General:
Delhi, known locally as
Dilli , and also by the official name
National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT) and settled on the banks of the
River Yamuna.It is the largest
metropolis by
area and the second-largest metropolis by
population in India. It is the
eighth largest metropolis in the
world by population with more than 12.25 million inhabitants in the district and with over 15.9 million residents in the National Capital Region area , which also includes Noida, Gurgaon, Greater Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad. The name Delhi is often also used to include some urban areas near the NCT, as well as to refer to
New Delhi, the
capital of
India, which lies within the NCT. The NCT is a federally administered
union territory.
Ancient Time:
Delhi has been
continuously populated since at least the
6th century BC. After the rise of the
Delhi Sultanate, Delhi emerged as a major political, cultural and commercial city along the
trade routes between northwest India and the
Indo-Gangetic plains. It is the place of many ancient and medieval monuments, archaeological sites and remains. In 1639, Mughal emperor
Shahjahan built a new
surrounded city in Delhi which served as the capital of the Mughal Empire from 1649 to 1857.
Culture of Delhi:
The
culture of Delhi reflects the rich heritage of the past coupled with the influence of modern lifestyle. Delhi has always been a universal city where one would find people from all parts of India. Overall, Delhi is a very multi-linguist and multi-cultured society which has now opened itself to embracing every new custom and tradition.
Economical Hub: Apart from being the national capital of India and important
economical hub of India, Delhi is the most preferred tourist destination of North India. Delhi's rich tradition, effervescent history, monuments, museums, galleries, parks and Mughal Architecture are some of the special attractions that attract tourists from all over the world.
Old and New Delhi:
New Delhi is the merging of old and new. The contrast between the two is very much visible by the culture, lifestyle and tradition. Old Delhi still has the
influence of
Mughals with
monuments,
mosques and
forts all through the complicated streets. Old bazaars and food are some of the specialties of Old Delhi. Whereas New Delhi is completely different with lifestyle and city's architecture having the influence of British Rule in India. New Delhi is famous for its planned landscape and spacious streets with shades of greenery. Major commercial establishments are situated in New Delhi's business hubs like Connaught Place, Nehru Place, Bikaji Kama, South Extension and ITO.
Attractions in Delhi:
With more and more tourists coming to Delhi, the government has a special ministry to look into the well being of visitors. Tours and travel agencies in the city provide tourism services ranging from accommodation to guide and sight-seeing. Delhi tourism department has set up help desk services for foreign tourists who can find all necessary information about the city. Some of the major tourist
attractions in Delhi include
India Gate,
Rashtrapati Bhawan,
Rajghat,
Jama Masjid,
Qutab Minar,
Red Fort,
Humayun's Tomb,
Safdarjang's Tomb,
Purana Quila,
Jantar Mantar and
Akshardham temple.
