INDIAN CITIES WITH MOST GREENERY

Without a doubt, Mysore is India’s greenest city. Also, one of the best-planned cities in the country, Mysore has a number of city gardens, tree-lined streets, waterfalls and lakes. Also, Mysore city is well-known for its efficient drainage and sewage systems. The city does not only go by the nickname ‘green city’, it is known as green and clean, thus also making it one of most liveable cities in India. Those green pockets must be so refreshing to be around.

It is true, everywhere you look in Bengaluru, you will see trees. The city may have one of the worst traffic in the country but if we look at the brighter side, the tree-lined avenues are there to give you company. Bengaluru’s Cubbon Park is one of the most beautiful urban parks you will see in India. The number of trees the park supports is impressive.

Mumbai, despite being one of the most populated cities in the world, got recognised earlier this year by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and Arbor Day Foundation as 2021 Tree City of the World. Mumbai shares this recognition with Hyderabad. In Mumbai there are over 200 city gardens and wastelands have been turned into palm gardens, but most importantly, Mumbai has recorded a big increase in forest cover. The efforts to protect city forest have worked wonders for Mumbai.

Jamshedpur, though it is one of the most industrialised cities in India, and also goes by the nickname ‘Steel City’, is surprisingly very green, thanks to its founder Jamsetji Tata’s vision to have a green city. It is also one of the cleanest cities in India. As per studies, 33% of the city’s total land area has green cover.

In 2021, Hyderabad was announced as ‘2020 Tree City of the World’ by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and Arbor Day Foundation. Again this year, Hyderabad and Mumbai share the title ‘2021 Tree City of the World’. Hyderabad got this prestigious title because of its efforts in conserving its city forests.

One of the most well-planned cities in India, Chandigarh is a breath of fresh air. The capital city of the states of Punjab and Haryana, Chandigarh is also a Union Territory. It is safe to say that Chandigarh is an eco-conscious city given the fact that anywhere you go in the city, you will find greenery, and not just in the form of gardens, but plenty of big trees.

With 22 trees per person, Gandhinagar is giving a stiff competition to other big cities in India in terms of their green cover. Apart from the city’s gardens and parks, the city has an aggressive approach when it comes to planting trees. The result of which is green and cool avenues we get to see when we visit Gandhinagar.

The long drive from the airport to the city will tell you why Guwahati finds itself on this list. The state has managed to maintain its natural forests along the route and also in and around the city. It’s not just planting of new trees, but the city has a lot of its original forest cover still intact. Apart from the city forest, Guwahati also has shrubs all along its city roads