What's in a place name? Would 'India' called otherwise, be any different? This book is the first of its kind to chart the terrain of contemporary India's many place names. It explores different 'place connections' and how places are named and renamed and looks at the forces that are remaking the future place name map of India. The volume brings to the fore the connections between place names and the cultural, geographical and historical significations they are associated with. It addresses questions on the status and value of place names, their interpretation and classification. Lucid and accessible, this book explores the cultural geography of India and investigates the bonds between names, places and people through a unique amalgamation of toponomy, history, mythology and political studies. It is an essential read for scholars and researchers of geography, law, politics, history, sociology, and will also be of interest to tourists, policy makers, administrators, and the general reader.