Shimla is the capital of Himachal Pradesh, set along a steep Himalayan ridge surrounded by cedar and pine forests. Its hillside streets, mountain views, and dense collection of colonial-era buildings give the city a distinctive character, while The Ridge and Mall Road form the main pedestrian and civic areas. Shimla also developed as a major hill station during British rule and later became the state capital.

Yamoussoukro is the political and administrative capital of Côte d’Ivoire, located in the country’s central region amid gently rolling land, cultivated fields and patches of forest.

Kerak is a fortress town 75 miles (120km) from Amman, and contains one of the two major Crusader castles in the Kingdom. The castle, built to protect the approach to Jerusalem, stands on a craggy plateau 4,300ft above sea level. It was built in the early part of the 12th century and held for 50 years by the Crusaders until they were defeated by Salah al Din (Saladin) in 1189.

Abuja is a planned, modern city and the proposed new federal capital of Nigeria. The site was chosen to replace the capital Lagos because of the central location, easy accessibility, good climate and land for further expansion.

Banjul, the capital of The Gambia, is located on St. Mary’s Island at the mouth of the Gambia River, giving it a unique waterfront setting.