Failed capitals around the world: From a £12billion abandoned metropolis in India to a Myanmar jungle ‘ghost town’ with empty 20-lane motorways

DAILYMAIL • 1h ago

By ERIN DEBORAH WAKS, TRAVEL WRITER 16:09 30 Sep 2026, updated 16:14 30 Sep 2026

Whether driven by vanity or a genuine ambition to improve the state of a nation, shifting a capital city from one place to another is always going to be fraught with challenges.

As such, many attempts to do so around the globe have been widely considered failures, either as a result of minimal economic activity, incomplete construction and, often, colossal spending.

From Myanmar to Malaysia and plenty of destinations in between, we take a look at some of the world’s ‘failed’ capitals – and the ghost towns left behind.

Naypyidaw first became the capital of Myanmar in 2005, after the government decided to move it from Yangon (also known as Rangoon) without much explanation.

Construction began in 2002, with the location picked in the middle of a jungle that hadn’t been lived in for more than 2,000 years. It spans 7,05km sq (2,723 sq miles) – six times the area of New York City.

Built mainly for government staff, people only come to live in the city if they need to for work. As such, the supposed booming metropolis looks more like a ghost town.

The super-sized motorways have up to 20 lanes and are built to be big enough for government SUVs, although images showing them totally empty are not uncommon.

The streets are also barren, with just a handful of individuals spotted walking or cycling through the secluded capital at any given point during the day.

In 1973, Tanzania swapped its capital from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma.

But since much of the economic and commercial activity takes place in the former, many have considered this shift to be a failure overall.

It also took much longer than planned to relocate, with estimates saying it would take ten years, only for the project to take a full 50.

Plus, many embassies and consulates refused to move their headquarters to the city, instead remaining in Dar es Salaam.

‘A capital city without a soul’ is one description handed to Putrajaya by publication Free Malaysia Today – and that doesn’t exactly scream of optimism.

Most people know Kuala Lumpur is the country’s capital, but attempts were made in the 1990s to shift the status to Putrajaya.

Founded in 1995, the administrative hub was intended to replace Kuala Lumpur. But it never succeeded in taking over, falling short of the capital’s vibrant commercial hub.

Over the last three decades, it has earned the nickname ‘ghost town’.

‘Flawless roads, meticulously calculated building geometries, and absolute order. Yet, the city feels like a movie set – the architecture is stunning, but it is critically devoid of real life,’ one Trip.com review of the city read.

While many opt for Rio de Janeiro for a holiday, Brasilia, the country’s capital, is one of the most beautiful – and distinctive – cities in the world.

Known for a unique white modern architectural style, sights such as the Congresso Nacional, Catedral Metropolitana Nossa Senhora Aparecida and Itamaraty Palace are gorgeous highlights well worth your time.

However, while it is celebrated for its architecture, urban planners have been quick to criticise the city.

Inaugurated in 1960 as Brazil’s new capital, it was designed by renowned architect Oscar Niemeyer, inspired by a utopian vision, and built in the shape of a plane.

But it was better designed for cars than for street life, leaving it feeling quieter and much less vibrant than alternative cities in Brazil.

Nowadays, much of the population is forced to live in satellite towns.

When Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh was first proposed, the future looked bright – a forward-looking ‘Smart City’, in line with India’s sustainability goals and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Agenda 2030.

But it has been subject to many delays, and the plans are uncertain.

India’s £12billion project was to build a modern leafy metropolis with fountains, bridges, gardens and glass skyscrapers to rival Singapore.

But years later, the proposed capital of Amaravati – which means ‘abode of the gods’ – is little more than empty concrete blocks and cleared agricultural land.

It is currently in a high-speed development phase – so its future will emerge soon.

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