India's 20 most sought-after cities

Indian cities are getting more crowded as people continue to migrate in search of better prospects.

Even as cities lack infrastructural facilities for a rising population, there are 53 cities in India with a population of over 1 million as of 2011.

Here's a list of 20 cities bursting with people...

1. New Delhi

Population: 22 million, according to the new Census data.

The national capital territory of Delhi (NCT) is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, after Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population.

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2. Mumbai

Population: 21 million, according to the new Census data.

It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world. The financial hub of India, Mumbai attracts people from all over India.

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3. Kolkata

Population: 14.2 million

Kolkata is the third-most populous metropolitan area in India and the 13th-most populous urban area in the world. Kolkata is also classified as the eighth-largest urban agglomeration in the world.

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4. Chennai

Population: 13.68 million

Chennai has the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India.

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5. Bangalore

Population: 8.7 million

Bangalore is India's third most populous city and fifth-most populous urban agglomeration. Bangalore is well known as a hub for India's information technology sector.

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6. Hyderabad

Population: 7.7 million

Hyderabad is one of the largest metropolitan cities in the country. It is the fourth most populous city and the sixth-most populous urban agglomeration in India.

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7. Ahmedabad

Population: 6.4 million

Ahmedabad is the financial capital of Gujarat. It is the fifth largest city and seventh largest metropolitan area in India. In 2010, Forbes magazine rated Ahmedabad as the fastest-growing city in India.

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8. Patna

Population: 5.7 million

Patna, capital of Bihar is also one of the most populated cities in India.

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9. Pune

Population: 5.5 million

The eighth largest metropolis in India, Pune is also the second largest city in Maharashtra.

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10. Surat

Population: 4.5 million

Surat is India's one of India's top 10 populous urban agglomerations. It is also administrative capital of Surat district and one of the fastest growing cities in India.

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11. Lucknow

Population: 4.8 million

Lucknow has always been a multicultural city, and flourished as a cultural and artistic capital of North India in the 18th and 19th centuries.

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12. Nagpur

Population: 4.6 million

Nagpur, the largest city in central India, is the third largest city in Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune. Nagpur is the 9th largest urban conglomeration in India.

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13. Ghaziabad

Population: 3.3 million

Ghaziabad is a planned industrial city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is a large industrial city well-connected by roads and railways.

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14. Jaipur

Population: 3.11 million

The capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur is one of the finest planned cities of India.

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15. Kanpur

Population: 2.9 million

Kanpur is the tenth largest city of India in area. It is one of the oldest industrial townships in North India.

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16. Coimbatore

Population: 2.15 million

Coimbatore is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the 'Manchester of South India'.

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17. Kochi

Population: 2.11 million

Kochi is a major port city on the west coast of India by the Arabian Sea. Kochi is the second largest city in India.

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18. Indore

Population: 2 million

The largest city in Madhya Pradesh, Indore is also known as 'Mini Mumbai' due to its diverse population.

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19. Kozhikode

Population: 2 million

Kozhikode has second largest urban agglomeration in Kerala.

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20. Bhopal

Population: 1.8 million

Bhopal also known as the City of Lakes is one of the greenest cities in India. Bhopal is an important economic, industrial, educational and political centre.