Chandigarh: This city is one of the greenest and cleanest cities of India. Located near the foothills of the Shivalik range of the Himalayas, Chandigarh is the first planned city of the country, with the world renowned architecture. The entire city is covered by dense Banyan and Eucalyptus plantations along with Asoka, Cassia, Mulberry and other trees. The city is surrounded by forests that sustain several animal and plant species. Deers, Sambars, Barking Deers, Parrots, Woodpeckers and Peacocks are the inhabitants of these forests. Although the city observes extreme weather conditions, the availability of good underwater and conducive temperature help in sustaining its greenery. Hence, both its weather and eco-friendly environment makes it one of the best cities to live in India.
Nagpur: Famously known as the Orange city, it is considered to be the second greenest city of India. Nagpur falls under Vidarbha region of Maharashtra and is known for its rich biodiversity, forest resources, greenery, mineral wealth and ethnicity. The lush green city is covered with hills and lazy winding rivers, housing several wildlife sanctuaries, forts, temples and geological sites. The forests around the city offer best quality teak plantations. The city experiences extreme summer condition but receives sufficient amount of rainfall making the weather pleasant from October onwards till February.
Thiruvananthapuram: Formerly known as Trivandrum, it is the capital of southern state of Kerala, famously called “God’s own country“. Trivandrum is a clean city built on seven hills by the sea shore and is named after the sacred snake, Anantha. The city is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities of Kerala with scenic beauty, hills, temples, museums, beaches and natural beauty. The city attracts thousands of domestic as well as international tourists every year, who are looking forward to spend some leisure time in nature's lap, especially backwaters and houseboat. The city does not receive as heavy rainfall as its adjacent cities but manages to get ample amount of rainfall to sustain its green look.
Pune: Located at foothills of Sahyadri Mountains, the hilly city of Pune is surrounded by mountains and lush green forests, which makes it one of the greenest cities in the country. The popular attractions of Pune include its exotic gardens, beaches, lakes, libraries and museums to name a few. The best attraction of the city is its climate, which remains pleasant throughout the year. The city observes pleasant weather for most of the year, though it gets hotter during the months of April and May.
Delhi: The Capital of India is ranked third in terms of percentage of geographical area under tree cover after Lakshadweep and Chandigarh. Also called as walled city, it is known for its lush greenery scattered around the city, broad roads, gardens and historical monuments. Delhi experiences extreme summer and winter conditions. Despite the fact that the city is most populated and polluted, it continues to enjoy its greenery status. However, the threat of losing this status looms large over the capital. Absence of large water bodies and continuous development of concrete infrastructure is making temperatures rise, resulting in depletion of its green cover. It will be an alarming situation soon, if we continue on the similar lines.
Gandhinagar: The capital of Gujarat is another planned city of the country located on the bank of Sabarmati River and is clearly one of the greenest cities in India. State government has robust plans and provisions for parks, extensive planting and a recreational area along the river that gives the city a green garden atmosphere. As per a report, the city has 22 trees per person and 425 trees per hectare. It has also garnered the title of being the greenest capital in the world. The city experiences two summer seasons and pleasant mild winters.
Bangalore: The city famously known as 'Silicon Valley of India' is also called “the Garden City”. The fastest growing city experiences pleasant weather conditions throughout the year accounting to its geographical features. Located at the heart of Mysore plateau, the city is blessed with scenic gardens, beautiful parks and natural lakes.