Top 20 Developed Cities in India
Ranking 6th among the list of top economies of the world, our country has defied some of the most challenging barriers in the previous years, courtesy to the flourishing industries rising from some of the developing cities in India. Here’s a list of the top 20 developed cities in India, based on their Gross Domestic Product, that have played a key role in strengthening the country’s economy to match the global standards.
1. Mumbai – Home to Bollywood
Source: GodSavethepoints
GDP: $310 billion
Labelled with multiple titles such as ‘Financial capital of India’, ‘The Maximum City’, ‘Land of Bollywood’, ‘The dream City’ and much more, Mumbai is Maharashtra’s capital which has multiple faces, making it all things to all people as it ranks top on our list of top 20 developed cities in India.
Furthermore, from nightlife party vibes to serene Marine Drive, Mumbai is clearly the best city to live in India. Due to this, rental has become exorbitant.
Best Time: October to February
Mumbai the financial hub of India has always been a major living destination for most Indians because of the opportunities it offers. The city ranks number one on the list of richest cities in India & the 12th richest cities in the World. It is the largest city in India and is considered to be the commercial capital of India. In addition to this, it is home to the Bombay Stock exchange and Reserve Bank of India.
The place is distinct and has gleaming nightlife and starry Bollywood. TATA group and the National Stock exchange are also located in the city. This is a city that never sleeps so whenever you travel there you can witness the majestic grandeur of the place.
This city handles more than 70% transactions of India. The city contributes to more than 6% of the total Indian economy. Mumbai is the headquarters to NSE, BSE, RBI, and several other establishments.
Popular attractions: Essel World, Gateway of India, Siddhivinayak Temple, Elephanta Caves, and Red Carpet Wax Museum.
2. Delhi – Mughal Capital city of India
Source: iNews
GDP: $167 billion
Delhi ranks on the second number on this list of the top 20 developed cities in India as it is one of the wealthiest cities in the world. A major part of Delhi’s GDP comes through the health service industry and telecommunication.
75% of Delhi’s economy comes from the administration segment. Other factors that add to the city’s economy are media, land, retail, and data innovation. 80% of Delhi’s GDP is from the service sectors like hotels, media, banking, tourism.
Popular attractions: Jama Masjid, India Gate, Qutub Minar, Purana Quila, Rashtrapati Bhawan, Red Fort, Iskcon Temple, Akshardham Temple, and Parliament House.
New-Delhi is the second largest city of India in the nation as it has a population of 18 million as of 2016.
The languages that are official here are Hindi, Urdu, English and Punjabi.
3. Kolkata – City with cultural Heritage
Source: AluDecor
GDP: $150 billion
Kolkata is the capital of West Bengal and about 83 percent of the population is in the tertiary sector. Kolkata is the financial, commercial, and industrial hub of the North East region. The city is also rich in art, literature, and culture with places like Shanti Niketan located there.
Popular Attractions: Marble Palace, Victoria Memorial, Sunderbans, Howrah Bridge, Birla Mandir, and Kalighat Kali Temple.
It is the most vital city in the nation which homes 5 million people old city of India and formerly known as Calcutta. The Salt Lake Stadium of Kolkata is the largest in Asia and second-largest in the world.
People mostly speak Hindi, Bengali, Urdu, and English in this city.
4 . Bengaluru – Silicon Valley of India
Source: Gulte
GDP: $83 Billion
Having evolved gradually from being the Garden City to the Silicon Valley of India, Bengaluru is India’s third-largest city, being the most liveable city in India. The Captial city of Karnataka ranks 4th in the top 20 developed cities of India. The dream city for most Indians, Bangalore will never cease to mesmerise you with its sheer perfection.
Best Time: Throughout the year!
What was a quiet city called the Pensioner’s Paradise in the ’70s, Bangalore has changed considerably over the years. Before the advent of the IT companies, Bangalore biggest hirers were the PSU companies such as BHEL. Now known as the IT Hub of India.
Besides, 35% of IT professionals are employed in Bangalore as well as 65% of aviation-related business is done here. Bangalore has a silk industry worth 35 Billion INR.
Popular Attractions : Wonderla, Bangalore Palace, Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace, Lal Bagh, and Bannerghatta National Park.
- Weekend Getaways: For people who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, one can opt for Coorgor For the people who want to take their weekend to the next level, they can choose destinations such as Gokarna and Goa.
Consequently, Bangalore is ranked among the top 10 locations in the world that are preferred by entrepreneurs.
Languages spoken in Bangalore are Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and English. It’s truly a cosmopolitan city that anybody from anywhere can call home.
5. Hyderabad – – City of Biryanis and Pearls
Source: Gulte
GDP: $74 Billion
A densely populated metropolitan city with people bustling in and out of cafes, offices, temples and even nowhere, Hyderabad is fast turning into the New York city of South India. In the year 2015, the Times of India stated that Hyderabad is one of the best cities to live in India.
Best Time: September to March
This city is a major hub for pearls and diamond trading in South India. The city is justified to be one the list of top 20 developed cities in India. Hyderabad is situated on a hilly terrain surrounded by artificial lakes.
Your Hyderabad trip would be incomplete without biryani, Charminar, and pearls. 90 percent of the population is hired in the service sector and the city is also known as India’s Pharmaceutical Capital. With multi-billion dollar GDP, Hyderabad is one of the prominent IT & richest cities in India.
Lonely Planet ranked Hyderabad as the 3rd best city in the world for tourism its beautiful city in world. Also known as the “Genome Valley of India”, the capital of newly formed Telangana has come to be recognized as the hub for pharmaceutical industry in the world its best for our country.
Popular Attractions: Charminar, Chowmahalla Palace, Ramoji Film City, and Golconda Fort
Telugu, English, Hindi and Urdu are widely spoken in the city. Hyderabad also has immigrants from countries like US and Korea that make this city an international destination.
6. Chennai – Gateway to South India
Source: holidayrider
GDP: $66 Billion
Chennai is the Capital city of Tamil Nadu and it is an economic and cultural hub of South India. Chennai is one of the cities that has been developed as a smart city and is one of the safest cities in India.
The economy of the city is driven by the IT and BPO sectors, automobiles, medical tourism, and equipment producing. Chennai is the biggest electronic exporter of India, accounting for about 50% of the total exports. Importantly, many automobile giants like Ford, Nissan, BMW ,etc have their headquarters in Chennai, making it a clear choice for the richest cities in India.
Best Time: November to February
Popular Attractions: Pulicat Lake, National Art Gallery, Marina Beach, Kapaleeswarar Temple, and Arignar Anna Zoological Park.
Chennai is considered as one of the busiest ports in India. Formerly called as Madras, the city ranks as one of the top 20 developed cities in India.
The widely spoken languages of Chennaites are Tamil, Malayalam and English.
7. Pune – Oxford of the East
Source: Constructionweekonline
GDP: $48 Billion
With an extensive student population, Pune is popularly known as the college town of India as it has many top universities like the Symbiosis that attracts youngsters to the city. Besides, it has a range of excellent restaurants, happening nightlife and an overall young atmosphere. Apart from this, the city has a favourable climate, with summers that stay below 35°C.
You’ll never have water scarcity issues in Pune, unlike some other major cities. The nightlife here is pretty decent, but the city can burn a hole in your pocket if you don’t spend wisely. Of course, Pune could be expensive as much as Bangalore, but the pollution and traffic here are comparatively lesser.
Pune is the 2nd largest city of Maharashtra with the population of 5.9 million people.
Best Time: July to March
Pune has been ranked number one in the ‘Ease of Living’ rankings. It has ranked in the top ten in nine categories such as water availability and reduction in pollution.
Pune is the cultural capital of Maharashtra and is well-known worldwide as the most developing urban communities. Companies like Tata Motors, Renault, Volkswagen and Mercedes Benz are situated near the city. No wonder it is one of the favorite among the youth & richest cities in India joining our list of Top 20 developed cities in India. More than 250 German companies have set up their offices in Pune
Popular attractions: Shaniwar Wada, Sinhagad, Aga Khan Palace and Dagadusheth Halwai Ganapati Temple.
The people here speak Hindi, Marathi, and English.
Check out: Top 10 Steamy Indian Adult Web Series to watch Online! (18+)
8. Ahmedabad-Textile hub of India
Source: Constructionweekonline
GDP: $64 Billion
Ahmedabad is the financial capital of Gujarat. It was once known as the ‘Manchester of India’ due to large numbers of cloth mills located here. This is one of the fastest-growing cities and is one of the best cities to live in. Ahmedabad is an economic and industrial hub of India and is the largest city in Gujarat. There are several significant companies located in the city and the place is known for the textile industry.
Several International companies like Adani Group, Arvind Mills, Cadila, Torrent Pharmaceuticals and Nirma are based in the city. The city is the largest supplier of denim and the biggest exporter of gems and jewelry, therefore, has a constant grip of top 10 richest cities in India for so many years.
Popular Attractions: Calico Museum of Textiles, Adalaj Stepwell, Kankaria Lake, and Sabarmati Ashram.
Mostly speaking languages here are Hindi, Gujarati, and English.
9. Surat – The City of Sun
Source: Wallpaperhdphotos
GDP: $40 Billion
Surat is one of the cleanest cities in India and is the best developing urban community. Surat has the largest stone cutting and cleaning centers and is especially known for diamonds.
The city has several major companies like ONGC, Ambuja Cement, Ultratech and Reliance Industries. 90% of diamonds that are exported from India are cut and polished in Surat making it the Diamond Hub of India. Surat has a large textile industry and there are more than 380 dyeing and printing mills with 41,000 power looms. The textile industry of Surat is very large with numerous dyeing and printing units. Its economical contribution justifies the inclusion in the richest cities in India.
Popular Attractions: Surat Municipal Aquarium, Science Center, Sardar Patel Museum and Dumas Beach.
The world’s fourth fastest growing city, it will be the development model for India’s 300 Tier-II cities. Surat is one of the top 20 developed Indian cities in India.
Languages spoken by the people here are Hindi, Gujarati, and English.
10. Indore- Holkar State (Royal State of India)
Source: Latestindiaupdates
GDP: $35 Billion
Indore is the most populous and the largest city in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Indore is a Tier-II city making it to the list of top 20 developed cities in India. The financial district, anchored by central Indore, functions as the financial capital of the state and is home to the Madhya Pradesh Stock Exchange, India’s third oldest stock exchange.
Industry: Cloth merchants, restaurants, agriculture, handloom.
Indore has a population of approximately 2.3 million. It is the only city which has both an IIM and IIT. Indore’s local transport system includes buses and radio taxis. However, the metro taxi service of Indore is supposed to be best in India.
Hindi is the official language but contains a number of Hindi dialects such as Malawi, Nimadi and Bundeli are spoken in decent numbers. Other languages with substantial number of speakers include – Marathi, Urdu, Sindhi, Gujarati, Punjabi and Bengali.
11. Visakhapatnam – The Port city of India
Source: beachesnearme
GDP: $26 Billion
A port city, Visakhapatnam, or ‘Vizag’, is the second largest city in Andhra Pradesh and headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command. Plans are now on to make it India’s first solar city.
Industry: Agriculture, animal husbandry, fishing, sugar factories, jute and rice mills, brick and tile units, export and imports by sea trade.
Vizag is a great economic destination that is also known as the financial capital of Andhra Pradesh. This coastal city is known for its medication, programming, and pharmaceutical industry. It makes it’s way into top 20 developed cities in India.
The city has several big enterprises like Vishakhapatnam Steel Plant and Hindustan Shipyard. It is one of the most lavish urban cities of India located on the shore of the Bay of Bengal with several tourists visiting every year. The place has India’s oldest shipyards and some of the largest seaports.
Popular attractions: Rishikonda Beach, Submarine Museum, Kailasagiri, Borra caves, and Araku valley.
12. Jaipur – Paris of India
Source: Pinkcitypost
GDP: $24 Billion
Known as the Pink City, Jaipur is the capital and largest city of Rajasthan and 10th largest city in India. It is the first planned city of Modern India. With 100 per cent electrification achieved in 1998-99, the city is known for its Annual Jaipur Literature Festival and is the headquarters of the North Western Zone of Indian Railways.
Industry: Tourism, small-scale craft industries.
Jaipur is rich culture and amazing splendor, Jaipur is the 10 biggest city of India. It is the home of many fort palaces and some really luxurious hotels. Contains homes more than 35 lakh people who speak Hindi and Rajasthani.
The city is a large exporter of stone, diamond and gold jewelry in Asia. Jaipur has a population of about 3.1 million. The city has remarkable architecture with pre-modern infrastructure.
Might like: Masaba Masaba (2020): Basically Gupta Gupta
13. Lucknow- Artistic Capital of North India
Source: Stagbite
GDP: $22 billion
A historical city, Lucknow is the capital of Uttar Pradesh. The growing population has impelled the municipal corporation to provide a host of facilities such as sewage line, water supply and roads. The ‘Golden City of the East’ is on the train route and well connected with all cities within the state, creating ample opportunities for investors.
Industry: Handicrafts like Chikankari, Zardozi, and Kamdani, agriculture.
Aerospace, pharmaceuticals, technology, design and tourism are some of the important industries supporting the city’s financial system. IT, manufacturing and processing is the backbone of the economy. Additionally, the city is has potential in the handicraft sector and accounts for about 60% of the total exports of the state.
IContains a population of about 2.5 million. Moreover, this multicultural city makes it to the top 20 developed cities of India. The cityscape was heavily influenced by several emperors and the city portrays its natural charm.
Widely spoken languages include Hindi, Urdu and Awadhi.
14. Kanpur:
Source: Newsncr
GDP: $19 billion
Nestling on the banks of the eternal Ganga, Kanpur stands as one of North India’s major industrial centers with its own historical, religious and commercial importance. Believed to have been founded by king Hindu Singh of the erstwhile state of Sachendi, Kanpur was originally known as “Kanhpur”.
Kanpur experiences a typical version of a humid subtropical climate that resembles the climate of Delhi to some degree. It can drop to a minimum of 0.0 °C in the winters while it goes up to 48 °C in summers. The largest city of Uttar Pradesh is now the hub of the leather industry and is under consideration to become a smart city.
Industry: Tourism, leather, garments, exporter of machinery parts, automobile parts, plastic items, handicrafts, etc.
Popular Attractions: Kanpur Memorial Church, Nana Rao Park , J.K.Temple, Moti Jheel, Allen Forest Zoo, Dwarakadhish Temple, Kamla Retreat, Jain Glass Temple and Massacre Ghat.
15. Nagpur – Tiger Capital of India
Source: Dialbank
GDP: $15.1 Billion
Maharashtra’s second largest city, Nagpur is variously known as the state’s second capital, ‘Orange City’ and India’s second greenest city. With a mineral-rich hinterland, the city boasts Asia’s biggest food grain market. Moreover, this region also produces the biggest yield of cotton.
Industry: Agriculture, IT, fishing.
The winter capital of Maharashtra has the major trade center for oranges which are cultivated in the city. It should be noted that the banking sector and food manufacturing sectors are important to the city in terms of finance. It is also considered a major commercial and political center of Maharashtra.
Nagpur is the headquarters for national level scientific and governmental establishments. It is also the home of National Academy of Direct Taxes. Nagpur has a population of 2.5 million.
Hindi and Marathi. are the two languages at Nagpur that are widely spoken throughout the city.
Read: Top 20 Bollywood Horror Movies that will keep you up at night!
16. Patna- Pataliputra
Source: Ashianahousing
GDP: $10.5 billion
Patna has the highest GDP in Bihar crawling up into the list of top 20 developed cities in India. The city has seen sustained economic growth and agriculture is the backbone of the economy.
The name of this city has changed with time. One of the oldest cities of India, there are several theories regarding the origin of the modern name Patna. The modern city of Patna is situated on the southern bank of the river Ganges. Indeed, Patna is the 21st fastest growing city in the world and 5th fastest growing city in India.
Patna or Pataliputra has a long and storied past; ruled by mighty kingdoms at different times in history, coveted for its fertile lands, and revered for its learning centers like Nalanda. Today it leads the pack as one of the fastest-growing cities in India.
In fact, this city has a population that estimates over 1.6 million. While tourists visiting the city accounted for 41% of the total for Bihar, the cultural heritage of Patna has attracted many tourists into the city.
The native dialect is Magahi in Bihar. Other languages spoken in Patna include Bengali, Urdu and Oriya.
17. Vadodara- The Knowledge Center
Source: holidayrider
Vadodara also known as Baroda, is the third largest and most populated city in Gujarat, after Ahmedabad and Surat. It has rich heritage of the Maratha Emperors and a huge Shiva statue at Sursagar lake. Additionally, we have a lot of famous sports person hailing from the city like Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Hardik Pandya, Kiran More, Nayan Mongia and Anshuman Gaekwad.
The Laxmi Vilas Palace is the magnificent palace where the kings once ruled. Even the famous artist, Raja Ravi Verma had come here to paint for the king. It has Pavaghad and Champaner close by and serve the people as mini getaways. Additionally, these two places also ranked as the World Heritage sites.
Industry: Giant industrial complexes and public undertakings like Gujarat Refinery, Indian Petrochemicals, Gujarat State Fertilisers, Heavy Water Project, Oil & Natural Gas Commission, etc.
The official language is Gujarati, although Urdu, Marathi, Hindi and English are spoken in the city.
18. Thane – City of Lakes
Source: Holidayrider
Thane, is known as City of Lakes. It is also known as Elder sister of Mumbai. Admittedly, Mumbai is heavily depend on Thane for water supply from Lakes. Thane for all practical purposes is a suburb of Mumbai is past and has passed. Today, Thane city area is 147 sq.kms with more than 2.2 Million population.
It is worth mentioning for the 30 lakes located within and around the city, earning it the sobriquet of Lake City. Apart from being a source of water for Thane and its larger neighbour Mumbai, the lakes are also tourist attractions. Infact, the areas surrounding the city are beautiful. The scenic locales, old forts, boat rides and resorts make Infact, Thane a great getaway from Mumbai and enters our list of top 20 developed cities in India.
However, Thane’s climate can be same as Mumbai’s but it is slightly cooler than Mumbai. The first ever railway train was started on April 16, 1853, from Boribunder to Thane, giving Thane the honour of hosting an event of historical importance.
Industry: Agriculture, small-scale industries producing drugs, textiles, adhesives, plastics, rubber, steel, pharmaceuticals, engineering, fertilisers, electronics, chemicals and iron and steel.
The dominant language spoken in Thane is Marathi. Although, some of the East Indian families in the Khatri ward of Thane still speak Portuguese.
19. Navi Mumbai- New Bombay
Source: CollarCamp
A city of the 21st century, Navi Mumbai is a planned township in Mumbai on the west coast of Maharashtra. It was developed in 1972 as a new urban township and is among the largest planned cities in the world. It is part of the Proposed Knowledge Corridor, has two big Infotech parks and has 45-per-cent land reserved for green zones and open-to-sky activities.
What’s more, it is the only Indian city to have a commercial complex above railway stations. It has developed the best landfill sites in the country to handle solid waste scientifically. And the proposed airport is making the city a place of strategic importance. Above all, it has sneaked up into the list of top 20 developed cities of India.
Industry: IT, iron and steel markets, biggest trading Agriculture Produce Market Complex (APMC)
Getaways: In Rainy season go to Pandavkada Waterfalls in Kharghar. Authorities are strict in not allowing people to visit this place in Monsoon on account of accidental deaths in the waterfall. Also, Trek Karnala Fort, 13 km From Panvel. The beautiful hill stations of Lonavla and Khandala are less than an hour’s drive from Navi Mumbai.
Marathi is spoken predominately among other languages.
20. Chandigarh – The City Beautiful
Source: SPtaxiservice
Chandigarh is a city in Northern India that serves as the capital of the states of Punjab and Haryana. Every year, it hosts a three-day-long mega event: Chandigarh Carnival.
The city ranks first in National Urban Sanitation Policy and is the second most urbanized Indian union territory (97.25 percent urban population). The first planned Indian city, it is well-known for the first smoke-free Indian city.
Industry: Agriculture, IT, tourism, government offices
The face of modern India, Chandigarh, is the manifestation of a dream that Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru envisaged and Le Corbusier executed. Chandigarh is a rare epitome of modernization co-existing with nature’s preservation. Moreover, it is here that the trees and plants are as much a part of the construction plans as the buildings and the roads. To conclude, India’s first planned city is a rich, prosperous, spic and span, green city rightly called “The City Beautiful”
Might be interested in: 10 Best Sitcoms of All Time!
Now, let us know in the comments what’s your favourite city to move into!
Stay tuned to NowBuzzing.in
good