29 States of India and Their Capitals and Languages: India is a diverse country with 29 states and 7 union territories. Each state has its own distinct identity defined by its language, culture, cuisine, and more. The states also differ in their geography, climate, and economy.
In this article, we provide a comprehensive list of the 29 states of India along with details on their capitals and official languages.
29 States of India and Their Capitals and Languages
Here is a list of the 29 Indian states along with their capitals and official languages:
State | Capital | Official Language(s) |
---|---|---|
Andhra Pradesh | Amaravati | Telugu |
Arunachal Pradesh | Itanagar | English |
Assam | Dispur | Assamese |
Bihar | Patna | Hindi |
Chhattisgarh | Raipur | Hindi |
Goa | Panaji | Konkani |
Gujarat | Gandhinagar | Gujarati |
Haryana | Chandigarh | Hindi |
Himachal Pradesh | Shimla (Summer) Dharamshala (Winter) | Hindi |
Jammu and Kashmir | Srinagar (Summer) Jammu (Winter) | Urdu, Kashmiri |
Jharkhand | Ranchi | Hindi |
Karnataka | Bengaluru | Kannada |
Kerala | Thiruvananthapuram | Malayalam |
Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal | Hindi |
Maharashtra | Mumbai | Marathi |
Manipur | Imphal | Manipuri |
Meghalaya | Shillong | English |
Mizoram | Aizawl | Mizo, English |
Nagaland | Kohima | English |
Odisha | Bhubaneswar | Odia |
Punjab | Chandigarh | Punjabi |
Rajasthan | Jaipur | Hindi |
Sikkim | Gangtok | English, Sikkimese |
Tamil Nadu | Chennai | Tamil |
Telangana | Hyderabad | Telugu, Urdu |
Tripura | Agartala | Bengali, Kokborok |
Uttar Pradesh | Lucknow | Hindi, Urdu |
Uttarakhand | Dehradun (Winter) Gairsain (Summer) | Hindi |
West Bengal | Kolkata | Bengali, English |
Here is the key information on the 29 states of India, their capitals, and official languages:
Andhra Pradesh
Capital – Amaravati
Official Language – Telugu
Andhra Pradesh is located in the southeastern region of India. It has a long coastline stretching along the Bay of Bengal. Andhra Pradesh is known for its rich cultural heritage and beautiful temples.
Some key attractions in Andhra Pradesh include the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, Araku Valley, Horsley Hills, and the beaches at Visakhapatnam.
Arunachal Pradesh
Capital – Itanagar
Official Language – English
Arunachal Pradesh, located in northeast India, is known for its picturesque landscape comprising of lofty peaks and valleys. Parts of Arunachal Pradesh have a monsoon climate while other parts experience an alpine or tundra climate.
Some popular places to visit are Tawang, Ziro, Namdapha National Park and Sela Pass. The famous Tawang Monastery is also located here.
Assam
Capital – Dispur
Official Language – Assamese
Assam is situated in the northeast and shares borders with Bhutan and Bangladesh. The state experiences a lot of rainfall and flooding during the monsoon season.
Key attractions include Kaziranga National Park (famous for one-horned rhinos), Manas National Park, Kamakhya Temple and Majuli island.
Bihar
Capital – Patna
Official Language – Hindi
Bihar, located in north India, has a rich cultural heritage spanning over 2500 years. It is home to important religious sites linked to Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism.
Popular places to see here include the Mahabodhi Temple complex at Bodh Gaya, Vaishali (site of Buddha’s last sermon) and the ancient Nalanda University ruins.
Chhattisgarh
Capital – Raipur
Official Language – Hindi
Chhattisgarh, located in central India, is one of the newer states of India, formed in the year 2000. Dense forests cover much of the state. Key attractions include the Bastar region known for tribal arts and crafts, Chitrakote Falls and Kanger Valley National Park.
Goa
Capital – Panaji
Official Languages – Konkani, Marathi
Goa, situated along India’s western coast, was under Portuguese rule for over 450 years. This has resulted in a unique mix of Indian and Portuguese cultures and architecture in Goa.
Goa is most popular for its spectacular beaches, nightlife, seafood, festivals and colonial-era monuments. The Basilica of Bom Jesus and the churches of Old Goa are UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Gujarat
Capital – Gandhinagar
Official Language – Gujarati
Gujarat has the longest coastline in India dotted with ports and harbors. The state is also renowned for its rich history and culture.
Major attractions include the Gir Forest National Park (the last abode of Asiatic lions), Somnath Temple, Rani ki Vav, Dwarkadhish Temple, and the Rann of Kutch.
Haryana
Capital – Chandigarh
Official Language – Hindi
Haryana, encircling New Delhi on three sides, is one of India’s most economically developed states. Agriculture and manufacturing industries thrive here.
Key places to visit are the Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary, Surajkund, Badkhal Lake and Kuchesar Mud Fort.
Himachal Pradesh
Capital – Shimla (summer), Dharamshala (winter)
Official Language – Hindi
Himachal Pradesh, located in the western Himalayas, is renowned for its snow-capped peaks, valleys, lakes and hot water springs. Tourism is a major contributor to the state’s economy with Shimla, Manali and Dharamshala being leading destinations.
The state has many important Hindu and Buddhist pilgrimage sites like Naina Devi Temple, Jwalaji Temple, Baijnath Temple and the Tabo and Key Gompas.
Jammu and Kashmir
Capitals – Srinagar (summer), Jammu (winter)
Official Languages – Urdu, Kashmiri
Jammu and Kashmir consists of three distinct regions – Hindu-majority Jammu, Muslim-majority Kashmir valley and predominantly Buddhist Ladakh. Because of its unique location in the Himalayas, the state attracts adventure tourism, pilgrimages and wildlife tourism.
Top attractions include Dal Lake, Mughal Gardens, Vaishno Devi Temple, Gulmarg, Pangong Lake and the Hemis Monastery.
Jharkhand
Capital – Ranchi
Official Language – Hindi
Jharkhand, located in east India, has nearly one-third of its area under forest cover. The state is rich in mineral resources like coal, iron ore, copper ore, and uranium.
Key places to visit are Betla National Park, Hazaribagh National Park, Rajrappa, Parasnath Hills and Dassam Falls.
Karnataka
Capital – Bengaluru
Official Languages – Kannada, English
Karnataka has diverse topography ranging from the coastal region of Mangalore to the hills of Coorg to the northern plateau. The state has many architectural marvels showcasing Dravidian style temples as well as Islamic monuments.
Major attractions include Hampi, Mysore Palace, Badami cave temples, Gokarna, Bandipur National Park and Chikmagalur.
Kerala
Capital – Thiruvananthapuram
Official Language – Malayalam
Kerala, located in southwestern India, is a tropical paradise known for its scenic backwaters, beaches, waterfalls and lush greenery. This slender coastal state also has one of the highest literacy rates in India.
Key places to visit are Alleppey, Munnar, Wayanad, Athirappilly Falls, Periyar National Park and Kovalam Beach.
Madhya Pradesh
Capital – Bhopal
Official Language – Hindi
Madhya Pradesh lies in the heart of India and is home to UNESCO World Heritage sites like the Khajuraho temples, the Buddhist monuments at Sanchi and the ancient city of Mandu. National parks like Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, and Panna are also located here.
Maharashtra
Capital – Mumbai (financial), Nagpur (winter), Pune (cultural)
Official Language – Marathi
Maharashtra stretches over 720 kilometers along the western coast. The state has a rich maritime history with a strong economic and cultural ethos. It has the largest number of heritage sites in India.
Top attractions include Ajanta and Ellora Caves, Ashtavinayak temples, Aurangabad caves, Lonavala, Mahabaleshwar and the beaches of the Konkan coastline.
Manipur
Capital – Imphal
Official Language – Manipuri
Manipur, located on the far eastern border with Myanmar, has a rich cultural heritage showcased through its classical dance forms and handloom textiles. Over 60% of Manipur is forested, making it ideal for trekking and wildlife tourism.
Key places to visit are Loktak Lake, Keibul Lamjao National Park, Bishnupur Temples and Ukhrul district.
Meghalaya
Capital – Shillong
Official Languages – English, Khasi
Meghalaya, also known as the “Abode of Clouds”, boasts of abundant rainfall, lush forests and numerous waterfalls. Caving, trekking, and exploring root bridges are popular activities here.
Top attractions include Cherrapunji, Mawlynnong Village, Nohkalikai Falls, and the Living Root Bridges.
Mizoram
Capital – Aizawl
Official Languages – English, Mizo
Mizoram, located in the northeast, is a hilly state with a pleasant climate year-round. Bamboo is integral to the lifestyle of the tribal communities inhabiting the state.
Key places to see here are Blue Mountain National Park, Phawngpui National Park, Vantawng Falls, and Reiek Tlang.
Nagaland
Capital – Kohima
Official Language – English
Nagaland, situated in the far northeast of India, is home to several Naga tribes each having their own unique traditions. The Hornbill Festival held annually offers a glimpse into the rich culture of the Nagas.
Places of interest include Khonoma Village, Dzukou Valley, Japfu Peak, and Intanki Wildlife Sanctuary.
Odisha
Capital – Bhubaneswar
Official Language – Odia
Odisha, located on the eastern coast, has a long history spanning over 2000 years. The state’s long coastline with the Bay of Bengal makes it prone to tropical storms and cyclones.
Major attractions include the temples of Bhubaneswar and Puri, Konark Sun Temple, Chilika Lake and Similipal National Park.
Punjab
Capital – Chandigarh
Official Language – Punjabi
The fertile Punjab region has seen the rise and fall of many kingdoms and dynasties over several millennia. Today it is one of the most prosperous states in India.
Key attractions include Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh, Wagah Border, Rock Garden of Chandigarh and Harike Wetland.
Rajasthan
Capital – Jaipur
Official Language – Hindi, Rajasthani
Rajasthan, located in northwestern India, is renowned as a heritage tourism destination with many forts, palaces, temples, and other structures showcasing Rajputana architecture. The Thar desert covers parts of western Rajasthan.
The top attractions are Jaisalmer Fort, Lake Palace, Mehrangarh Fort, Pushkar Lake, Ranthambore National Park, and the annual Pushkar Camel Fair.
Sikkim
Capital – Gangtok
Official Languages – English, Sikkimese
Sikkim, nestled in the eastern Himalayas, was an independent kingdom before merging with India in 1975. With elevation ranging from 280 meters to over 8000 meters, the state has a diverse climate.
Key attractions are Nathula Pass, Gurudongmar Lake, Yumthang Valley, Tsongo Lake, monasteries in Gangtok and trekking routes.
Tamil Nadu
Capital – Chennai
Official Language – Tamil
Tamil Nadu has the most number of UNESCO World Heritage sites in India showcasing ancient Tamil architecture and culture. The state stretches from the Nilgiri hills in the west to the Coromandel Coast in the east with varied topography in between.
Top attractions include Meenakshi Temple, Brihadeeswarar Temple, hill stations of Ooty and Kodaikanal and the shore temples of Mahabalipuram.
Telangana
Capital – Hyderabad
Official Languages – Telugu, Urdu
Telangana was carved out of Andhra Pradesh as a separate state in 2014. Hyderabad, known for its culture and cuisine with Persian influences, serves as the joint capital for both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Other key places to see are Charminar, Golconda Fort, Warangal Fort, Thousand Pillar Temple and Nagarjunasagar Dam.
Tripura
Capital – Agartala
Official Languages – English, Kokborok
Tripura is a small hilly state in northeast India surrounded by Bangladesh on its north, south and west. It has a diverse mix of ethnic groups and cultures.
Top attractions include Unakoti, Jampui Hills, Dumboor Lake, Neermahal, and Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary.
Uttarakhand
Capital – Dehradun (winter), Gairsain (summer)
Official Language – Hindi
Uttarakhand, located in the Himalayan foothills, is known for its natural beauty comprised of glaciers, valleys, lakes, and mountain peaks. It is an important Hindu pilgrimage destination.
Major attractions are Valley of Flowers National Park, Auli, Nainital, Mussoorie, Corbett National Park, and the Char Dham sites.
Uttar Pradesh
Capital – Lucknow
Official Language – Hindi, Urdu
Uttar Pradesh is India’s most populous state located in the northern plains. The Ganga and Yamuna rivers flow through the state making the land very fertile. Uttar Pradesh is considered the birthplace of Hinduism and Buddhism.
Key places to visit are Taj Mahal, Varanasi, Sarnath, Fatehpur Sikri, Ayodhya and Mathura. Wildlife attractions include Dudhwa National Park and Pilibhit Tiger Reserve.
West Bengal
Capital – Kolkata
Official Languages – Bengali, English
West Bengal stretches from the Himalayas in the north to the Bay of Bengal in the south. The state has great cultural diversity among various ethnic and religious groups.
The capital Kolkata is the cultural capital of India. Other top attractions are Darjeeling, Sundarbans National Park, Ganga Sagar, Kalimpong, and the hill stations of Kurseong, Mirik, and Shantiniketan.
India’s 29 states and 7 union territories encompass impressive diversity in languages, cultures, geography, historical heritage, and more. Each state has developed its own distinct identity over the centuries. This article provided a comprehensive reference on the 29 states, listing their capitals, and official languages and highlighting some of the top attractions in each one.
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