cities

Delhi

Open on map More cities Spin a random place Ask WorldAI

Overview

Delhi (Hindi: दिल्ली Dillī, Urdu: دہلی Dihlī, Punjabi: ਦਿੱਲੀ Dilī) is one of India's largest cities. This city, along with the capital New Delhi, forms the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT), rather than being par

Wikivoyage guide · 56 sections

▸Introduction550 chars

Delhi (Hindi: दिल्ली Dillī, Urdu: دہلی Dihlī, Punjabi: ਦਿੱਲੀ Dilī), India's largest city, is the country's thriving melting pot. Home to New Delhi, the country's capital, Delhi is at the centre of India's arts, commerce, education, tourism and transit. As the capital of several empires over the last 2000 years, the city contains a striking array of well-preserved historic sites for tourists to visit.

Delhi is the core of the National Capital Region (NCR), one of the world's largest metropolitan areas, with nearly 30 million inhabitants in 2025.

▸Districts261 chars

For travel purposes, this article divides Delhi into seven districts. Much of Delhi's pre-colonial wonders is spread across South Delhi, South East Delhi and Old Delhi. The British first settled at North Delhi before moving to the new capital New Delhi in 1911.

▸Understand1,022 chars

Travellers with little experience of visiting developing megacities may find Delhi to be chaotic at its worst, crowded and for much of the year, polluted. Air pollution has been a major problem in Delhi since the 1980s, with much of the day dominated with a very unhealthy amount of particles. During the late spring and early summer months, the city is scorchingly hot. Dig a little deeper, however, and you will get a glimpse of order beneath the chaos, as well as India's traditional and modern cultural richness flourishing side by side. First-time visitors experiencing culture shock are advised not to compound it by visiting during adverse weather conditions, and get a decent hotel room so you can stay in comfort between your sightseeing trips. In addition, read up on the various scams and other uncomfortable situations travellers to India often encounter. Prepaid SIM cards for tourists are readily available at the airport arrivals hall and convenience stores. They offer generous data packages at low rates.

Facts

Rank

—

Coordinates

—

Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage

Media

From Wikipedia9,484 words

WBP editorial3

Navigating the sensory overload

Delhi’s sheer scale makes a naïve stroll exhausting; seasoned visitors break the city into micro‑neighbourhoods. Start with the colonial grid of New Delhi, then cross the Yamuna to the bustling lanes of Old Delhi, and finish in the leafy, modern precincts of South Delhi. In each zone, swap the typical tourist map for a metro‑first plan: the Red Line links the historic core to the diplomatic enclave, while the Violet Line threads through up‑and‑coming art districts. Early‑morning rides avoid rush‑hour crowds and give you a chance to savour the city’s ever‑changing skyline, from minarets to glass towers.

A palate beyond the street stall

While the city’s chaats and kebabs dominate guidebooks, Delhi’s culinary scene stretches further. In the upscale districts of Hauz Khas and Khan market, chefs reinterpret regional Indian ingredients in fine‑dining settings—think slow‑braised Punjabi lamb with Kashmiri saffron foam. For a more intimate experience, seek out the family‑run dhabas tucked behind railway stations; they often serve a week‑long rotating menu that reflects seasonal harvests from the surrounding Punjab plains. Pair these meals with locally brewed craft beers or artisanal masala chai for a nuanced taste of the capital’s evolving food culture.

More in cities0

▸History4,418 chars

With evidence of continuous settlement dating back to the 6th century BCE, Delhi is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world. Thought to have been built and destroyed eleven times, evidence of at least eight distinct settlements can still be seen in Delhi. The most well-preserved historic sites are from the periods of Muslim and British rule, between 1193 and 1947.

The legendary city of Indraprastha from the epic Mahabharata is said to have been situated where Delhi now lies, but no remains of it have been found.

From the 10th to 14th century, the city was centred in what is now South Delhi:

1 Anangpur (Surajkund) — Built in the 9th-10th century on what is now the far southern outskirts of Delhi, in Faridabad. A large water reservoir can be seen, well preserved.

2 Qila Rai Pithora — Founded in perhaps the 11th century as a city named "Lalkot" under Hindu rule, in the current Mehrauli area. In around 1180, Hindu ruler Prithviraj Chauhan expanded this city and renamed it Qila Rai Pithora. Some of the ruins of the fort ramparts from this period are still visible around Qutb Minar and Mehrauli.

3 Mehrauli — Shortly afterwards, in 1192, Muslim leader Muhammad Ghori defeated Prithviraj Chauhan in battle. Ghori left his slave Qutb-ud-din Aibak as his viceroy, who in turn captured Delhi the subsequent year. After Ghori's death in 1206, Qutb-ud-din proclaimed himself the ruler of Delhi and founded what is known as the Slave Dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate. Qutb-ud-din contributed significantly in terms of architecture by building Mehrauli. His most prominent contribution is the starting of Qutb Minar (which was finally completed in 1220). The tombs and other buildings near the Qutb Minar also date to this period.

4 Siri — The Slave Dynasty was followed by the Khalji dynasty. In 1303 they established Siri, first as a military camp to protect against possible Mongol invasion, and later as a fortified city. Nowadays Hauz Khas complex (north of Mehrauli) contains ruins of Siri Fort, a madrasa, and other buildings from the period.

5 Tughlakabad — After the Khaljis there was chaos until Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq (a Turk governor) invaded Delhi in the 1320s, started the Tughlaq dynasty, and founded a new capital Tughlakabad, in South East Delhi. His son Muhammad Bin Tughlaq created another city called Jahapanah in the area between Siri and Qila Rai Pithora, uniting them into one city. Tughlakabad continued, however, to be the main capital city.

Starting in the 14th century, new areas were built further north, near the current city centre:

6 Ferozabad (Feroz Shah Kotla) — built by Muhammad bin Tughlaq's son, Feroz, in 1354. There still are some ruins which are visible around the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Central Delhi, near the river. The city was an enclosed large area and contained many palaces, mosques, pillared halls, and a multi-floored water reservoir. Feroz also erected a 1500-year-old Ashokan Pillar (previously erected in Meerut by Maurya emperor Ashoka) on top of the palace. Feroz was buried inside a lofty tomb in Hauz Khas. After his death, the sultanate became unstable and weak, and Delhi was conquered and sacked by Tamerlane. The Sayyid and Lodi dynasties who ruled Delhi after the Tughlaqs did less building, and the only relevant architecture visible from this period are the tombs at Lodi Gardens. The last of the Lodis was defeated by Babur, who then proceeded to establish the Mughal Empire in 1526.

7 Shergarh (Purana Qila) — In 1533, Babur's son Humayun built the new city of Dinpanah, near the river south of Firozabad. In 1540 Humayun was defeated by Sher Shah Suri and forced to withdraw from Delhi. Sher Shah Suri established the new city Shergarh on the ruins of Dinpanah. Shergarh is near the Delhi Zoo. Humayun later reconquered Delhi and returned to power. He then completed the construction and proceeded to rule from Shergarh.

8 Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi) — the following emperors moved away from Delhi and made Agra their capital. Shahjahan (Humayun's great-grandson) returned to Delhi and established Shahjahanabad, including the Jama Masjid and the Red Fort. Much of the city wall, and three of its six gates, still exist today.

9 New Delhi (Lutyens' Delhi) — New Delhi was established in 1911 after the British decided to move India's capital from Calcutta (present-day Kolkata). It is a planned city, designed by architect Sir Edwin Lutyens.

▸By plane1,709 chars

1 Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL IATA, sometimes abbreviated as IGI). The arrival point for many visitors into Delhi. There are several security checkpoints in the airport and you may have to show your boarding pass and passport a dozen times before boarding the plane. When leaving Delhi from the international terminal, arrive three hours before the time of departure. For domestic flights, two hours should suffice, depending on whether or not you must wait in the queues to check luggage. While sometimes time-consuming, the process is smooth, and the new terminal's shops and restaurants are sensibly located at the gate area, not before security. However, if you wish to change Indian rupees back into foreign currency, you must do this before clearing security. There is a complimentary inter-terminal bus that can take you between terminals, but it requires that you present your boarding pass within the terminal and get a coupon that entitles you to travel for free on the bus. Note that unlike western airports, these buses can go into city traffic and be subject to rush hour or other reasons why you can get delayed. (updated Sep 2022)

2 Noida International Airport (DXN IATA), Jewar, Uttar Pradesh (70 km (43 mi) SE central Delhi). Due to massive growth in air travel, a new airport has been built at the southeastern outskirts of the Delhi metro area. It only serves domestic destinations as of June 2026. Sadly, the faraway airport lacks public transport, so buses and taxis are your best bet to get into the city centre. (updated Aug 2026)

3 Hindon Airport (HDO IATA), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. Serves some regional flights as a civil enclave inside an air base. (updated Oct 2025)

▸By bus1,378 chars

Buses arrive from Kathmandu and Chitwan in Nepal (36 hr+) and virtually every city in India. Although not as comfortable as the trains, buses are the only choice for some destinations, mainly those in the mountains.

Delhi has three major Inter-State Bus Terminals (ISBTs): Kashmere Gate, Sarai Kale Khan and Anand Vihar. The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) is the major operator, but every state also runs its own buses and there are some private operators too.

4 Kashmere Gate ISBT (Maharana Pratap) (Metro Kashmere Gate, Line 1/2), ☏ +91 11 43090100, info@dimts.in. This is "the" ISBT and the largest of the lot. Buses to points north: Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Garwhal, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Nepal

5 Sarai Kale Khan ISBT (Vir Hakikat Rai) (next to Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station). Buses to points south, (Agra, Madhya Pradesh)

6 Anand Vihar ISBT (Swami Vivekanand) (On the east bank of Yamuna, M: Anand Vihar). Buses to points east (Lucknow, Kumaon)

7 Bikaner House, Pandara Rd, New Delhi (metro: Central Secretariat 2 6 ). Buses, including air-conditioned Volvo buses from Jaipur arrive at this place. For travel between Jaipur and Delhi, this bus stop is very clean, less crowded than ISBT, and easy to reach.

8 Majnu ka Tilla, New Aruna Nagar, (Tibetan colony, a short rickshaw ride from Metro Vidhan Sabha). Buses to Dharamsala

▸By train1,770 chars

Once you have purchased a ticket either at the ticket office or on-line prior to the trip, all you need to do is go to the rail car labelled with your class of service purchased. You can either get on and sit in the first available seat or, for higher classes of service, they will often post a passenger list on the car when it stops. Look for your name and go to the assigned car, cabin and seat. There is never a need to get a boarding pass so if anyone comes out of the crowd to tell you that, don't listen to them; it is a scam. If you're brave, you can simply purchase a general 2nd class ticket and then get on any car where there is availability. The conductor will come by and check your tickets after the train starts moving. If you are in a higher fare class than you are ticketed for, all you have to do is simply pay the difference in fare to the conductor. The only risk here is that the train could be full and you could be stuck in the lowest fare class which can be very crowded with little room to sit.

Ticket buying: The easiest way is to book online through the IRCTC booking website. Registration requires verification of an email address and a mobile phone number.

Do not trust strangers who appear out of the crowd to help you; ignore them. Always ask for assistance at the enquiry counter or policemen (in khaki uniform). Anyone who approaches you spontaneously should be completely ignored. Use one of the porters (in orange uniforms with metallic arms badges) to find your train and carry your luggage, in exchange for a tip.

Ticket office (on the road to Connaught Place with longer hours). It often has waiting times not much longer than at the tourist booking office. You will need to know the number or name of the train you want to take.

▸Stations1,711 chars

9 New Delhi NR (code: NDLS). 6AM–11PM. The main station of Delhi, and the terminal of most Rajdhani Express trains. See New Delhi for details. (updated Feb 2026)

10 Delhi Junction NR (code: DLI) (metro: Chandni Chowk 2 . There is an entrance just outside at the east end of the station and also just over the main road outside (last metro at about 11:30AM). If taking an auto rickshaw from here, the prepaid desk will often try to charge you as much as three times the actual price quoted on the official price guide displayed clearly in their window - bargaining is sadly often cheaper.). The secondary station of Delhi. (updated May 2023)

11 Hazrat Nizamuddin NR (code: NZM), Harsha Rd, Nizamuddin East, (A few kilometres to the south. Bus 261, 306 to the Sarai Kale Khan Inter State Bus Terminal (ISBT) on the ring road and then walk over to the station (400 m).). Many trains heading south. It's the least chaotic of the Big Three, but still pretty big and poorly signposted; listen to the announcements to figure out your train. The station has a pretty good food court that sells inexpensive, hygienic takeaway snacks including sandwiches and samosas. (updated May 2023)

12 Anand Vihar Terminal NR (code: ANVT) (metro: Anand Vihar 3/4 7 , RRTS: Anand Vihar DM , just opposite to Anand Vihar Interstate Bus Terminal (ISBT)). Terminal of most east-bound services. (updated Oct 2025)

13 Delhi Sarai Rohilla NR , Railway Officers Colony, (metro: Shastri Nagar 1 ; bus 71, 89). (updated May 2023)

14 Delhi Cantonment NR (bus 518, 545, 588 to Delhi Cantt). Luxury trains like the Royal Orient depart from this station. Besides, a Vande Bharat Express from Ajmer terminates at Delhi Cantonment.

▸By metro2,567 chars

The fast-growing Delhi Metro network provides a cheap, quick, mostly hassle-free and air-conditioned way of zipping around the city, although its increasing popularity means that rush hour crowds at key interchanges are starting to resemble Mumbai. As of 2026, there are 9 lines operational with 12 branches spanning over 370km and 271 stations:

Red Line 1 : Dilshad Garden–Rithala

Yellow Line 2 : Samaypur Badli–HUDA City Centre

Blue Line 3/4 : Dwarka Sector 21–Noida Electronic City

Blue Line branch: Yamuna Bank–Vaishali

Green Line 5 : Mundka–Inderlok

Green Line branch: Ashok Park Main–Kirti Nagar

Violet Line 6 : Kashmere Gate–Ballabhgarh

Orange Line Airport Express : New Delhi–IGI Airport–Dwarka Sector 21

Pink Line 7 : Majilis Park–Shiv Vihar

Magenta Line 8 : Krishna Park Extension –Botanical Garden

Grey Line 9 : Dwarka–Dhansa

Fares range from ₹10-60, just buy a token, change lines as necessary, and deposit the token in the slot as you exit. Tokens can be used only from the station they are bought, so you can't buy two and use the second to return home. If you're planning on sticking around for a while, you can buy a "Smart Card" for ₹200, which is worth ₹150 and includes a ₹50 deposit; using this saves 10% and, more importantly, lets you avoid the queues. There is also a "Tourist Card" allowing unlimited use for ₹150 (1 day) or ₹300 (3 days), but it's highly unlikely that you'll travel enough to make this pay off. Special fares apply for travel on the Airport Express. During rush hour, you might have to queue up for more than 20 minutes due to security checks, especially in the central stations.

The Yellow Line, in particular, is useful for getting to the Delhi Junction (Chandni Chowk, Jama Masjid) and New Delhi railway stations, the ISBT bus terminal, the backpacker ghetto of Paharganj, Hauz Khas and Qutub Minar. The Blue Line is also handy for visiting Akshardham, Botanical Garden and accessing the western parts of Paharganj through RK Ashram Marg station. The Magenta Line is also useful for getting to the Terminal 1 of Delhi Airport and visiting Hauz Khas, Lotus Temple, Okhla Bird Sanctuary and Botanical Garden.

The first coach in every train is reserved for women only; violations incur a penalty. Male passengers accompanying women or girls are forbidden, too.

Be aware that if you wish to exit at a main station during rush hour, you will have to tackle your way through in order to get out before the opposite flow of passengers push you back inside. Don't be afraid of using your strength to push yourself out.

▸By bus1,548 chars

All parts of Delhi are well connected by buses and with tickets ranging from ₹5-25 they are very cheap, but they are also quite crowded most of the time. The red and blue buses are air-conditioned and the green and orange ones are not. As bus stops do not have bus routes written properly, it can be difficult to find your way. Asking other people at the bus stop is often the best way to find out about bus routes to your destination. However, the buses are pretty frequent, running every 15-20 min or so on most routes.

There are two kinds of buses in Delhi:

Government run DTC (Delhi Transport Corporation) buses (red and green with big windows)

Privately run Blue-Line buses (orange)

If you have a choice, opt for a DTC bus. They will stop less frequently and will generally be less crowded too. Note that many buses, DTC ones too, will stop pretty much anywhere if there are enough people getting on or off.

DTC also runs special feeder buses from metro stations called DEVI(Delhi Electric Vehicle Interconnector) for last mile connectivity. Smaller electric bus fleet which run on shorter and narrower routes on which large DTC buses do not travel.

Board buses at the back and pay the ticket seller sitting right next to the door. Be sure to hang onto your tickets, as ticket checks are fairly frequent. Some seats on the left side of the bus may be reserved for women and the handicapped. When it's time to disembark, move to the front of the bus. As you might expect, all these guidelines are regularly ignored when buses are very crowded.

▸By taxi2,804 chars

A taxi or hired car (usually with driver) is required to see many of the far-flung sites within and around Delhi. However, the metro is a far cheaper and equally comfortable option.

Most Delhi taxis are old but reliable CNG-run Ambassadors or Omnis in distinctive black-and-yellow livery and a green stripe. The hired family car of choice is usually a Toyota Innova or Chevrolet Tavera. While all are equipped with meters and should cost ₹15 for the first km ₹8.5 per km, the meters are often rigged and it's better to agree on the price in advance. Most trips around the city should be ₹200-500, while a trip to the airport would be higher, depending on starting location. An eight-hour charter should cost around ₹1,500, and a tip is expected if the driver is helpful. The prices would also depend upon the vehicle size too. Black and yellow taxis are not air-conditioned. Even if they do have air conditioning, you will be charged extra (and the rates are up to the driver, so bargain hard).

Modern radio taxi services: at ₹20/km, they're more the list price of the competition, but they use modern vehicles with air-conditioning and GPS and can be dialled 24 hr/day. The flag fare is ₹20, and the fare increases by ₹5 for every 250 m after the first km. If you need an SUV, you need to inform the company in advance, but the fare remains the same. Night charges (25% extra) apply between 11PM to 5AM. Book up to a few hours in advance. Many corporate people rely on these cabs for their daily commute and they may be booked during office hours. Tipping is not expected. After booking, you will receive an SMS with the car plate number, and the driver's name and mobile number. Usually the driver will call you and inform you that they have arrived. Many drivers speak English at a very basic level, so use short phrases.

You can use TaxiPixi services and avoid all the hassle, available on both Android and iOS.

As of 2024, taxi for hire apps also include Uber, Ola, and Rapido.

Don't take non-official taxis, they might take you to wrong hotels, or to a "tourist information centre", and try to sell you overpriced things. To be on the safe side, Check that whether the driver has their official documentation or not.

Taxi rides involving tourists in Delhi almost always involve minor scams. Most of the time, the driver will demand more money than originally agreed. During the ride, prepare a sum of money that is at least the agreed fare and put in your shirt pocket or comparable spot. At the destination, get your belongings out of the car first and leave the door open to slow the driver down if he follows you. Hand the money to the driver without stupidly asking for change and then immediately walk away as quickly as you can in the direction that would be most difficult for him to follow.

▸By auto rickshaw1,637 chars

Auto rickshaws (also called three-wheeled scooters, tuk-tuks or simply autos) are good for shorter trips. Always in a distinctive yellow-and-green livery, auto rickshaws are three-wheeled partially enclosed contraptions that run on CNG and can seat three people in the back. In general, they are much cheaper than taxis and can be hailed from the street. Although by law the rickshaw drivers should charge according to the meter in their vehicle (₹25 for the first two km, ₹8/km after), this rate is unrealistically low and they will almost always try to haggle for price. Try to negotiate a price before entering the vehicle. As rules of thumb, expect even the shortest journey to cost ₹30-40/person regardless of the meter, but you should never need to pay over ₹150 for any trip within the city. If you're overquoted, don't be afraid to walk away. It's usually easy to find another one soon, usually with a driver who won't rip you off.

If you have any trouble with drivers, go to any of the numerous tourist police stations in the city centre and they will give you a complaint slip which will result in a ₹500 fine for the auto driver. There should also be a telephone number written on the vehicle to call in case of any complaint.

There are a number of "Pre-paid" auto stands run by the Police. Tell them where you want to go and pay them upfront. The charge will include ₹5 for the service. You then take the coupon and stand outside where a policeman will direct you to the next available Auto. When your journey is completed you hand the coupon to the auto driver and that's it. Nothing more to pay (despite what they may say).

▸See1,633 chars

Individual listings can be found in Delhi's district articles

Delhi is known for its impressive range of structures — fortifications, mosques, and tombs — built during the centuries when Delhi was the centre of large Muslim empires. There are dozens of notable sites scattered around the city, and several of them are internationally famous as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Detailed listings of all sights in Delhi can be found in the district articles.

The most visited sites are the Red Fort (the 17th century palace of the Mughal emperor), the Jama Masjid (a vast and beautiful 17th century mosque), the Qutb Minar (a 73-meter high tower, dating to the 13th century but still with well-preserved intricate carvings), Humayun's Tomb (the vast 16th century tomb of the Mughal emperor Humayun), and the Purana Qila (a 16th-century Mughal citadel).

Newcomers often confuse between Delhi and New Delhi. In fact, New Delhi, the capital of India, is a city within the Delhi metropolis. New Delhi was built in 1911–12 under the British rule. Being centrally planned in the modern era, it features wide boulevards, large parks, and roundabouts between its government buildings. Popular sights here are the India Gate, the Kartavya Path "national mall" connecting the main government buildings, and Rashtrapati Bhavan (presidential palace). Many of the most important museums in Delhi are located here too.

Another popular attraction is the Bahá'í Lotus Temple in the South East, a modern structure built with a flower-like shape. It is one of the most visited buildings in the world. The Akshardham is another such attraction in East Delhi.

▸Clothing1,481 chars

Delhi is a shoppers' paradise when it comes to clothing. From centuries-old bazaars selling traditional fabrics and bridal wear to trendy street markets and luxury malls with international labels, travellers can find almost any style here. Bargaining is common in street markets, while fixed prices are the norm in malls and branded stores.

If you're looking for ethnic wear, Chandni Chowk can be a good place with historic lanes filled with sari and lehenga shops, ideal for weddings and festive attire. In Karol Bagh you can find affordable salwar kameez, saris, and everyday Indian wear. If you prefer to shop at a chain store, look for FabIndia with multiple outlets around Delhi. They have high-quality handloom cottons and silks in elegant, contemporary cuts.

For Western wear, some options include the Sarojini Nagar Market, famous for trendy, fast-fashion style clothing at bargain prices and the Janpath Market for youth-oriented clothing and accessories, with a bohemian touch. The Select Citywalk Mall (Saket) is a popular mall featuring both Indian and international fashion brands.

There are also some options if looking for both Indian and western clothing. The Lajpat Nagar Central Market is a blend of ethnic and Indo-western outfits at mid-range prices. Shahpur Jat features designer boutiques offering fusion fashion, popular with young professionals. Also, the state-run handicraft market Dilli Haat sells regional textiles, kurtas, and unique handmade clothing.

▸Eat2,063 chars

Individual listings can be found in Delhi's district articles

Delhiites complain about many things in their city, but the food will satisfy even the most demanding gourmet. Not only can you find some of the best Indian food on the subcontinent, but there is also an increasing number of excellent (if often pricey) international restaurants offering cuisine from around the world. When ordering, do remember that Delhi is about 1,000 km from the nearest ocean, so vegetarian, chicken and mutton dishes are the way to go.

Do visit Paranthe Wali Gali in Chandni Chowk. This street has shops that make and sell solely parathas (stuffed Indian bread)with pandit ji parathe wale being in the business for over 150 years and many generations. These are available in all the possible flavours and stuffing you may imagine, with hundreds of varieties from bitter gourd to ice cream.

Delhi has arguably the best street food in India. However, do not eat unhygienic or open food. There are plenty of restaurants offering street food in a potentially more hygienic environment.

You can join local groups of foodies who go out regularly to sample and savour what new and old dishes the city has to offer. If you want a fully customized food tour tailored specifically for you, then Food Tour In Delhi is a good choice. The guests can explore the street food of Delhi in a fun and safe manner. Their tours cover food joints which are in business for 50 to 120 years and serve some of the best street food in the world. The tours cover winding streets of Old Delhi as well as swanky upscale markets located all over the city. The food tours are led by chefs and culinary experts with extensive experience and offer facilities such as pickup and drop, unlimited food which covers all major varieties of food available in the city. Another one of the most active groups is Food Enthusiasts of Delhi. They organize regular food walks, better known as Raids to various parts and joints in the city. It's a non-commercial group, brought together by their passion and love for food.

▸Stay safe4,938 chars

Many first-time travellers to India find themselves falling victim to scams and touts, and unfortunately Delhi has a lot of both. Be on guard for anybody trying to help you by giving you unsolicited directions or travel advice. Do not blindly rely on the advice of taxi and auto drivers. If this is your first time to India, do not openly admit it, as this will make you more vulnerable to touts.

Delhi is very unsafe for women travellers, and is among the three most unsafe cities for women in India. It is considered as the 'rape capital of the world'. It is not uncommon in some areas to receive lewd remarks or even physical touching. If you are arriving into Delhi for the first time at night, stay in either the airport or station lounge, or well-lit areas until daybreak if you haven't booked a hotel yet. Never use public transport, or travel outside your hotel during the night, to avoid sexual harassment. Dress conservatively (preferably in Indian clothing so as to blend in). Learn to shout and consider carrying mace/pepper spray. It is recommended to walk with a male that you know, to avoid this.

Carry your cash, passport, and cards in a secure money belt, with only enough cash for a few hours at a time in your wallet or other accessible place. Some recommend carrying an expendable wallet with a few ten rupee notes in it in an obvious place such as your hip pocket as a decoy to Delhi's ubiquitous pickpockets.

Several tourist agencies have been known to swindle tourists, such as by changing their travel plans or charging them extra commissions and fees. You should book your flight tickets online, as all the airlines have online booking systems. Otherwise, prepare to spend a good hour sorting through the charges that the tourist agency will charge.

The best way to secure train tickets is by navigating through IRCTC website. If you have problems booking online - the IRCTC site is unreliable - you can buy tickets in person. The best place to do so is at the Tourist Information Centre, these are within transit hubs. Be very careful, there are many scammers surrounding the railway stations looking for anyone on foot and out-of-place who will "help" you find a "ticket office for foreigners", usually in a nondescript building some blocks from a station, where you will be overcharged and cajoled into signing up for cars, tours, etc. When in doubt, look at reviews for the information centre you are at (for example, on Google Maps). Some scammers will stand at the entrance to the station and physically try to block you from entering, demanding to see your tickets (never mind that you need to enter the station to buy tickets!). Remember - you should be able to enter any station just by going through a metal detector. Nobody will check your tickets before you get on a train (As a measure to control crowding at stations, many stations may require you to purchase a platform ticket (usually costs ₹10-20) if you are just visiting and do not have a railway ticket with you.

If arriving late at night at the airport or railway station, be very wary of taxi drivers trying to scam tired and unprepared tourists. A common scam is to drive you an area where there are roadworks or a roadblock, and tell you that the path to your hotel is blocked off and it's not possible to take you there. They'll then suggest to take you to another hotel, where they receive a commission for bringing customers. They may take you to a number of hotels first which all say they are full up, so as to increase your desperation, and hence openness to paying more. There have been reports also, of bringing tourists to a "travel agent", who will feign ringing your booked hotel to confirm that either the way is blocked, or they are overbooked and there is no room available. If you've let on that you were only staying in Delhi for the night, they may also try to convince you, that there are no hotel rooms available anywhere, and sell you an extremely overpriced private car ride to your next destination. This can be a very confusing and tiring process if you've just come off a long flight, short on sleep.

If you're arriving after midnight, it is therefore highly advisable to have accommodation pre-booked and arrange pick-up from the airport or station with your hotel, or at least have the phone number with you, so that should you get lost or caught in a sticky situation you have someone reliable to call up.

Practically everyone who handles your cash in Delhi will shortchange you, including the clerks at the police taxi kiosk at the airport and ticket sellers at historic sites and museums. It will be your word against theirs, so the only protection is to just not need change. Learn the money as soon as possible. Count out the smallest sum you can produce that is at least the price you need to pay. If they claim you didn't pay what you actually paid, write the cash off, walk away, and go somewhere else.

▸Stay healthy1,821 chars

Summer begins in early April and continues till the end of June, with the heat peaking in May. By the latter part of April or during early May. The temperatures regularly exceed 40 °C (104 °F), meaning that proper hydration is of the utmost importance. Keep yourself covered in summers to avoid a heat stroke. Drink a lot of water — around 3 litres a day — particularly in the summer. Keep in mind that the water is almost always manufactured by reverse osmosis (RO). This means that it is close to distilled water, and you might want to mix some ORS / WHO solutions into the water.

Winter arrives in Delhi by late November or early December and continues till mid-February. In winter there can be seasonal fog; on particularly foggy days, it can be difficult to see across the street. If you are flying in or out Delhi during the winters, be aware of fog-related flight delays.

Drink only packaged bottled water to avoid water-related illness. Sticking to freshly- and well-cooked food will lessen your chances on acquiring the "Delhi belly".

Delhi is one of the most polluted cities in the world, with pollution levels often in the "poor", "severe", or "hazardous" range. Keep an eye on air quality data. Air quality is especially bad around the crop burning season, which begins in late September and extends towards early November. Consider wearing a surgical mask or other approved N95/N99 mask, especially if spending an extended time in Delhi or North India. For travellers with significant respiratory problems, a P100 mask isn't overkill, though remember that wearing rubber masks will often cause skin irritation if worn for prolonged periods in high heat and humidity. Additionally, the Oberoi and some other high end hotels have built in air filtration systems, and the additional expenditure may be worth it.

▸Embassies1,656 chars

Most embassies are in the Chanakyapuri area of New Delhi; see New Delhi#Embassies and High Commissions. However, some are outside the capital city limits, which are listed here.

Algeria, 2/2, Shanti Niketan, ☏ +91 11 2411-7585, +91 11 2411-8586, fax: +91 11 2411-7590, contact@algerianembassy.co.in. (updated Feb 2026)

Angola, 5, Poorvi Marg Vasant Vihar, Vasant Vihar, ☏ +91 11 2614-6195, +91 11 2614-6197, fax: +91 11 2614-6184, xietuang@del2.vsnl.net.in.

5 Brunei, August Kranti Marg. High Commission of Brunei Darussalam

6 Cambodia, Outer Ring Road, 110017, New Delhi.

7 Cuba, E-2/5, Vasant Vihar, ☏ +91 91262 62468, secretaria@in.embacuba.cu, consular@in.embacuba.cuMULTIPLE EMAIL. M- Th, 09:00 -13:00. (updated Apr 2026)

Maldives, C-31, Anand Niketan, ☏ +91 11 4143-5701, fax: +91-11-4143-5709. (updated Jul 2017)

8 Mexico, C, Anand Niketan, 8, Benito Juarez Marg, Block C, Anand Niketan, ☏ +91 11 2411 7180. (updated Aug 2019)

North Macedonia, Hauz Khas Enclave K 80 A, ☏ +91 11 4614 2603, fax: +91 11 4614 2604, delhi@mfa.gov.mk.

9 Paraguay, ☏ +91 11 42705671, fax: +91 11 42705672. Official M-F 9AM-5PM, consular & visitors 10AM-1PM.

10 Peru, D-2/5, Block D, Vasant Vihar, ☏ +91 11 4616 3333.

Romania, D 6/6, Vasant Vihar, ☏ +91 11 26140447, fax: +91 11 26140611, newdelhi@mae.ro. Also covers as the embassy of Romania for Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal. (updated Dec 2021)

Rwanda, 41, Paschimi Marg, Vasant Vihar, ☏ +91 11 2866 1604, fax: +91 11 2866 1605, rwanda@spectranet.com.

11 South Africa, B -18, Vasant Marg, Block B, Vasant Vihar, ☏ +91 11 2614 9411.

12 Taiwan, 83, Paschimi Marg. (updated Apr 2026)

▸Further away in India1,359 chars

Bandhavgarh National Park and the Bandhavgarh Fort are the tiger reserves in Madhya Pradesh. This is a tiger preservation project and has the highest density of tigers in India.

Char Dham of Uttarakhand - Delhi is the starting point of the famous pilgrimage centres of the Himalayan state: Badrinath (the abode of Vishnu), Kedarnath (the abode of Shiva), Gangotri and Yamunotri (the origin of sacred rivers Ganges and Yamuna respectively).

Corbett National Park, the first national park of the country, is around 5 hours' drive from Delhi

Dharamsala, the seat of the Dalai Lama's government-in-exile, is 10-12 hr to the north. Tickets can be purchased from Main Bazaar tourist offices, Majnu ka Tilla Tibetan settlement or the ISBT.

Ride the Maharajas' Express, a luxury train running between Delhi and Mumbai.

The holy cities of Haridwar and Rishikesh, in the foothills of the Himalayas, are a 5-6 hr bus or train ride away.

Mussoorie - one of the original British hill stations in India; also known as The Queen of the Hills.

Nainital - another beautiful hill station in the Kumaon hills with the magnificent Naini Lake.

Shimla - the summer capital of British India, now the state capital of Himachal Pradesh. It has many scenic and historic locations and is about an 8 hr drive or 10 hr in a bus. A direct flight from Delhi takes just 1 hr to reach Shimla.

Introduction

Megacity and union territory of India "National Capital Territory" redirects here. For the generic term, see Capital districts and territories. For other uses, see Delhi (disambiguation). Megacity and union territory in IndiaDelhi DillīMegacity and union territoryNational Capital Territory of DelhiFrom top, left to right: Humayun's Tomb; Qutub Minar; Jama Masjid; Red Fort's Lahori gate; India Gate; Digambar Jain Mandir with Gauri Shankar temple in the background; St. James' Church; Hyderabad House; Lotus Temple, a Baháʼí House of WorshipLocation of Delhi in IndiaCountry IndiaRegionNorth IndiaCapital, Delhi Sultanate1214Capital, Mughal Empire1526, intermittently with AgraNew Delhi, capital, British Indian Empire12 December 1911New Delhi, capital, Republic of India26 January 1950Union Territory1 November 1956National Capital Territory1 February 1992Government • BodyGovernment of Delhi • Lieutenant GovernorTaranjit Singh Sandhu • Chief MinisterRekha Gupta (BJP) • LegislatureUnicameral (70 seats)Area • Megacity and union territory1,484 km2 (573 sq mi) • Water18 km2 (6.9 sq mi) • Metro3,483 km2 (1,345 sq mi)Elevation200–250 m (660–820 ft)Population (2011) • Megacity and union territory16,787,941 • Estimate (2024)21,588,000 • Rank2nd in India7th in Asia • Density11,312/km2 (29,298/sq mi) • Urban16,349,831 (2nd) • Megacity11,034,555 (2nd) • Metro (2018)28,514,000 (1st)Languages • OfficialHindiEnglish • Additional officialPunjabiUrdu • RegionalHaryanviKhariboliGDP (2025–26) • Megacity and union territory (Nominal)₹1,327,055 crore (US$140 billion) • Per Capita NSDP₹614,719 (US$6,400) • Metro (Nominal)$273 billion • PPP$652.4 billionTime zoneUTC+5.30 (IST)PINs110000–110099Area code+91 11ISO 3166 codeIN-DLVehicle registrationDLInternational AirportIndira Gandhi International AirportRapid TransitDelhi MetroHDI (2018) 0.839 (Very High) · 1stLiteracy (2011)86.21%Sex ratio (2011)868 ♀/1000 ♂Websitedelhi.gov.in Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a megacity and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, but spread chiefly to the west, or beyond its right bank, Delhi shares borders with the state of Uttar Pradesh in the east and with the state of Haryana in the remaining directions. Delhi became a union territory on 1 November 1956 and the NCT in 1995. The NCT covers an area of 1,484 square kilometres (573 sq mi). According to the 2011 census, Delhi's city proper population was over 11 million, while the NCT's population was about 16.8 million. The topography of the medieval fort Purana Qila on the banks of the river Yamuna matches the literary description of the citadel Indraprastha in the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata; however, excavations in the area have revealed no signs of an ancient built environment. From the early 13th century until the mid-19th century, Delhi was the capital of two major empires, the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire, which covered large parts of South Asia. All three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the city, the Qutub Minar, Humayun's Tomb, and the Red Fort, belong to this period. Delhi was the early centre of Sufism and Qawwali music. The names of Nizamuddin Auliya and Amir Khusrau are prominently associated with it. The Khariboli dialect of Delhi was part of a linguistic development that gave rise to the literature of Urdu and later Modern Standard Hindi. Major Urdu poets from Delhi include Mir Taqi Mir and Mirza Ghalib. Delhi was a notable centre of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. In 1911, New Delhi, a southern region within Delhi, became the capital of the British Indian Empire. During the Partition of India in 1947, Delhi was transformed from a Mughal city to a Punjabi one, losing two-thirds of its Muslim residents, in part due to the pressure brought to bear by the arriving Hindu and Sikh refugees from western Punjab. After independence in 1947, New Delhi continued as the capital of the Dominion of India, and after 1950, of the Republic of India. Delhi's urban agglomeration, which includes the satellite cities Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gurgaon, Noida, Greater Noida and YEIDA city located in an area known as the National Capital Region (NCR), has an estimated population of over 28 million, making it the largest metropolitan area in India and the fourth-largest in the world (after Jakarta, Dhaka, and Tokyo, respectively). Delhi ranks fifth among the Indian states and union territories in human development index, and has the second-highest GDP per capita in India (after Goa). Delhi hosted the inaugural 1951 Asian Games, the 1982 Asian Games, the 1983 Non-Aligned Movement summit, the 2010 Men's Hockey World Cup, the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the 2012 BRICS summit, and the 2023 G20 summit, and was one of the major host cities of the 2011 and 2023 Cricket World Cups.

Toponym

[edit] There are a number of myths and legends associated with the origin of the name Delhi. One of them is derived from Dhillu or Dilu, a king who built a city at this location in 50 BCE and named it after himself. Another legend holds that the name of the city is based on the Prakrit word dhili (loose) and that it was used by the Tomaras to refer to the city because the iron pillar of Delhi had a weak foundation and had to be moved. According to Panjab Notes and Queries, the name of the city at the time of King Prithviraj was dilpat, and that dilpat and dilli are probably derived from the old Hindi word dil meaning "eminence". The former director of the Archaeological Survey of India, Alexander Cunningham, mentioned that dilli later became dihli/dehli. Some suggest the coins in circulation in the region under the Tomaras were called dehliwal. According to the Bhavishya Purana, King Prithiviraja of Indraprastha built a new fort in the modern-day Purana Qila area for the convenience of all four castes in his kingdom. He ordered the construction of a gateway to the fort and later named the fort dehali. Some historians believe that Dhilli or Dhillika is the original name for the city while others believe the name could be a corruption of the Hindustani words dehleez or dehali—both terms meaning "threshold" or "gateway"—and symbolic of the city as a gateway to the Gangetic Plain. The people of Delhi are referred to as Delhiites or Dilliwalas. The city is referenced in various idioms of the Northern Indo-Aryan languages. Examples include: Abhī Dillī dūr hai (अभी दिल्ली दूर है / ابھی دلی دور ہے) or its Persian version, Hanuz Dehli dur ast (هنوز دهلی دور است), literally meaning "Delhi is still far away", which is generically said about a task or journey still far from completion. Ās-pās barse, Dillī pānī tarse (आस-पास बरसे, दिल्ली पानी तरसे / آس پاس برسے، دلی پانی ترسے), literally meaning "It pours all around, while Delhi lies parched". An allusion to the sometimes semi-arid climate of Delhi, it idiomatically refers to situations of deprivation when one is surrounded by plenty. The form Delhi, spelled in the Latin script with the h following the l, originated under colonial rule and is an alternation of the spelling based on the Urdu name of the city (دہلی, Dehli).

History

[edit] Main articles: History of Delhi and Old Delhi Historical affiliations Kuru Kingdom c. 1200 BCE – c. 345 BCE Nanda Empire c. 345 BCE – c. 322 BCE Mauryan Empire c. 322 BCE – 185 BCE Shunga Empire 185 BCE – 73 BCE Sakas 1st century CE Kushan Empire 30 CE – 375 CE Gupta Empire c. 240 CE – c. 550 CE Pushyabhuti dynasty c. 500 – c. 647 CE Varman dynasty c. 725 – c. 770 CE Pratihara dynasty c. 730 – 1036 CE Chahamanas of Shakambhari c. 1036 – 1192 CE Ghurid dynasty 1192 – 1206 CE Delhi Sultanate 1206 – 1398 CE Timurid Empire 1398 CE Delhi Sultanate 1398 – 1526 CE Mughal Empire 1526 – 1540 CE Sur Empire 1540 – 1555 CE Mughal Empire 1555 – 1737 CE Maratha Empire influence 1737 CE Afsharids 1738 – 1739 CE Maratha Empire 1737 – 1803 CE Durrani Empire 1757 CE British East India Company 1803 – 1858 CE  India British India 1858 CE – 1947 CE India 1947 CE – Present Ancient and early medieval periods[edit] The walls of the 16th-century Purana Qila built on a mound matching ancient literary descriptions Traditionally seven cities have been associated with the region of Delhi. The earliest, Indraprastha, is part of a literary description in the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata (composed c. 400 BCE to 300 CE but describing an earlier time) which situates a city on a knoll on the banks of the river Yamuna. According to art historian Catherine B. Asher, the topographical description of the Mahabharata matches the area of Purana Qila, a 14th-century CE fort of the Delhi sultanate, but the analogy does not go much further. Whereas the Mahabharata speaks of a beautifully decorated city with surrounding fortifications, the excavations have yielded "uneven findings of painted grey pottery characteristic of the eleventh century BCE; no signs of a built environment, much less fortifications, have been revealed." The earliest architectural relics date back to the Maurya period (c. 300 BCE); in 1966, an inscription of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka (273–235 BCE) was discovered near Srinivaspuri. Remains of several major cities can be found in Delhi. The first of these was in the southern part of present-day Delhi. Tomara Rajput King Anang Pal built the Lal Kot and several temples in 1052 CE. The Chauhan Rajputs under Vigraharaja IV conquered Lal Kot in the mid-12th century and renamed it Qila Rai Pithora. Late medieval period[edit] See also: Delhi Sultanate The Qutub Minar, Delhi Prithviraj Chauhan was defeated in 1192 by Muhammad Ghori in the second battle of Tarain. Qutb-ud-din Aibak, was given the responsibility of governing the conquered territories of India after Ghori returned to his capital, Ghor. When Ghori died without an heir in 1206 CE, Qutb-ud-din assumed control of Ghori's Indian possessions and laid the foundation of the Delhi Sultanate and the Mamluk dynasty. He began construction of the Qutb Minar and Quwwat-al-Islam (Might of Islam) mosque, the earliest extant mosque in India. It was his successor, Iltutmish (1211–1236), who consolidated the conquest of northern India. At 72.5 m (238 ft), the Qutb Minar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Delhi, was completed during the reign of Sultan Illtutmish in the 13th century. Although its style has some similarities with the Jarkurgan minaret, it is more closely related to the Ghaznavid and Ghurid minarets of Central Asia Razia, daughter of Iltutmish, became the Sultana of Delhi upon the former's death. For the next three hundred years, Delhi was ruled by a succession of Turkic, Indian and an Afghan, Lodi dynasty. They built several forts and townships that are part of the seven cities of Delhi. Delhi was a major centre of Sufism during this period. The Mamluk Sultanate (Delhi) was overthrown in 1290 by Jalal ud din Firuz Khalji (1290–1320). Under the second Khalji ruler, Ala-ud-din Khalji, the Delhi sultanate extended its control south of the Narmada River in the Deccan. The Delhi sultanate reached its greatest extent during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughluq (1325–1351). In an attempt to bring the whole of the Deccan under control, he moved his capital to Daulatabad, Maharashtra in central India. However, by moving away from Delhi he lost control of the north and was forced to return to Delhi to restore order. The southern provinces then broke away. In the years following the reign of Firoz Shah Tughlaq (1351–1388), the Delhi Sultanate rapidly began to lose its hold over its northern provinces. Delhi was captured and sacked by Timur in 1398, who massacred 100,000 captive civilians. Delhi's decline continued under the Sayyid dynasty (1414–1451), until the sultanate was reduced to Delhi and its hinterland. Under the Afghan Lodi dynasty (1451–1526), the sultanate recovered control of Punjab and the Gangetic plain to once again achieve domination over Northern India. However, the recovery was short-lived and the sultanate was destroyed in 1526 by Babur, founder of the Mughal dynasty.[citation needed] Early modern period[edit] See also: Mughal Empire Red Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was the main residence of the Mughal emperors for nearly 200 years. In 1526, Babur, a descendant of Genghis Khan and Timur from the Fergana Valley in modern-day Uzbekistan, invaded India and defeated the last Lodhi sultan in the First Battle of Panipat and founded the Mughal Empire that ruled from Delhi and Agra. The Mughal dynasty ruled Delhi for more than three centuries, with a sixteen-year hiatus during the reigns of Sher Shah Suri and Hemu from 1540 to 1556. Shah Jahan built the seventh city of Delhi that bears his name Shahjahanabad, which served as the capital of the Mughal Empire from 1638 and is today known as the Old City or Old Delhi. After the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, the Mughal Empire's influence declined rapidly as the Hindu Maratha Empire from Deccan Plateau rose to prominence. In 1737, Maratha forces led by Baji Rao I sacked Delhi following their victory against the Mughals in the First Battle of Delhi. In 1739, the Mughal Empire lost the huge Battle of Karnal in less than three hours against the numerically outnumbered but militarily superior Persian army led by Nader Shah of Persia. After his invasion, he completely sacked and looted Delhi, carrying away immense wealth including the Peacock Throne, the Daria-i-Noor, and Koh-i-Noor. The Mughals, severely further weakened, could never overcome this crushing defeat and humiliation which also left the way open for more invaders to come, including eventually the British. Nader eventually agreed to leave the city and India after forcing the Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah I to beg him for mercy and granting him the keys of the city and the royal treasury. A treaty signed in 1752 made Marathas the protectors of the Mughal throne in Delhi. The city was sacked again in 1757 by the forces of Ahmad Shah Durrani, although it was not annexed by the Afghan Empire and being its vassal state under the Mughal emperor. Then the Marathas battled and won control of Delhi from the Afghans. Colonial period[edit] See also: British Raj British India stamps, inauguration, New Delhi, February 1931 In 1803, during the Second Anglo-Maratha War, the forces of British East India Company defeated the Maratha forces in the Battle of Delhi. During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, Delhi fell to the forces of East India Company after a bloody fight known as the Siege of Delhi. The city came under the direct control of the British Government in 1858. It was made a district province of the Punjab. In 1911, it was announced that the capital of the British Indian Empire was to be transferred from Calcutta to Delhi. This formally transferred on 12 December 1911. The name "New Delhi" was given in 1927, and the new capital was inaugurated on 13 February 1931. New Delhi was officially declared as the capital of the Union of India after the country gained independence on 15 August 1947. Partition and post-independence[edit] Khan Market in New Delhi, now a high-end shopping district, was established in 1951 to help refugees of the Partition of India, especially those from the North West Frontier Province (NWFP). It honours Khan Abdul Jabbar Khan, chief minister of NWFP during the Partition. During the partition of India, around five hundred thousand Hindu and Sikh refugees, mainly from West Punjab migrated to Delhi, whereas around three hundred thousand Muslim residents of the city migrated to Pakistan. Delhi has expanded much since 1947; the small part of it that was constructed during the British period has come to be informally known as Lutyens' Delhi. The States Reorganisation Act, 1956 created the Union Territory of Delhi from its predecessor, the Chief Commissioner's Province of Delhi. The Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1991 declared the Union Territory of Delhi to be formally known as the National Capital Territory of Delhi. The Act gave Delhi its legislative assembly along Civil lines, though with limited powers. Delhi was the primary site in the nationwide anti-Sikh pogroms of 1984, which resulted in the death of around 2,800 people in the city according to government figures, though independent estimates of the number of people killed tend to be higher. The riots were set off by the assassination of Indira Gandhi—the Prime Minister of India at the time—by her Sikh bodyguards. In 2001, the Parliament of India building in New Delhi was attacked by armed militants, killing six security personnel. India suspected Pakistan-based Jihadist militant groups were behind the attack, which caused a major diplomatic crisis between the two countries. There were further terrorist attacks in Delhi in 2005 and 2008, resulting in a total of 92 deaths. In 2020, Delhi witnessed worst communal violence in decades. The riots, caused mainly by Hindu mobs attacking Muslims, 53 people were killed, two-thirds were Muslims, and the rest Hindus.

Geography

[edit] Main article: Environment of Delhi Aerial view of Delhi in April 2016 with river Yamuna in top-right Delhi is located in North India at 28°37′N 77°14′E / 28.61°N 77.23°E / 28.61; 77.23. The city is bordered on its northern, western, and southern sides by the state of Haryana and to the east by that of Uttar Pradesh (UP). Two prominent features of the geography of Delhi are the Yamuna flood plains and the Delhi Ridge. The Yamuna River was the historical boundary between Haryana and UP, and its floodplains provide fertile alluvial soil suitable for agriculture but are prone to recurrent flooding. The Yamuna, a sacred river in Hinduism, is the only major river flowing through Delhi. The Hindon River separates Ghaziabad from the eastern part of Delhi. The Delhi Ridge originates in the Aravalli Range to the south and encircles the west, northeast, and northwest parts of the city. It reaches a height of 318 m (1,043 ft) and is a dominant feature of the region. In addition to the wetlands formed by the Yamuna River, Delhi continues to retain over 500 ponds (wetlands < 5 ha (12 acres)), which in turn support a considerable number of bird species. Delhi's ponds, despite experiencing ecological deterioration due to garbage dumping and concretisation, support the largest number of bird species known to be using ponds anywhere in the world. Existing policy in Delhi prevents the conversion of wetlands and, quite inadvertently, has led to the city's ponds becoming invaluable refuge for birds. The National Capital Territory of Delhi covers an area of 1,483 km2 (573 sq mi), of which 783 km2 (302 sq mi) is designated rural, and 700 km2 (270 sq mi) urban therefore making it the largest city in terms of area in the country. It has a maximum length of 51.9 km (32 mi) and a greatest width of 48.48 km (30 mi).Delhi is included in India's seismic zone-IV, indicating its vulnerability to major earthquakes. The region is traversed by the Delhi–Haridwar Ridge and the Delhi–Moradabad fault systems, which contribute to its seismic hazard, with the potential for earthquakes reaching intensity VIII on the MSK scale. Climate[edit] See also: Climate of Delhi Delhi features a dry winter humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cwa), closely bordering a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen BSh). The warm season lasts from Mid-Late March to mid-late June with an average daily high temperature above 39 °C (102 °F). The hottest day of the year is usually in late May, with an average high of 42 °C (108 °F) and a low of 27 °C (81 °F). The cold season lasts from late November to late February with an average daily high temperature below 20 °C (68 °F). The coldest day of the year is usually in January, with an average low of 6.9 °C (44.4 °F) and a high of 19.3 °C (66.7 °F). In early March, the wind direction changes from north-westerly to south-westerly. From April to October, the weather is hot. The monsoon arrives at the end of June, along with an increase in humidity.[citation needed] The brief, mild winter starts in late November, peaks in January, and heavy fog often occurs. Delhi receives an average annual precipitation of 774.4 mm (30.49 in). vteClimate data for New Delhi (Safdarjung) 1991–2020, extremes 1901–present Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high °C (°F) 32.5(90.5) 34.1(93.4) 40.6(105.1) 45.6(114.1) 47.2(117.0) 46.7(116.1) 45.0(113.0) 42.0(107.6) 40.6(105.1) 39.4(102.9) 36.1(97.0) 30.0(86.0) 47.2(117.0) Mean maximum °C (°F) 25.8(78.4) 29.5(85.1) 35.8(96.4) 41.4(106.5) 44.3(111.7) 43.7(110.7) 40.1(104.2) 37.4(99.3) 37.1(98.8) 36.1(97.0) 32.2(90.0) 27.3(81.1) 44.8(112.6) Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 20.1(68.2) 24.2(75.6) 29.9(85.8) 36.5(97.7) 39.9(103.8) 39.0(102.2) 35.6(96.1) 34.2(93.6) 34.1(93.4) 33.0(91.4) 28.4(83.1) 22.8(73.0) 31.4(88.5) Daily mean °C (°F) 13.8(56.8) 17.4(63.3) 22.7(72.9) 28.9(84.0) 32.7(90.9) 33.3(91.9) 31.5(88.7) 30.4(86.7) 29.5(85.1) 26.2(79.2) 20.5(68.9) 15.6(60.1) 25.2(77.4) Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 7.5(45.5) 10.6(51.1) 15.6(60.1) 21.3(70.3) 25.8(78.4) 27.7(81.9) 27.5(81.5) 26.7(80.1) 25.0(77.0) 19.5(67.1) 13.0(55.4) 8.4(47.1) 18.9(66.0) Mean minimum °C (°F) 3.5(38.3) 6.0(42.8) 10.7(51.3) 16.3(61.3) 20.5(68.9) 22.2(72.0) 24.3(75.7) 23.7(74.7) 21.9(71.4) 15.0(59.0) 8.8(47.8) 4.5(40.1) 3.1(37.6) Record low °C (°F) −0.6(30.9) 1.6(34.9) 4.4(39.9) 10.7(51.3) 15.1(59.2) 17.6(63.7) 20.3(68.5) 20.7(69.3) 16.1(61.0) 9.4(48.9) 3.9(39.0) 0.0(32.0) −0.6(30.9) Average rainfall mm (inches) 19.1(0.75) 21.3(0.84) 17.4(0.69) 16.3(0.64) 30.7(1.21) 74.1(2.92) 209.7(8.26) 233.1(9.18) 123.5(4.86) 15.1(0.59) 6.0(0.24) 8.1(0.32) 774.4(30.5) Average rainy days 1.7 1.5 1.7 1.0 2.7 4.8 9.7 10.2 5.5 0.8 0.4 0.6 40.6 Average relative humidity (%) (at 17:30 IST) 57 46 37 25 28 43 63 68 60 47 52 59 49 Average dew point °C (°F) 8(46) 11(52) 14(57) 14(57) 18(64) 22(72) 26(79) 25(77) 23(73) 18(64) 14(57) 10(50) 17(62) Mean monthly sunshine hours 220.1 223.2 248.0 276.0 285.2 219.0 179.8 176.7 219.0 260.4 246.0 220.1 2,773.5 Mean daily sunshine hours 7.1 7.9 8.0 9.2 9.2 7.3 5.8 5.7 7.3 8.4 8.2 7.1 7.6 Mean daily daylight hours 10.6 11.2 12.0 12.9 13.6 13.9 13.8 13.1 12.3 11.5 10.7 10.3 12.2 Percentage possible sunshine 67 71 67 71 68 53 42 44 59 73 77 69 63 Average ultraviolet index 3 5 6 7 9 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 6 Source: India Meteorological Department (sun 1971–2000); Time and Date (dewpoints, 2005–2015) Revised Rainfall data Weather Atlas (UV Index)(Daylight) Air pollution[edit] See also: Environmental issues in Delhi and Air pollution in Delhi A dense toxic smog in Delhi blocking out the sun, November 2017 According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Delhi was the most polluted city in the world in 2014. In 2016, the WHO downgraded Delhi to the eleventh-worst in the urban air quality database. However, as recently as 2022, data from the WHO and IQAir, among other groups, ranked Delhi as the fourth most-polluted city globally. According to one estimate, air pollution causes the death of about 10,500 people every year. The air quality index is generally moderate (101–200) between January and September, and then it drastically deteriorates to Very Poor (301–400), Severe (401–500) or Hazardous (500+) levels between October and December, due to various factors, including stubble burning (a type of biomass burning), firecracker-burning during Diwali, and cold weather. During 2013–14, peak levels of fine particulate matter (PM) increased by about 44%, primarily due to high vehicular and industrial emissions, construction work and crop burning in adjoining states. Delhi has the highest level of airborne PM2.5—considered most harmful to health—with 153 micrograms per million. Rising air pollution levels have significantly increased lung-related ailments (especially asthma and lung cancer) among Delhi's children and women. The dense smog and haze during winter results in major air and rail traffic disruptions every year. According to Indian meteorologists, the average maximum temperature during winters has declined notably since 1998 due to rising air pollution. India's Ministry of Earth Sciences published a research paper in October 2018 attributing almost 41% of PM2.5 air pollution in Delhi to vehicular emissions, 21.5% to dust/fire and 18% to industries. The director of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) alleged that the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) is lobbied "against the report" because it was "inconvenient" to the automobile industry. Environmentalists have also criticised the Delhi government for not doing enough to curb air pollution and to inform people about air quality issues. In 2014, an environmental panel appealed to India's Supreme Court to impose a 30% cess on diesel cars, but till date no action has been taken to penalise the automobile industry. Most Delhi residents are unaware of the alarming levels of air pollution in the city and the health risks associated with it. In 2020, annual average PM2.5 in the city stood at 107.6 μg/m3, which is almost 21.5 times the WHO's PM2.5 Guideline (5 μg/m3; set in September 2021). These pollution levels are estimated to reduce the life expectancy of an average person living in Delhi by almost 10.1 years. However, as of 2015[update], awareness, particularly among the foreign diplomatic community and high-income Indians, was noticeably increasing. Since the mid-1990s, Delhi has undertaken some measures to curb air pollution—it has the third-highest quantity of trees among Indian cities; the Delhi Transport Corporation operates the world's largest fleet of environmentally friendly compressed natural gas (CNG) buses. In 1996, the CSE started a public interest litigation in the Supreme Court of India that ordered the conversion of Delhi's fleet of buses and taxis to run on CNG and banned the use of leaded petrol in 1998. In 2003, Delhi won the United States Department of Energy's first 'Clean Cities International Partner of the Year' award for its "bold efforts to curb air pollution and support alternative fuel initiatives". The Delhi Metro has also been credited for significantly reducing air pollutants in the city. However, according to several authors, most of these gains have been lost, especially due to stubble burning, a rise in the market share of diesel cars, and a considerable decline in bus ridership. According to CSE and System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), burning of agricultural waste in nearby Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh regions results in severe intensification of smog over Delhi. Delhi has been ranked 7th best "National Clean Air City" (under Category 1 >10L Population cities) in India according to 'Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2024 Results' According to the World Air Quality Report 2024, Delhi remains the world's most polluted capital city.

Civic administration

[edit] See also: List of districts of Delhi, List of neighbourhoods of Delhi, and List of towns in National Capital Territory of Delhi Map of the three municipal corporations of Delhi Map of the former six municipal corporations of Delhi (2011–2022) Currently, the NCT of Delhi is made up of one division, 11 districts, 33 subdivisions, 59 census towns, and 300 villages. On the other hand, the NCT of Delhi is divided into three municipalities. The boundaries of municipalities may be different from district boundaries: Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), which occupies an area of 1,397.3 km2 (539.5 sq mi) and is sub-divided into 12 zones, that is, Centre, South, West, Najafgarh, Rohini, Civil Lines, Karol Bagh, SP-City, Keshavpuram, Narela, Shahdara North and Shahdara South. Pravesh Wahi, is the current mayor of the unified Municipal Corporation of Delhi since 2026. New Delhi Municipality , which occupies an area of 42.7 km2 (16.5 sq mi) Delhi Cantonment, which occupies an area of 42.3 km2 (16.3 sq mi) Between 13 January 2011 and 22 May 2022, MCD was divided into three municipal corporations: South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) had jurisdiction over South and West Delhi areas, including Mahipalpur, Rajouri Garden, Uttam Nagar, Badarpur, Jaitpur, Janakpuri, Hari Nagar, Tilak Nagar, Dwarka, Jungpura, Greater Kailash, R K Puram, Malviya Nagar, Kalkaji, Ambedkar Nagar and Pul pehladpur. North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) had jurisdiction over areas such as Badli, Rithala, Bawana, Kirari, Mangolpuri, Tri Nagar, Model Town, Sadar Bazar, Chandni Chowk, Matia Mahal, Karol Bagh, Moti Nagar East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) had jurisdiction over areas such as Patparganj, Kondli, Laxmi Nagar, Seemapuri, Gonda, Karawal Nagar, Babarpur and Shahadra. Delhi is home to the High Court of Delhi. The High Court of Delhi is the highest in the Delhi before Supreme Court. The High Court of Delhi just like the apex court and other High Courts in India is the Court of record. Delhi is also home to various District Court according to jurisdictions. Delhi have Currently seven District Courts namely Tis Hazari Court Complex, Karkardooma Court Complex, Patiala House Court Complex, Rohini Court Complex, Dwarka Courts Complex, Saket Court Complex, and Rouse Avenue Court Apart from the District Courts Delhi also have Consumer Courts, CBI Courts, Labour Courts, Revenue Courts, Army tribunals, electricity tribunals, Railway Tribunals, and other various tribunals situated according to appropriate jurisdictions. For policing purposes Delhi is divided into fifteen police districts which are further subdivided into 95 local police station zones. Delhi currently has 180 police stations.

Government and politics

[edit] Main articles: Government of Delhi and Government of India Delhi Legislative Assembly As a first-level administrative division, the National Capital Territory of Delhi has its own Legislative Assembly, Lieutenant Governor, the council of ministers, and Chief Minister. Members of the legislative assembly are directly elected from territorial constituencies in the NCT. The legislative assembly was abolished in 1956, after which direct federal control was implemented until it was re-established in 1993. The municipal corporation handles civic administration for the city as part of the Panchayati Raj Act. The Government of India and the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi jointly administer New Delhi, where both bodies are located. The Parliament of India, the Rashtrapati Bhavan (Presidential Palace), Cabinet Secretariat, and the Supreme Court of India are located in the municipal district of New Delhi. There are 70 assembly constituencies and seven Lok Sabha (Indian Parliament's lower house) constituencies in Delhi. In the first legislative assembly elections, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Madan Lal Khurana, came to power. In 1998, the Congress came to power under the leadership of Sheila Dikshit, who was subsequently re-elected for 3 consecutive terms. But in 2013, the Congress was ousted from power by the newly formed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led by Arvind Kejriwal forming the government with outside support from the Congress. This was despite the Bharatiya Janata Party winning a plurity. However, that government was short-lived, collapsing only after 49 days. Delhi was then under President's rule until February 2015, after which AAP returned to power after a landslide victory, winning 67 out of the 70 seats in the Delhi Legislative Assembly. AAP has held power until Feb 2025. Following assembly elections in 2025, BJP came to power with an outright majority.

Economy

[edit] Main article: Economy of Delhi The Khari Baoli market in Old Delhi is one of the oldest and busiest in the city.Connaught Place in New Delhi is an important economic hub of the National Capital Region. Delhi is the largest commercial center in northern India. As of 2016[update] recent estimates of the economy of the Delhi urban area have ranged from $370 billion to $400 billion (PPP metro GDP) ranking it either the most or second-most productive metro area of India. The nominal GSDP of the NCT of Delhi for 2016–17 was estimated at ₹6,224 billion (US$65 billion), 13% higher than in 2015–16. Oxford Economics Global Cities index 2024 ranked Delhi as best city in India and 108th best city in the world in Economics Category. As per the Economic survey of Delhi (2005–2006), the tertiary sector contributes 70.95% of Delhi's gross SDP followed by secondary and primary sectors with 25.20% and 3.85% contributions, respectively. Delhi's workforce constitutes 32.82% of the population, and increased by 52.52% between 1991 and 2001. Delhi's unemployment rate decreased from 12.57% in 1999–2000 to 4.63% in 2003. In December 2004, 636,000 people were registered with various employment exchange programmes in Delhi. In 2018 the total workforce in national and state governments and the quasi-government sector was 594,000, and the private sector employed 273,000. Key service industries are information technology, telecommunications, hotels, banking, media and tourism. Construction, power, health and community services and real estate are also important to the city's economy. Delhi has one of India's largest and fastest growing retail industries. Manufacturing also grew considerably as consumer goods companies established manufacturing units and headquarters in the city. Delhi's large consumer market and the availability of skilled labour has also attracted foreign investment. In 2001, the manufacturing sector employed 1,440,000 workers and the city had 129,000 industrial units.

Transport

[edit] Main article: Transport in Delhi Air[edit] Indira Gandhi International Airport's immigration counter in Terminal 3 Indira Gandhi International Airport, situated to the south-west of Delhi, is the main gateway for the city's domestic and international civilian air traffic. In 2015–16, the airport handled more than 48 million passengers, making it the busiest airport in India and South Asia. Terminal 3, which cost ₹96.8 billion (US$1.0 billion) to construct between 2007 and 2010, handles an additional 37 million passengers annually. In 2010, IGIA was conferred the 4th best airport award in the world in the 15–25 million category, by Airports Council International. The airport was rated as the Best airport in the world in the 25–40 million passengers category in 2015, by Airports Council International. Delhi Airport was awarded The Best Airport in Central Asia and Best Airport Staff in Central Asia at the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2015. Hindon Domestic Airport in Ghaziabad was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the second airport for the Delhi-NCR Region on 8 March 2019. A second international airport open for commercial flights has been suggested either by expansion of Meerut Airport or construction of a new airport in Greater Noida. The Taj International Airport project in Jewar has been approved by the Uttar Pradesh government. The Delhi Flying Club, established in 1928 with two de Havilland Moth aircraft named Delhi and Roshanara, was based at Safdarjung Airport which started operations in 1929, when it was the Delhi's only airport and the second in India. The airport functioned until 2001; however, in January 2002 the government closed the airport for flying activities because of security concerns following the New York attacks in September 2001. Since then, the club only carries out aircraft maintenance courses and is used for helicopter rides to Indira Gandhi International Airport for VIP including the president and the prime minister. Road[edit] Compressed natural gas red- and green buses have low floors; orange has standard.The cycle rickshaw and the auto rickshaw are commonly used in Delhi for travelling short distances. Delhi has the highest road density of 2103 km/100 km2 in India. It is connected to other parts of India by five National Highways: NH 1, NH 2, NH 8, NH 10 and NH 24. The Delhi–Mumbai and Delhi–Kolkata prongs of the Golden Quadrilateral start from the city. The majority of the city's roads which are 60 ft (18 m) wide or above are maintained by the Public Works Department (PWD) which is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Delhi while some are maintained by Delhi Development Authority and New Delhi Municipal Council which are under the jurisdiction of the Government of India. Roads and streets less than 60 ft (18 m) wide are maintained by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Roads and streets in unauthorised colonies are maintained by the local Member of the Legislative Assembly. Buses are the most popular means of road transport, catering to about 60% of Delhi's total demand. Delhi has one of India's largest bus transport systems. In 1998, the Supreme Court of India ruled that all public transport vehicles in Delhi must be fuelled by compressed natural gas (CNG) to tackle increasing vehicular pollution. The state-owned Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) is a major bus service provider which operates the world's largest fleet of CNG-fuelled buses. In addition, cluster scheme buses are operated by Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) with the participation of private concessionaires and DTC. In December 2017, the DTC and cluster buses carried over 4.19 million passengers per day. Kashmiri Gate ISBT, Anand Vihar ISBT and Sarai Kale Khan ISBT are the main bus terminals for outstation buses plying to neighbouring states. Delhi's rapid rate of economic development and population growth has resulted in an increasing demand for transport, creating excessive pressure on the city's transport infrastructure. To meet the transport demand, the State and Union government constructed a mass rapid transit system, including the Delhi Metro. Delhi Bus Rapid Transit System runs between Ambedkar Nagar and Delhi Gate. As per February 2024, Delhi has around 1,650 electric buses managed by the Delhi Transport Corporation, the highest in India and the third highest in the world after Shenzhen and Santiago. Personal vehicles, especially cars also form a major chunk of vehicles plying on Delhi roads. As of 2007[update], private vehicles account for 30% of the total demand for transport. Delhi has the highest number of registered cars compared to any other metropolitan city in India. Taxis, auto rickshaws, and cycle rickshaws also ply on Delhi roads in large numbers. As of 2008[update], the number of vehicles in the metropolitan region, Delhi NCR, was 11.2 million (11.2 million). In 2008, there were 85 cars in Delhi for every 1,000 of its residents. In 2017, the number of vehicles in Delhi city alone crossed the ten million mark with the transport department of Delhi Government putting the total number of registered vehicles at 10,567,712 until 25 May of the year. Railway[edit] A passenger train at the New Delhi railway station. Freight awaits pick up or transportation to other destinations. Delhi is a major junction in the Indian railway network and is the headquarters of the Northern Railway. The main railway stations are New Delhi, Old Delhi, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Anand Vihar, Delhi Sarai Rohilla and Delhi Cantt. The Delhi Metro, a mass rapid transit system built and operated by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), serves many parts of Delhi and the neighbouring cities Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gurgaon and Noida. As of December 2021[update], the metro consists of ten operational lines with a total length of 348.12 km (216.31 mi) and 254 stations, and several other lines are under construction. The Phase-I was built at a cost of US$2.3 billion and the Phase-II was expected to cost an additional ₹216 billion (US$2.3 billion). Phase-II has a total length of 128 km (80 mi) and was completed by 2010. Delhi Metro completed 10 years of operation on 25 December 2012. It carries millions of passengers every day. In addition to the Delhi Metro, a suburban railway, the Delhi Suburban Railway exists. Metro[edit] Delhi Metro is widely used in the NCR. The Delhi Metro is a rapid transit system serving Delhi, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gurgaon and Noida in the National Capital Region of India. It is the world's tenth-largest metro system by length of lines. It was India's second modern public transportation system. The network consists of 10 colour-coded lines serving 255 stations with a total length of 348.12 kilometres (216.31 mi). The system has a mix of underground, at-grade, and elevated stations using both broad-gauge and standard-gauge. All stations have escalators, lifts, and tactile tiles to guide the visually impaired from station entrances to trains. There are 18 designated parking sites at the Metro stations. In March 2010, DMRC partnered with Google India (through Google Transit) to provide train schedule and route information to mobile devices with Google Maps. It has a combination of elevated, at-grade, and underground lines, and uses both broad gauge and standard gauge rolling stock. Four types of rolling stock are used: Mitsubishi–ROTEM Broad gauge, Bombardier MOVIA, Mitsubishi–ROTEM Standard gauge, and CAF Beasain Standard gauge. The Phase-I of Delhi Metro was built for US$2.3 billion and the Phase-II was expected to cost an additional ₹216 billion (US$2.3 billion). Phase-II has a total length of 128 km (80 mi) and was completed by 2010. Delhi Metro completed 10 years of operation on 25 December 2012. It carries millions of passengers every day. Although the Delhi Metro was built and is operated by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited (DMRC), a state-owned company with equal equity participation of the governments of India and Delhi, it is under the administrative control of the Indian government's Ministry of Urban Development. Besides the construction and operation of the Delhi Metro, DMRC is also involved in the planning and implementation of metro rail, monorail, and high-speed rail projects in India and providing consultancy services to other metro projects in the country as well as abroad.[citation needed]

Demographics

[edit] See also: Ethnic groups in Delhi NCT of Delhi population pyramid in 2011 Historical populationYearPop.±%1901 214,115—    1911 237,944+11.1%1921 304,420+27.9%1931 373,789+22.8%1941 578,813+54.9%1951 1,119,870+93.5%1961 2,061,758+84.1%1971 3,287,883+59.5%1981 5,099,539+55.1%1991 7,423,193+45.6%2001 9,879,172+33.1%2011 11,034,555+11.7%Source: Government of India Population growth[edit] According to the 2011 census of India, the population of the NCT of Delhi is 16,753,235. The corresponding population density was 11,297 persons per km2 with a sex ratio of 866 women per 1000 men, and a literacy rate of 86.34%. In 2004, the birth rate, death rate and infant mortality rate per 1000 population were 20.03, 5.59 and 13.08, respectively. In 2001, the population of Delhi increased by 285,000 as a result of migration and by 215,000 as a result of natural population growth, which made Delhi one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. Dwarka Sub City, Asia's largest planned residential area, is located within the National Capital Territory of Delhi. Urban expansion has resulted in Delhi's urban area now being considered as extending beyond the NCT boundaries to incorporate the towns and cities of neighbouring states including Faridabad and Gurgaon in Haryana, and Ghaziabad and Noida in Uttar Pradesh, the total population of which is estimated by the United Nations to be over 28 million. According to the UN this makes Delhi urban area the world's second-largest urban area after Tokyo, although Demographia declares the Jakarta urban area to be the second-largest. The 2011 census provided two figures for urban area population: 16,314,838 within the NCT boundary, and 21,753,486 for the Extended Urban Area. The 2021 regional plan released by the Government of India renamed the Extended Urban Area from Delhi Metropolitan Area (DMA) as defined by the 2001 plan, to Central National Capital Region (CNCR). Slums[edit] As of 2012, around 49% of the population of Delhi lives in slums and unauthorised colonies without any civic amenities. The majority of these slums have inadequate provisions to the basic facilities and according to a DUSIB report. Religions[edit] Hinduism is Delhi's predominant religious faith, with 81.68% of Delhi's population, followed by Islam (12.86%), Sikhism (3.40%), Jainism (0.99%), Christianity (0.87%), and Buddhism (0.11%). Other minority religions include Zoroastrianism, Baháʼísm and Judaism. Languages in NCT of Delhi (2011) Hindi (81.3%) Punjabi (5.20%) Urdu (5.17%) Bhojpuri (1.35%) Bengali (1.29%) Maithili (0.73%) Haryanvi (0.67%) Tamil (0.53%) Malayalam (0.49%) Rajasthani (0.46%) Garhwali (0.43%) Gujarati (0.24%) Odia (0.23%) Nepali (0.22%) Kumaoni (0.19%) Sindhi (0.19%) Marathi (0.17%) Telugu (0.16%) Kashmiri (0.11%) Pahari (0.09%) Awadhi (0.08%) Marwari (0.07%) Kannada (0.06%) Assamese (0.05%) Others (0.48%) Languages[edit] According to the 50th report of the commissioner for linguistic minorities in India, which was submitted in 2014, Hindi is Delhi's most spoken language, with 80.94% speakers, followed by Punjabi (7.14%), Urdu (6.31%) and Bengali (1.50%). 4.11% speak other languages. Hindi is also the official language of Delhi while Urdu and Punjabi have been declared as additional official languages.

Culture

[edit] See also: Culture of India Traditional pottery on display in Dilli HaatPragati Maidan hosts the World Book Fair biennially. Delhi's culture has been influenced by its lengthy history and historic association as the capital of India. Although a strong Punjabi Influence can be seen in language, dress and cuisine brought by the large number of refugees who came following the partition in 1947 the recent migration from other parts of India has made it a melting pot. This is exemplified by many significant monuments in the city. The Archaeological Survey of India recognises 1,200 heritage buildings and 175 monuments as national heritage sites. In the Old City, the Mughals and the Turkic rulers constructed several architecturally significant buildings, such as the Jama Masjid—India's largest mosque built in 1656 and the Red Fort. Three World Heritage Sites—the Red Fort, Qutub Minar and Humayun's Tomb—are located in Delhi. Other monuments include the India Gate, the Jantar Mantar—an 18th-century astronomical observatory—and the Purana Qila—a 16th-century fortress. The Laxminarayan Temple, Akshardham temple, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, the Baháʼí Faith's Lotus Temple and the ISKCON temple are examples of modern architecture. Raj Ghat and associated memorials houses memorials of Mahatma Gandhi and other notable personalities. New Delhi houses several government buildings and official residences reminiscent of British colonial architecture, including the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Secretariat, Rajpath, the Parliament of India and Vijay Chowk. Safdarjung's Tomb is an example of the Mughal gardens style. Some regal havelis (palatial residences) are in the Old City. Lotus Temple is a Baháʼí House of Worship completed in 1986. Notable for its flowerlike shape, it serves as the Mother Temple of the Indian subcontinent and has become a prominent attraction in the city. The National Museum and National Gallery of Modern Art are some of the largest museums in the country. Other museums in Delhi include the National Museum of Natural History, National Rail Museum and National Philatelic Museum.[citation needed] Chandni Chowk, a 17th-century market, is one of the most popular shopping areas in Delhi for jewellery and Zari saris. Delhi's arts and crafts include, Zardozi—an embroidery done with gold thread—and Meenakari—the art of enamelling. The Hindu Laxminarayan Mandir was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1933. The Jama Masjid was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan between 1650 and 1656. The prayer hall of Sikh Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi which dates to 1783 Festivals[edit] More than a quarter of the immigrants in Delhi are from Bihar and neighbouring states. Chhath, a festival of Bihar is now popular in Delhi.On Basant Panchmi eve, qawwali singers wearing yellow headbands gather at the dargah of Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya to sing verses from Amir Khusrau. Delhi's association and geographic proximity to the capital, New Delhi, has amplified the importance of national events and holidays like Republic Day, Independence Day (15 August) and Gandhi Jayanti. On Independence Day, the Prime Minister addresses the nation from the Red Fort. The Republic Day Parade is a large cultural and military parade showcasing India's cultural diversity and military strength. Over the centuries, Delhi has become known for its composite culture, and a festival that symbolises this is the Phool Walon Ki Sair, which takes place in September. Flowers and pankhe—fans embroidered with flowers—are offered to the shrine of the 13th-century Sufi saint Khwaja Bakhtiyar Kaki and the Yogmaya Temple, both situated in Mehrauli. Religious festivals include Diwali (the festival of lights), Mahavir Jayanti, Guru Nanak's Birthday, Raksha Bandhan, Durga Puja, Holi, Lohri, Chauth, Krishna Janmastami, Maha Shivratri, Eid ul-Fitr, Moharram and Buddha Jayanti. The Qutub Festival is a cultural event during which performances of musicians and dancers from all over India are showcased at night, with the Qutub Minar as a backdrop. Other events such as Kite Flying Festival, International Mango Festival and Vasant Panchami (the Spring Festival) are held every year in Delhi. The Auto Expo, Asia's largest auto show, is held in Delhi biennially. The New Delhi World Book Fair, held biennially at the Pragati Maidan, is the second-largest exhibition of books in the world. Delhi is often regarded as the "Book Capital" of India because of high readership. India International Trade Fair (IITF), organised by ITPO is the biggest cultural and shopping fair of Delhi which takes place in November each year and is visited by more than 1.5 million people. Cuisine[edit] Main article: Indian cuisine Kitchen, Karim's, Old Delhi, a historic restaurant, established 1913 As India's national capital and centuries old Mughal capital, Delhi influenced the food habits of its residents and is where Mughlai cuisine originated. Along with Indian cuisine, a variety of international cuisines are popular among the residents. This variety of cuisines created a unique style of cooking which became popular throughout the world, with dishes such as Kebab, biryani, tandoori. The city's classic dishes include butter chicken, dal makhani, shahi paneer, aloo chaat, chaat, dahi bhalla, kachori, gol gappe, samosa, chole bhature, chole kulche, gulab jamun, jalebi and lassi.: 40–50, 189–196  The fast living habits of Delhi's people has motivated the growth of street food outlets.: 41  A trend of dining at local dhabas is popular among the residents. High-profile restaurants have gained popularity in recent years, among the popular restaurants are the Karim Hotel, the Punjab Grill and Bukhara. The Gali Paranthe Wali (the street of fried bread) is a street in Chandni Chowk particularly for food eateries since the 1870s. Almost the entire street is occupied by fast food stalls or street vendors. Other Indian cuisines are also available in this area even though the street specialises in north Indian food.: 40–50 

Education

[edit] Main articles: Education in Delhi and List of schools in Delhi Lady Hardinge Medical College pharmacy, 1921Indraprastha College for Women, established in 1924Jamia Millia Islamia est. 1920 by M. A. Ansari and Zakir HusainUniversity of Delhi was founded in 1922. Sir Maurice Gwyer served as its first vice-chancellor.Dormitory of Anglo Arabic Senior Secondary School, founded 1696, reorganised 1828A Delhi government school student writing down the names of fruits and vegetables Private schools in Delhi—which use either English or Hindi as the language of instruction—are affiliated to one of three administering bodies, the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE) or the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). In 2004–05, approximately 1,529,000 students were enrolled in primary schools, 822,000 in middle schools and 669,000 in secondary schools across Delhi. Female students represented 49% of the total enrolment. The same year, the Delhi government spent between 1.58% and 1.95% of its gross state domestic product on education. Schools and higher educational institutions in Delhi are administered either by the Directorate of Education, the NCT government or private organisations. In 2006, Delhi had 165 colleges, five medical colleges and eight engineering colleges, seven major universities and nine deemed universities. The premier management colleges of Delhi such as Faculty of Management Studies (Delhi) and Indian Institute of Foreign Trade rank the best in India. All India Institute of Medical Sciences Delhi is a premier medical school for treatment and research. National Law University, Delhi is a prominent law school and is affiliated with the Bar Council of India. The Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi situated in Hauz Khas is a premier engineering college of India and ranks as one of the top institutes in South Asia. Delhi Technological University, Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Netaji Subhas University of Technology, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University and National Law University are the only state universities. University of Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Jamia Millia Islamia are the central universities, and Indira Gandhi National Open University is for distance education. As of 2008[update], about 16% of all Delhi residents possessed at least a college graduate degree. According to the Directorate of Education and GNCTD the following languages are taught in schools in Delhi under the three-language formula: First language: Hindi, Urdu, English Second language: English Third language: Urdu, Punjabi, Bengali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Gujarati, Marathi, Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic

Sports

[edit] Main articles: Sport in Delhi, 1951 Asian Games, 1982 Asian Games, and 2010 Commonwealth Games See also: Culture of India Indian athletes marching into the National Stadium during the opening ceremony of the 1951 Asian GamesJawaharlal Nehru Stadium on the night of the 2010 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony Delhi hosted the first Asian Games in 1951 from 4 to 11 March. A total of 489 athletes representing 11 Asian National Olympic Committees participated in 57 events from eight sports and discipline. The Games was the successor of the Far Eastern Games and the revival of the Western Asiatic Games. On 13 February 1949, the Asian Games Federation was formally established in Delhi, with Delhi unanimously announced as the first host city of the Asian Games. National Stadium was the venue for all events. Over 40,000 spectators watched the opening ceremony of the Games in National Stadium. Delhi hosted the ninth Asian Games for the second time in 1982 from 19 November to 4 December. This was the second time the city has hosted the Asian Games and was also the first Asian Games to be held under the aegis of the Olympic Council of Asia. A total of 3,411 athletes from 33 National Olympic Committees participated in these games, competing in 196 events in 21 sports and 23 disciplines. The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, which has a capacity of 60,000 people, was built purposely for the event and hosted its opening ceremony. Delhi hosted the Nineteenth Commonwealth Games in 2010, which ran from 3 to 14 October and was the largest sporting event held in India. The opening ceremony of the 2010 Commonwealth Games was held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the main stadium of the event, in New Delhi at 7:00 pm Indian Standard Time on 3 October 2010. The ceremony featured over 8,000 performers and lasted for two and a half hours. It is estimated that ₹3.5 billion (US$37 million) were spent to produce the ceremony. Events took place at 12 competition venues. 20 training venues were used in the Games, including seven venues within Delhi University. The rugby stadium in Delhi University North Campus hosted rugby games for Commonwealth Games. Cricket and football are the most popular sports in Delhi. There are several cricket grounds, or maidans, located across the city. The Arun Jaitley Stadium (known commonly as the Kotla) is one of the oldest cricket grounds in India and is a venue for international cricket matches. It is the home ground of Delhi cricket team and the Indian Premier League franchise Delhi Capitals. The Delhi cricket team represents the city in the Indian domestic tournaments. It has produced several world-class international cricketers such as Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli, Gautam Gambhir, Madan Lal, Chetan Chauhan, Shikhar Dhawan, Ishant Sharma, Manoj Prabhakar and Bishan Singh Bedi to name a few. The Railways and Services cricket teams of domestic circuit also play their home matches in Delhi, at the Karnail Singh Stadium and the Palam A Stadium, respectively. Ambedkar Stadium, a football stadium in Delhi which holds 21,000 people, was the venue for the Indian football team's World Cup qualifier against UAE on 28 July 2012. Delhi hosted the Nehru Cup in 2007 and 2009, in both of which India defeated Syria 1–0. Delhi's professional association football club Delhi FC competes in I-League. In the Elite Football League of India, Delhi's first professional American football franchise, the Delhi Defenders played its first season in Pune. Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida, a suburb of Delhi, formerly hosted the Formula 1 Indian Grand Prix. City-based clubs[edit] Club Sport League/Championship Homeground Founded Dabang Delhi Kabaddi Pro Kabaddi League Thyagaraj Sports Complex 2014 Delhi Dashers Badminton Premier Badminton League Siri Fort Sports Complex 2016 Delhi Defenders American Football Elite Football League of India Defenders Stadium 2011 Delhi Hurricanes Rugby Football Club Rugby All India & South Asia Rugby Tournament Vasant Kunj Sports Complex 2004 Delhi Waveriders Hockey Hockey India League Shivaji Hockey Stadium 2011 Delhi Capitals Cricket Indian Premier League Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium 2008 Delhi FC Football I-League Ambedkar Stadium 1994–present Delhi SG Pipers Hockey Hockey India League Shivaji Hockey Stadium 2024 SC Delhi Football Indian Super League Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium 2025

Delhi

Navigating the sensory overload

A palate beyond the street stall

Seasonal rhythms to consider