Top 10 Smallest Cities in India by Area

India has a number of states, districts, cities, towns, and villages. A city is a place that has large human settlements. The settlements happen because of the housing, transportation, utilities and transportation are favorable. The sanitation and communication systems are also up to the mark. The urbanization has led to the conversion of various towns and villages that are strategically placed in the city category.

Apart from the Metropolitan cities, there are at least 2-3 cities in each state that qualify as best places to live in considering the scope for work, health care, education and land for a living. When these conditions are fulfilled you would find human settlements however small the area might be. That is why you find many populous cities in each state. The Top 10 smallest cities in India by area compiled in descending order.

List of Smallest Cities in India

10. Nagpur

It is a small city in the state of Maharashtra. The city of Nagpur was created by a leader who belonged to the Gond dynasty who was named Bakht Buland Shah.  Though the district is quite large the city is quite small spread over an area of 227.4 square kilometers. It is famous for tasty and high-quality oranges. It is easily accessible by road, train, and plane. It is a major center for education in the central part of India. It is close to the border of Maharashtra and it homes the Deekshabhoomi which is the largest Buddhist stupa. It is the largest and hollow Buddhist stupas in the world. It tops the list of best cities to live in terms of greenery, transportation facilities, healthcare.

9. Thiruvananthapuram

It is the capital of Kerala and is also known as Trivandrum. It is located in the southernmost part of the mainland on the west coast. It is a major IT hub. Trivandrum has been referred to as Evergreen City by the father of our nation Mahatma Gandhi. It is one of the most populous city considering the area which is just about 214 square kilometers. The city was ruled by the Chera dynasty in the earlier times.  It is also a major tourist center owing to the temples, beaches, and backwaters in the region. It homes research centers and is the regional headquarters for IGNOU. It is considered to be the 15^th best city to live in India.

8. Jamshedpur

It is a city located in in the Singhbum district of Jharkhand. It is again one of the most populous cities in India which is spread across an area of about  209 square kilometers. It is an industrial city and is also the first planned city in India. It is located on the Chotanagpur plateau and the Dalmia hills surround it accounting for the picturesque views you can have from the city. The development of Jamshedpur revolved around the development of the steel manufacturing company that was set up there which is the tenth largest in the World. The city was earlier a village called Sakchi. J N Tata, however, envisioned a city in that area. later in 1919 when the village turned into a city it was named Jamshedpur by Lord Chelmsford in 1919 in honor of the founder Jamsetji Tata.

7. Amritsar

The Amritsar city which is also known as Ambarsar Colloquially is the headquarters of the Amritsar district. It is located in Punjab and it is in the Maja region of the state. It homes the famous Golden temple and is considered to be a holy city by those who follow Sikhism. It is close to the Wagah border which is the border between India and Pakistan is just 28 km away. Amritsar is also believed to be the place where Maharishi had set up his Ashram in ancient times. It is a small city with an area of just  170 square kilometers. It is a thriving city that is doing well in trade, tourism, and agriculture.

6. Mysore

 Mysore or Mysuru as it is called is in Karnataka.  It is known as the cultural capital of Karnataka. You have the palace of the Mysore Maharajas and the Dussehra procession held there is a major attraction that pulls in a lot of tourists at that time apart from other historical tourist destinations close to Mysore like Srirangapatinam. As Mysore was ruled by the Wadiyars who were patrons of art and culture, the cultural ambiance of the place is dominant. Mysore is famous for high-quality sandal products and carvings in sandalwood, paintings, silk sarees, and ink. It is a small city spread across an area of about 155.7 square kilometers. The famous Brindhavan garden which is a major tourist attraction, as well as a film shooting location, is also located close to Mysore.

5. Patna

The ancient name of Patna was Pataliputra. It is the capital of Bihar. It was previously considered as one of the poorest cities in India as you can see signs of poverty everywhere. Even very close to the city center. But, now, it is one of the fastest growing cities which would soon overcome the unappealing picture of being a poverty-stricken city.  It is a popular gateway to the pilgrimage center for Buddhists, Jains as well as the Sikhs. The small city is spread across an area of 99.97 square kilometers. The modern city is located in the southern bank of the Ganges. It is considered to be the 5^th fastest growing city in India. It is also considered to be the second best city in India after Delhi in terms of ease in starting a business.

4. Agra

It is a small city that spreads across an area of 87 square kilometers located on the banks of river Yamuna. It is a very popular tourist destination that is visited by tourists from all over the world throughout the year to visit the Taj Mahal.  Agra is located closer to Mathura and New Delhi and is also one of the most populous cities in Uttarpradesh. It is part of the tourist triangle which includes Delhi and Jaipur. Apart from the Tajmahal, there are also other interesting heritage sites in Agra which includes the Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.

3.Varanasi

Varanasi is also known as Kasi or Benares. It is a religious pilgrimage city located in the bank of river Ganges. It is a small city that has an area of about 82.1 square kilometers. It is the holiest of the seven sacred cities that are considered as places to be visited within your lifetime by the Hindus and the Jains. Varanasi is a city that is well connected to other major cities by road, rail and air. It is also an industrial center and it is known for ivory works, muslin and silk fabrics as well as perfumes.  The famous Benaras Hindu University which is one of the largest residential universities in Asia is located here. Though it is a pilgrimage center, there is no dearth in the number of industrial activities as well which would make it an ideal city to live in.

2. Udupi

The Udupi city is the administrative headquarters of the Udupi district. It is a small city with an area of about 68.23 square kilometers. It is in the state of Karnataka.  It is a pilgrimage center that is closer to Mangalore. Udupi became a separate district after being separated from Dakshina Kannada in the year 1997. Most of the people in Udupi city speak Tulu language apart from Konkani, Hindi, and English. The Muslims in this city speak Urdu, Nawayathi, and Beary. Udupi is synonymous with its vegetarian cuisine known everywhere and it is famous for the folk arts like Yakshagana. It is a city that attracts tourists owing to the beaches, islands, and temples. There are also famous educational institutions in Udupi.

1. Udaipur

Udaipur is a heritage city with an area of 37 sq.km. It is the city that has a number of Palaces and is associated with the ancient times and the Battles that took place then. It is a scenic city that is worthy of being visited. Udaipur is located in the southern part of Rajasthan. This makes it closer to Gujarat as well. It is a well-connected city and has a wee developed road, air and rail transportation facilities. The Aravalli ranges separate Udaipur from the Thar desert. Udaipur is a famous tourist destination and was also called the most romantic spot in the continent by the British administrator James Tod. It is known as the City of Lakes and is the headquarters of the Udaipur district.

All cities are not alike. Metropolitan cities are far ahead of the other cities in term s of all facilities. But, the small cities are in no way inferior to the Metros because whatever facilities that are available are easily accessed and used to the full in the small cities. Though these small cities are not as modern and well developed as the Metros, they do have a cultural background that adds charm and glamor to these cities. They do have some elements that could make the residents of such cities proud.