Delhi: The capital city of India

The capital territory of India, Delhi, is a huge metropolitan located in the northern part of the country. This state is the product of a fusion of various cultures and is, therefore, the best representative of India. It houses a vast number of tourists all year round, from all parts of the world. It is divided into two main regions: Old Delhi and New Delhi.

Brief History Of Delhi

• The history of Delhi goes as far back as the times of Mahabharata. Indraprastha, the town where the Pandavas lived, is a part of Delhi.
• Apart from Indraprastha, eight more cities came to existence: Lol Kat, Siri, Dinpanah, Quila Rai Pithora, Ferozabad, Jahapanah, Tughlakabad, and Shahjahanabad. 
• Delhi was a witness to continuous political upheaval for more than five centuries.
• Delhi sultanate was established in Delhi in 1206 AD when Mohammad of Ghori invaded it. In 1290 AD, Jalal-Ud-din Khilji established the Khilji dynasty.
• Ghiyath-ud-din Tughlaq laid the foundations of the Tughlaq dynasty in 1321 AD.
• The Delhi sultanate was put to an end in 1526 when Babur set the foundation for the Mughals after gaining victory in the battle of Panipat. 
• The early Mughals favoured Agra as the capital but later Delhi became the permanent seat of administration after Shah Jahan built the walls of Old Delhi in 1638. 
• British Rule replaced the Mughals in 1803. In 1911, the capital was officially shifted from Calcutta to Delhi.
• Since India gained its independence in 1947, Delhi has been operating as the official capital and has grown into a massive metropolitan.

State / District / Capital

•  Delhi was declared as a union territory in 1956.
• It was announced to be the national capital territory on February 1, 1992. 
• It encompasses 24 districts spread in the three neighbouring states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
• Delhi alone has a total of eleven districts.
• The capital of the state is New Delhi.

Connectivity

By Air

• Delhi is well connected to almost all of India as well as many foreign countries.
•  The Indira Gandhi International Airport connects Delhi with other states and International cities while serving over 40 million passengers annually. It is the busiest airport in Southeast Asia.
• This Airport is spread over 5106 acres in Palam. 
• Another Airport serving Delhi NCR is Hindon Airport, which handles regional flights out of the city.
• Safdarjung Airport is mainly used by VVIP helicopters and small chartered helicopters.

By Train

• Delhi is well connected with the rest of India via railway network.
• It forms the headquarters of the Northern Rail Network system.
• The railway stations operating in Delhi are New Delhi Railway station, Old Delhi Railway Station, Nizamuddin Railway Station and Sarai Rohilla Railway Station.

By Road

• Delhi has an organized network of National highways and expressways. 
• It consists of a total of 6 expressways, three of which are still under construction.
• The Delhi-Gurgaon-Delhi expressway connects the city with Gurgaon and the International airport.
• The DND expressway-cum-flyover connects the city with Noida and Greater Noida. 
• The city is connected to other states via five national highways, namely NH-1, NH-2, NH-8, NH-10, and NH-24. 

When to visit Delhi?

The state of Delhi offers a lot of things to do and explore throughout the year but the best time to visit Delhi is from October to March. The weather during these months is pleasant and convenient for travelling. At this time of the year, Delhi is beautifully decorated as a part of the celebrations for Diwali and Dussehra. Several film, drama, music and literature festivals also take place around this time of the year.

Official Language

Being the centre of cultural amalgamation of India, Delhi has five official languages which are English, Urdu, Bengali, Hindi and Punjabi.

Weather

Delhi has extreme weather conditions as it has a subtropical humid climate. 

• Summer Season: April to July 
• Temperature range: 41°c to 27°c 

• Monsoon Season: July to September
• Temperature range: 36°c to 25°c 

• Autumn Season: October to mid-November
• Temperature range: 33°c to 13° c 

• Winter Season: November to February
• Temperature range: 26°c to 8°c 

• Spring Season: February to March 
• Temperature range: 22°c to 10°c 

Getting around Delhi

Delhi has a very efficient system of public transport.

Metro

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) expands throughout the city and the neighbouring districts as well.

• Metros are inexpensive, safe and the most convenient mode of transport within Delhi.
• The metros are air-conditioned and clean and are easily available at an interval of every five minutes.

Buses

The Delhi Transport Corporation manages 3106 public buses running over 773 routes. Both public and private buses can be boarded on the Inter-State Bus Terminal( ISBT).

Auto rickshaws and Bicycle Rickshaws:  These are cheap and affordable means of transport for short distances. The bicycle rickshaws commute within some specific zones only but are the cheapest means of transportation. 

Taxis

Government-owned as well as private taxis, both run around the city and are easily accessible. 

Top places to visit in Delhi

Delhi has a plethora of places to visit and one can’t easily choose a place. So, here’s an organized list of some of the best places in Delhi. 

Historical and Heritage

1. Qutub Minar 
2. Humayun’s Tomb 
3. Agrasen ki Baoli 
4. Tughlaqabad Fort
5. Old fort
6. India Gate

Spiritual

1. Lotus temple
2. Akshardham temple 
3. Jama Masjid 
4. ISKCON temple
5. Nizamuddin Dargah 
6. Birla Mandir
7. Bangla sahib gurudwara 

Art & Science

1. Jantar Mantar 
2. India habitat centre
3. National Rail museum
4. National Science centre
5. International Dolls museum 
6. Nehru planetarium

Natural

1. Lodhi Garden
2. Delhi zoo
3. Garden of five senses
4. Bird sanctuary at Okhla

Top cuisines to taste in Delhi

Delhiites are well known for their passion for food. Delhi is the hub of food where all the cuisines of India meet. From street food to luxurious food, there are so many things to try in Delhi. The cuisine of Delhi is influenced by all the corners of India as well as from bordering nations of Tibet and Nepal. Mainly, the cuisine is influenced by Punjabi, Mughlai, Tibetan and Chinese but it still retains a unique flavour of its own. 

Things to do in Delhi

• Chaat 
• Chhole Bhature 
• Kebab 
• Momos
• Butter Chicken
• Shawarma
• Rabdi Falooda
• Biryani
• Daulat ki Chaat
• kachori and aalo ki sabzi 

Things to do in Delhi

The city will never cease to amaze you. It will always have something new to offer you. Delhi has not one but three UNESCO world heritage sites and many other places like bars, cafes, markets and other fun places. 

Activities to do in Delhi

• Haveli tour of Old Delhi 
• Cultural show at Indian International Centre
• HoHo City bus tour
• Shop in Janpath market, Sarojini Nagar.
• Walk through the streets of Chandni chowk. 
• Bicycle tour in New Delhi 
• Taste the delicious parathas in Parathe wali Gali.
• Witness the Light and sound show at Red fort.
• Rock climbing
• Helicopter ride
• Find peace at book cafes
• Play real-life escape games 

Souvenirs to buy in Delhi 

Madhubani Paintings

A unique and vibrant souvenir which is guaranteed to attract your attention. Madhubani paintings are beautiful art pieces made with various kinds of fabric colours and then painted on silk, and many other different kinds of fabrics.

Handicraft puppets and showpieces

The traditional wooden puppets can be easily found in Dilli Haat. These puppets are handcrafted by skilled artists. Traditional showpieces are also found in Dilli Haat. 

Traditional silver jewellery

The old markets of Chandni Chowk are full of unique and beautiful things to purchase. The traditional silver jewellery is also one such item. The silver jewellery is made with intricate details and is available in various styles.

Pashmina shawl

South extension market and Lajpat Nagar is one of the best places to shop in Delhi. Fine cashmere woollen shawls are found here, in a huge variety. 

Khadi

The Indian fabric Khadi, which is hand-spun and hand-woven in India is also worth purchasing in Delhi. Since the production of Khadi is not an easy process, it is not easily found everywhere while Delhi has an abundance of locally made Khadi clothings like kurtas, shirts and ethnic wear for women. 

Other goods like attar, spices, mathri, embroidered handbags, toys and handicrafts are also good souvenirs to buy in Delhi.

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