Mysore, India

Capital City

While Mysore boasts a rich cultural heritage and picturesque palaces, the reality is a city struggling to keep up with rapid growth. With a population exceeding 1.2 million as of 2022, infrastructure woes are a persistent headache - the civic body faces criticism for failing to manage land distribution and urban sprawl. Bureaucracy is another challenge, as the city's administration juggles multiple agencies. And despite being rated the second cleanest in India, Mysore sometimes faces acute water shortages, especially during the summer months. Yet, the city's tourism industry remains vibrant, drawing 3.15 million visitors in 2010. For those drawn to Mysore's storied past and relatively low cost of living, the city may be worth considering, but managing the strains of its haphazard development requires pragmatism.