your city itinerary for their calm and serene surroundings.

A visit to Coimbatore is incomplete without visiting the nearby hill stations of Ooty and Coonoor, which offer scenic beauty, tea plantations, and pleasant weather throughout the year.

You can also explore the Anamalai Tiger Reserve close to the city.

Try the delectable Coimbatore-style biryani for a taste of local cuisine.

Recommended tours:

  • Isha Yoga Centre – a must-do experience in Coimbatore.
  • Market Tour and Cooking Experience – learn to cook the local way.

9- ERODE

Another smart city in Southern India is Erode, the best place to shop for handlooms, textiles and uniquely designed woven fabrics.

Erode’s rustic, small-town feel before 2015 came with the travails of a small town – a vibrant town with insufficient roads and infrastructure.

All that has changed now.

Erode is now a modern and well-planned city, offering better amenities and services to residents and visitors through better connectivity, well-laid-out markets, improved waste management and more accessible river banks and tourist places.

Stroll along the banks of the River Kaveri, visit the historical Erode Fort, and admire the architecture in Perumal Temple.

Try the famous Erode Halwa, a sweet dessert made from wheat and ghee, or taste savoury snacks like bajjis, vadais and bondas.

 

READ ALSO : 15 NIGHTTIME ACTIVITIES TO DO IN MUMBAI

 

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