Sq. Area: 1,483 Sq km
Population 13,800,000
Avg Rain: 50 cms
Avg Temp: Summer 47°C, Winter 6°C
Airport: Indira Gandhi International Airport
Bus Stand: Interstate bus terminus
Train Station: New Delhi station, Old Delhi station
Tel. Area Code: (91) (011)
Languages: Hindi
Best Time to Go: September thru March

Today Delhi the capital of India, 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 touristic 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 traveller.

The city is littered with crumbling tombs and ruins, most of which are not even on the tourist map. They -- like the elephant trundling alongside a traffic-logged road, where handwritten posters for CUSTOM CONFISCATED GOODS SOLD HERE vie with glossy fashion billboards -- are just part of the strange fabric of Delhi. It doesn't have the vibrancy of Mumbai or the atmosphere of Kolkata, but in one day you can you go from marveling at the sheer grace of the soaring Qutb Minar tower, built in 1199 by the Turkish Slave King Qutb-ud-din Aibak to celebrate his victory over the Hindu Rajputs, to gawking at that 1920s British imperialist masterpiece, the palatial Rashtrapati Bhavan. You can wander through the sculptural Jantar Mantar, a huge, open-air astrological observatory built in 1725 by Jai Singh, creator and ruler of Jaipur, to the still-sacred atmosphere surrounding the tomb of the 14th-century Sufi saint, Sheikh Nizamuddin Aulia, or the 16th-century garden tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun, precursor to the Taj. Or, after the chaos of exploring the crowded streets of 17th-century Shahjahanabad, Delhi's oldest living city, you can escape to Rajghat, the park where Gandhi was cremated in 1948, or to the Lodi Gardens, where lawns and golfing greens are studded with the crumbling 15th-century tombs of once powerful dynasties. And still you haven't covered the half of it.. .. But despite its host of attractions, unless you're staying in one of its top hotels (of which the Imperial is almost a destination in its own right), Delhi is not a very relaxing destination, and it is as famous for its pollution (it was rated the 4th most polluted city in the world through the 1990s) as it is for its sights. Unless you're a history buff or here on business, spend as much time as you need to recover from jet lag, choosing to view only a few of its many attractions (the best of which are listed below), and then move on, for the rest of India, with its awesome array of experiences and beauty, awaits.

Delhi Geography
Geographically, Delhi is situated on the banks of the River Yamuna in the northern part of the country. It is surrounded by different states on all the four sides. Delhi weather is an extreme continental type, with winters extremely cold and summers very hot. In winters the temperature drops down to less than 4 degree Celsius and in summers it soars to as high as 48 degrees Celsius. Precautions are necessary both in winters and summers to beat the chilly winds and the heat waves.

Monuments of Delhi

- The Red Fort
Also known as The Lal Quila (Lal = red, Quila = fort), stands on the banks of Yamuna. It is surrounded by a perimeter wall of about 2.4 Kilometers and is built of Red Sandstone. The Mughal king Shah Jahan (who also built the Taj Mahal) transferred his capital from Agra to Delhi and the fort was completed in 1648, nine years after the king shifted to this city. The fort has two main entrances, the Delhi Gate and the Lahori Gate which faces the famed Chandni Chowk market.

- Purana Qila
Pandavas had built their capital, Indraprastha at the place where the old fort stands today. This fort, now in ruins, was the seat for administration for many emperors. The legendary Prithviraj Chauhan ruled from here till he was defeated by Abdali in the battle of Panipat. A new light & sound show is held by the Department of Delhi Tourism every evening. Timings and Tickets are available from the tourist office.

- Qutab Minar
It was built by a muslim king, Qutub - ud - din in 1199 AD and a part of which he could not finish was completed by Itutmish, another Muslim king. It is situated in the southern part of the capital. The height of the tower is about 72.5 meter high and there is a mosque at its base. In front the Qutub Minar there is an iron pillar which is believed that it was built in 5th century. The uniqueness part of the pillar is that it has not rusted ever since it was built. Due to some precaution the Tourists are not allowed to climb the Qutub Minar i.e. to the tower.

- India Gate
Primarily a memorial to the unknown soldier was designed by Lutyens. The 42 meter high structure is a war memorial in honor of the soldiers who died during the second world war. The imposing structure from where stretch massive lush green lawns has an eternal flame (Amar Jawan Jyoti) to honor the memory of the unknown soldiers. India Gate prominently located in the vicinity of Rashtrapati Bhavan is a major crowd puller during the hot summer evenings of Delhi by virtue of its lush green lawns.

- Lotus Temple
Completed in 1986, the Bahai temple is set amidst pools and gardens, and adherents of any faith are free to visit the temple and pray or meditate silently according to their own religion. The structure is in lotus shape so it often called the lotus temple. The view of the temple is very spectacular just before dusk when the temple is flood lit.

- Rashtrapati Bhavan
The house that houses the President of India and the house that boasts of having welcomed the most powerful men in history. The Rashtrapati Bhavan was designed by Edwin Lutyens and built in 1931, to be the central point of the British power in Delhi. Originally called the Viceroy's House, the Rashtrapati Bhavan covers an area of 4.5 acres of land. It has 340 rooms, 37 salons, 74 lobbies and loggias, 18 staircases and 37 fountains. The most magnificent room in the Rashtrapati Bhavan is the Durbar Hall, which lies directly beneath the main dome. All important Indian State and Official ceremonies are held here. To the west, is the famous and beautifully landscaped Mughal Gardens, designed after the terraced gardens the Mughals built in Kashmir. The garden is famous as the 'Butterfly Garden' for the numerous butterflies that visit the varied flowers. The garden is open to the public in February.

- Humayun's Tomb
Built by the wife of Humayun, Haji Begum in the mid 16th century, this red sand stone structure is considered to be the predecessor of Taj Mahal. The structure is one of the best example of Mughal Architecture. Humayun's wife is also buried in the red and white sandstone, black and yellow marble tomb. The entry in the complex is free on Fridays.

- Rajghat
The simple square platform of black marble on the banks of the river Yamuna marks the place where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated. His last words 'Hey Ram' are inscribed on this platform which is surrounded by a serene garden.

- Parliament House
A marvelous piece of architecture where the bicameral legislature of India meets for its sessions. Lok Sabha, the lower house and Rajya Sabha the upper house. Close to Rashtrapati Bhavan, is a domed almost circular structure almost a kilometer in circumference, and was designed by the famed architect Lutyens. It is the seat of the Indian Parliament and during the sessions of Parliament there is a flurry of activity in and around the structure.

- Jamma Masjid
One of the Architectural gift given by Shah Jahan (who built Taj Mahal), Jama Masjid is one of the largest mosques not only in Delhi but in India. Completed in 1658 this Mosque has three gateways, Four angle towers and two 40 m high minarets. You can enter the mosque but take precaution to take off your shoes and make sure that you are properly dressed before entering. One can also go to the top of minarets. From here you can have a birds eye view of Delhi.

- Jantar Mantar
Set within the a garden of stately palms, it was built by Maharaja Jai Singh of Jaipur in 1719. He had been entrusted with the task of revising the calendar and correcting the astronomical tables then in use. He made daily astral observation for seven years before embarking on these stone constructions. He discarded the usual instruments of brass and built these massive ones in masonry which are used to the movements of stars. This observatory, together with the one at Jaipur, are the finest examples anywhere of observatories modeled on the general pattern laid down by Ulugh Baigh of Samarkand in the 14th century. The observatory is conceived with perfect stability and is adjusted to the meridian and latitude of the location.

- Safdarjung's Tomb
Safdarjung tomb is besides the Safdarjung airport. This tomb was built by the Nawab of Avadh for his father. The structure is one of the finest example of architecture of its time and tells the saga of a dying empire.

Delhi Nightlife
Delhi nightlife is becoming as vibrant as in Mumbai. With numerous pubs and bars like Decibel and Athena popping up, it is slowly becoming a way of life in Delhi to hang out in the night. Like a lot of the other Indian cities, you can almost always find a good bar or club at a 5-star New Delhi hotel.

Delhi Shopping
Delhi is a shopper’s delight. There are a lot of markets in Delhi. Some of the more famous all purpose one’s are C.P, Lajpat Nagar, Karol Bagh, Kamla Nagar (frequented by many youngsters), and Janpath (for the cheap, handy stuff).

Best time to visit
Temperatures range from 5 degrees C to 46 degrees C. The best time to visit is October-March. Summers in Delhi are very hot and it is not recommended to visit it during May, June or July.

How To Get There

- Air
Delhi is a major International Gateway to India. It has an extensive network of International as well as domestic flights. All the major airlines in the world fly through Delhi, and it is easily accessible from anywhere in the world. Domestic air links cover Delhi from all the major cities in the country.
- Train
Delhi is an important rail center connected to all places in India. It is an excellent place for booking too. There are two main stations in Delhi, Delhi Station and new Delhi station at Old Delhi and Paharganj respectively. There also the Nizamudin station in South Delhi. Trains run from all the parts of the country to Delhi. For nearby places like Chandigarh, Dehradun, Gwalior, Bhopal, Lucknow and Kanpur, the Shatabdi Express is recommended.
- Bus
Buses from all major places in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are available for getting to Delhi. During the summer months, air-conditioned coaches are recommended.