Tirupati, India

Capital City

The population of 244,990 belies Tirupati's true nature as a tourism-centric economy that revolves around the famous Tirumala Venkateswara Temple. While the city boasts modern infrastructure and a clean ranking, a persistent bureaucratic headache and heavy security presence are the realities of living in this major Hindu pilgrimage site. Tirupati is best suited for die-hard devotees and religious tourists, not those seeking an everyday Indian city experience.