List of renamed places in India

Encyclopedia

In India, many traditional place names were changed during British rule, as well as during the earlier Muslim conquests. Since the British granted independence to India in 1947, names of many cities, streets, places, and buildings throughout India have been changed, often to better approximate their original endonymic pronunciation. Certain traditional names that have not been changed, however, continue to be popular.

States or provinces

  • East Punjab to Punjab (change effective from 26 January 1950; state later trifurcated into modern-day Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab under the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966; Chandigarh became a Union territory and the shared capital city of Punjab and Haryana)
  • United Provinces to Uttar Pradesh (change effective from 24 January 1950)
  • Andhra State, the Telugu-speaking part of Madras Presidency, attained statehood on 1 October 1953. Three years later, Hyderabad State was combined with Andhra State and it was renamed Andhra Pradesh on 1 November 1956.
  • Travancore–Cochin to Kerala (change effective from 1 November 1956)
  • Madhya Bharat to Madhya Pradesh (change effective from 1 November 1959)
  • Madras State to Tamil Nadu (change effective from 14 January 1969)
  • Mysore State to Karnataka (change effective from 1 November 1973)
  • Uttaranchal to Uttarakhand (change effective from 1 January 2007)
  • Orissa to Odisha (official as of November 2011)

Union territories

  • Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi Islands to Lakshadweep (change effective from 1 November 1973)
  • Pondicherry to Puducherry (change effective from 1 October 2006)

Cities and towns

Andhra Pradesh

Former names of cities and towns in Andhra Pradesh at various times (Pre-Mauryan, Maurayan, Satavahana, Andhra Ikshvaku, Vishnukundina, Eastern Chalukya, Kakateeya, Musunuri, Pemmasani etc. rule) during the course of history. Andhra was mentioned as An-to-lo by Yuan Chang.

  • Achanta or Marthandapuram
  • Amarapura (during Vishnukundina Dynasty and Dhanyakatakam during Satavahana dynasty) to Amaravati
  • Avanigadda or Avanijapuram
  • Bezawada (anciently Vijayavatika during Mahabharata Times and Rajendrachola pura during Telugu Chola Dynasty) to Vijayawada
  • Bhavapuri to Bhaava-pattana to Bhavapatta or Bhavapattu to Bapatla, known for Bhavanarayanaswami Temple (Guntur district)
  • Birudankaravolu or Birudankitavolu or Birudankinavolu or Birudankitapuram or Birudankinapuram to Bighole or Biccavole to Biccavolu (East Godavari district)
  • Dasanapura or Darsi
  • Devapura or Devada (Vizianagaram district)
  • Dhamnakada to Dhamnakata to Dhamnakataka to Dhyanakara or Dhaanyakapura or Dhaanyakataka (Mauryan and Satavahana times) or Dhaanyakatakamu to Dhanakataka to Dharanikota (Guntur district)
  • Dhandapura or Dhandaprolu or Tsandavolu to Chandavolu to Chandolu (Guntur district)
  • Dhakshatapovana or Dhakshavatika or Dhaksharamamu to Draksharamam (East Godavari district)
  • Dugdhapavanapuramu or Upamanyupuramu or Kshirapuramu or Kshiraramamu or Palakota (Palathota) or Palakolanu to Palakollu (West Godavari district)
  • Durvasapuram to Duvva (West Godavari district)
  • Ekasilanagaramu or Vontimitta to Ontimitta, known for (Potana wrote Andhra Mahabhagavatam at Ontimitta Ramalayam) (Kadapa district)
  • Gajaranyam (in Kritayuga) to Madhavipuri (in Tretayuga) to Swargasopanam (in Dwaparayuga) to Marikapuri (in Kaliyuga) to Markapuram
  • Gadapa to Kadapa to Kurpah to Cuddapah (by British) to Kadapa
  • Garthapuri or Guntur (Guntur district)
  • Gonkavaram to Gokavaram, East Godavari district
  • Govatika to Govada
  • Gurajala to Gurazala (Guntur district) or Jangamaheswarapuram
  • Helapuri (Eastern Chalukya times) or Eluru to Ellore by British to Eluru (change effective 1949)
  • Juvikallu to Julakallu to Zulakallu (Guntur district)
  • Madhavipattana or Gurindalastha to Gurijala or Gurajala to Gurazala (during British era)
  • Kakinandiwada to Cocanada (by British) to Kakinada
  • Kalidindi to Madhurantakacholanalluru (Telugu Choda times) to Kalidindi (Krishna District)
  • Kanakagiri to Kanigiri (now in Prakasam District, previously in Nellore District)
  • Kandanavrolu to Kandenavolu to Kurnool
  • Kandarapura or Kanteru (Guntur District)
  • Kantakasela or Kantikossula or Ghantasala
  • Karmmarashtra (during Pallava period) for Ongole town and surroundings watered by Gundlakamma river.
  • Kavali or Kanakapatnam
  • Kharapuri to Karyampudi (venue of the battle of Palnadu) to Karampudi or Karempudi or Caurampoody (by Europeans) to Karampudi
  • Kharamandalamu or Karimanal or Cholamandalam or Choramandalam to Choramandala (by the Portuguese) to Choromandel (by the Dutch) to Coromandal (by the British) 
  • Kondapalli to Mustafanagar (during Qutub Shahi and early Asaf Jahi times) to Kondapalli
  • Kondaveedu or Gopinathapuram to Murtazanagar (during Qutub Shahi and early Asaf Jahi times) to Kondaveedu
  • Krövachuru to Krosuru (Guntur district)
  • Kundinapuram (near Kondaveedu) to Ameenabad (Guntur district)
  • Mahadevicherla (cheruvu) or Mahadevitataka to Madevicherla to Macherla (Guntur district)
  • Mahendragiri or Pistapura or Pittapore to Pithapuram (East Godavari district)
  • Matsyapuri (Mauryan and Satavahana times) or Masolia (as known by Greek and Roman historians) or Chepalarevu (locally) or Machilipatnam or Masulipatam (by British, Dutch) or Bandar (by Qutub Shahis and Asaf Jahis) to Bandaru or Machilipatnam
  • Nelliooru or Nellipuram or Dhaanyapuram or Vikrama Simhapuri to Nelluru to Nellore by British
  • Neminadhunuru to Nedunuru (Amalapuram Taluk West Godavri District)
  • Niravadyapuramu or Niravadyaprolu (during Eastern Chalukya times) to Nidadavole to Nidadavolu
  • Nrusimhapuri to Narasimhapuramu to Narasapur to Narasapuramu West Godavari District
  • Ongole district to Prakasam district
  • Pallavanadu or Palanadu or Pallenadu to Palnadu (Guntur district)
  • Pattiseema or Pattisam
  • Pedavegi or Vengipuram
  • Peddapalli to Petapoly by the Dutch settlers to Pettipolee or Pettipoly by British or Nizampatnam (during Asaf Jahi era) (Guntur district)
  • Puruhutikanagaram, Puruhutikapuram, Puruhutikapatnam, Peethikapuramu or Pistapura to Pithapuram (East Godavari district)
  • Penuganchiprolu or Penukanchiprolu or Pennegentspoel (by Europeans) (Krishna district)
  • Prathipalapura (Pre-Mauryan era) to Bhattiprolu (Krishna district)
  • Prolavaram to Polavaram, Krishna district
  • Prudhvipuram or Prudhilapuram or Podili
  • Rajamahendravaramu or Rajamahendri to Rajahmundry to Rajamahendravaramu
  • Rajavolu to Razole (by the British) or Rajolu
  • Rayapudi or Rayaprolu
  • Repalle or Revupalle
  • Samarlakota to Samalkota (East Godavari district)
  • Skandapuri or Kandukuru (Prakasam district)
  • Srikakulamu to Chicacole or Sikkolu to Srikakulam
  • Sriparvata (Maurayan and Satavahana times) or Vijayapuri to Nagarujunikonda or Nagarjunakonda (Guntur District)
  • Tarakapuri or Tanuku (West Godavari district)
  • Teravali or Tenali
  • Kandarapura or Skandapura or Tambrapasthana or Tambrapa or Tambrapura or Tamrapuram or Chembrolu (capital of Ganapathideva Gaja Sahiniraya) to Chebrolu (Guntur District)
  • Vakadu or Vandanapuri
  • Vangalaprolu or Vangavolu to Vangolu to Ongolu to Ongole by British (Prakasam District)
  • Vardhamanapuramu to Vardhamanu to Vaddamanu (Guntur district)
  • Veligandla or Maarganaarayanapuramu to Veligandla (now in Prakasam District, previously in Nellore District)
  • Vengi or Pedavegi (West Godavari district)
  • Vengipuram or Vengiparru or Vangaparru
  • Vidarbhapuri or Gudiwada (Krishna district)
  • Vijayavatika (Mahabharata times) to Rajendracholapuram (Telugu Choda times) to Bejjamwada to Bezawada by British to Vijayawada
  • Vishnukundinapuramu (Vishnukundina times) to Vinukonda (Guntur district)
  • Waltair to Vizagapatam to Visakhapatnam

Assam

  • Nowgong to Nagaon
  • Gauhati to Guwahati (change effective 1983)
  • Sibsagar to Sivasagar

Chhattisgarh

  • New Raipur to Atal Nagar (2018)

Gujarat

  • Viravati to Chandravati, Chandravati to Vadpatra, Vadpatra to Baroda, Baroda to Vadodara (change effective 1974)
  • Broach to Bharuch
  • Cambay to Khambhat
  • Bulsar to Valsad
  • Suryapur to Surat
  • Bhavena (Gohilwad) to Bhavnagar
  • Riyazpur to Rajkot
  • Hajipura to Bhuj
  • Anandi Nagar to Gandhinagar
  • Kutchhpura to Kutch
  • Ahmednagar to Anand
  • Begum Nadia Nagar to Nadiad

Haryana

  • Gurgaon to Gurugram
  • Mustafabad to Saraswati Nagar
  • Amin to Abhimanyupur

Himachal Pradesh

  • Simla to Shimla
  • Mandav Nagar to Mandi

Goa

  • Panjim to Panaji
  • Sanquelim to Sankhali
  • Curchorem to Kudchade

Karnataka

  • Bangalore to Bengaluru, originally called Bendakalooru
  • Dharwar to Dharwad, originally called dwarawata
  • Mangalore to Mangaluru, originally called Mangalapuram
  • Mysore to Mysuru, originally called Mahishasooru
  • Hubli to Hubballi, originally called Hoobhalli
  • Tumkur to Tumakuru
  • Shimoga to Shivamogga, originally called Shivana Mogga
  • Belgaum to Belagavi, originally called Belgao
  • Bellary to Ballari
  • Gulbarga to Kalaburgi
  • Marcera to Madikeri, originally called Madanayakana Keri
  • Bijapur to Vijayapura, originally called Bijjinahalli
  • Hospet to Hosapete
  • Chikmagalur to Chikkamagaluru

Kerala

  • Trivandrum to Thiruvananthapuram (change effective from 1991)
  • Cochin to Kochi (change effective from 1996)
  • Calicut to Kozhikode
  • Quilon to Kollam
  • Trichur to Thrissur
  • Cannanore to Kannur
  • Palghat to Palakkad
  • Alleppey to Alappuzha
  • Changanacherry to Changanassery
  • Alwaye to Aluva
  • Parur to Paravur
  • Cranganore to Kodungallur
  • Badagara to Vatakara
  • Tellicherry to Thalassery
  • Devi Colam to Devi Kulam
  • Chirayinkil to Chirayinkeezhu
  • Mannarghat to Mannarkad
  • Mannantoddy to Mananthavady
  • Quilandy to Koyilandy
  • Palai to Pala
  • Sultan’s Battery to Sultan Bathery
  • Verapoly to Varapuzha
  • Cherpalchery to Cherpulassery
  • Koney to Konni
  • Sherthalai to Cherthala
  • Nethirimangalam to Pattambi

Madhya Pradesh

  • Ahilyanagari/Indur to Indore
  • Avantika to Ujjain
  • Bhelsa to Vidisha
  • Rassen to Raisen
  • Saugor to Sagar
  • Jubbulpore to Jabalpur
  • Bhopal Bairagarh to Sant Hirda Ram Nagar, Bhopal
  • Bellasgate to Bheraghat
  • Ujjaini to Ujjain
  • Mandu to Mandavgarh
  • Hoshangabad to Narmadapuram
  • Viratnagari to Shahdol
  • Mhow to Dr. Ambedkar Nagar

Maharashtra

  • Bombay to Mumbai (change effective from November 1995)
  • New Bombay to Navi Mumbai
  • Nasik to Nashik
  • Nagpore to Nagpur
  • Khadki to Aurangabad
  • Chanda to Chandrapur
  • Ellichpur to Achalpur
  • Oomrawutty to Amravati
  • Daulatabad to Devagiri
  • Ambarapur to Ausa
  • Poona to Pune
  • Thana to Thane
  • Bhir to Beed
  • Ratnapur to Latur
  • Mominabad to Ambajogai
  • Ambanagari to Amravati
  • Edlabad to Muktainagar
  • Campoolie to Khopoli

Mizoram

  • Saiha to Siaha

Odisha

  • Balasore to Baleshwar
  • Wheeler Island to Abdul Kalam Island (change effective 4 September 2015)

Puducherry

  • Pondicherry to Puducherry (change effective from 1 October 2006)
  • Yanaon to Yanam (change effective from merger with Indian Union)

Punjab

  • Jullunder to Jalandhar
  • Ropar to Rupnagar
  • Mohali to Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar
  • Nawanshahr to Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar

Rajasthan

  • Ajaymeru to Ajmer
  • Dhedhi Dhani to Mansanagar (District Sikar) (change effective from 27 April 2011)
  • Jeypore to Jaipur
  • Jessulmere to Jaisalmer

Tamil Nadu

  • Cape Comorin to Kanyakumari
  • Ootacamund to Udagamandalam
  • Conjeevaram to Kanchipuram
  • Karuvur to Karur
  • Madras to Chennai
  • Madura to Madurai
  • Porto Novo to Parangipettai
  • Mayavaram to Mayiladuthurai
  • Tanjore to Thanjavur
  • Tinnevelly to Tirunelveli
  • Tranquebar to Tharangambadi
  • Trichinopoly to Tiruchirapalli
  • Trinomalee to Tiruvannamalai
  • Tuticorin to Thoothukudi
  • Virudupatti to Virudhunagar
  • Talaivasal to Thalaivasal
  • Dharmapuri to Tharumapuri
  • Singapuram to Badushahbad to Chindiry to Senji
  • Wandiwash to Vandavasi
  • Arcot to Aarkadu
  • Dindigul to Thindukkal
  • Ramnad to Ramanathapuram
  • Kudanthai to Kumbakonam
  • Thillai to Chidambaram
  • Negapatnam to Nagapattinam
  • Idaippadi to Edappadi
  • Aliyabad to Kalambur
  • Arni to Aarani
  • Srirangam to Thiruvarangam
  • Thirumaraikkadu to Vedaranyam

Telangana

  • Adlapur to Adilabad
  • Elagandla to Karimnagar
  • Indur to Nizamabad
  • Siddapur or Metukuseema or Gulshanabad to Medak
  • Rukmampet or Palamoor to Mahabubnagar
  • Orugallu to Warangal to Ekasilanagaram (not to be confused with old Ekasilanagaram of Vontimitta) or Warangal
  • Bhuvanagiri to Bhongir
  • Khamammettu to Khammam

Uttar Pradesh

  • Cawnpore to Kanpur
  • Banaras to Varanasi
  • Shiv Nagar to Raj Prasad Nagar
  • Kanpur Dehat to Ramabai Nagar district (change effective 2010) and back to Kanpur Dehat (change effective 2012)
  • Mustafabad to Rampur
  • Allahabad to Prayagraj
  • Bangla to Faizabad District to Ayodhya District
  • Mughalsarai to Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Nagar
  • Firozabad to Chandra nagar

West Bengal

  • Calcutta to Kolkata
  • Burdwan to Bardhaman
  • Chinsurah to Chuchura
  • Barahanagore to Baranagar
  • Midnapore to Medinipur
  • Contai to Kanthi
  • Krishnagar to Krishnanagar
  • Chandernagore to Chandannagar
  • Ishapore to Ichapur