Here’s a look at capital cities that were built from scratch
Naypyidaw: Myanmar’s capital was moved from Yangon to the centre of the country in 2005. Covering 2,700 square miles — about four times the size of London — it features a 20-lane avenue, multiple golf courses and a replica of Yangon’s golden Shwedagon Pagoda. Yet, its wide streets are mostly empty, as relatively few people live there. (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)Islamabad: Built as a planned city in the 1960s to replace Karachi as Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad was created from parts of the North-West Frontier Province and Punjab. It was Pakistan’s first city with a master plan, developed by a Greek architecture firm. (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)Canberra: The site for the capital was chosen as a compromise between rivals Sydney and Melbourne, Australia’s two largest cities. Construction began in 1913, and after many delays, the Commonwealth parliament moved to Canberra in 1927. Despite its high standard of living, the city is little known overseas. (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)Brasilia: Arguably the most famous planned city in the world, it was built in 1960, and is famous for its modern architecture, chiefly designed by Oscar Niemeyer. Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, the city is nevertheless dogged by inadequate public transport, segregation, and neglected public spaces. (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)Nur-Sultan: Often dubbed the world’s weirdest capital, the Kazakh capital was moved from Almaty in 1997. The urban plan was drawn up by Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa, and the city is known for its many futuristic buildings. (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)Abuja: A planned city built mostly in the 1980s, Abuja replaced Lagos as Nigeria’s capital in 1991, largely because of its more central location, and as a way to ease congestion. It is now among the fastest-growing cities in Africa. (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)
