Uttarakhand To Odisha: 8 Indian States, Cities That Left Their Old Name Behind

Odisha (Formerly Orissa): In 2011, the state of Orissa was officially renamed Odisha, and its language from Oriya to Odia. This legislative change corrected the anglicized spelling to better reflect the Sanskrit-derived "Odra Desha," aligning the name with how locals have always pronounced it. (Image: Canva)

Uttarakhand (Formerly Uttaranchal): Formed in 2000 as Uttaranchal, the state was renamed Uttarakhand in 2007. This move honored the "Uttarakhand Movement" activists who fought for a separate state. The name translates to "Northern Land," a term deeply rooted in ancient Hindu scriptures and local sentiment. (Image: Canva)

Mumbai, Maharashtra (Formerly Bombay): In 1995, the bustling financial capital officially transitioned from Bombay to Mumbai. The name honors Mumbadevi, the patron goddess of the native Koli fisherfolk. This shift was a significant political move to assert the city’s Marathi heritage over British influence. (Image: Canva)

Bengaluru, Karnataka (Formerly Bangalore): The "Silicon Valley of India" officially embraced its Kannada name, Bengaluru, in 2014. Derived from "Benda-Kaalu-Ooru" (Town of Boiled Beans), the change reflected a decade-long push to prioritize local linguistic pride over the anglicized version used since the British Raj. (Image: Canva)

Kolkata, West Bengal (Formerly Calcutta): In 2001, the cultural capital of India moved from Calcutta to Kolkata to match the Bengali pronunciation. The city, which served as the British capital until 1911, reclaimed its phonetic roots, honoring the traditional name derived from the village "Kalikata." (Image: Canva)

Chennai, Tamil Nadu (Formerly Madras): Madras was renamed Chennai in 1996 by the state government. While "Madras" was a colonial designation, "Chennai" is believed to originate from Damarla Chennappa Nayaka, a Telugu ruler. The change was a definitive step in asserting the city's South Indian identity. (Image: Canva)

Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh (Formerly Allahabad): In 2018, the historic city of Allahabad was renamed Prayagraj. The change restored the city’s ancient name found in Vedic texts, referring to the "Place of Sacrifice" at the sacred "Triveni Sangam," where the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers meet. (Image: Canva)

Gurugram, Haryana (Formerly Gurgaon): The corporate hub of Gurgaon was renamed Gurugram in 2016. The new name honours Guru Dronacharya, the legendary teacher from the Mahabharata. According to local lore, the village was gifted to him by his pupils, making it the "Village of the Guru." (Image: Canva)