Daman, India

Capital City

Daman is a curious colonial holdover on the Indian mainland, a place where the bureaucracy is a persistent headache and the monsoon season is a miserable slog. With a population of just 44,282 in the city and 191,173 in the district, this small enclave was a Portuguese territory for over 400 years until its incorporation into India in 1961. The city's density is a cramped 6,813 people per square kilometer, with a lopsided sex ratio of 533 females for every 1,000 males. While it boasts an 88% literacy rate, the climate is a challenge - a long, dry season followed by an extremely wet and humid monsoon that makes travel uncomfortable. Daman may appeal to those seeking a quieter, more orderly slice of India, but its quirks and inconveniences make it a tough sell for most.