Home › Blog › Geography GK › Capitals of India
Capitals of India: All 28 States & 8 UTs — Complete Guide
Geography GK • Political Geography
18 min read
Updated: July 22, 2026
🏙️ Key Takeaways
- 36 Administrative Seats: India comprises 28 States and 8 Union Territories, each with designated capitals.
- Dual Seasonal Capitals: J&K (Srinagar/Jammu), HP (Shimla/Dharamshala), Uttarakhand (Dehradun/Gairsain), and Maharashtra (Mumbai/Nagpur).
- Shared Joint UT Capital: Chandigarh is a Union Territory that serves as the joint capital for both Punjab and Haryana.
- National Capital Territory: New Delhi serves as the national capital seat of federal governance.
- Silicon Valley Hub: Bengaluru (Karnataka) is India's tech and startup capital.
- Commercial Powerhouse: Mumbai is the financial capital of India and summer seat of Maharashtra.
- Organic Capital Record: Gangtok (Sikkim) is India's first 100% organic state capital, free of single-use plastics.
- Disciplined Ridge City: Aizawl (Mizoram) is globally famous for silent, horn-free traffic along steep cliff roads.
28 States
Sovereign State capitals
8 UTs
Union Territory administrative seats
4 Dual States
States with Summer & Winter capitals
1 Shared UT
Chandigarh (joint capital Punjab & Haryana)
Table of Contents
- Northern Powerhouses & Mountain Sanctuaries (Delhi, Chandigarh, J&K, Ladakh)
- Royal West & Vibrant Heartland (Jaipur, Mumbai, Gandhinagar, Bhopal)
- Eastern Soul & Seven Sisters (Kolkata, Dispur, Gangtok, Shillong)
- Southern Tech & Cultural Empires (Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Amaravati)
- Island Jewels & Coastal UTs (Port Blair, Kavaratti, Puducherry, Daman)
- Master Cheat Sheet Table: All 36 Capitals
- Capitals Specifications Matrix
- Exam-Oriented Quick Revision Points
- Frequently Asked Questions
Northern Powerhouses & Mountain Sanctuaries (Delhi, Chandigarh, J&K, Ladakh)
Northern capitals feature high-altitude seats, planned sectors, and seasonal shifts:
- New Delhi (NCT): Federal national capital featuring Lutyens' avenues, Rashtrapati Bhavan, and Mughal Chandni Chowk.
- Chandigarh (UT): Le Corbusier planned sector city serving as joint capital for Punjab and Haryana.
- Shimla & Dharamshala (Himachal Pradesh): Shimla (Summer) vs Dharamshala (Winter - Dalai Lama seat).
- Dehradun & Gairsain (Uttarakhand): Dehradun (Winter Doon valley) vs Gairsain (Summer Chamoli mountain seat).
- Srinagar & Jammu (J&K UT): Srinagar (Summer Dal Lake) vs Jammu (Winter Tawi river temple city).
- Leh (Ladakh UT): 11,000 ft high-altitude kingdom in the clouds with Tibetan gompas.
For competitive exams like the UPSC Civil Services, state PSCs, and SSC CGL, understanding political geography, state reorganization, and seasonal capital shifts is essential. Let's study these 36 administrative seats.
Royal West & Vibrant Heartland (Jaipur, Mumbai, Gandhinagar, Bhopal)
Western and central capitals balance royal heritage with industrial finance:
- Jaipur (Rajasthan): Pink City founded by Sawai Jai Singh II (Hawa Mahal, Amber Fort).
- Gandhinagar (Gujarat): Planned green city on Sabarmati River named after Mahatma Gandhi.
- Mumbai & Nagpur (Maharashtra): Mumbai (Summer - Financial capital & Bollywood) vs Nagpur (Winter - Citrus & central seat).
- Panaji (Goa): Mandovi riverfront capital with Portuguese Fontainhas Latin Quarter.
- Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): City of Lakes and Begum architecture (Taj-ul-Masajid).
- Raipur (Chhattisgarh): Industrial steel capital and gateway to Bastar tribal lore.
Eastern Soul & Seven Sisters (Kolkata, Dispur, Gangtok, Shillong)
Eastern and northeastern capitals feature river deltas, organic hills, and tribal music culture:
- Kolkata (West Bengal): Cultural capital on Hooghly River (Howrah Bridge, Victoria Memorial, addas).
- Bhubaneswar (Odisha): Temple City of Kalinga spires turned planned IT hub.
- Patna (Bihar): Ancient Pataliputra on Ganga River (Ashoka, Chandragupta Maurya legacy).
- Ranchi (Jharkhand): Chota Nagpur plateau city of waterfalls (MS Dhoni hometown).
- Dispur (Assam): Leafy tea neighborhood of Guwahati on Brahmaputra River.
- Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh): Dawn-lit Himalayan foothill capital named after 14th-century Ita Fort.
- Shillong (Meghalaya): "Scotland of the East" and rock music capital.
- Aizawl (Mizoram): Ridge city famous for horn-free disciplined traffic.
- Kohima (Nagaland): Battle of Kohima WWII site and Hornbill Festival hub.
- Imphal (Manipur): Floating Loktak Lake, Kangla Fort, and sports powerhouse.
- Agartala (Tripura): Ujjayanta Palace and bamboo handicraft capital.
- Gangtok (Sikkim): Organic state capital under Kanchenjunga view.
Southern Tech & Cultural Empires (Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Amaravati)
Southern capitals lead global technology, Dravidian temple art, and coastal commerce:
- Bengaluru (Karnataka): Silicon Valley of India, Garden City, tech startup hub.
- Chennai (Tamil Nadu): Gateway to South India, Marina Beach, Carnatic music, and Dravidian culture.
- Hyderabad (Telangana): Nizami Charminar biryani hub alongside Hitec City.
- Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh): Planned riverfront capital on the Krishna River.
- Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala): Padmanabhaswamy Temple city and Kovalam beach gateway.
Island Jewels & Coastal UTs (Port Blair, Kavaratti, Puducherry, Daman)
Union Territory capital seats in the ocean and along coastal estuaries:
- Port Blair (Andaman & Nicobar UT): Bay of Bengal freedom history (Cellular Jail).
- Kavaratti (Lakshadweep UT): Arabian Sea coral lagoon eco-sanctuary.
- Puducherry (Puducherry UT): Coromandel French Quarter and Auroville.
- Daman (DNH & DD UT): 16th-century Portuguese stone forts along Gulf of Khambhat.
Master Cheat Sheet Table: All 36 Capitals
| State / UT Name | Capital City | Type (State / UT) | Key Geographical / Cultural Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | Amaravati | State | Riverfront capital on Krishna River |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Itanagar | State | 14th-century Ita Fort; dawn-lit hills |
| Assam | Dispur (Guwahati) | State | Brahmaputra river tea garden seat |
| Bihar | Patna | State | Ancient Pataliputra on southern Ganga bank |
| Chhattisgarh | Raipur | State | Steel industrial hub; Bastar gateway |
| Goa | Panaji | State | Mandovi riverfront; Fontainhas Latin Quarter |
| Gujarat | Gandhinagar | State | Planned green city on Sabarmati River |
| Haryana | Chandigarh | State (Joint) | Le Corbusier planned sector city |
| Himachal Pradesh | Shimla (Summer) / Dharamshala (Winter) | State | 7 ridges UNESCO toy train / Dalai Lama seat |
| Jharkhand | Ranchi | State | Chota Nagpur plateau waterfall city |
| Karnataka | Bengaluru | State | Silicon Valley of India; Garden City |
| Kerala | Thiruvananthapuram | State | Padmanabhaswamy temple; 7 coastal hills |
| Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal | State | City of Lakes; Begum architectural mosques |
| Maharashtra | Mumbai (Summer) / Nagpur (Winter) | State | Financial capital / Citrus winter seat |
| Manipur | Imphal | State | Kangla Fort; Ima Keithel all-women market |
| Meghalaya | Shillong | State | Scotland of East; indie rock capital |
| Mizoram | Aizawl | State | Ridge city; horn-free disciplined traffic |
| Nagaland | Kohima | State | Battle of Kohima WWII site; Hornbill Festival |
| Odisha | Bhubaneswar | State | Kalinga temple spires; planned IT hub |
| Punjab | Chandigarh | State (Joint) | Joint capital with Haryana |
| Rajasthan | Jaipur | State | Pink City; Hawa Mahal & Amber Fort |
| Sikkim | Gangtok | State | 100% Organic state capital; Kanchenjunga |
| Tamil Nadu | Chennai | State | Marina Beach; Dravidian temple hub |
| Telangana | Hyderabad | State | Charminar; Nizami Biryani & Hitec City |
| Tripura | Agartala | State | Ujjayanta Palace; bamboo handicraft |
| Uttarakhand | Dehradun (Winter) / Gairsain (Summer) | State | Doon Valley / Chamoli mountain seat |
| Uttar Pradesh | Lucknow | State | Awadhi culture; Gomti Riverfront |
| West Bengal | Kolkata | State | Cultural capital; Hooghly Howrah bridge |
| Andaman & Nicobar | Port Blair | UT | Cellular Jail; Bay of Bengal coral islands |
| Chandigarh | Chandigarh | UT | Union Territory seat for Punjab & Haryana |
| DNH & Daman Diu | Daman | UT | 16th-century Portuguese fort city |
| Delhi (NCT) | New Delhi | UT / NCT | National Capital of India |
| Jammu & Kashmir | Srinagar (Summer) / Jammu (Winter) | UT | Dal Lake houseboats / Tawi temple city |
| Ladakh | Leh | UT | 11,000 ft high-altitude Tibetan gompas |
| Lakshadweep | Kavaratti | UT | Arabian Sea coral lagoon atoll |
| Puducherry | Puducherry | UT | Coromandel French Quarter & Auroville |
Capitals Specifications Matrix
| Category | Count | Key Examples | Primary Administrative Mechanism |
|---|---|---|---|
| States | 28 | Rajasthan (Jaipur), KA (Bengaluru), TN (Chennai) | Sovereign State Assemblies & High Courts |
| Union Territories | 8 | Delhi NCT, J&K, Ladakh, Puducherry, A&N | Centrally governed via Lieutenant Governors |
| Dual Capitals | 4 | J&K, HP, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra | Seasonal administrative shifts (Summer/Winter) |
| Shared Capital | 1 | Chandigarh (Punjab & Haryana) | Single UT seat serving two state assemblies |
Exam-Oriented Quick Revision Points
- 🇮🇳 36 Administrative Seats: 28 States and 8 Union Territories in India.
- 🏛️ Joint Capital: Chandigarh serves as joint capital for Punjab and Haryana.
- 🏔️ Dual Capitals: J&K (Srinagar/Jammu), HP (Shimla/Dharamshala), UK (Dehradun/Gairsain), MH (Mumbai/Nagpur).
- 🍃 Organic Capital: Gangtok (Sikkim) is India's 1st 100% organic state capital.
- 💻 Silicon Valley: Bengaluru is the tech capital of Karnataka and India.
- 👑 Pink City: Jaipur, capital of Rajasthan, painted pink in 1876.
- 🌊 Dal Lake Seat: Srinagar serves as the summer capital of J&K UT.
- 📐 Le Corbusier: French architect who designed the planned sector capital Chandigarh.
- 🌸 Auroville Gateway: Puducherry UT capital on the Coromandel coast.
- 🏰 Cellular Jail: Port Blair, capital of Andaman & Nicobar UT.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Indian states have dual summer and winter capitals?
Jammu & Kashmir (Srinagar summer / Jammu winter), Himachal Pradesh (Shimla summer / Dharamshala winter), Uttarakhand (Dehradun winter / Gairsain summer), and Maharashtra (Mumbai summer / Nagpur winter).
Which single city serves as the capital for two different states and is also a Union Territory?
Chandigarh is a Union Territory that serves peacefully as the joint administrative capital for both Punjab and Haryana, designed by Le Corbusier.
What are the capitals of the 8 Union Territories of India?
1. New Delhi (Delhi NCT), 2. Chandigarh (Chandigarh), 3. Srinagar/Jammu (J&K), 4. Leh (Ladakh), 5. Daman (Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu), 6. Puducherry (Puducherry), 7. Port Blair (Andaman & Nicobar), 8. Kavaratti (Lakshadweep).
What is the capital of Sikkim and what makes it unique?
Gangtok is the capital of Sikkim. It is India's first 100% organic state capital, completely free of single-use plastic bags, featuring views of Mount Kanchenjunga.
What is the capital of Assam?
Dispur is the administrative capital of Assam, functioning as a leafy green locality within the larger metropolis of Guwahati along the Brahmaputra River.
Which capital city is famous as the 'Silicon Valley of India'?
Bengaluru (Bangalore) is the capital of Karnataka, world-famous as the Silicon Valley of India and the Garden City.
What is the capital of Nagaland?
Kohima is the capital of Nagaland, famous for its WWII history (Battle of Kohima) and the annual international Hornbill Festival.
What is the capital of Mizoram and why is its traffic famous?
Aizawl is the ridge capital of Mizoram, globally renowned for its silent, disciplined traffic where drivers never honk horns and wait patiently in single-file lines.
India Physical Geography Series
Relief, climate, soils, rivers and parks — the India map cluster for prelims.
Major Rivers of India Guide 🌊Potamology of India's rivers, Himalayan perennial basins (Ganga confluences, Yamuna Triveni, Kosi, Brahmaputra Tsangpo loop, Indus Punjab five), Peninsular seasonal shields (Godavari Dakshin Ganga, Krishna Hampi, Kaveri Grand Anicut, Mahanadi Hirakud), West-flowing rifts (Narmada Bhedaghat Marble, Tapi, Luni desert)
Major Lakes of India Guide 🌊Limnology of India's lakes, Tectonic basins (Wular freshwater, Nainital emerald eye), Glacial highs (Pangong Tso saline Ladakh, Gurudongmar Sikkim, Roopkund skeleton), Floating islands (Loktak phumdis Keibul Lamjao), Brackish lagoons (Chilika Irrawaddy dolphins, Pulicat ISRO spaceport), Meteoritic craters (Lonar pink Haloarchaea), Southern backwaters (Vembanad longest snake boat), Artificial reservoirs (Pichola Udaipur Jag Niwas, Bhojtal Bhopal Upper Lake)
Major Waterfalls of India Guide 🌊Geomorphology of India's waterfalls, Plunges (Nohkalikai Cherrapunji, Seven Sisters Mawsmai, Jog Falls Sharavathi Raja Rani), Cascades (Dudhsagar Mandovi rail viaduct, Kunchikal Varahi Agumbe Mani dam, Barkana Sita, Barehipani Simlipal), Widest curtains (Chitrakote Indravati Niagara of India, Athirappilly Chalakudy), River rapids (Hogenakkal Kaveri coracles, Shivanasamudra Gaganachukki Bharachukki), Rift falls (Dhuandhar Narmada Bhedaghat marble), Alpine steps (Bhagsu, Jogini)
Hill Towns of India Guide ⛰️High altitude mountain geography, Himalayan Kings (Manali Beas valley Solang Atal Tunnel, Shimla 7 ridges Kalka-Shimla UNESCO toy train, Mussoorie & Landour Ruskin Bond winter line horizon), Emerald South (Munnar Idukki tea estates Kolukkumalai Nilgiri Tahr Neelakurinji 12-year bloom, Ooty & Coonoor Nilgiri mountain railway), Northeast (Darjeeling Kanchenjunga first flush tea steam toy train, Shillong & Cherrapunji Khasi Hills living root bridges Nohkalikai falls), Offbeat (Jibhi Tirthan Valley Jalori Pass Serolsar Lake, Kanatal Kaudia Forest Garhwal views, Ziro Valley Apatani eco-tribe paddy farming)
Drill the Geography PYQs
Map the landforms, rivers and climatic belts from this guide against UPSC and SSC previous-year geography papers — then lock the facts with our study notes.
Solve PYQs → Study Notes →