Category Capital Cities

            Solomon Island is a country in The Pacific Ocean consisting of six main islands and over 900 smaller ones. Honiara, located at the mouth of the Mataniko River on the north coast of Guadalcanal, is the capital of the country.

            The town is an important port and communication centre. The economy of Honiara depends on trade chiefly in coconut, timber, fish and gold. The urbanization of the city started in the 1960s. Today, most of the government buildings and institutions and important educational centres are housed in the town. One of the main attractions of the city is its market, known as the Honiara Central Market. The market is the centre of trading activity in the islands.

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          Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand, is located in the extreme south of North Island. A beautiful city, Wellington is located on the shores and hills surrounding Wellington Harbour known as Port Nicholson. A landlocked bay, Port Nicholson is one of the finest harbours in the world.

          The city is reputed for its spellbinding natural harbour and green hillsides adorned with exquisite suburbs of colonial villas. A good portion of the city is built on land reclaimed from the bay. There are many important monuments in the city such as the Parliament buildings, the National Library, the City Gallery Wellington and the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts. Another tourist attraction, the old Government Building, which was built in 1876, is one of the World’s largest wooden structures.

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               The Federated States of Micronesia is an independent republic associated to the United States. Palikir is the capital of the country. It was an inconsequential village long ago. Colonialism slowly transformed the place to a town. Located on the north-west side of Pohnpei Island, the town is a high volcanic island surrounded by a beautiful fringing coral reef. The largest settlement of Palikir is Kolonia, situated at the northeast side of the island. One of the most favourite locations for tourists are the underwater coral reefs, which are found all around the coastal region of the island.

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Tarawa is the capital of Kiribati, a country in Micronesia in the central Pacific Ocean. In Kiribati mythology, Tarawa meant the earth. According to the legends, Nareau the spider, the creator of the universe, after creating the earth, called the sky ‘karawa’ and the ocean, ‘Marawa’. He stood on the ground and called it ‘Tarawa’.

            The city’s economy is supported by its export of Copra and mother-of-pearl. There are light manufacturing facilities in the city too. When the war between the U.S. and the Japanese took place, the city suffered significant damage. Tarawa is an atoll, meaning that it is a lagoon surrounded by a coral rim. There are many culturally significant spots in the city.

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          Suva is not only the capital of Fiji, but also the chief port and commercial centre of the country. The city is situated on Suva Point between the mouth of the Rewa River and Suva Harbour.                              The economic activities of the city include tourism and light manufacturing such as cigarette making and soap-making, copra crushing, baking and brewing. The city is home to the Fiji School of Medicine, the main campus of the University of the South Pacific, the Pacific Theological College, and the Pacific Regional Seminary. The city accommodates a teachers’ training college, an institute of technology and several hospitals. The Fiji Museum in the city has numerous important historical and ethnographical exhibits.

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          The federal capital of the Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory. Canberra is a planned city. Due to the influence of the Garden City Movement that necessitated the involvement of natural vegetation in the city design, Canberra is sometimes referred to as the ‘Bush Capital’.

         Tourism and light industry are the two major sources of the city’s income. The Mount Stromlo Observatory, the National Library of Australia, the High Court of Australia, the Australian National Gallery, the Church of St. John the Baptist, the Australian National War Memorial and Parliament House are some of the most notable features of Canberra. Batemans Bay, a popular holiday spot on the New South Wales coast, is only around two hours from the city.

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          Buenos Aires, the capital and the largest city in Argentina, was established by the Spanish in 1536.

          From its earliest days, Buenos Aires depended primarily on trade, and it developed into an important port, both under the Spanish, and later, the British. It became the seat of the Argentine government in 1880, and also an economic power hub as well.

          Today, Buenos Aires is the most visited city in South America. It is a top tourist destination that is known for its European style architecture, and vibrant atmosphere.

          Over the last 150 years, millions of immigrants from all over the world have made Buenos Aires their home.

          An interesting fact is that Buenos Aires has the widest avenue, in the world- Avenida 9 de Julio, which is an impressive 16 lanes wide!

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            Brasilia, the capital of Brazil, was founded in 1960. Till then the capital was Rio de Janeiro, but it was felt that a more central location was needed, and Brasilia was planned and developed to fulfill this need. The city is distinguished by its modern, White architecture and its shape which resembles an aero plane or a bird in flight. Beauty, simplicity and functionality are the keywords that describe the city. It is a harmonious blend of magnificent administrative centres, Public places and innovative ideas of urban living that include six storey housing blocks supported on pylons that allow the landscape to flow beneath and around them. It is this visionary planning and futuristic architecture that has made Brasilia a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

            One of the principal cities of South America, Caracas is the capital of Venezuela. Officially, the city is known as Santiago de Leon de Caracas. It is situated along the Guaire River, a short river in Venezuela.

             While there are many prosperous cities in Venezuela, governments have had difficulty in dealing with poverty and lawlessness in Caracas.

            The city lacked in running water, electricity and social services. There was a steady increase in the crime rate in Caracas and this has resulted in it being termed as the most dangerous city in Latin America. Some of the most important historic buildings and monuments of the city include the Caracas Cathedral, the National Capitol, the Municipal Council building, the Miraflores Palace, the National Pantheon and the twin towers of the Simon Bolivar Centre.

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            Montevideo is the national capital of Uruguay. It is also the largest city and chief port of Uruguay. Among the cities of Uruguay, Montevideo is the only city with a population over 10 lakhs. With beautiful beaches and one of the most important harbours in the Americas, the city has a very high quality of life.

            Montevideo is the commercial, political, and intellectual centre of Uruguay. The architecture in the city shows a strong influence of European styles. The city is an important centre for learning and the arts. The Government House, the Museum of Natural History, the Salvo Palace, the Soils Theatre and the Victoria Plaza Hotel are some of the most important monuments of Montevideo.

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          Have you heard of Suriname, a country on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America? Paramaribo is the capital of the country. The city was the location for the first Dutch settlement. Much of its distinctive Dutch colonial architecture, as well as a canal system, can be found even today.

          The primary support of the city’s economy comes from exports. The city exports bauxite, sugarcane, rice, cacao, coffee, rum and tropical woods. Paramaribo also manufactures cement, paint, margarine and beer. The city’s centre was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2002 for its fusion of European and local elements. The 17th-century Fort Zeelandia, built to protect the Dutch West India Company from European rivals, the St. Peter and Paul Cathedral and De Waag, where colonial agricultural products were once weighed and sorted before being shipped, are some of the most notable monuments of the city.

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          Lima is the capital of Peru. It is the country’s commercial and industrial centre. The city is a modern oasis, surrounded by the Peruvian coastal desert close to the western side of the Andes Mountains. The name Lima evolved from the Quechua name Rimac, meaning ‘talker’.

          Metropolitan Lima is a huge, city without a fixed form. Its shapelessness and varying concentration of population within has given it a nickname: El Pulpo, ‘the Octopus’! The city has been under the process of industrialization from the 1930s. Today, there are around 7,000 factories in the city, which manufacture and process textiles, clothing, food, chemicals, fish, and leather and oil derivatives. Lima’s historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site from 1988. The Cathedral and the Monastery of San Francisco, the Sanctuary of Las Nazarenes and its beaches are some of the major attractions of the city. Elevated levels of air pollution from automobiles and buses and by earthquakes threaten Lima’s historic monuments.

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            Paraguay’s capital, Asuncion, is the chief industrial and cultural centre of the country. The city is situated at the estuary where the Pilcomayo River joins the Paraguay River. A very important strategic point, the city served as a gateway to the South American heartland, and was thus crucial to Spain as a world power.

            The city has a rich agricultural and pastoral hinterland that produces cotton, sugarcane, corn, tobacco, fruits and cattle products. There are industrial plants that produce textiles, vegetable oils, footwear, flour, small river craft, and tobacco products within the city.

            Asuncion’s atmosphere dominates the social, cultural and economic currents of the nation. A charming city, Asuncion has beautiful flowering trees along its streets and large parks. The Metropolitan Cathedral, the National Pantheon of the Heroes, the old Senate building and Manzana de la Rivera re some of the tourist attractions of the city.

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          Quito is the capital of Ecuador, another South American country. The city is the oldest of all South American capitals. It is designated a UNESCO World Heritage for its well-preserved old town with narrow and winding cobblestone streets, spectacular churches and open squares.

          The Old City, the historic centre of Quito, represents the Spanish colonial past with its Spanish architecture. The exquisite Spanish style combined with indigenous art gives the city a magnificent appearance and it is often called the ‘Florence of America’.

          Quito is one of the industrial centres of Ecuador and relies on textiles, pharmaceuticals, light consumer goods and handcrafted objects of leather, wood, gold and silver for much of its economy. The weekly outdoor Indian fairs and small shops selling native crafts are some of the compelling sights of Quito.

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            Bogota is the national capital of the Republic of Colombia, a South American nation. It is also the largest and most populous city in the country. Various indigenous people were living in the city when Gonzalo Jimenez de Quesada, the Spanish conquistador, founded the city. Today, the city’s population is well over 7 million.

           Bogota is a city of diversity and multiplicity of cultures with great economic and cultural contrasts among the people. Due to its rich cultural diversity and the presence of the mixed flavours of its Spanish, English and indigenous heritage, the city is often called the ‘Athens of South America’. The National Library of Colombia, various museums, galleries and theatres contribute to the lure of the city.

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            Sucre is the capital of Bolivia, a South American country. The Supreme Court of Bolivia is located in the city. Sucre is also called the ‘City of Four Names’. During certain specific periods of the city’s history, it had many distinct names.

            Before the Spaniards built the city, the natives called it Charcas; when the city was in its initial period, it was known as La Plata; after independence, the city was called Chuquisaca; and the current name Sucre honours the great warrior, Antonio Jose de Sucre.

            Sucre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, primarily because of the architectural innovations of blending indigenous styles with those brought from Europe. The city is the gateway to many small villages that came into existence in the colonial era. The House of Freedom, the National Library, the Metropolitan Cathedral, Archbishop’s Palace and the Supreme Court of Justice are some of the landmarks of the city.

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          Mexico City is the capital of Mexico, and its biggest metropolis. The city is located in a valley that was inhabited by several indigenous groups from 100 to 900 A.D. It has a fascinating history. The Mexicas – who were later known as the Aztecs- believed that their god would shove them where to build a great city by providing a sign, an eagle eating a snake while perched atop a cactus. When this vision came true on an island in Lake Tex-coco, they decided to build a city there. They expanded the island artificially by dumping soil into the lagoon. Then a beautiful city and fortress called Tenochtitlan was built on this island. Later, the Spaniards erected a second Mexico City atop the ruins of Tenochtitlan. Today, Mexico City is the country’s economic and cultural hub, as well as home to the offices of the federal government, museums and historic monuments.

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          The city of Port of Spain is the Capital of Trinidad and Tobago, a twin island country in the West Indies. The city is located on the west coast of the island of Trinidad, below the northern peninsula on the Gulf of Paria. Spain had made Trinidad a colony from the mid-16th century onwards. The early Spanish settlers who established a port there, and called it ‘Puerto de Espana’, which in English means the ‘Port of Spain’. Port of Spain has an interesting urban layout with parks and squares in geometric patterns.

          The city houses the business district at its centre. This business district is situated near the Gothic-style Holy Trinity Cathedral and the Queen’s Park Savannah, the city’s largest open space and a popular site for recreation. There are many monuments of historical and architectural interest in the city such as the President’s House, Whitehall, which houses the office of the prime minister, the house of the Roman Catholic archbishop of Port of Spain, the Knowsley Building, All Saints’ Church and the Neo-Renaissance Red House, which was rebuilt in 1906 and contains the Parliament and government offices.

          Which is the most powerful country in the world? Most people would, without any hesitation, answer, ‘The United States of America’. Being the capital of the most powerful country, Washington, D.C. is therefore the most powerful city too.    

          Washington, D.C. is formally known as the District of Columbia. Columbia is a reference to Christopher Columbus, an early European explorer of the Americas. The city is named after George Washington, the first president of the United States and military leader of the American Revolution. It was referred to as the Federal City or Washington City in the nineteenth century.

          The district houses the centres of all three branches of the U.S. Federal government. It is also the commercial and economic powerhouse of the world as the headquarters for the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Organization of American States, the Inter-American Development Bank and other national and international institutions including labor unions and professional associations are located there.

          The city is also a major tourist destination. Some of the landmarks and monuments include the National Mall, the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, National World War II Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the White House and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

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          Have you heard of a country named Saint Vincent and the Grenadines? This small country lies in the Caribbean Sea. The capital city of this country, which is frequently known simply as Saint Vincent, is Kingstown. The town is also the largest port of the country.

          French settlers founded Kingstown as a modern town in the 1720s. However, Saint Vincent and its capital later came under British rule.

          The town’s economy largely depends on exports, which include bananas, arrowroot, coconuts, sweet potatoes, plantains, yams, taro and tannias. The beautiful steep hills that surround the town are a major attraction of the place. The St Vincent and the Grenadines Botanic Gardens is located on the northern side of the town, and it attracts thousands of spectators every year. Fort Charlotte is another monument in the town that attracts tourists’ interest.

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          Nicaragua is a Central American country. In the Central American isthmus, the narrow land that connects South and North American continents, Nicaragua is the largest country. Managua is the capital of Nicaragua. The city lies amid small crater lakes on the southern shore of Lake Managua. One of the warmest capitals of Central America, Managua is situated only 50 metres above sea level.

          The capital is the largest city and the commercial and cultural hub of the country. Managua’s economy is dependent on a variety of small industries such as meat processing, furniture, metal work and textiles. The city has oil refineries too. In the agricultural sector, coffee and cotton are the principal, crops. There is an increasing demand for the sugarcane, rice, sorghum, cattle and horses of the city too.

          Managua is connected to the rest of the world through the Pan-American Highway and the international airport. It has rail-roads and other highway connections too. One of the chief attractions of Managua is the rich agricultural lands that surround the city.

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          Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean Sea. Jamaica’s largest city and national capital is Kingston. The key port of the country, the city is located on the south-eastern coast of Jamaica. There is a beach-like formation known as Palisades in front of the city, which connects the town of Port Royal, a shipping centre, to the mainland of the island.

          There is a glaring inequality between classes in the city. A good part of the city is merely shantytown. There are two parts that make up Kingston. One part, the old and troubled Downtown, inhabited mostly by poor people. The other part, the business area, which is occupied by a modern and affluent population.

          A major landmark of the city is the Bob Marley Museum, dedicated to the memory of the world renowned musician, Bob Marley. Other monuments of tourist interest include the ruins of Port Royal, the Jamaica Defence Force Museum, Hellshire Beach, a popular weekend destination for the people of Kingston, and Lime Cay Beach.

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          Port-au-Prince is the capital of Haiti, also known as the West Indian Republic of Haiti. Haiti is also the chief port and commercial hub of the city.

          The city, it is said, was named by a captain by the name of de Saint-Andre. He was sailing through the area in a ship named Le Prince and called the port ‘Port of the Prince’. The city is located on the beautiful bay at the top of the Gulf of Go-nave. In 2010, there was a devastating earthquake in Port-au-Prince. This quake caused so much damage in the city and many major landmarks of the city were destroyed. The du Champ-de-Mars, the site of a number of historically notable structures in the centre of the city, was hit the hardest.

          Some of the most important monuments in the city are the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, and the Cathedral of Notre Dame. Both these buildings were nearly destroyed in the earthquake. The National Archives, National Library and National Museum are also major tourist hotspots.

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          The largest city in Central America, Guatemala City is the capital of the Republic if Guatemala. The city is also the country’s economic, social and cultural capital. Do you know that there is a parliamentary body for the Central American states called ‘the Central American Parliament’? Aso known as PARLACEN, the institution is officially located in Guatemala City. The city is home to the regional headquarters of the Organization of American States too.

          The city’s name originates from the Nahuatl language of an American Indian tribe. Although experts disagree over the source, some hold that the original name was ‘Quauhtemallan’ meaning ‘land of trees’, while some others believe that it is derived from Guhatezmalha, meaning ‘mountain of vomiting water’. There was a series of earthquakes that shook the city in 1917. The tremors and quakes that started in the mid November lasted more than six weeks. The city was destroyed completely. The earthquakes recurred in 1976, taking more than 23,000 lives and injuring around 76,000 people.

          There are several important museums and artistic, commercial, vocational and military institutions in the city. The concrete relief map of the country in Minerva Park, the archaeological and historical museums, the colonial aqueduct, the central market and the Olympic City, built for the Central American Olympic Games of 1950 are some of the monuments of tourist interest. 

            Bern is the capital of Switzerland. The antiquity of the city has been dated back to the 12th century. A major tourist destination, the city lies along a narrow loop of the Aare River. The cobblestone streets, sandstone arcaded buildings and the natural splendour of the city render it one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The city is surrounded by wooded hills and steep riverbanks. The peaks of the Alps fill the horizon of Bern.

            Bern generates most of its revenue from the manufacture of of printing products, chocolate, machinery, electrical equipment and chemical and pharmaceutical products. The city houses the headquarters of the international postal, telegraph, railway and copyright unions. Cattle breeding and cheese making are also important industries of the city. Emmental cheese is a product from Bern and is a highly sought after food item across the world. Two important monuments of the city are the famous Clock Tower, with a 16th-century clock and mechanical puppets that perform four minutes before every hour, and the Cage Tower. They are the two remaining towers of the old walls that once protected the city. The bear pit, where bears had been kept on display since 1480 is perhaps the most famous landmark of the city.

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            You must have heard the name of the city associated with a psychological condition called ‘Stockholm Syndrome’ in the recent past. In 1973, a criminal convict took four employees of a bank in Stockholm hostage and by the time they were released they had developed an affinity towards their captor. However, Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, is known more for its antiquity, splendour and beauty than for crimes committed in the city. It is said that the city was inhabited even in 8,000 BC.

            Located at the junction of Lake Malar and Salt Bay, the city is built upon numerous islands as well as the mainland of Uppland and Sodermanland. There was a rapid development for the city in the mid-17th  century as Sweden had become a great power for a short span of time. The city became the cultural centre of the country and many of its literary societies and scientific academies sprang up during this time. Stockholm relies on metal and machine manufacturing, paper and printing, foodstuffs and chemicals for its economy.

            One of the finest capitals in the world, modern Stockholm is known for its architectural brilliance reflected in its broad streets, many parks and wellplanned housing projects. The second largest port in Sweden, the city is often called the ‘Venice of the North’.

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            For centuries, Spain had been one of the mightiest colonial powers. Like Portugal and England, Spain too had colonies across the globe. Being the capital of Spain, Madrid played an important role as the political and diplomatic heart of the country. Although King Philip II had shifted the royal court to Madrid in 1661, the city was made the national capital only a generation later by King Philip Ill.

            Madrid is situated at the heart of the Iberian Peninsula. It lies on a sand and clay plateau known as the Meseta. The Madrid of the present day is a curious mix of contrasting features. The city has preserved its past very well, while it has coped up with modernity in style. The overcrowded city centre has its antiquity intact; however, the regions surrounding it have developed new palaces, convents, churches and public buildings.

            Madrid is also one of the cultural centres of Europe. Have you heard of a famous work called ‘Don Quixote’? This major work was written by Miguel de Cervantes, a famous writer from Madrid. Lope de Vega, Pedro Calderon de la Barca, Francisco Gomez de Quevedo y Villegas, Benito Perez Galdos, Mariano Jose de Larra, Pio Baroja and Azorin are other renowned artists and writers of Madrid. The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, the National Archaeological Museum and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of the San Fernando Museum are some of the places of great tourist interest.

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          Bucharest is the capital and most prosperous city of Romania. It is also one of the main industrial centres and transportation hubs of Eastern Europe. Bucharest boasts of big convention facilities, educational institutes, cultural venues, traditional “shopping arcades” and recreational areas. Located in the southeast of the country, the city has a mixture of neo-classical, interbellum, communist-era and modern architecture. During the time between the World Wars, the city’s elegant architecture and the sophistication of its elite earned the city the nickname, ‘Little Paris’. In the 1980s, Romanian President Nicolae Ceausescu tried to turn Bucharest into a model socialist-planned city. Much of the old city was ordered to be demolished and massive new state buildings, most prominently the Palace of Parliament, the world’s largest civilian administration building, were constructed in its place.

          The major landmarks of the city are the Patriarchal Cathedral or Metropolitan Church, the New St. George Church, the Radu Vod and Stavropoleos Churches and the Athenaeum, devoted to art and music.

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          The Portuguese are one of the most adventurous and industrious peoples in the world. They explored the world like no other and ruled over more than half of the world for over six centuries. Lisbon, being the capital of Portugal, played an important role in the process of the country becoming a global powerhouse. It was a key city for exploration of the south Atlantic and Indian Oceans, as well as being one of Europe’s most important ports.

          Lisbon is Portugal’s largest city and its cultural, administrative, commercial and industrial centre. The chief source of income for the city is from agriculture, forest products and fishing. The production of textiles, chemicals and steel, oil and sugar refining, and shipbuilding are the main industries of the city. The Tagus, the beautiful river that runs through Lisbon, adds charm to the city. The official entrance to Lisbon is a broad marble staircase mounting from the water to the vast arcaded Commerce Square, and in the middle of the square, stands a bronze statue of King Joseph I on horseback, an important work by the sculptor Joachim Machado de Castro.

          Although the city has many museums, two specialized museums are the Azulejo Museum and the National Museum of Coaches.

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          Norway’s capital is Oslo. It is also the largest city of the country. Although a beautiful city, Oslo is one of the most expensive cities in the world to live. The city assumes great significance as a centre of maritime knowledge in the whole of Europe.

          Oslo is a modern city when it comes to its design, style and construction. The government of Norway has promoted contemporary art in several impressive public projects. In the famous Frogner Park, the biggest and the best-known park of the city, Gustav Vigeland, a Norwegian sculptor, has made several collections of sculptures. There are many medieval structures preserved by the government. Some of them are the Akerskirke, the Akershus Fortress and the ruins of the Cathedral of St. Hallvard, the first cathedral of Oslo. Some of the city’s cultural institutions include the University of Oslo, the national theatre, the national gallery and the Oslo Opera House. There are several museums in the city too.

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          Amsterdam is an old city with a history of more than 700 years. The city is the nominal capital of the Netherland. It is called so, because the government of the Netherlands is seated elsewhere. The offices and government buildings and other administrative establishments are located in The Hague. The city, however, does not lack anything, in its captivating beauty with its centuries-old canals, the ancient patrician houses and the atmosphere of freedom and tolerance.

          Amsterdam is a centre for art and culture. It is a ‘museum city’ with around 40 museums, which attract about four million visitors annually. The Rijksmuseum is known for its collection of 17th century Dutch masterpieces. The Stedelijk Municipal Museum has a leading international Collection of modern art. The Van Gogh Museum is dedicated to the work of Vincent van Gogh, who was born in the Netherlands, and his contemporaries. Other important museums include the Anne Frank House, the Amsterdam Historical Museum, the Dutch Maritime Museum, and the Rembrandt House.

          Modern Amsterdam, however, is struggling hard to find solutions to the problems of pollution and other urban menaces.

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          Dublin has assumed great importance in the cultural milieu of Europe from medieval times onwards. The city was founded as a settlement of the Vikings, the raiding tribes of Northern Europe. It is the capital of Ireland and the primary city of the country bearing much of its cultural significance.

          Dublin is divided into two parts by the River Liffey. The two halves are connected by the O’Connell Bridge. The city is the centre of government administration and houses most of the corporate headquarters in Ireland. The service sector of the city is the biggest employment source as three out of four workers in the city are employed in 37,000 service companies. Business and financial services, information technology, and public administration are the most important sectors in Dublin. The city hosts many manufacturing companies that deal with electronics and engineering, food, drink, tobacco, and paper and printing.

          Dublin has a long and rich cultural heritage. William Butler Yeats, George Bernard Shaw and Samuel Beckett, three winners of the Nobel Prize for literature hail from the city. James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, Jonathan Swift, Brendan Behan and the creator of Dracula, Bram Stoker, are all from Dublin.

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          Iceland is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic. Its capital and largest city is Reykjavik. The city is located in the southwest of the country and the Reykjavik area coastline is characterized by peninsulas, coves, straits and islands. The city is the chief commercial and industrial hub of Iceland and the centre of the cod-fishing industry.

          Iceland is a cold country. The difficult terrain and climate of the country are considered beneficial to the country as they make the place an ideal place for thermoelectric power. The city utilizes geothermal energy too. Do you know which country has the highest consumption rate of electricity? It is Iceland. The country uses up more than twice the consumption of the second placed country.

          Reykjavik is one of the cleanest, greenest and safest cities in the world. The Ellioaa River is the largest river in the city. The Icelandic parliament building, Hall-grimskirkja, the largest church in Iceland, and the Centre for Icelandic Art are some of the most compelling destinations in the city.

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          Budapest is one of the most significant cities in the world on account of its role in shaping the fate of Europe in modern times. It is the capital of Hungary. The city sits on the bank of the River Danube, and hence Budapest is often known as the ‘Queen of the Danube’. Owing to its cultural and political significance and its strategic geographical location, the city is also sometimes called the ‘heart of Europe’. Budapest is situated on the Danube River in the magnificent natural setting where the hills of western Hungary meet the plains stretching to the east and south. The city has two parts: Buda and Pest. These regions occur on opposite sides of the river and are connected by a series of bridges.

           There are many monuments in the city that catch the attention of tourists. The neo-Gothic Parliament, the biggest building in Hungary with its 268 metres length, the Aquincum Museum, the House of Terror, another historical museum, several churches, castles and festival sites are places of great interest. The city is also known for its parks and gardens.

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          Do you know where the Western civilization was born? The same city is also known as the birthplace of democracy. Athens, the capital of Greece, has contributed much more to humanity than any other city in the world. Art and literature in the world today owe much to the Athenian civilization and its cultural legacy.

          Athens of old was a city with beautiful public buildings, shops and public baths. Some say it has been inhabited for over 7,000 years. The city is named after its patron goddess Athena. The years between 480 BC and 404 BC are known as the golden period of Athenian democracy. Athens became the leading city of the Ancient world during this period. Great writers and thinkers of the classical age such as Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Herodotus, Thucydides, Hippocrates and the philosopher Socrates lived around this time. The Athenians lived below the Acropolis, a rocky hill. The marble Parthenon, a temple, was built on the highest part of the Acropolis.

          In recent times, the attention of the world returned to Athens for the Olympic Games (2004). The city underwent a massive makeover during this time. One of the chief sources of income for the city is tourism. The city is a world centre of archaeological research. Athens is a blend of many architectural styles such as the Greco-Roman, the Neo-classical and the modern. The octagonal,12.8 metre high marble Horologium of Andronicus of Cyrrhus, usually called the Tower of the Winds because each side bears a weather-beaten figure of the wind from that particular compass point, is an important monument in the city.

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         Harare is a modern city and the capital of Zimbabwe. It was founded in 1890 by the British South Africa Company. The city was named Fort Salisbury after the British Prime Minister Lord Salisbury. However, after Zimbabwe declared independence from the British, the city was renamed Harare.

         The city has a distinctive colonial past; and therefore, in its architecture and urban layout, the city shows British influence. In the city, there are several Anglican and Roman Catholic cathedrals, a Dutch Reformed church, the Queen Victoria Memorial Library and Museum, the National Archives, the University of Zimbabwe and the Rhodes National Gallery.

         The city has a National Gallery that contains the national treasures of Zimbabwe. The gallery displays some of the most interesting Shona carvings in soft stone. Harare also hosts an international exhibition for tourists and foreigners. The city’s National Botanical Garden contains over 900 varieties of fauna from different parts of Africa. The economy of the city depends heavily on the production of tobacco, corn, cotton and citrus fruits.

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         Kampala is the capital of Uganda, a country in Africa. The city is located in the country’s most prosperous agricultural section. Kampala exports coffee, cotton, tea, tobacco, and sugar. The city also manufactures processed foods, beverages, furniture, and machine parts. The city presents itself as the market for the Lake Victoria region.

         There is an interesting story behind the name of the city. According to legend, Kampala was the hunting ground for the Kabaka of Buganda, the King of the Kingdom of Buganda. The place was home to many species of antelope, especially impala. When the British occupied the region, they called it ‘Hills of the impala’, and the single word for that was Kampala.

         An important place of tourist attraction, the Tombs of the Buganda Kings at Kasubi is a World Heritage Site occupying 30 hectares of hillside in Kampala. The city houses the Uganda Museum, several Hindu temples and mosques and the Namirembe Anglican Cathedral. The Ugandan National Theatre and the St. Balikuddembe Market too are major landmarks in the city.

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         The Republic of Tunisia is a small country in Northwest Africa. The capital city of the country is Tunis, the largest city of the country. The city is located on a Mediterranean Sea gulf, known as the Gulf of Tunis. It sits on a hillside, near the lake of Tunis. The historical centre of the city is the Medina, built on a hill slope on the way down to the Tunis Lake, and is home to many monuments, including the Dar Ben Abdallah and Dar Hussein palaces.

         The primary industry in the city is agriculture; however, it is alive only in specialized agricultural areas on the suburbs, particularly in the wine and olive oil industries. There are some important places in the city such as some notable mosques, the University of Tunis, and a national museum. The ruins of Carthage, an ancient city, are found at the northeastern part of the city. The largest park, Belvedere Park, was founded in 1892 and overlooks Lake Tunis. It is the oldest public park in the country and is built in the landscape style of France.

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         Dodoma is the capital city of the United Republic Tanzania. Dodoma means ‘It has sunk’ in the Gogo language, the language spoken throughout the region of Dodoma. The region is located at the heart of Tanzania in the eastern-central part of the country. Dodoma has three main tribes inhabiting the region. They are the Gogo, the Warangi, and the Wasandawi.

         The economy of the region is dependent on trade. The city produces beans, seeds, grain, tea, and tobacco. Raising and marketing cattle is also an important source of income for the locals. Coffee and peanut are two important crops of the region. These locally grown produces are sold at the marketplace in Dodoma. However, the city has a limited industrial base.

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          Have you heard of a country called Seychelles? The Republic of Seychelles is an archipelago country in the Indian Ocean. Victoria is the capital of the Seychelles and is the only city in the entire country. Although the French colonists built the city in 1778, the name Victoria was given to the city only when the British acquired it by virtue of the Treaty of Paris of 1814.

          Victoria has its harbour at eastern edge. The city’s Sainte Anne Marine National Park is located here. The port is the trading centre of the city. The economy of the city heavily depends on its exports, which includes spices, vanilla, coconuts, coconut oil, soap, tuna, and cinnamon bark. An International Airport, the Botanical Gardens, a university, museums, places of worship, offices belonging to tourism companies, airlines, and banks, and a cinema and shops are some of the amenities of the city. Victoria centres around two landmarks: the Clock Tower and the Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market. The former is a replica of the clock tower at Vauxhall Bridge in London and a symbol of the Seychelles that lies in the middle of the northern roundabout and the latter, the main fruit and fish market in Victoria.

          While most cities have long and rich histories, some cities are planned and executed. Abuja, the capital of Nigeria is a planned city which was built in the 1980s. It was envisaged as a beautiful city. The city is surrounded by beautiful hills, highlands, Savannah grassland and tropical rainforests. However, the planning backfired and the city was filled with slums and squatters, settlements in the midst of modern buildings and wealthy houses.  

          An important geographical peculiarity of Abuja is two renowned rock formations called the Zuma Rock and the Aso Rock. The federal capital territory begins at the base of the Zuma Rock and is known as the ‘gateway to Abuja’. The Aso Rock, on the other hand, is a 400-metre monolith formed by water erosion. This rock sits at the head of Abuja city, which extends southward from the rock.

           Another hotspot in the city is the Millennium Tower and Cultural Centre project, which is still under construction. A hundred and seventy metres tall, the tower is designed to be the tallest artificial structure in the city.

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          Rabat, the capital of Morocco, is another ancient city in the African continent. It is situated on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the river Bou Regreg. Since the city had acquired great military importance, it acquired the title Ribatu-Fath, meaning ‘stronghold of victory’, from which it derives its current name.

          The people of Rabat earn money from sectors like leather handicrafts, pottery and jewellry. Much of the city’s wealth comes also from other industrial activities such as textile, fish processing, and carpet making industries. There is a special place for women in the economy of the city as they make valuable contributions through their carpet weaving and embroidery named ‘Rabati’.

          The city still preserves its old town very well. There is a museum in Rabat that preserves ancient Moroccan art. The Kasbah of the Udayas, an ambitious project of the world’s largest mosque that was left unfinished, is an important site of tourist interest. Yaqub al-Mansur, a Almohad Caliph, had built it. The city is also known for monuments that exhibit its French colonial heritage.

          Chellah Necropolis, a medieval fortified Muslim cemetery, is another important destination. The city’s iconic Hassan Tower and the Rabat Archaeological Museum are also key places to visit.

          Port Louis is the capital and the most populous city of the island of Mauritius. The city, in fact, is the country’s economic, cultural and political heart. The city is located between a well-sheltered deep-water harbour and a semicircle of mountains. Ships could easily get access to the land through a break in the coral reef in the sea. Therefore, as a port, Port Louis has wielded great strategic significance throughout history.

          The city’s economy depends on the port, tourism and the manufacturing sector that includes textiles, chemicals, plastics and pharmaceuticals. Cathedrals, a natural history museum and an art gallery, several libraries, educational institutions, publishing and research institutes, government offices and the colonial-era Government House are exemplarily constructed and are exquisite masterpieces of architectural sublimity.

          Aapravasi Ghat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the St. Louis Cathedral, the Chinatown District, the Mauritius National History Museum and the Blue Penny Museum are some places tourists seldom fail to visit. Horseracing is a popular sport in Port Louis. Port Louis racetrack, founded in 1812, is another attraction in the city.

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          Tripoli, the capital of Libya, is an ancient city. The city was founded by the Phoenicians on a small rocky plain in the 7th century BC. Many rulers took over the city several times after its inception. The Barbary Wars between Tripoli and the U.S. government which spanned over fifteen years were legendary.

         Until recently, Libya, and Tripoli in particular, underwent fluctuating political fortunes. The city witnessed fierce civil wars during the regime of Colonel Gaddafi, who governed Libya from 1969 to 2011. Owing to the instability in the region, Tripoli has gained notoriety as the world’s third least livable city, trailing only Damascus in Syria and Lagos in Nigeria. The economy of the city depends on the export of citrus fruits, cotton and other goods.

         Tripoli in Greek literally means ‘Three cities’. It is sometimes called ‘the Mermaid of the Mediterranean’ because of its turquoise waters and its buildings painted white. The Medina, Tripoli’s old town, the Red Castle Museum and the bazaar are some places of great tourist interest.

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         Some cities are born in a short span of time. About a hundred and fifty years ago, the region where the city of Nairobi sits today was an uninhabited swamp. Only the Indian labourers working, for the Uganda railway camped in the place. The city grew out of this swamp, gradually yet steadily.

         Nairobi’s name comes from a water hole in the region called ‘Enkare Nairobi’ in Maasai language. It meant ‘a place of cool water’. The city was founded in 1899. Today, the city is the main commercial and cultural centre of East Africa and is the capital of the most developed country there, Kenya. The city presents a blend of all major Kenyan ethnic groups such as Kikuyu, Luo, Luhya, Kalenjin Kisii, and Kamba.

          The white settlers who came to Kenya during the colonial period had their farms and homes in the Ngong Hills and Limuru, situated west of Nairobi. Due to the lush green forests of the city, it is often nicknamed as the ‘Green City in the Sun’. The Nairobi National Park is an attempt by the government to preserve the natural beauty of the city.

         However, crime is a growing problem in Nairobi. Therefore, the ‘Green City in the Sun’ is often nicknamed as ‘Nairobbery’ to point out the alarming rate of crimes in the city.

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          It is not uncommon for countries to have two capitals simultaneously. Holding multiple capitals helps legislation and administration of the country. Ivory Coast, a West African country, has two capitals: Yamoussoukro and Abidjan. 

        The Ivory Coast was under French rule for hundreds of years. Abidjan was declared the capital of the country in 1933, when the country was still under the French rule and it continued to be the capital for a long time. Felix Houphouet-Boigny, the first President of Ivory Coast, however, felt that the central part of the country was still underdeveloped and moving the capital from Abidjan to Yamoussoukro would help this situation. However, even today, most of the embassies and government institutions continue to exist in Abidjan.

        Abidjan is a beautiful city, and has many nicknames such as the “Manhattan of the tropics”, “Small Manhattan” or “Pearl of the lagoons”. The city has one of the largest wood processing plants. Yamoussoukro, on the other hand, is claimed to be home of the largest Christian place of worship. The town’s economy is sustained by fishing, forestry, and perfume industries.

        The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace and the National Museum are some of the places of interest in these cities.

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         Do you know which part of the world is known as the cradle of human civilization? Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt are places where several civilizations developed independently. Some of the earliest developments in writing, agriculture, urbanization, organized religion and government took place in Egypt. Cairo is the capital of Egypt. The city is the largest city not only of Egypt, but also of the Arab world.

        Cairo has an ancient history. The city was ‘Al-Qahira’ by Al-Mu’izz li Din Allah, the fourth Fatimid Caliph in 973. The name meant ‘the victorious’. The Al-Azhar University, the third-oldest university in the world, was founded during this time. Even today, Cairo remains the cultural capital of the Arab world. The city’s premier collection of over 100,000 artefacts from nearly every period of Egyptian history is well preserved in the Egyptian Museum at Maydan Tahrir. The chief source of Cairo’s local economy is tourism. It also depends on manufacturing textiles, food and tobacco products, chemicals, plastics, metals, and automobiles.

         The Tahrir Square, Cairo Tower, the old Cairo and Khan el-Khalili are some of the landmarks that attract tourists.

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            Have you heard of Roger Milla, who, at the age of 38, scored four goals at the 1990 football World Cup? Roger Milla hails from Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon. Cameroon is a country in the African continent located near Nigeria and Yaoundé is the second largest city of Cameroon. The city is situated in the hills on the edge of a dense forest in Cameroon’s centre region. Yaoundé was founded by German traders in the late 1880s.           

            The city has the history of many invasions and occupations. Belgian troops conquered the city during World War I and made it the capital of the French Cameroon. After independence from the French, however, the city made steady progress. It served as a market for coffee, cacao and sugar for the neighbouring places.

            The Cathedrale Notre Dame des Victoires, the Basilique Marie-Reine-des-Apotres, the Cameroon Art Museum and the Cameroon National Museum are some of the places of interest in Yaoundé.

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              The city of Paris is considered the epitome of high culture and capital of eclectic taste and fashion. Cities are often compared to Paris in order to show that they are modern. Luanda, the capital and largest city of Angola in Africa, is often compared to Paris.

               Luanda is located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. It is the country’s primary seaport and government centre. A self-sustaining city, there is almost everything, such as processed foods, beverages, textiles, cement, and other building materials, plastic products, metal-ware, cigarettes, and shoes, manufactured in the city. In terms of comfort and fashion, there are no comparable cities in Africa; and that is why the city is known as ‘Paris of Africa’. However, intermittent civil wars have troubled the city and they have repeatedly damaged the petroleum refining facility, which is a chief source of income for the city.

               Founded by Paulo Dias de Novais, a Portuguese explorer, the city’s origin dates back to 1576. The official language of the city, therefore, has been Portuguese, though other indigenous languages have also been used. Beautiful beaches and a number of sites such as a Military Museum, the National Anthropological Museum, and Roque Santeiro, a huge open-air market, Funtogo market, the Slavery Museum etc. are the most popular attractions in the city.

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          Some cities have an incredible capacity to attract people to it. In the case of Bangkok, it would be hard to pinpoint a single factor that entices visitors into it, as a host of features make it a magical city. Millions of tourists flock to Bangkok every year and the city is one of the most popular holiday destinations on the  planet.

          Bangkok is the capital of Thailand, and has been the capital from 1767 onwards. Since the eighteenth century, Bangkok has been a dominant city in Thailand. It is located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, one of the most important rivers in Southeast Asia. The city under – went a transformation during the 1980s and 1990s when rapid modernization gripped Bangkok resulting in an economic and cultural expansion.

          Bangkok is Thailand’s major port; and therefore, plays a significant role of being a strategically vital place. The Chao Phraya River connects Bangkok to the rest of the world through the Gulf of Thailand.

          The city is known for its colourful street life and breathtaking cultural landmarks. Its ancient palaces and Buddhist temples make it the centre of Thailand’s culture and history. The largest gold idol of Buddha is found in Bangkok. The five-metre tall statue, weighing 5.5 tonnes, is located in the temple of Golden Buddha, Wet traimit.

          Bangkok keeps attracting more and more people every year with its charm and magic.

               Choosing a city to be the capital of a Country needs serious thought and extreme care. Some nations have switched their capital cities over the years for various political and strategic reasons. Islamabad was not Pakistan’s first choice for the capital. When Pakistan got independence from the British in 1947, Karachi was the first choice for the capital. However, in 1960, General Ayub Khan, the then president of Pakistan, built Islamabad as the new capital.

               Islamabad and Rawalpindi are twin cities in Pakistan. Islamabad is located near the Margalla Hills. Some of the special features of the city are its parks and terraces. The Shah Faisal Mosque, a magnificent edifice and great artistic accomplishment, is situated at the foot of the Margalla Hills. The mosque resembles an eight-faceted desert tent supported by four giant concrete girders and is surrounded by four towering minarets. The Pakistan Monument is another landmark of the city. Pakistan House, the home of the President, the National Assembly building, the National University, and the botanical garden are some of the other points of interest in the city. The famed ancient university of Taxila was situated near the city.

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            Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is the legislative capital of one of our neighbours, Sri Lanka. It was inaugurated as the new administrative capital in 1982.

            Sri Lanka got independence in 1948. As years passed, government offices had outgrown the country’s capital of Colombo, and the government decided to relocate offices outside the city. In 1982, the new parliament building was inaugurated in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. The following year other government offices began moving to the city.

            Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte is now a planned city with government offices, universities and residential buildings.

            Colombo is the commercial capital, and is the largest city in Sri Lanka. Colombo has been a strategically significant city for thousands of years. The city has a large, deep natural harbour along the East-West trade routes. This geographical feature of the city enabled it to grow as a seaport for business and trade between Asia and the rest of the world.

            Colombo is a vibrant and busy city today. The 160-acre Lake Beira at the centre of the city and the two World Trade Centre towers are two familiar landmarks on the city skyline.

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            Cities are built not merely of brick and mortar; they are monuments of Man’s struggle against time and degeneration. Some of the oldest cities in the world have witnessed Man’s journey through civilizations. Kathmandu, a 2000 years old city, is one such sublime place.

            Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal. It is located in the great Himalayan mountain range. A specialty of the city is its hidden temples. One of the most famous Hindu temples in the world is located in the city: the Pashupathinath Temple. The deity of the temple is Lord Pashupathi. Pashupathinath, in fact, is another name of Lord Shiva. After the devastating earthquake in 2015, the only structure that was left without much damage was the Pashupathinath temple.

            The temple stood tall and erect, with barely any cracks in its wall, when all nearby structures and monuments were turning into rubble and dust.

            The city abounds in large expanses of marigold gardens, golden pagodas and tiny workshops. Kathmandu exports red chillies and a walk through the outskirts of the city would present us with the spectacle of long stretches of drying red chillies in courtyards. The city hosts the headquarters of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, or SAARC.

            More than half of Nepal’s population is found in Kathmandu. The cultural scenario of the city is so diverse, that the city is sometimes referred to as a living museum of the world’s cultures.

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              Beijing is the capital of the People’s Republic of China. The city is one of the most splendid cities in the world. It is the hub of culture, politics and education in China. Beijing has a magnificent history to tell, as the city has over three thousand years of glorious antiquity.

             Beijing is one of the most populous cities in the world. Located at the northern tip of the North China Plain, the city is bordered by mountains to the north, northwest and west. There is desert beyond this region and the mountain ranges protect the city and the agricultural regions of Northern China from encroaching by the desert.

            Beijing boasts of a rich cultural heritage. There are seven UNESCO Heritage Sites in the city; and therefore, the city is a popular tourist spot. The Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, the Ming Tombs, Zhoukoudian cave system, the Great Wall and the Grand Canal constitute the heritage sites. The city also has vast palaces, magnificent tombs, fabulous temples, exquisite parks and world-renowned art treasures, which have made it the pride of the world!

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            The cities in the eastern parts of the world are known for their vibrancy and colour. The capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka, is a city full of life and vigour. The city has a glorious past and many rich cultural traditions.

            Dhaka is known as the city of mosques and muslin. There are countless ancient mosques in the city. Muslin, a delicate cotton fabric of plain weave, is said to have originated in Dhaka. The material is manufactured in the city and is in great demand across the globe.

            Geographically, Dhaka is located at the centre of Bangladesh. The city is situated in one of the world’s leading rice and jute growing regions. Dhaka has a distinguished history of being the Mughal capital of Bengal. It remained the capital city for 75 years. The British East India Company took control over the city later. Dhaka became the administrative capital of East Pakistan, when British India was partitioned into India and Pakistan in 1947. When Bangladesh was formed, the city was the obvious choice for the nation’s capital. As the capital city, Dhaka grew into a metropolis of about 8.5 million people. Dhaka remains the heart of Bangladesh’s industrial, commercial, cultural, educational and political activities today.

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              Men have always quarrelled over exquisite things and places from time immemorial. They have waged wars, slaughtered people, and destroyed monuments just to conquer them. Therefore, some of the most beautiful places have remained the most contested and strife-stricken places.

            The beautiful city of Kabul is the capital of Afghanistan. A city’s location is an important reason for the contest over its possession. Kabul lies in a triangular valley between high mountain ranges. It sits strategically along the trade routes of the ancient world. Therefore, many empires and mighty rulers have fought over this city for centuries. Hence, the city has been the location of many battles and rebellions, civil wars and uprisings. Today, governments are trying their best to bring stability and prosperity back to Kabul.

            One of the oldest cities in the world, Kabul is over 3500 years old. It is one of the fastest growing cities in the world too. The city presents a curious blending of the ancient and the modern. There are innumerable historically significant monuments in the city. The tombs of its bygone rulers are a major tourist attraction. The city is known for its gardens, the most famous of which is, Babur’s Garden.

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              The people of Japan have always captured the attention of the world for their industrious nature and never-say-die attitude. Wars and natural calamities have devastated the country many times; yet it always bounced back strongly in no time! The city of Tokyo is the capital of Japan.

              Tokyo is the largest city in Japan, and is one of the most thickly populated metropolitan areas in the world. Literally, the name Tokyo means ‘eastern capital’. It is a city that hosts the latest trends and some of the oldest traditions in the world simultaneously. While the city is highly modern with its soaring skyscrapers, cosmopolitan industries, outsized shopping arcades and extravagant bars and lounges, it keeps and nurtures time-honoured traditions in the form of its shrines, guesthouses and many museums.

              The city is also home to a fast-growing business and finance sector. Some of the world’s most advanced investment banks and insurance companies are found in Tokyo. Fifty-one of the Fortune Global 500 companies are housed in the city. No other city in the world has that many companies in them!