FORMER CAPITAL OF INDIA- KOLKATA

·     During the British Raj, until 1911, Calcutta ( now Kolkata ) was the capital of India.

·     The first newspaper in India, the Bengal Gazette started publishing from the city in 1780.

·     The capital of West Bengal, is known for its cultural activities and its intelligentsia.

·      BENGALI, the official state language, is the dominant language in Kolkata.

·    The word Kolkata derives from the Bengali term Kolikata, the name of one of three villages that predated the arrival of the British.

·   Located on the east bank of the Hooghly river, it is the principal commercial, cultural, and educational centre of East India.

·    The Port of Kolkata is India's oldest operating port.

·    Having Population (census 2011) 4.5 million approx, 7^th Rank in Country and 3^rd Rank in Metro.

·   As of 2011, the health care system in Kolkata consists of 48 government hospitals, and 366 private medical establishments;

·    For every 10,000 people in the city, there are 61.7 hospital beds, which is higher than the national average of 9 hospital beds per 10,000.

·    The main commercial and financial hub of East and North-East India and home to the Calcutta Stock Exchange.

·    It is a major commercial and military port, and is the only city in eastern India to have an international airport.

·   Kolkata is home to many industrial units operated by large public- and private-sector corporations; major sectors include steel, heavy engineering, mining, minerals, cement, pharmaceuticals, food processing, agriculture, electronics, textiles, and jute.

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PUNE - 1st CAPITAL OF MARATHA EMPIRE - CITY OF VIRTUE

1^st CAPITAL OF MARATHA EMPIRE -  CITY OF VIRTUE - PUNE -  INDIAN CITY

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•          Known to have existed as a town since 847 AD.
•          Name derived from Modi Purnyagiri (City of Virtue), also spelled as POONA.
•          1^st capital of the Maratha Empire under Chhatrapati Shivaji Raje Bhosale.
•          8^th largest metropolis  in India and 2^nd largest state in Maharashtra.
•          Situated at the right bank of the Mutha river in Maharashtra and is a district Headquarter.
•          It was once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire.
•          Total population (census 2011) is  9,426,959, making it 4^th most populous district in India (out of 640).
•          The largest hub in India for German companies.
•    The city is now also known for Manufacturing, Automobile, Government & Private sector Research Institutes, Information technology (IT) and Educational, Management, Training institutes.

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“LION CITY OF INDIA” - HYDERABAD

“LION CITY OF INDIA” - HYDERABAD

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•          Capital and largest city of the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
•          Most well known landmark is the Charminar in the City and The city has the 2^nd largest mosque in India.
•          Lies on the banks of the Musi River, in the northern part of the Deccan Plateau.
•          The name Hyderabad means "Hyder's abode" or "lion city", derived from the Persian/Urdu words "haydar" or "hyder" (lion).
•          Founded in 1586 by Mohammed Quli, fifth Sultan of the Qutb Shahi Dynasty of Golconda.
•          In 1724, Mughal viceroy Asif Jah I declared his sovereignty and created his own dynasty, also known as the Nizams of Hyderabad
•          Historically known as a pearl and diamond trading centre.
•          Population of 6.8 million and a metropolitan population of 7.75 million, making it the 4^TH most populous city and 6^TH most populous urban agglomeration in India
•          The twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad have almost grown together.

The city of Hyderabad, built in 1591-92 to reflect Sultam Mohammed Quli Shah’s splendour, was originally on the South side of the Musi river, the area now known as the old city; its most well known landmark is the Charminar. The city has the second largest mosque in India, the Mecca Masjid, which took 78 years to build and is reputedly the seventh largest mosque in the world (it can accommodate 10,000 people). The capital of Andhra Pradesh, an Indian state in the South of the country, Hyderabad is one of the largest cities in India. Attached to the city is its twin town, Secunderabad, separated from it by Hussain Sagar, an artificial lake constructed in 1562.

The city spreads over 260 sq. kms., with a population of over 7 million. Hyderabad is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in India with people from all faiths living in it. It has plenty of (Hindu) temples, mosques, gurdwaras (Sikh places of worship), Jain temples (Jains are members of one of the oldest religions in India), churches for various denominations of Christians, temples for the Zoroastrians (or Parsis, followers of the prophet Zoroaster; a religion originated in modern Iran. The Tatas are Zoroastrians). It also has a large Buddhist Vihara.

In the old part of the city you will find many bazaars that will keep you busy for many hours. The place is known for its pearls and other jewelry, but you can also get good silk, saris (the typical cloth worn by women in India, consisting of a single strip of unstitched cloth of four to nine meters in length, worn with a blouse or choli as upper garment), and other fancy garments. As is common in most of India, you will find good cotton clothes as well. Hyderabad is particularly famous for its pearl craftsmen.

As in all places in India, there is plenty of food to choose from in Hyderabad: samosas (fried patties filled with vegetables or meat), biryani (rice with lamb or chicken), kebabs (minced meat cooked on an open fire) and sweets. Continental food is also widely available in Hyderabad.

Several IT companies have a big presence in Hyderabad; these include Microsoft, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, Amazon, Dell, Google, IBM and Infosys Technologies. IT exports from the city crossed US $ 2.5 billion in 2005-06. A whole new township called Cyberabad, with state-of-the-art facilities, has come up to accommodate technology related firms. The Hyderabad International Convention Centre, the venue of the Congress is in Cyberabad.

The city hosts three Central Universities (funded by the Central Government of India) – the University of Hyderabad, the Maulana Azad National Urdu University and the English and Foreigne Languages University. Hyderabad is also home to another central institution that is internationally well-known, the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology. Several other state universities supported by the State Government are also located in Hyderabad as also the privately funded Indian School of Business.

The city’s charm is captured beautifully by William Dalrymple in this excerpt from his gripping historical narrative, White Mughals, of love and intrigue in 19th century Hyderabad. The ICM organizing committee wishes you a happy stay in this welcoming Indian city, a fascinating combination of the old and the new.

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CITY OF PALACES - MYSORE

CITY OF PALACES & CUTURAL CAPITAL – KINGDOM OF MYSORE – INDIAN CITY

·         Tourism is the major industry of city.

·         Mysuru is 3^rd largest city in the state of Karnataka, India.

·         Served as the capital city of Mysore Princely Kingdom (Kingdom of Mysore) for nearly six centuries, from 1399 until 1947.

·         Located at the base of the Chamundi Hills about 146 km (91 mi) southwest of the state capital Bangalore.

·         Population of Mysore is 8,87,446; which Male – 4,43,813 and Female –4,43,633 (census 2011)

·         Its noted for its palaces, including the Mysore Palace, and for the festivities that take place during the Dasara festival when the city receives a large number of tourists.

·         Major industrial companies in Mysore include Infosys, Bharat Earth Movers, J. K. Tyres, Wipro, Falcon Tyres, Larsen & Toubro, and Theorem India.

·         It has resulted emerging as the 2^nd largest software exporter in Karnataka.

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“City of Destiny” – Vizag or Visakhapatnam

“City of Destiny” – Indian City – Vizag or Visakhapatnam

• Ruled by King Hari Shankar
• Vizag or Vizagapatnam or Waltair (British colonial name).
• Often called as "The Jewel of the East Coast" and the "City of Destiny".
• Port city on the southeast coast of India in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
• One of India's largest seaports and has the country's oldest shipyard.
• 2^nd largest city in the state of Andhra Pradesh and 3^rd largest city on east coast of India.
• Population of 2,091,811 and occupying 681.96 square kilometres (263.31 sq mi).
• Recognized as a Global City of the Future by McKinsey Quarterly.
• Visakhapatnam is protected from the sea on the south by Dolphin's Nose Hill; the Meghadri River estuary formed a channel which made it suitable for a port.
• Headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command, the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (a DRDO Lab), a Chief Quality Assurance Establishment (CQAE), an EFS office, a Naval Dockyard (established in 1949) and Naval Bases including INS Virbahu, INS Kalinga, INS Samudrika, INS Satavahana, and INS Dega.

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