Old and New Place Names in India: Searchable List of Renamed Cities and States

Why Indian Places Change Their Names

Renamings in India fall into four broad groups:

• Restoring local pronunciation. Many colonial names were English spellings of Indian names: Cawnpore for Kanpur, Poona for Pune, Trichinopoly for Tiruchirappalli. Independent India gradually replaced them with spellings closer to local usage.
• Linguistic reorganisation of states. After the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, several states were redrawn and renamed: Madras State became Tamil Nadu (1969) and Mysore State became Karnataka (1973).
• Regional identity. Bombay to Mumbai (1995), Madras to Chennai (1996), Calcutta to Kolkata (2001) and Karnataka’s 2014 renamings all adopted the name used in the local language.
• Political and historical statements. Recent renamings, such as Allahabad to Prayagraj (2018), Aurangabad to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (2023) and Ahmednagar to Ahilyanagar (2024), replace names associated with Mughal or Sultanate rulers with names honouring other historical figures or older traditions. These changes are often debated.

How a Renaming Happens

A state government proposes a new name for a city or district. Renaming a city or district generally needs a no-objection from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, after which the state notifies it. Renaming a state requires an Act of Parliament. Railway stations, post offices and court names are then updated separately, which is why old and new names can coexist for years.

Reading Old Sources: Names to Watch For

If you are reading Mughal, Maratha or East India Company sources, these names come up often:

• Shahjahanabad: Shah Jahan’s walled capital, today’s Old Delhi.
• Akbarabad: the Mughal name for Agra.
• Seringapatam: Tipu Sultan’s island capital, Srirangapatna, stormed in 1799. See Tipu Sultan’s family tree.
• Ahmadnagar: the Deccan city where Aurangzeb died in 1707, now Ahilyanagar. See How did Aurangzeb die?
• Masulipatam: Machilipatnam, a major port for the Golconda kingdom and European traders.

When dates in those sources look odd as well, use the Historical Calendar Converter to convert Old Style and Hijri dates.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Bombay renamed Mumbai?

In 1995.

When did Madras become Chennai?

In 1996.

When was Calcutta renamed Kolkata?

In 2001.

When did Bangalore become Bengaluru?

On 1 November 2014, together with 11 other Karnataka cities, including Mysuru, Mangaluru, Belagavi and Hubballi.

What is the new name of Ahmednagar?

Ahilyanagar, after the Maratha ruler Ahilyabai Holkar. The Maharashtra government approved the change in 2024.

What is the new name of Aurangabad in Maharashtra?

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, after the Maratha ruler Sambhaji, from 2023.

What was Old Delhi called?

Shahjahanabad, the walled city built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and completed in 1648.

Who approves the renaming of a city in India?

The state government proposes it and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs gives a no-objection before the state notifies the new name. Renaming a state needs an Act of Parliament.

Sources and Further Reading

• Wikipedia, “List of renamed places in India”.
• The News Minute, “Bangalore is officially Bengaluru from today” (1 November 2014).
• Outlook, “Maharashtra govt renames Ahmednagar district as Ahilya Nagar”.

Last reviewed October 2026. New renamings are added as they are notified. Know a name we have missed? Tell us. Related tools: Historical Calendar Converter · Old Indian Money Converter · All history tools.