List of 29 States and Capitals of India
India is a land of numerous states and indigenous culture. Are you planning to visit India? Remember that each and every state is a kingdom by itself, which is unique from the rest of the country. As of 2014, the country has 29 states. Here is an overview of all the states of the country.
States and Capitals of India Map
State 1 : Andhra Pradesh – Amaravathi
- Capital City: Amaravathi
Flourished by River Godavari and River Krishna, this state boasts 900km and more of coastline bordering Bay of Bengal. The state is a famous pilgrimage center for Tirupati Temple, Nagarjuna Konda, Srisailam Mallikarjuneswar temple, and others. Amaravathi, the capital, Dhulikatta, Thotlakonda, and Bavikonda are some of the destinations for Buddhism pilgrimage.
The region has been under the reign of numerous empires and dynasties in the past. Thus, you can find numerous monuments, forts, and temples of ancient times.
Apart from these, top places to visit are Visakhapatnam, Araku Valley, Ananthagiri Hills, Anantapur, Vijayawada, Kurnool, and others.
Andhra is famous for its spicy cuisine filled with pickles, biriyani, and meat dishes. Andhra has a harsh summer. Thus, it is best to choose winter to visit Andhra Pradesh. Winter starts in October and ends in May. Check out: Best Time to Visit Andhra Pradesh
- Andhra Pradesh Culture
- Andhra Pradesh Festivals
- How to Reach Andhra Pradesh?
- Shopping in Andhra Pradesh
- Monuments in Andhra Pradesh
State 2 : Arunachal Pradesh – Itanagar
- Capital City : Itanagar
Arunachal Pradesh is an unexplored mountain state famous for monasteries, tranquil lakes, mountain passes, glaciers, orchids, and others. The state is called Orchid State and it is home to above 500 endangered bird species. Arunachal Pradesh is a land of lush culture too.
The best way to enjoy the culture is by visiting the place during festivals like Ziro Music Festival, Sangken Festival, Nyokum Festival, and others.
The state is famous for adventure attractions like fishing, camping, trekking, hiking, water rafting, wildlife safari, and others.
Top places to visit in Arunachal Pradesh are Tawang, Bhalukpong, Ziro, Itanagar, Roing, Bomdila, Anini, and others.
Best time to visit the hills and valleys of this region is July to March.
State 3 : Assam – Dispur
- Capital City : Dispur
Assam is the state of tea plantations, Kaziranga National Park, enchanting Brahmaputra River, and more. This is one of the aesthetically pleasing states of the country. The state is also famous for holding the biggest river island of the continent on Majuli River.
For pilgrims, Assam has Hajo, an ancient pilgrimage site. You can also find numerous churches, temples, and mosques around the state. Top places to visit in Assam are Majuli, Silchar, Sivasagar, Guwahati, Kaziranga National Park, and others. While at Assam, do not miss the traditional cuisine of the land.
If you are into souvenir hunting, Assam has a long list of exotic pottery items, handlooms, mask, bamboo articles, wood works, and others.
The tribal population adds more color to the souvenir collection and also the culture. Top interesting festivals to cover in Assam are Mohang Bihu, AmbubachiMela, Magh Bihu, and others.
Best time to visit Assam is from October to March.
State 4 : Bihar – Patna
- Capital City : Patna
Bihar is the land of monasteries and spiritualism. The state is famous for Buddhism tourism. You can also find a few Jainism pilgrimage destinations in the state. The rich history and culture of the land have given rise to numerous souvenirs, art and craft like Manjusa art, Zari textile, wood carvings, lacquer wok, and others.
The festivals to enjoy in Bihar are Sonepur Cattle Fair, Chatt Puja, PitapakshaMela, and others. The iconic attraction of the land is the Mahabodhi Temple, which holds the tree where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment.
Top places to visit in Bihar are Bodh Gaya, Patna, Vaishali, Nalanda, Muzaffarpur, Madhubani, Rajgir, Pawapuri, and others.
Best time to visit is between October and February.
State 5 : Chhattisgarh – Raipur
- Capital City : Raipur
Chhattisgarh is a cultural destination, which is famous for lush natural beauties like waterfalls, dense forest, lush flora, traditional temples, monuments, and others. The destination is famous for adventure activities like safari, trekking, camping, and others.
Top destinations to try here are Dhamtari, Raipur, Jagdalpur, Dantewada, Bhilai, Dhamdha, Tirathgarh waterfalls, and others. The cuisine of the land is rich with rice based delicacies, numerous dessert items, and much more.
If you love wildlife activities, you ought to visit the Bhairamgarh sanctuary, Achanakmarwildlife park, and Sitanadi sanctuary.
Chhattisgarh is at its prime beauty throughout the year.
State 6 : Goa – Panaji
- Capital City : Panaji
Situated on the coast of Arabian Sea, this small state is famous for its 31 beaches, cultural festivals, Portugal lifestyle, colonial monuments, and of course, thenightlife.
The North Goa is for those who are looking for adventure activities, rave parties, and fun time.
South Goa is for secluded beaches, serene sceneries, and markets. If you are looking for adventure activities, top sports to try here are snorkeling, kayaking, wakeboarding, scuba diving, water rafting, hot air ballooning, and others.
Goa’s cuisine is famous for its fusion of Portuguese dishes and traditional Konkani seafood cuisine. If you are looking for cultural celebrations, top festivals to cover are New Year’s Eve, Christmas, Sao Jao feast, Shigmo, and Goa Carnival.
Best time to visit the state is from November to February.
Suggested Tour to Goa:
State 7 : Gujarat – Gandhinagar
- Capital City : Gandhinagar
Gujarat is home to numerous architectural beauties and historic monuments. Gujarat is also lush with wildlife beauty and natural sceneries. If you want to enjoy exotic beauties like Rann of Kutch, Asiatic Lion, creamy cuisines, and colorful art, this is the best place to enjoy a laidback vacation.
Top places to visit in Gujarat are Ahmedabad, Gir sanctuary, Kutch, Somnath, Dwarka, Vadodara, Saputara, Junagadh, and others.
Best time to visit the state is during winter, October to February.
State 8 : Haryana – Chandigarh
- Capital City : Chandigarh
Haryana and Punjab shares the same capital city, Chandigarh. Haryana is famous for its collection of historic destinations scattered around in the quaint landscape of cultural prosperity.
Haryana is also home to numerous adrenaline activities like hiking, rock climbing, boating, and others. Haryana’s craft wealth is best enjoyed with the Surajkund Craft Mela. Haryana is also home to heritage tourism and eco-tourism.
Top places to visit in Haryana are Gurgaon, Kurukshetra, Panchkula, Panipat, Faridabad,Narnaul, and others.
Best time to visit Haryana for an exciting vacation is from October to February.
State 9 : Himachal Pradesh – Shimla
- Capital City : Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh needs no introduction when it comes to tourism. Along with the capital city of Shimla, this Himalayan state is famous for numerous tourist destinations like Kullu, Chamba, Manali, Spiti Valley, Dalhousie, Bir Billing, and others.
Apart from the snow and high altitude adventure activities, the state is also famous for serene lakes, ancient temples, lofty mountains, and a colorful culture.
Best time to visit Himachal Pradesh is during any cultural festivals like Dussehra, Baisakhi, Holi, Christmas, and others. February to June is the right window to enjoy Himachal Pradesh.
Himachal Pradesh Travel Guide:
- Best Places to Eat in Himachal Pradesh
- Best Places to Stay in Himachal Pradesh
- Hill Stations in Himachal Pradesh
- Historical Places in Himachal Pradesh
- How to Reach Himachal Pradesh
- Things to do in Himachal Pradesh
State 10 : Jammu and Kashmir – Srinagar
- Capital City : Srinagar
Jammu and Kashmir is famous for the natural beauties of valley, snow mountains, lakes, and the high altitude forest regions. This rugged and flourish nature gives more adventure activities for tourists like paragliding, trekking, camping, skiing, golfing, hiking, and others.
The state is also a famous pilgrimage site with Vaishno Devi, Amarnath, and others.
Other top attractions of the land are Srinagar, Jammu, Patnitop, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg, and others. The cuisine and culture of the land are other important tourism magnets. Top festivals to cover here are Tulip Festival, Shikara festival, Baisakhi, and others.
The state is at its own beauty during all the four seasons.
Suggested Tour :
State 11 : Jharkhand – Ranchi
- Capital City : Ranchi
Wildlife, nature, culture, and tribal lifestyle surround this state, making it the destination with everything for tourists.
Apart from these, the Paitkar painting and toys of Jharkhand have a unique place in souvenir hunters’ bucket lists. If you wish to enjoy the beauty of the state, the best time to visit is during KolkhaiyaMela, KundaMela, or BelgadaMela.
These cattle fairs are the best times to enjoy the local culture, beauty of their lifestyle, performance arts, and much more. Top places to visit in Jharkhand are Deoghar, Ranchi, Netarhat, Hazaribagh, Betla National Park, Ghatshila, Dasham Falls, and others.
Best time to visit this state is from October to February.
State 12 : Karnataka – Bengaluru (Bangalore)
- Capital City : Bengaluru
One of the top popular states and the land with the Indian Silicon Valley, Karnataka is the state of both nostalgic beauties like Hampi, Shravanabelagola, and others, and the modern faces like Bangalore, Mysore, and others.
If you are into shopping, Karnataka is famous for sandalwood articles, Mysore silk, Bidriware, pottery items and others. Karnataka cuisine is a rich and scrumptious one. If you are into wildlife attractions, Karnataka has Bannerghatta, Cauvery,Brahmagiri, Kabini, Bandipur, peacock sanctuaries, and others.
Top places to visit apart from these are Pattadakal, Aihole, Coorg, Chikmagalur, Gokarna, Udupi, and others.
Suggested Tour:
State 13 : Kerala – Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum)
- Capital City : Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala is one of the top tourist destinations of the country. Endowed with coastlines, hill towns, heritage lands, Ayurvedic treatment, and a handful of cultural performance arts, Kerala is the land of beauty and mystery.
Kerala is also best for those who love to enjoy exotic things during vacation like houseboat backwater ride, martial art performances, elephant rides, wildlife exploration, and much more. Top places to visit here are Munnar, Kovalam, Wayanad, Alleppey, Kumarakom, Thekkady, Varkala, Idukki, and others. The state is at prime beauty throughout the year.
While exploring Kerala, do not forget to try their coconut-rich creamy cuisine.
State 14 : Madhya Pradesh – Bhopal
- Capital City : Bhopal
The central state of the country, Madhya Pradesh is a land of historic monuments and tiger reserves. The state is also famous among pilgrims as it holds Ujjain, KumbhaMela celebration, Khajuraho temples, Sanchi Stupa, and others. Madhya Pradesh has a long historic prosperity and thus, you can find numerous ancient and interesting monuments here. Top places to visit here are Gwalior, Khajuraho, Panchmarhi, Bhedaghat, Orchha, and others. If you are into wildlife beauty, top destinations to cover are Kanha and Bandhavgarh national parks. Madhya Pradesh has a very harsh summer. Thus, the prime time to visit this state is from July to March. If you wish to enjoy wildlife beauties, it is best to skip monsoon and visit between October and March.
State 15 : Maharashtra – Mumbai
- Capital City : Mumbai
Maharashtra is not just famous for Mumbai. This port city is a cauldron of culture, Bollywood, and natural beauty. The Konkan coastline is tagged as one of the most beautiful train routes of the country. Maharashtra is the land of ancient temples, caves, sanctuaries, hill towns, and commercial hubs.
Top destinations to cover in Maharashtra apart from Mumbai are Ajanta and Ellora Caves, Mahabaleshwar, Lavasa, Panchgani, Kolad, Shridi, Lonavala, and others. If you are into cultural exploration, visit Maharashtra during Ganesh Chaturthi, Gudi Padwa, Nag Panchami, NaraliPournima, and others.
The street food of Mumbai is a treat by itself.
Best time to visit Mumbai to enjoy a piece of everything it has to offer is between October and March.
Suggested Tour:
State 16 : Manipur – Imphal
- Capital City : Imphal
Manipur is one of the hidden beauties of the country, located in the north-east region. Manipur has a promising nature with floating national park, waterfalls, Sub-Himalayan evergreen forests, and much more. If you are into souvenir hunting, this is the place with cane articles, handicrafts, tribal artworks, handlooms, and jewelry.
The cuisine of Manipur is unique and colorful with exotic ingredients. Top places to visit in Manipur are Imphal, Tamenglong, Thoubal, Loktak Lake, Chandel, Moirang, and others. The best time to visit this state is during winter and early summer (October to April).
State 17 : Meghalaya – Shillong
- Capital City : Shillong
Meghalaya is the wettest state of the country holding the world’s top two wettest destinations, namely Mawsynram and Cherrapunji. This rich rainfall and the mountain climate, make this state a nature-bounty destination with valleys, hills, caves, living bridges, forests, and much more. Top places to visit in this state are Shillong, Tura, Mawsynram, Nongpoh, Cherrapunji, Jowai, Balpakram national park, and others.
This state is more colorful during cultural festivals like Wangala, Strawberry festival, Autumnal Festival, and others. If you wish to enjoy the best of the land, visit between October and June.
State 18 : Mizoram – Aizawl
- Capital City : Mizoram
Mizoram is the songbird of the country. Geographically, it is a small state and yet, it is one of the unique summer destinations to cover as it is home to more than 21 mountain ranges, which adds more greenery, peaceful nature, and countless wildlife beauties.
Mizoram is also famous for traditional festivals like ChapcharKut, Pawl Kut, ThaflavangKut, and others. Best places to visit in Mizoram are Aizawl, Lunglei, Serchhip, Mamit, Champhai, Saiha, Kolasib, and others. The state is pleasing to visit throughout the year.
However, most of the tourists wish to cover this state during winter – October to March.
State 19 : Nagaland – Kohima
- Capital City : Kohima
Nagaland is the land of festivals and a colorful tribal culture. Apart from cultural beauty, this is the land of natural attractions like Shilloi Lake, Japfu Peak, Kohima, and others. The iconic attraction of this tribal land is the colorful Hornbill festival.
Apart from this, you can also enjoy other indigenous festivals like Aoling Mongu, Tokhu Emong, Naknyulem, Monyu, and others. Other top places to visit here are Mokokchung, Dimapur, Phek, Tuensang, Touphema Village, Mon, Naga Heritage village, and others.
Best time to visit the state is between October and June.
State 20 : Odisha – Bhubaneswar
- Capital City : Bhubaneswar
Odisha is filled with tribal culture, sugary beaches, ancient temples, and flourishing rivers. The Bhubaneswar and Puri temples might be the iconic beauties of this land. However, the land is also famous for art, culture, festivals, and natural beauties.
Other top places to cover in Odisha are Konark, Cuttack, Rayagada, Baripada, and others. If you wish to enjoy the dance, music, and performing arts of the land, you ought to visit during Kalinga Mahotsav, Puri RathYatra, Durga Puja, Puri Beach festival, Konark dance festival, and others.
Cuisine of Odisha is famous for rich flavor of coconut and yogurt. Seafood is an important ingredient in this cuisine.
Best time to visit Odisha to enjoy a colorful time is from October to March.
State 21 : Punjab – Chandigarh
Capital City : Chandigarh
Punjab is the state of five rivers. The culture, history and the cuisine of the land are the magnets for tourism. Punjab is famous for its spiritualism, architectural beauty, and the endless cultural celebrations. Top festivals to enjoy in Punjab are Lohri festival, HolaMohalla, Basant Panchami, Baisakhi, and others.
Top places to cover in Punjab are Amritsar, Chandigarh, Patiala, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, SirhindFatehgarh, and others.
The prime time to visit Punjab is from October to March.
State 22 : Rajasthan – Jaipur
- Capital City : Jaipur
Rajasthan is one of the prime tourism destinations in the country. Rajasthan is famous for the desert landscape and the vibrant culture and lifestyle that come with it. Top cultural and historic destinations to cover in Rajasthan are Udaipur, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Bundi, and others. If you are looking for adventure activities, Jaisalmer is the right destination to enjoy camel safari, desert camping, quad biking, flying fox, and others.
If you love wildlife, Ranthambore national park and Bharatpur bird sanctuary are the best places to cover. Rajasthan is also famous for its collection of folk dance, music, and other cultural celebrations.
Top festivals to enjoy in Rajasthan are Pushkar Fair, Jaipur Literature Festival, Desert Festival, Winter Festival, Teej, Udaipur World Music Festival, and others.
The best time to visit Rajasthan is from October to March. Choose summer only if you are visiting Mount Abu.
State 23 : Sikkim – Gangtok
- Capital City : Gangtok
North-East state of India is a colorful natural paradise with a warm culture. Home to Kanchenjunga, this state has a cliché Himalayan climate. Gangtok is the cultural destination of the land. If you wish to enjoy Sikkim is its colorful tone, it is best to visit during any regional celebrations like Losoong festival, Losar festival, Lhabab Dheuchen festival, and others.
The mountainous landscape of Sikkim makes it best to enjoy many adventure activities like mountain biking, paragliding, mountaineering, yak safari, river rafting, trekking, hiking, camping, and others.
Top places to visit in Sikkim are Gangtok, Zuluk, Aritar, Gurdongmar Lake, Rumtek monastery, Nathula Pass, and others.
Best time to visit this state is between September and December, and between March and June.
State 24 : Tamil Nadu – Chennai
- Capital City : Chennai
The southern tip of the country, Tamil Nadu is an ancient cultural kaleidoscope filled with temples, monuments, forts, and exclusive list of hill towns like Ooty, Kodakanal, Yercaud, Kotagiri, and others. If you are into cultural beauty, visit Mahabalipuram, Madurai, Kanyakumari, Rameshwaram, and other temple towns and cultural heritage sites.
The state is also rich with traditional art and craft.
The best time to visit Tamil Nadu is during any religious festival or regional festivals like Pongal, Chithirai festival, Tamil New Year, and others. Winter is the best time to visit most of the tourist destinations and summer is the perfect time to cover hill towns.
Other top places to cover in Tamil Nadu are Chennai, Kanchipuram, Tanjavur, Tirunelveli, Mudumalai National park, Srirangam, and others.
State 25 : Telangana – Hyderabad
- Capital City : Hyderabad
Telangana is a recently formed state of the country. Telangana was separated from Andhra Pradesh and it now holds numerous cultural and heritage sites of the land like Charminar, Golkonda fort, Chowmahalla Palace, and others.
If you are looking for pilgrimage or spiritual destinations, Kuntala waterfalls, Mecca Mosque, Kolanupaka, Bhadrachalam Temple, Thousand Pillar temple, and others would be great choices to cover.
Apart from sightseeing beauties, the place is also famous for Deccaini paintings, Kalamkari jewelry, Cheriyal scroll art, and others. While visiting Telangana, do not miss their cuisine, which is a mixture of traditional Telugu palate and the spicy Nawabi cuisine.
Best time to visit is from October to March (winter).
State 26 : Tripura – Agartala
- Capital City : Agartala
Tripura is one of the hot tourist spots in North-East India. The historic wealth and cultural beauty give an impressive ambience to this state. Tripura is famous for colorful religious festivals like Bihu, Garia Puja, Durga Puja, Boat Race, Orange tourism festival, and many others.
The festivals are the best times to enjoy the folk dance and music and also find interesting souvenirs. Top places to cover in Tripura are Agartala, Unakoti, Kailashahar, Rudrasagar Lake, Bison national park, Ambassa, and others. Remember to try the unique cuisine of the land too.
This land is best visited during winter – October to March.
State 27 : Uttarakhand – Dehradun
- Capital City : Dehradun
Uttarakhand is the land of spiritualism and natural beauty. This Himalayan state is the land of Chardham and several other religious sites. The land place is lush with hot springs, waterfalls, rivers, silver firs, wild rhododendrons, and much more.
Other top places to visit in Uttarakhand are Auli, Dehradun, Nainital, Mussoorie, Rishikesh, Haridwar, and others. This spiritual destination is famous for festivals like Basant Panchami, Phool Dei, Nandi Devi Festival, Makar Sankranthi, and others.
If you are into adventure vacation, the Himalayan landscape makes this destination famous for camping, canoeing, ziplining, kayaking, trekking, skiing, paragliding, and others.
Best time for exploring Uttarakhand is from March to April and from end of September to end of October.
Suggested Tour:
- 5 Days - Haridwar, Rishikesh and Mussoorie Tour
- 6 Days - Haridwar Corbett Nainital Tour Package
- 9 Days - Uttrakhand Tour with Corbett
State 28 : Uttar Pradesh – Lucknow
- Capital City : Lucknow
Agra and Lucknow are major tourist destinations and nostalgic cultural spot.
However, this state is a little more than just two destinations. The state is filled with monuments, royal performing art forms, Nawabi cuisine, feast-worthy festivals, and much more.
If you are into pilgrimage exploration, the state has numerous interesting destinations like Varanasi, Mathura, Vrindavan, Sarnath, Ayodhya, and others. Other top destinations to cover are Allahabad, Chitrakoot, Gokul, Vidhyachal, Dudhwa national park, and others.
This state is a year-around beauty, but it is best to visit the state during winter – October to March.
State 29 : West Bengal – Kolkata
- Capital City : Kolkata
West Bengal is a land of unique culture, monuments, and heritage beauty. If you want a vacation filled with nostalgic ambience and cultural celebrations, this is the right place to cover. West Bengal is famous for colonial monuments, delta flourishing forests, wildlife beauties, ancient temples, and the tram system.
Top destinations to cover in West Bengal are Kolkata, Digha, Siliguri, Sundarbans, Mirik, Darjeeling, and others. Apart from attire and cuisine, the culture infuses into celebrations too. Top festivals to enjoy here are Durga Pooja, Kali puja, Buddha Jayanti, MahavirJayanti, Basant Panchami, Holi, and others.
Best time to visit West Bengal is from October to March.
Each state has a unique list of attractions, cuisines, cultural beauties, and natural destinations. Remember to learn about the activities and climate of each state before you plan your destination. The summers closer to Himalayas would not be the same as the summers closer to Indian Ocean. Although a single country, India thrives in its diversity.
