Mangalore, India

Capital City

Mangalore's picturesque setting along the Arabian Sea belies its practical challenges. With a population of 623,841, this coastal city offers a mere 22 meters of elevation, putting it at the mercy of the intense monsoons that dump over 5,000 mm of rain annually. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, from the 60-ward municipal corporation to the complex web of port authorities and petrochemical giants. Yet the city's strategic location and thriving IT and manufacturing sectors continue to draw migrants seeking opportunity. Mangalore may be best suited for those who can navigate its bureaucratic hurdles and weather the relentless rain.