India, a country in South Asia, the seventh largest and the second most populated and guarded by the Himalayas on the North and enormous bodies of water on the other three sides has a rich cultural heritage. India is known for its fastest growing economy and a large purchasing power. It is a federal republic that is divided into twenty-eight states and seven Union Territories. The states are further divided into districts, which form the basic units of the nation's administration. Let us look at some of the major cities of this multifaceted country, India. India's Major Cities New Delhi: New Delhi, or simply Delhi, the second largest metropolis of India, is its national capital. Located on the banks of the Yamuna River, it is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world. The archaeological remains in Delhi stand testimony to the ancientness of this city. It has a rich history of being a capital of many Indian empires of the medieval period. Delhi is the proud home of many important government offices, most importantly, the Parliament of India. In the recent years, Delhi has attracted many immigrants, thus emerging as a cosmopolitan city. Today, it is a prominent political and commercial center of India. The Delhi-Agra highway joins Delhi to the beautiful city of Agra, which is a major tourist attraction. The world-famous Taj Mahal and many other great historical monuments like the Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri and Sikandara are located in Agra. In the epic, Mahabharata, it was mentioned as Paradise. Mumbai: Capital city of the state of Maharashtra, Mumbai is the financial capital of India. Housing around thirteen million people, it is the second most populous city in the world. Mumbai houses the world-famous Hindi film and television industry, Bollywood. Important financial institutions such as the Reserve Bank of India and the National Stock Exchange of India are located in Mumbai. It houses the headquarters of several multinational companies and has thus become an important commercial and entertainment center of India. Pune: Pune, the second largest city of Maharashtra, at a relatively shorter distance from Mumbai, is also one of India's major cities. It houses some of India's famous historical landmarks. Pune is renowned for its educational facilities and career opportunities in the information technology industry. Proud of a rich past and with a potential of shaping a bright future, Pune finds a place in the list of the major cities of India. Chennai: Located on the Coromandel Coast of Bay of Bengal, this capital city of Tamil Nadu is the home of around 7 million people. It was established in the 17th century by the British and formerly known as Madras. Its economy is based on the automobile, hardware manufacturing, healthcare and the IT industry. Chennai hosts an international airport, two major ports and five national highways stretching to other parts of the India. Its contribution to India's exports of automotive products has conferred upon Chennai, the title, 'Detroit of India'. Kolkata: Kolkata is the capital of West Bengal and one of the very important cities in India. It has been a center of education, industry and culture. However, it has undergone economic stagnation that continued till the recent times. It was after 2000 that the city witnessed economic growth. It houses the Salt Lake Stadium that is largest in Asia and the second largest in the world. The Indian Institute of Management, one of India's most prestigious management schools is also located in Kolkata. Victoria Memorial, located in Kolkata, is now a museum and remains a popular tourist attraction. Bangalore: Officially known as Bengaluru, it is the capital city of Karnataka state and the third most populous city of India. Bangalore houses some of the most recognized educational and research institutes of India. Numerous public sector industries, software, telecommunication and aerospace industries are located in Bangalore. Its remarkable contribution to the Indian IT sector has made it the Silicon Valley of India. India's major cities, each hosting a different culture and housing a variety of people, make the Indians proud of their wonderful nation.