Panipat, India

Capital City

Panipat is an industrial hub, but don't be fooled - the city's pollution woes and bureaucratic headaches make it a challenging place to call home. With a population of 294,292 and a literacy rate of 83%, this 'textile city' has carved out a niche in manufacturing, but the Comprehensive Environment Pollution Index of 59.00 highlights the heavy environmental toll. Locals may tout Panipat's status as the 'cast-off clothes capital' of the world, but the grim reality is that it's also listed as one of India's most critically polluted industrial areas. Unless you're drawn to the bustling factories and don't mind the persistent bureaucratic hassles, this is not the city for the faint of heart.