Category Indian Cities

How Kos Minars guided travelers in Medieval India

Kos Minars are medieval milestones that once dotted the highways of northern India. The name combines “kos,” a traditional unit of distance (2 miles or roughly 3.22 kilometers), with “minar,” meaning tower or pillar. These solid brick-and-lime structures were first…

How Agartala got its name

Did you know Agartala, the capital of Tripura, derives its name from the aromatic agarwood trees (Aquilaria malaccensis) that once grew abundantly across the region? The name comes from two Sanskrit words: agar—the valuable tree known for its fragrant heartwood—and…

Why Jaipur is called the “Pink City”

Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, earns its title of “Pink City” from the warm rose-colored façades that dominate its historic quarters. The practice began in 1876, when Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II had the city painted in this color to…

Why Jodhpur is the Blue City

Jodhpur, Rajasthan’s second-largest city, is known as the “Blue City” for the cluster of azure houses surrounding the 15th-century Mehrangarh Fort. The custom began with the Brahmin community, who painted their homes blue to signify status and align with the…

How Dongri gave the world Dungarees

Dungarees are a type of durable cotton garment, commonly recognized as bib and brace overalls or trousers. They were originally made from a coarse cotton fabric with a twill weave, which gave it extra durability and resistance to wear. First…

How seven islands and a goddess shaped Mumbai

Mumbai, India’s bustling financial hub, carries a history as layered as its skyline. Its name traces back to the Koli fishermen, the earliest known inhabitants of the region, who worshipped the local goddess Mumba Devi. The settlement that grew around…

Panchaganga Ghat – A Riverfront of Devotion and Struggle

Panchaganga Ghat in Varanasi holds a unique place among the city’s revered riverfronts. Its name derives from the belief that five holy rivers—Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Kirana, and Dhutapapa—once converged here, sanctifying it as a spiritual confluence even though only the Ganga flows physically through Varanasi…