Diverse cultural elements absorbed into the daily life of the city have enriched its character. A character totally cosmopolitan and yet totally Indian – Apna Dilli. Exploring the city can be a fascinating and rewarding experience.

Today Delhi is India’s melting pot, drawing and absorbing, over the centuries, settlers and visitors from across the globe. Delhi is on the passage to Asia, with roads from across the continent meeting and leading from here to everywhere and anywhere. As the trade and business centre of northern India, its commercial attraction is as significant as its tourist appeal. From forts and temples to hi-tech industries and amusement parks, from pavement hawkers to hypermarkets, from museums and archives to clubs and discotheques, from cycle rickshaws and public buses to BMWs and private taxies, there is little variety that Delhi does not have for the seeking traveler.

What was once a few hundred kilometers in area, has expanded to 1,500 sq. km, harboring over 10 million people of diverse cultures and statuses. Commonly used languages in the city are Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu and English.

The capital is blessed with an extreme climate. December and January are chilly, with nighttime lows of 4^oC. The city has spring months in February and March. The summer months of May and June are scorching hot with the mercury soaring to a high of 46^oC. The monsoon lasts from July to September. The best time to visit Delhi is between September and November, and between February and April. Visitors should carry light cottons in summer and heavy woolens in winter.

Read ahead for a guide through Delhi, offering you all that you need to know before or when you are here.

A MANY-SPLENDOURED HISTORY

Delhi has a long and chequered past (and very colourful). Few cities in India can claim the long continuity and status that Delhi has enjoyed. Its history goes a long way off to the time of the Mahabharata as Indraprastha, the capital of the Pandavas.

A glorious chapter to Delhi’s history was added with the discovery of an Ashokan inscription near Srinivaspuri.

Among the other dynasties that laid claim to Delhi were the Tamar Rajputs (9^th or 10^th century) and the Chauhan Rajputs (12^th century). With the defeat of Prithviraja, the Chauhan leader, in the hands of the Muslims towards the end of the 12^th century, Delhi became the capital of the Pathan Sultans and eventually of the Mughals. During the British rule for about 200 years, when the country come under a unified control, Calcutta became the capital but only to move back to Delhi in 1911. Since then Delhi has retained its position as the seat of governance.

Delhi (Chronology)

• 1526. Delhi Sultanate

• 1707. Mughals

• 1857. Later Mughals

• 1947. British

Architecture
Delhi abounds in relics and remains, a glorious reminder of its past. Prehistoric and historic remains found in Delhi have made it difficult to associate it with just one period.A glimpse of Rajput art and architecture can be seen from the reservoir at Suraj Kund, ramparts and the carved pillars and ceiling slabs in temples reused by the early Muslims on Sultan Ghari’s tomb and Quwwatul Islam mosque.
However, it is the mosques, tombs and citadels of the Pathans and the Mughals that are among Delhi’s significant monumental remains, often spoken of as constituting the seven cities – Dhilli or Dhillika, Siri, Tughluqabad, Jahanpanah, Firuzabad, Shahajanabad.

Delhi Today

In the six decades since the creation of New Delhi as the capital of British India, the city has undergone a sea of changes. Made initially to cater to a population of 70,000, the total urban population of Delhi now exceeds 10 million. The city has exploded in all directions beyond the confines of Lutyens’ wide, tree-lined avenues, with an exuberance that is characteristically India.

Industrialists, entrepreneurs and migrant labour from all over India have turned to Delhi in search of livelihood and success, and made it a commercial capital as well. The cultivated fields which till recently could be seen on the outskirts of the city, have been developed into residential colonies and commercial complexes. High-rise buildings now stand cheek-by-jowl with Delhi’s 1,300 monuments. Villages such as Khirkee, Begumpur, Hauz Khas, Sheikh Sarai and Nizamuddin, which grew around medieval Delhi’s shifting capital Anganwadi ‘cities,’ have now been engulfed by the urban sprawl. Many of them, however, retain their old-world characteristics.

The co-existence of the past and the present at many levels characterises Delhi as it does India. The assimilation of a specific cultural influence is expressed differently by people living in different parts of the city, a fact which offers insights into the social strata. South Delhi is undoubtedly the trend-setter, and the fashions and lifestyles introduced here become the aspiration’s of many. There are however, dramatic differences in localities, standards of living and adherence to traditions.

Places To See

Delhi provides interesting juxtapositions of the old and the modern. Old Delhi contains several historical buildings that stand testimony to Delhi’s rich past. The Red Fort dates from the peak of Mughal power. The entrance, a vaulted arcade called the Meena Bazaar or the Chatta Chowk, has several shops catering to the tourist trade. Inside the fort is the Diwan-i-Aam (the Hall of Public Audience) and the Diwan-i-Khas (the Hall of Private Audience) set in the midst of formal gardens.
As short distance from the Red Fort is the Jama Masjid (built in 1658, this is the largest mosque in India) and Chandni Chowk.
The Rajghat, on the banks of the Yamuna, is a beautiful park. A black marble platform in its midst marks the spot where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated.
A few minutes from Old Delhi is the commercial and business hub of the city – Connaught Place. A total contrast to the old-world charm of the crowded streets of Old Delhi, this is a vast traffic circle with a uniform series of -Colonnaded buildings around the edge. Not far away is the Jantar Mantar, a sundial and observatory built in 1725.
The Lakshmi Narayan temple (popularly known as Birla Mandir) is situated 1.5 km west of Connaught Place.Rajpath, the focus of Lutyen’s Delhi, is a broad path with ornamental ponds on either side. On the east is India Gate, a memorial to the solders killed in World War I. On the west end is the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of the President of India. The sprawling Rashtrapati Bhavan has the Mughal Gardens, laid out in the same manner as the Mughals did in their forts. These are opened for a month in February for the public to visit.
Other places on the `Must see’ list are the Purana Qila, built by the Afghan ruler Sher Shah; Humayun’s Tomb (the elements of its design were later refined in the Taj Mahal); the lotus-shaped Bahai Temple, a place of secular worship; and the Qutub Minar, an imposing pillar testimony to the architectural skills of the slave dynasty.
Delhi abounds in museums, art galleries and auditoria. Some of these are listed here;

MUSEUMS

Delhi has some of the finest museums in the country. The National Museum is the premier repository of antiquities. Built in 1960, it has an extraordinary collection representing the entire span of Indian civilisation from pre-historic times.
The National Gallery of Modern Art, housed in the residence of Jaipur’s former Maharajas has a superb collection of paintings since the past 150 years.
The Rail Transport Museum is a must for rail buffs. Its vintage displays include the oldest locomotive in the world; the Viceregal Dining Car (1889) and the Prince of Wales’ Saloon (1876).
The Nehru Memorial Museum is at Teen Murti House, where Jawaharlal Nehru lived for 16 years till his death in 1964. Its special charm is that the rooms have been preserved as they were.
The Crafts Museum at Pragati Maidan has galleries displaying India’s rich tradition of Handicrafts. In this central part of the city are also located the National Philatelic Museum at Dak Bhawan. The National Museum of Natural History, Mandi House, and the Malliah Memorial Theatre Crafts Museum on Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg. The Tibet House Museum on Lodhi Road has a fine collection of tankhas, jewellery and ritual objects. En route to Old Delhi are the Shankar’s Dolls Museum and the Gandhi Museum opposite Rajghat. The Red Fort has the Museum of Archaeology related to the Mughal era, and the Museum of Arms and Weapons which traces the development of arms from the Mughal age.

The Airforce Museum at Palam, Delhi Cantt., depicts the history of the Indian Airforce and has a vast collection of aeroplanes and armoury on display. The Zakir Hussain Memorial, at Jamia Milia, Okhla, has an exhibition of photographs, souvenirs and memorabilia, acquired during Dr. Hussain’s term as President of India.

ART GALLERIES

Art Heritage, Triveni Kala Sangam, Tansen Marg. Art Today, Hamilton House, Connaught Palce. Dhoomimal Art Gallery, Connaught Palce. Eicher Gallery, Masjid Moth, Greater Kailash III. Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan.

Places To Stay

When it comes to staying in the capital – whether you are here for a few hours or plan to stay longer – Delhi offers numerous choices, suiting all sizes of pockets and purses. You can choose to stay away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and sight see while on your way to the city and back, taking a different route everytime; or you can prefer to stay in either the old or the new part of the city – or even in the centre – and be close to your places of interest. You can also stay at motels dotting the periphery of Delhi and visit neighbouring states. Wherever you may wish to lodge, and whatever your budget allows you, there are scores of places you may pick from. See below.

Top-end: * Claridge’s Hotel, Aurangzeb Road * Le Meridien, Janpath *Hotel Intercontinental, Connaught Place * Park Hotel, Parliament Street * Taj Mahal Hotel, Mansingh Road * Oberoi Maiden,s Shamnath Marg * Ambassador Hotel * Ashoka Hotel * The Hyatt * Maurya Sheraton * Oberoi Hotel * Park Royal * Best Western Surya * Taj Palace * Vasant Continental * Hotel Siddhartha.

Moderate: Janpath Guest House * Imperial Hotel * Hotel 55 * Alka Hotel * Hotel Metro * Jukaso Inn * Puri Y arti Paying Guest House * Hotel Broadway * Classic Palace Hotel * YMCA Tourist Hotel; YWCA International Guest House; YWCA Blue Triangle Family Hostel:

Cheap: Ringo Guest House * Sunny Guest House * Mrs Coalco’s * Mr SC Jain’s Guest House * Hotel Palace Heights * Kailash Guest House * Hotel Kanishka * Hotel Bright * Hotel Namaskar * Anoop Hotel * Hotel Satyam * Krishna Hotel * Hotel Sama * Viswa Yuvak Kendra (International Youth Centre).

Camps: Tourist Camp * Qudsia Gardens Tourist Camp.

Culinary Delights - Places to Eat

From age-old eateries in the bylanes of the Walled City to glitzy, speciality restaurants in five-star hotels, Delhi is a moveable feast. It offers a choice of Indian and intenational cuisines in different ambiences to suit varied budgets.

For gourmets, Delhi is synonymous with Mughlai and Frontier cuisines. The best of Mughlai cuisine can be enjoyed at Karim’s (both in Jama Masjid and Nizamudddin) where recipes, dating from the times of Mughals, have been the closely-guarded secret of generations of chefs. Delhi Ka Aangan (Hyatt Regency), Darbar (Ashoka Hotel) and Corbetts (Claridges) are among the many options available in the expensive range, while Gulati Restaurant (Pandara Market), Angeethi (Asiad Village ) and Degchi (Regal Building) are among those catering to more modest budgets. The Finest Frontier (Ashoka Hotel) and Baluchi (The Hilton). At the other end of the scale are the many popular roadside eateries around Jama Masjid and Nizamuddin, offering kababs, rotis and biryani.

Every five-star hotel in the city has a Chinese restaurant, while most markets in South Delhi have a medium budget Chinese restaurant. The popularity of this cuisine can be gauged by the innumerable Chinese food outlets of the Anganwadi ‘meal-on-wheels’ and kiosk variety.

The growing sophistication of the Delhite’s palate is discernible in the increasing number of speciality restaurants – El Arab (Regal Building), Dum Pukht or the process of slow cooking developed in Awadh (Maurya Sheraton), Kashmiri food at Chor Bizarre (Hotel Broadway), Thai food at Baan Thai (The Oberoi) and i (Hauz Khas Village), Japanese food at Tokyo (Ashoka Hotel) and Osaka (Hauz Khas Village), Tibetan food at Rodeo (Connaught Place) Another indication is the popularity of food festivals organised by hotels. South India food, its vegetarian variety is best enjoyed at Sagar (Defence Colony), Sagar Ratna (Lodhi Hotel) and Dasaprakash (Hotel Ambassador). Coconut Grove (Ashok Yatri Niwas) offers excellent non-vegetarian cuisine from South India.

The best of Continental cuisine can be eaten at five-star hotels, for instance La Rochelle (The Oberoi), The Orient Express (Taj Palace) and Captain’s Cabin (Taj Mansingh). Many multi-cuisine restaurants also offer Continental food. A delightful outlet offering a range of Indian cuisine are the food stalls at Dilli Haat. Here, the cuisine of different states is made available at very moderate rates.

For the more intrepid, eateries such as those at Paranthe Wali Gali, or chaat at Bengali Market and Sunder Nagar, bhelpuri at Greater Kailash and sweetmeats from Annapoorna and Ghantewala can be a part of the gastronomical tour of Delhi.

Things To Buy At Shopper’s Paradise

Delhi is a veritable paradise for shoppers, who can buy objects ranging from the simplest of Indian handicrafts to international designer labels. Delhi has representative outlets for the handicrafts of each Indian state. This in itself presents a staggering array of goods, and at very affordable prices. IN the last decade there has been a dramatic change in Delhi’s markets. The buying power of the public has increased and people are more aware of fashion and lifestyles than ever before. This has led to greater sophistication in display, competitive advertising and marketing strategies and the upgrading of certain markets.