Which Indian city is popularly known as the \"Cathedral City of India\"?

Introduction / Context:
This question examines knowledge of famous Indian cities and their nicknames or special titles. Many cities are known by characteristic descriptions based on their architecture, temples, or cultural heritage. Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha, is often called the Cathedral City of India because of its large concentration of ancient temples, which resemble a cluster of stone cathedrals when viewed together. Recognising these nicknames helps in cultural geography and tourism related questions in exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We must identify the city known as the Cathedral City of India.
• Options are Varanasi (Benaras), Kancheepuram, Madurai, Bhubaneswar, and None of the above.
• Each of these is a well known temple city, but the specific nickname refers to one of them.

Concept / Approach:
Bhubaneswar is famous for its many medieval temples such as Lingaraj, Mukteshwar, and Rajarani. The density and vertical stone structures of these temples give the skyline a cathedral like appearance, which inspired the nickname Cathedral City of India. Varanasi is often called the spiritual capital of India, Kancheepuram is known as the city of thousand temples, and Madurai is associated with the Meenakshi Amman Temple and called the city of festivals. Therefore, among the given options, Bhubaneswar fits the title best.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Bhubaneswar has hundreds of temples dating from different periods of Kalinga architecture. Step 2: Understand that this concentration of temples has led to the city being described as a cathedral city, in the sense of many temple spires. Step 3: Compare with Varanasi, which has its own titles but is not commonly called the Cathedral City. Step 4: Note that Kancheepuram is widely known as the city of thousand temples, and Madurai as the city of festivals or temple city. Step 5: Conclude that Bhubaneswar is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Tourism literature and cultural geography books often group Bhubaneswar, Puri, and Konark as the Golden Triangle of Odisha. Bhubaneswar is described as the temple city and sometimes as a cathedral city due to the style of its temples. This wording is less commonly applied to Varanasi or Kancheepuram, even though they also have many temples. Cross checking current affairs and GK books confirms that Bhubaneswar is the standard answer for this specific nickname.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Varanasi (Benaras): Known as the spiritual capital of India and city of temples and ghats, but not typically labelled Cathedral City. Kancheepuram: Famous as the city of thousand temples and for silk sarees, not by the cathedral metaphor. Madurai: Identified with the Meenakshi temple and called the city of festivals, not Cathedral City. None of the above: Incorrect because Bhubaneswar, the accepted answer, is present in the options.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may confuse different temple city nicknames or assume that the most famous religious city, Varanasi, must have every title. Another pitfall is mixing Kancheepuram and Bhubaneswar because both are rich in temples. To avoid such issues, it is helpful to create a small comparative table of city nicknames: for example, Pink City for Jaipur, City of Lakes for Udaipur, City of Joy for Kolkata, and Cathedral City of India for Bhubaneswar.

Final Answer:
The city known as the Cathedral City of India is Bhubaneswar.