Aditi Sinha
September 29, 2023 11:00
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Union Territories of India: At present, India has 8 Union Territories. One of these was the state of Jammu & Kashmir, but it lost its statehood and became a separate Union Territory. Read more about Union Territories of India, List & Map in the article given below.
Currently, there are 8 Union Territories of India. A union territory in India is a special area managed by the central government of India instead of having its own local government, like the regular states do. Currently, there are eight union territories in India: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry.
Till 2023, India currently has 8 union territories. One of the changes happened in Jammu & Kashmir, which lost its statehood and became a separate union territory. Ladakh was also created as its own union territory, separate from Jammu & Kashmir. This change took place on October 31, 2019.
Additionally, on January 26, 2020, the union territories of “Daman & Diu” and “Dadra and Nagar Haveli” were merged into a single union territory called Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu. So, India currently has 8 union territories and not 9.
There are 8 Union territories of India which are as follows:
Check the list of Union Territories of India 2023 List With Capital in the table given below:
| Union Territories of India List with Capital | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Serial Number | Union Territories | Year of Foundation | Capital City |
| 1 | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | November 1956 | Port Blair |
| 2 | Chandigarh | November 1966 | Chandigarh |
| 3 | Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | January 2020 | Daman |
| 4 | Delhi | 1956 | New Delhi |
| 5 | Lakshadweep | November 1956 | Kavaratti |
| 6 | Puducherry | November 1954 | Pondicherry |
| 7 | Jammu and Kashmir | October 2019 | Srinagar (Summer) and Jammu (Winter) |
| 8 | Ladakh | October 2019 | Leh |
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands cover an area of 8,249 square kilometers. There are 38 islands in this union territory where people live. Port Blair is the capital city of these islands. They are located in the Andaman Sea, separated from Thailand and Myanmar. In the Andaman Islands, there is a tribe known as the Sentinelese people who have had very little contact with the outside world.
Chandigarh is a special region in India, and it’s also the shared capital of Haryana and Punjab states. People in Chandigarh use English as their official language, but most of them speak Hindi, followed by Punjabi.
Chandigarh is famous for several reasons. It’s often called the “Pensioner’s Paradise” because it’s a great place for retired people. The city is also known for its excellent schools and top-notch colleges. When it comes to design and architecture, Chandigarh is renowned for its thoughtful planning.
One of the unique things about Chandigarh is its green spaces and parks that attract tourists. After India gained independence, Chandigarh was one of the first cities to be carefully planned. The famous architect Le Corbusier designed it. In fact, Chandigarh’s Capitol Complex is so special that UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 2016.
Two Indian regions, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu, were joined to form a single area on January 26, 2020. These areas used to be controlled by Portugal in the past. In this combined region, people speak Gujarati, Marathi, Portuguese, Hindi, Varli, and Konkani.
Some cool places to visit in this region are Naida Caves, Diu Fort, Vanganga Lake Garden, BAPS Swaminarayan Temple, Tapovan Tourist Complex, Nakshatra Garden, Vasona Lion Safari, Satmalia Deer Sanctuary, and the Tribal Museum in Silvassa.
Delhi is a unique place in India. It’s not just a city but also a union territory. The capital of India is a part of Delhi, known as New Delhi.
One of the important things about Delhi is its location. It sits by the Yamuna river, which, unfortunately, is very polluted. Efforts to clean it up haven’t been enough.
Delhi is surrounded by two Indian states, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. It’s a special place with UNESCO world heritage sites.
In the past, Delhi was the capital for many powerful groups like the Mughal empire, Delhi Sultanates, and British India. It’s also a place where a lot of rich people live – it has the second-highest number of billionaires in India.
Delhi has a history of hosting big sports events like the Cricket World Cup, Hockey World Cup, Commonwealth Games, and Asian Games.
The Lakshadweep islands are found in the Arabian Sea. There are a total of 36 islands in this group. The name “Lakshadweep” comes from the Malayalam and Sanskrit languages, meaning ‘a hundred thousand islands.’ People also call it “Laccadives.”
These islands are not too far from Kochi, ranging from 220 to 440 kilometers away.
Puducherry was called Pondicherry. It’s a union territory in India that includes former French regions like Yanam, Karaikal, and Mahe, which are spread across South India.
Puducherry is a bit unique because it’s made up of four small parts that aren’t connected by land. Mahe is surrounded by Kerala, Yanam is enclosed by Andhra Pradesh, and Puducherry and Karaikal are within Tamil Nadu.
This place is quite crowded, ranking as the third most densely populated union territory in India. The primary language spoken here is Tamil, but you’ll also hear Telugu, Malayalam, and Urdu.
If you’re into sightseeing, Puducherry has a lot to offer – churches, parks, beaches, temples, and more. Plus, it was once the home of Sri Aurobindo, a famous Indian nationalist, poet, philosopher, and yoga guru.
On October 31, 2019, Jammu & Kashmir underwent a significant change. It transformed from being a state into a union territory, and Ladakh was separated to become its own union territory.
Jammu & Kashmir has two capital cities – Jammu is where they work during the winter, and in the summer, it’s Srinagar.
In this union territory, about 67.16% of the people can read and write. The main languages spoken here are Hindi, English, Dogri, and Kashmiri.
Agriculture is a big deal in Jammu & Kashmir, driving its economy. They grow and export a variety of fruits like apples, pears, cherries, plums, saffron, and walnuts. Plus, Kishtwar in Jammu & Kashmir is famous for its sapphires and saffron, earning it the nickname ‘land of sapphire and saffron.’
Leh is the main city and capital of Ladakh, while Kargil is the second-largest town. Ladakh is known for its stunning river valleys, including the Indus, Nubra, and Shyok. In 2019, India made Ladakh a separate union territory through the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act.
In terms of religion, Muslims make up 46% of Ladakh’s population, followed by Buddhists at 40%, and Hindus at 12%. Ladakh shares borders with the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh to the south, and the Tibet Autonomous Region to the east.
The 8 Union Territories of India are mentioned on the Map given below:
Source: MapsofIndia.com
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