Gulbarga, India

Capital City

Forget the flower-garden imagery - Gulbarga, now known as Kalaburagi, is an industrially-backward city with a heavy tax burden and a climate that swings between scorching hot and bone-chilling cold. The city's population of 533,587 is 55% male, with a literacy rate of just 67%, well below the national average. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the city is governed by a municipal corporation and has multiple universities and colleges. On the plus side, Kalaburagi is home to a collection of impressive Islamic architecture, including the 14th-century tomb of a Sufi saint and the grand Jama Masjid. Overall, this dusty, industrial city on the Deccan Plateau is best suited for those drawn to its religious and historical sites, rather than those seeking a vibrant urban center.