Nallasopara (Nala Sopara), India

Nallasopara may boast an average literacy rate of 79%, but the bureaucratic headaches and stifling tropical climate are enough to make any newcomer long for the comforts of home. With a population of 184,664, this Mumbai satellite city is a bustling hub, though the sizable Gujarati, Urdu, and Hindi-speaking minority populations can make integration a challenge. And while the ancient port town's rich history as a Buddhist center and trading post is fascinating, the city's glory days seem long past - the silting of the once-navigable creek being a prime example of Nallasopara's ongoing struggle to modernize. This is a city for the intrepid few, not the faint of heart.