Wah, Pakistan

Wah Cantonment boasts a purported 99.99% literacy rate, but life in this sprawling city of 400,733 is hardly idyllic. The tax burden is heavy, with the city home to Pakistan's oldest cement plant dating back to 1921. And while the historic Grand Trunk Road connecting Central Asia to South Asia runs through Wah, the local bureaucracy is a persistent headache. Still, the city's Mughal-era gardens and proximity to the Gandhara civilization's archaeological wonders may appeal to those seeking a taste of South Asian history.