Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, India

This university town is the largest in Maharashtra, but its 725-acre campus can't mask the persistent bureaucratic headaches. The renaming controversy in the 1970s sparked anti-Dalit violence that still lingers. And with over 450 affiliated colleges, the city swells with students - a mixed blessing for locals. Those willing to navigate the red tape may find Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar a fitting home for academic pursuits, but it's no picnic for the casual expat.