Sirsa, India

Capital City

With a population of just 182,534, Sirsa is a sleepy backwater in the arid northwest of India - far from the glitz and bustle of Delhi. The city has a long history stretching back to the Mahabharata era, but its modern reality is one of heavy bureaucracy and a climate that can be extreme. Literacy rates are decent at 72%, though the female rate lags behind at 67.7%. Sirsa's main points of interest are its Air Force station and the headquarters of the Dera Sacha Sauda religious organization. For those seeking a slower-paced life in a provincial Indian town, Sirsa may have some appeal, but the remoteness and red tape will be a persistent headache.