Ancient Indian cities

Varanasi (, also Benares, Banaras ), or Kashi, is a city on the Ganges river in northern India that has a central place in the traditions of pilgrimage, death, and mourning in the Hindu world. Located in the middle-Ganges valley in the southeastern part of the state of Uttar Pradesh, Varanasi lies on the left bank of the river. It is to the southeast of India's capital New Delhi and to the southeast of the state capital, Lucknow. It lies downstream of Prayagraj, where the confluence with the Yamuna river is another major Hindu pilgrimage site.

Prayagraj (, ; ISO: ), formerly and colloquially known as Allahabad, is a metropolis in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of the Prayagraj district, the most populous district in the state and 13th most populous district in India and the Prayagraj division. The city is the judicial capital of Uttar Pradesh with the Allahabad High Court being the highest judicial body in the state. Prayagraj is the seventh most populous city in the state, thirteenth in Northern India and thirty-sixth in India, with an estimated population of 1.53 million in the city.

Madurai is a major tier II city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Madurai district, which is governed by the Madurai Municipal Corporation established on 1 November 1866. As of the 2011 census, it is the third largest metropolis in Tamil Nadu after Chennai and Coimbatore in terms of population and 27th largest urban agglomeration in India. Located on the banks of Vaigai River, Madurai has been a major settlement for two millennia and has a documented history of more than 2500 years. It is often referred to as "Tho

Ujjain (, , ), also known as Ujjayini, is a city in Ujjain district of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is the fifth-largest city in Madhya Pradesh by population and is the administrative as well as religious centre of Ujjain district and Ujjain division. It is one of the Hindu pilgrimage centres of Sapta Puri famous for the Kumbh Mela (Simhastha) held there every 12 years. The ancient and world famous temple of Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is located in the center of the city. The city has been one of the most prominent trade and political centres of the Indian subcontinent from the time o

Mathura () is a city and the administrative headquarters of Mathura district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located south-east of Delhi; and about from the town of Vrindavan. In ancient times, Mathura was an economic hub, located at the junction of important caravan routes. The 2011 Census of India estimated the population of Mathura at 441,894.

Ayodhya () is a city situated on the banks of the Sarayu river in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of the Ayodhya district as well as the Ayodhya division of Uttar Pradesh, India. Ayodhya became the top tourist destination of Uttar Pradesh with 110 million visitors in the first half of 2024, surpassing Varanasi.

Holy City in Bihar, India

Thanjavur (), also known as Thanjai, previously known as Tanjore, is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the 12th biggest city in Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is an important center of southern Indian religion, art, and architecture. Most of the Great Living Chola Temples, which are UNESCO World Heritage Monuments, are located in and around Thanjavur. The foremost among these, the Rajarajesvaram or Brihadisvara Temple, built by the Chola emperor Rajaraja I, is located in the centre of the city. This temple has one of the largest bull statues (called Nandi) in India carved out of a single

Vrindavan (; ), also spelt Vrindaban and Brindaban, is a historical city in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is located in the Braj Bhoomi region and holds religious importance for Hindus, who believe that Krishna, one of the main Gods in Hinduism, spent most of his childhood in this city. Vrindavan has about 5,500 temples dedicated to the worship of Krishna and his chief consort, Radha. It is one of the most sacred places for Vaishnava traditions.

Kanchipuram (IAST: '; ), also known as Kanjeevaram or Kancheepuram', is a City in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu in Chennai Metropolitan Area. region, from Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu. Known as the City of Thousand Temples'', Kanchipuram is known for its temple architectures, 1000-pillared halls, huge temple towers, and silk saris. Kanchipuram serves as one of the most important domestic tourist destinations in India. Kanchipuram has become a centre of attraction for foreign tourists as well. The city covers an area of and an estimated population of 232,816 in 2011. It is the administra

Rajgir (old name Rajagriha, meaning "The City of Kings") is an ancient city and university town in the Nalanda district of Bihar, India. Also a Cultural capital of Magadh. It was the capital of the Haryanka dynasty, the Pradyota dynasty, the Brihadratha dynasty, the Mauryan Empire, and it was the retreat center for the Buddha and his sangha. Other historical figures such as Mahavira and king Bimbisara lived there, and due to its religious significance, the city holds a place of prominence in Buddhist, Jain and Hindu scriptures.

Rameswaram (; also transliterated as Ramesvaram, Rameshwaram) is a municipality in the Ramanathapuram district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is on Pamban Island separated from mainland India by the Pamban channel and is about from Mannar Island, Sri Lanka. It is in the Gulf of Mannar, at the tip of the Indian peninsula. Pamban Island, also known as Rameswaram Island, is connected to mainland India by the New Pamban Bridge. Rameswaram is the terminus of the railway line from Chennai and Madurai. Together with Varanasi, it is considered to be one of the holiest places in India for Hindus

Eluru ( ) is a city and the district headquarters of Eluru district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the 14 municipal corporations in the state and the mandal headquarters of Eluru mandal in the Eluru revenue division. Situated on the banks of the Tammileru River, Eluru is strategically positioned in the southeastern part of Andhra Pradesh. It was historically known as Helapuri. Census of India, the city had a population of , where as Eluru Urban Development Authority has a population around 2,760,160, reflecting its status as a major urban centre. The city's historical sign

Hastinapur () is a city in the Meerut district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Hastinapura is described as the capital of the Kuru kingdom in Hindu texts such as the Mahabharata and the Puranas; it is also mentioned in ancient Jain texts. Hastinapur is located on the right bank of the Ganga river.

Kannauj (Hindustani pronunciation: ) is an ancient city, administrative headquarters and a municipal board or Nagar Palika Parishad in Kannauj district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located 113 km (71 mi) from Etawah, 93 km (58 mi) from Kanpur, 129 km (81 mi) from Lucknow. The city's name is an evolved form of the classical name Kanyakubja. During the ancient Vedic period, it was the capital city of the Panchala Kingdom during the reign of king Vajrayudha. In the medieval era, it formed the core of the Kingdom of Kannauj and was ruled by multiple su

Pataliputra (IAST: ), adjacent to modern-day Patna, Bihar, was a city in ancient India, originally built by Magadha ruler Ajatashatru in 490 BCE, as a small fort () near the Ganges river. Udayin laid the foundation of the city of Pataliputra at the confluence of two rivers, the Son and the Ganges. He shifted his capital from Rajgriha to Pataliputra due to the latter's central location in the empire.

Deoghar (pronounced Devghar) is a city and a municipal corporation in Deoghar district in the Indian state of Jharkhand. It is also the administrative headquarters of Deoghar district. It is a holy place of Hinduism. The city is primarily known for Baidyanath Temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Shiva, one of the principal deities in Hinduism. The sacred temples of the city make this a place for pilgrimage and tourists. The city is very sacred to the followers of Hinduism, regardless of sects.

ancient Buddhist pilgrimage and archaeological site (Ashoka pillar, Stupa and Swastika Monastery) associated with significant events in Lord Buddha's life; in Bihar in India

Anantnag ( ; ), also called Islamabad ( ; ), is the administrative headquarters of Anantnag district of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir in the disputed Kashmir region. It is located at a distance of 53 kilometres (33 miles) from the union territory's capital Srinagar. It is the third largest city in Jammu and Kashmir after Srinagar and Jammu with an urban agglomerate population of 159,838 and a municipal limit population of 109,433.

Thanesar (IAST: Sthāṇvīśvara) is a historic city and Hindu pilgrimage centre in the Kurukshetra district of Haryana, India. It is located approximately 160 km northwest of Delhi. The city Kurukshetra's area merges with Thanesar.

Religious town of Madhya Pradesh

Shravasti (, ; ) is a town in Shravasti district in Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It was the capital of the ancient Indian kingdom of Kosala where the Buddha lived most after his enlightenment. It is near the Rapti river in the northeastern part of Uttar Pradesh India, close to the Nepalese border.

Indraprastha (Sanskrit: इन्द्रप्रस्थ, lit. "Plain of Indra" or "City of Indra"), contemporarily in Delhi, is a city cited in ancient Indian literature as a constituent of the Kuru kingdom. It was designated the capital of the Pandavas, a brotherly quintet in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. The city is sometimes also referred to as Khandavaprastha or Khandava Forest, the epithet of a forested region situated on the banks of Yamuna river which, going by the Hindu epic Mahabharata, was cleared by Krishna and Arjuna to build the city. Under the Pali form of its name, Indapatta, it is also mentioned in

village in Amaravathi mandal, Palnadu district, Andhra Pradesh, India

ancient Buddhist city

Bithoor or Bithur is a town in Kanpur district, 25 km (15mi) by road north of the centre of Kanpur city, in Uttar Pradesh, India. Bithoor is situated on the right bank of the River Ganges, and is a centre of Hindu pilgrimage. Bithoor is also the centre for War of Independence of 1857 as Nana Sahib, a popular freedom fighter who was based there. The city is enlisted as a municipality of Kanpur metropolitan area.

Barsana is a historical town and nagar panchayat in the Mathura district of the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. The town holds cultural and religious significance as the birthplace of Hindu goddess Radha, the chief consort of Krishna. Barsana is situated in the Braj region. The main attraction of the town is the historical Radha Rani Temple which attracts huge number of devotees throughout the year.

Pithapuram (also spelled as Pitapuram) is a city and municipality in the Kakinada district of Andhra Pradesh, India. With a history spanning over 1,500 years, it is one of the oldest towns in the state. Pitapuram served as the capital for various kingdoms of Andhra, dating back to the 4th century CE, and continues to be an important pilgrimage destination.

Kosambi (Pali) or Kaushambi (Sanskrit) was an ancient city in India, characterized by its importance as a trading center along the Ganges Plain and its status as the capital of the Vatsa Kingdom, one of the sixteen mahajanapadas. It was located on the Yamuna River about southwest of its confluence with the Ganges at Prayaga (modern Prayagraj), which made it a powerful center for trade and beneficial for the Vatsa Kingdom.

alt=Photo showing a busy road in Vinukonda|thumb|Vinukonda Junction Vinukonda is a town in Palnadu district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is a municipality and the headquarters of Vinukonda mandal and administered under Narasaraopet revenue division.

Bijbehara (), known as Vejibror ( or ) in Kashmiri, is a town and a notified area committee in Anantnag district of the Indian administered union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It is located on NH 44, and jehlum bank. Bijbehara town is also known as "Town of Chinars" because of a number of Chinars there especially two Chinar gardens (Paadshaahi Bagh and Dara Shikoh Garden). Bijbehara is the home to oldest chinar tree in the region. The town is situated about from the summer capital of union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar.

Assandh, historically known as Āsandīvat, is a town and municipal committee in the Karnal district of the Indian state of Haryana. Assandh is located in 45 km south-west of Karnal. The town is surrounded by four districts - Karnal, Kaithal, Jind and Panipat.

Kokernag ( ; ) is a sub-district, town and a notified area committee in the Breng Valley (also known as the Golden Crown of Kashmir) of Anantnag district in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The place is known for its botanical gardens, pristine freshwater springs, and rainbow trout farm. It is 25.3 km from Anantnag District via NH244. It is one of the most popular weekend getaways from the state capital of Srinagar.

Mayiladuthurai (formerly known as Mayavaram or Mayuram) is a Special Grade Municipality and the district headquarters of Mayiladuthurai district in Tamil Nadu, India. The town is located from the state capital, Chennai.

thumb|255px|Bhattiprolu is one of the Holy relic sites of Andhra Pradesh

Sankissa (also Sankasia, Sankassa and Sankasya) is an ancient city in India renown for the descent of Gautama Buddha from the Tushita heavens where he taught his mother before landing at Sankissa. Considered among the eight great pilgrimage sites, it was thirty leagues from Sravasti. Around 300 years after the Gautama Buddha's Mahaparinirvana, king Ashoka visited and built a Pillar of Ashoka of which the elephant capital survives. He also built a stupa and a temple commemorating the Buddha's descent from the heavens. The ruins of the stupa are still present, as is a temple of Vishari Devi and

Piprahwa is a village near Siddharthnagar city in Siddharthnagar district of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Kalanamak rice, a scented and spicy variety, is grown in this area. It lies in the heart of the historical Buddha's homeland and is 9 miles from the world heritage site of Lumbini that is believed to be the place of Gautama Buddha's birth.

Devdaha (Deva Daha, देवदह) is a municipality in Rupandehi District of Nepal, the ancient capital of Koliya Republic, located 7 km east of Lumbini and east of Butwal and shares a border with Nawalparasi district on the east side. It is identified as the maternal home of Queen Mayadevi, Prajapati Gautami and Princess Yasodhara. There are many places to visit in Devdaha. It is believed that Prince Siddhartha had spent some years of his childhood with his step-mother/aunt Prajapati Gautami in Devdaha.

Arikamedu is an archaeological site in Southern India, in Kakkayanthope, Ariyankuppam Commune, Puducherry. It is from the capital, Pondicherry of the Indian territory of Puducherry.

Muciṟi (), (),, commonly anglicized as Muziris (, Old Tamil: Mucciṟi or Mucciṟippaṭṭaṇam, possibly identical with the medieval Muyiṟikkōṭŭ), was an ancient harbour and urban centre on India's Malabar Coast. It was the major ancient port city of the Chera dynasty of Ancient Tamilakam.

Sagala, Śākala (), or Sangala () was a city in Punjab, which is generally identified as the predecessor of the modern city of Sialkot that is located in what is now Pakistan's northern Punjab province. The city was the capital of the Madra kingdom and it was razed in 326 BC during the Indian campaign of Alexander the Great. In the 2nd century BC, Sagala was made capital of the Indo-Greek kingdom by Menander I. Menander embraced Buddhism after extensive debating with a Buddhist monk, as recorded in the Buddhist text Milinda Panha. Sagala became a major centre for Buddhism under his reign, and p

thumb|Drum panel depicting a stupa with the Buddha's descent from Trāyastriṃśa heaven, second half 3rd century.

Pushkalavati was the capital of the ancient region of Gāndhāra, situated in present day's Pakistan. Its ruins are located on the outskirts of the modern city of Charsadda, in Charsadda District, in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 35-42 kilometres northeast of Peshawar, at the banks of Jindi River, near the junction of Swat River with Kabul River. The earliest archaeological remains in Bala Hisar mound are from 1400 to 800 BCE. Pushkalavati (in Bala Hisar mound) may have been incorporated as an Achaemenid regional settlement around 520 BCE, and it remained an important city (in Shaikhan Dheri mound) th

Sisupalgarh or Sisupalagada () is situated in Khurda District in Odisha, India, and houses ruined fortifications. First inhabited around 7th to 6th centuries BCE, it is one of the largest and best-preserved early historic fortifications in India, and was once the capital of ancient Kalinga. It is identified with Kalinganagara of Kharavela and Tosali of Ashoka.

Dharanikota is a village in Palnadu district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is the site of ancient Dhanyakataka, which was the capital of the Satavahana dynasty that ruled in the Deccan around the 1st to 3rd centuries CE.

thumb|325px|A stupa built at the place where Cunda Kammāraputta|Cunda's house used to be, in ancient Pava (present-day [[Fazilnagar)]]

right|thumb|300px|Mahishmati in Mahajanapadas of India in 500 BCE. Mahishmati () was an ancient city and the capital of Haihayas in the present-day central India on the banks of Narmada River (in Madhya Pradesh), although its exact location is uncertain. The city may have flourished as late as until 13th century, as indicated by a Paramara inscription.

thumb|upright=1|Gupta art|Gupta [[terracotta of the personified Ganges, 5th-6th century CE, National Museum, New Delhi.]]

Kampilya was the capital of the Panchala Kingdom, which was a mahajanapada mentioned in the Mahabharata. Kampilya was the capital of southern Panchala and Ahichchhatra was the capital of northern Panchala. Kampilya was ruled by Drupada during Mahabharata period. It is mentioned in Mahabharata that when the Pandavas were in exile and staying in Ekachakra (Etawah), (Uttar Pradesh) they learned that Drupada, King of Panchala, had announced the Swayamvara of his daughter Draupadi. Then they went to Kampilya (Kampil, Uttar Pradesh), the capital of Drupada.

Mukhalingam, also known as Srimukhalingam or Mukhalinga, is a village and gram panchayat in Jalumuru mandal of Srikakulam district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Historically known as Kalinganagari, Mukhalingam served as the capital of the Eastern Ganga dynasty from the 6th to the 12th century. In 1122, King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva conquered Utkala and shifted the capital from Kalinganagari to Kataka (modern Cuttack).

Fatehpora also known as Fatehpura & Fatehpur, is an economic hub area of Anantnag district in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Fatehpora is located at . It has an average elevation of 1652 metres (5419 feet) above mean sea level.

village in Ghantasala mandal, Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, India

Eran is an ancient town and archaeological site in the Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh, India. It was one of the ancient mints for Indian dynasties, as evidenced by the diverse coins excavated here. The site has 5th and 6th-century Gupta era temples and monuments, particularly the colossal stone boar with sages, and scholars depicted on the body of the sculpture. The inscription stones found at Eran are important for reconstructing the chronology of the Gupta Empire's history. Eran or Erakina was the capital of Erakina (Airikina) Pradesha or Airkina Vishaya, an administrative division of the

Champapuri, Champa Nagri or Champanagar is a neighbourhood in Bhagalpur in the Indian state of Bihar. It is the site of the ancient city of Champa, the capital of the Anga Mahajanapada. It is also the main centre of capital of cultural region of Anga.

lost capital city of the former Kingdom of the Videha

site of an ancient fort city dating back to 450 BC in Narsingdi district of Bangladesh