Bangalore is a vibrant cosmopolitan city, a major industrial and commercial center of the country. Kempe Gowda founded the city in the early 16th century. Two centuries later, it became an important fortress city under Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. The ruins of those periods can still be seen on the Bellary Road , at Lal Bagh, Ulsoor and Gavi Gangadhareswar Temple .

Chennai, the largest city in southern India located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Benga . Chennai was the site of the first settlement of the East India Company. It was founded in 1639, on a piece of land given by the Raja of Chandragiri, the last representative of the Vijayanagar rulers of Hampi.

Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra , is the fastest moving, most affluent and industrialized city in India . Mumbai is part of India 's beautiful west coast that runs down from Gujarat , through Mumbai to Goa , Karnataka and Kerala. The city has a natural harbour, which was developed by the British. It is one of the busiest ports of India , handling approximately 40 percent of India 's maritime trade.

Delhi , capital city of the Federal Republic of India. It is one of India 's fastest growing cities. To go right back into an era where mythology and history are too closely intertwined, it is believed that Delhi , then known as Indraprashtha, was the scene of action of India 's great epic, the Mahabharata. Periodic archeological excavations bring in more and more evidence to support this contention. It has sprawled over the West Bank of the river Yamuna, straddling the river.

Cochin , the commercial hub of Kerala, is a town of great historical importance. It has a fine natural harbour around which the city has grown. The Fort Cochin area, where the Portuguese settled in the 16th century, has been declared as Heritage Zone.

Set on a cluster of islands and narrow peninsulas, the port city of Cochin ( Kochi ) reflects the eclecticism of Kerala perfectly. With a rich past and a bustling present, it has been the business hub of the region from the very early days.

A charming blend of the ancient and the modern, Hyderabad , also known as the Istanbul of India, is a vital center of Islamic culture, and central India 's answer to the Mughal grandeur of the northern cities of Delhi , Agra and Fatehpur Sikri . Consisting of the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, it is the capital of the state of Andhra Pradesh . It boasts of some fine examples of Qutab Shahi architecture - the Jama Masjid, the Mecca Masjid, Toli Masjid, and of course, the impressive symbol of Hyderabad , the Charminar