Introduction:
India is a vast country, and several places across the country have something special about them, which they are known for worldwide. Because of the things they are known for, places are usually given a special name or, as it is called, a byname to highlight the special feature of that place. Many cities in India have been given unique epithets to distinguish them from other places and give them a unique identity. Many places with unique epithets have also become famous tourist sites as people love to go there and explore things that make these places worth visiting. So, let us look at some famous cities and their nicknames.
Famous Cities in North India
Agra – Taj Nagari
Agra, also known as the Taj Nagari, is a world-renowned tourist destination in Uttar Pradesh. The famous and extremely beautiful Taj Mahal is situated in this city. Emperor Shah Jahan built it during his reign in the memory of his loving wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Apart from the Taj Mahal, other places worth visiting just a few kilometres away are Fatehpur Sikri, Jama Masjid, and Rambagh.
Amritsar – Golden City
Amritsar is located in the state of Punjab. It gets its name as the Golden City as the holiest place for the Sikhs; the Golden Temple is situated here. It attracts thousands of devotees and tourists every year and is a holy place in India.
Ajmer – Heart of Rajasthan
Ajmer gets its name as the Heart of Rajasthan because of its central location in the state. It is one of the famous tourist sites in India because of the Ajmer Sharif Dargah. Other tourist attractions in the city are Soniji ki Nasiyan and Ana Sagar Lake.
Rishikesh- Yoga Capital of the World
In the state of Uttarakhand is Rishikesh – the “Yoga Capital of the World”. Yoga enthusiasts worldwide visit this holy city to learn and practice yoga along with the gurus. It is also known as the City of Sages.
Famous Cities in North-western India
Jaipur – Pink City
Jaipur, Rajasthan is called the Pink City because of its uniform colour scheme, i.e., terracotta pink across all major constructions. It is a very popular tourist destination, especially for foreign travellers. Amber Palace, Hawa Mahal, and City Palace are the best places to visit in Jaipur.
Jodhpur- Blue City
Jodhpur, the Blue City of Rajasthan, appears unique to visitors owing to a uniform blue colour across all houses. As this colour is considered sacred by the dwellers of this place, they colour their houses blue. Jodhpur is also one of the most famous tourist sites for Indian and international tourists.
Jaisalmer- Golden City of India
Jaisalmer, Rajasthan is yet another destination that attracts visitors for its rich culture and heritage. It gets its nickname as the Golden City of India because of the yellow sandstone used for construction across the city, imparting a yellowish hue.
Udaipur- Venice of the East
Yet another city from Rajasthan, Udaipur, holds a special name as the “Venice of the East” due to its pristine and stunning lakes. There are five major lakes along with many other smaller lakes.
Famous Cities in East India
Darjeeling- Queen of Hills
Darjeeling is famous as the Queen of Hills because it is situated at 2134 meters. The height, along with its natural beauty and tea plantations, makes it one of the famous tourist sites in the country.
Famous Cities in West India
Ahmedabad – Manchester of India
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, is known as Manchester of India because of its similarities to Manchester, Great Britain. Both the cities have cotton industries and are situated on the banks of a river sabarmathi.
Mumbai- City of Seven Islands
Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra, is called the “City of Seven Islands” because initially, it was an archipelago of islands, namely Parel, Colaba, Mahim, Worli, Mazagaon, Old Woman’s Island, and the Isle of Bombay. Mumbai is also popularly known as the “City of Dreams”.
Famous Cities in South India
Bengaluru – Garden City of India
Bengaluru in the state of Karnataka is known as the Garden City of India because of its greenery and beautiful parks and gardens. It is also known as the Silicon Valley of India.
Coorg – Scotland of India
Coorg is located in the state of Karnataka. It is known as the Scotland of India because the landscape is similar to what is found in Scotland. The beautiful surroundings in Coorg make it a very famous tourist spot.
Nilgiri Hills – Blue Mountains
Nilgiri Hills are located in the mountainous region of Tamil Nadu state. People call them the Blue Mountains because the hills are covered with a particular species of flowering plants that bloom simultaneously, covering the hills with purplish-blue flowers.
Famous Cities in Central India
Bhopal – City of Lakes
Bhopal, the city of lakes, is located in Madhya Pradesh. The place is given this nickname because it has over 15 lakes, the Upper Lakes.
Conclusion:
Having the information about places and their epithets helps in improving a person’s general knowledge. It is specifically helpful for candidates to appear for competitive exams conducted to get into government jobs, banking jobs, etc. These exams are designed to test a candidate’s quantitative aptitude and general awareness. Although initially, candidates appearing for such exams may find it difficult to remember the names of cities and their epithets as the list is quite long, regular revisions can help get a stronghold on the subject. Learning about famous tourist spots in India and their epithets will provide a candidate with a competitive edge to score better than those who lack this knowledge.