India

Delhi, Indian Union Territory

The Capital city of India, Delhi has seen the rise and fall of many empires, which have left behind a surplus of monuments that are the magnificence and glory of past ages. A city, which traces its history to Mahabharata, the great epic tale of wars, fought between alienated cousins, the Kauravas and the Pandavas for the city of Indraprastha. Mughals ruled Delhi in series starting from Qutab-ub-din to Khiljis, to Tughlaqs. The city of Delhi passed on to the hands of the British in 1803 AD. It was only in 1911, when the capital of British Empire was shifted from Calcutta to Delhi, that Delhi got its present prestige. After independence also, a kind of self-rule was conferred on the capital but it largely remained a chief commissioners government. In 1956 Delhi was converted into a Union territory and gradually a Lt. Governor replaced the chief commissioner. In 1991, the national capital territory Act was passed by the parliament and a system of diarchy (a form of government having two joint rulers) was introduced under which, the elected Government was given wide powers; except law and order which remained with the central Government. The actual enforcement of the legislation came in 1993.

DelhiNew Delhi, the capital of India, is one of the fastest growing cities in India. Historically, the city has long since been leading in political importance with succeeding dynasties choosing it as their seat of power, between the 13th and the 17th centuries. The countless faces of the city are simply fascinating. In some places it remains a garden city, tree wrinkled and with beautiful parks, but in some places it can also be crowded with Heavy traffic. Turbaned Sikhs, colourfully dressed Rajasthani and Gujarati women working in offices, Muslim shopkeepers along Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi, Tibetans and Ladakhis in the street stalls along Janpath and Kashmiris in the handicraft emporium around Connaught Place, all add to the cosmopolitan feel of the city. Tall skyscrapers, high-class residential colonies and busy commercial complexes can be seen along with the ancient historical monuments. Its boutiques and shopping arcades offer access to a wealth of traditional and contemporary crafts, from all over the country. Old Delhi which looks entirely different from New Delhi area, is about 6 Km north of the city center.

History of Delhi
Delhi has a long history, including a history as the capital of several empires. The earliest architectural relics date back to the Mauryan empire. Eight major cities have been located in the Delhi area. The first four cities were in the southern part of present-day Delhi.

Geography of Delhi
Location: Delhi, Capital of India and the third largest city in India, lies at an altitude of between 700 and 1,000 feet (213 and 305 meters) and covers an area of 1,485 square kilometres. Situated on the Yamuna River (a tributary of the Ganges River) Delhi is bordered on the east by the state of Uttar Pradesh and on the north, west, and south by Haryana.

Climate : Map of DelhiDelhi is situated on the banks of river Yamuna in the northern part of India. Once a part of the Aravalies, today Delhi has only the Ridge area to tell the story of the greenery this place once had. Himalayas are in the North of Delhi. The capital of India is a land locked city. The distance from the sea gives Delhi an extreme type of continental climate. The summers in Delhi are very hot and winters very cold. The temperature range varies from 45 degrees in summers to 4 degrees in winters. The winters are marked by mist and fog in the mornings and often sun is seen in the afternoons. The cold wave from the Himalayan region makes winters very chilly. In summers the heat wave is immense and adequate precaution has to be taken before going out in the hot summer afternoons. The best season to visit Delhi is during the spring seasons of February to April and August to November. The bloom season of February and March make Delhi colorful. This time of the year brings greenery on the face of Delhi.

Cuture of Delhi
Delhi Culture is diverse in nature.More than half the residents come from areas outside of the Delhi region.The culture of Delhi represents the culture of all the states of India in parts. In other words, it is a kind of synthesis and reflection of the culture of India, as a whole. Being the capital of India, New Delhi has also become the main center of politics, from where all the decisions are made and policies passed. However, the city does have a history of its own which has made some impact on its cultural scenario.