India's northern city of Varanasi, also known as Banaras, is among the oldest cities in the world. UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: (Non-English language spoken). MARTIN: The city has always been welcoming to ...

Gulabchand contends that India’s need for new cities is so pressing, the country can’t wait for them to evolve on their own. “We may not get a perfect Singapore-style model city,” he says.

Backed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the new leadership of Auroville, an experimental commune, wants to create a model city. In the way stand trees, tree houses and a take-it-slow tradition.