Delhi

INTRO
Delhi is the largest city in Northern India. One part of it - New Delhi - is the official capital of India, but both names are sometimes used interchangeably. Legend has it that Delhi is more than 5000 years old - which puts it among the oldest cities in the world - along with Damascus and Varanasi. The madcap façade of Delhi is bustling, often chaotic and unorganised, covered with squalor and the noxious fumes of the smog. But if you manage to get behind it, a city of rich culture, architecture and human diversity will appear.

City Profile
City: Delhi
Country: India
Area: 1, 483 km2
Population: 13, 782, 976
Districts: 9
Governor: Sheila Dikshit
Language: Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu
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LOCATION
The National Capital Territory of Delhi lies over an area of 1,483 km2 of which 783 km2 are designated rural and 700 km2 - urban. The territory of Delhi is almost entirely in the Gangetic plains, bordering Haryana on the west and Uttar Pradesh on the south. The Yamuna flood plain and the Delhi ridge are two of the most famous features of the geography of Delhi.

TIME TO VISIT
The best time to visit Delhi is between November and March - weather is mild, cool but sunny. Holi, one of the most spectacular Hindu festivals, takes place in February or March. Summers in Delhi are extreme - temperatures often exceed 45°C. The hottest months are June, July and August, but heat does not abate until late October. The arrival of the monsoon - in June - brings very high humidity. An interesting fact is that murder rate usually peaks in this month. The end of the monsoon is in October - weather becomes more pleasant, but some days still could be pretty hot. Don't forget to bring some warm clothes if you decide to visit Delhi in December or in January - nights could be pretty chilly then.

POPULATION
Delhi is a cosmopolitan city with many cultures and ethnic groups. According to the census from 2001, the population of Delhi is almost 14 million people. The sex ratio is 821 women per 1000 men, and the literacy rate - 81,8%. Hinduism is the religion of 82% of the denizens of Delhi, there are also large communities of Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and Janis. The principal spoken and written language is Hindu, English, Punjabi and Urdu are widely spoken.

DISTRICTS

Central Delhi - it houses the central business district and a large number of high-rises. It includes Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi) which was the capital of the Mughal Empire.
North Delhi - the area has population of more than 780,000 people, and the density is around 13,000 persons per sq m - one of the highest in Delhi. It houses some nice old buildings and lots of shops of all kinds.
New Delhi - an urban area within the metropolis of Delhi and the seat of Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi lies around two central promenades called the Janpath and the Rajpath. Atop Raisina Hill, at the heart of the city is located Rashtrapati Bhawan (formerly known as Viceroy's House).
South Delhi - to the east it is bounded by Yamuna River, by New Delhi to the north and by East Delhi to the northeast. The area of the district is 250 km2, and the population - around 2,260, 000 people.
West Delhi - features very high population density - more than 16, 400 people per km2, population of the area is more than 2,100,000. Predominantly residential.
North-West Delhi - houses some major businesses, as well as shopping malls and entertainment facilities. It encompasses an area of 440 km2.
South-West Delhi - features quite vast territory - 420 km2 and population of almost 1,800,000 people. It comprises mainly residential areas for mainly poor labourers.
East and North-East Delhi - the two areas altogether house more than 3,4 million people, and the population density is enormous - more than 23,000 people per km2 - most of them extremely poor.

SIGHTS & ATTRACTIONS

Gandhi National Museum - Gandhi is often called by Indians "The Father of the Nation". One of popular Delhi's attractions, The Gandhi Nationa Museum houses an interesting collection of paintings and photos of the man that spearheaded India's independence movement. http://www.gandhimuseum.org/
Humayun's Tomb -it is the first great example of Mughal architecture in India. Located in Central Delhi, it was built in the 16th century by Hamida Banu Begum, the senior wife of the second Mughal Emperor. The building itself is very beautiful - not to be missed while in Delhi.
National Museum - the museum has an interesting collection of Indian artefacts - bronze, wood and terracotta sculptures dating back to the Mauryan period (2nd century BC). There is also a fascinating exhibition of manuscripts, costumes of tribal groups, mural paintings and tapestries from different ages.
Nizam-ud-din's Shrine - located across the road from Humayun's tomb, the shrine is dedicated to Nizam-ud-din Chishti, the Muslim Sufi saint who died in 1325.
Nehru Memorial Museum & Planetarium - the residence of Jawaharlal Nehru that has been converted into a museum. Visitors could get a fascinating insight into the history of the Independence movement. In the grounds, there is also a planetarium.
Jama Masjid - located in Old Delhi, this is the largest mosque in India. Its courtyard is capable of holding up to 25,000 devotees. Built in 1644, it was the last great architectural project of Shah Jahan - the Mugal emperor who built also the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort.
The Red Fort - one of Delhi's top tourist attractions. This brilliant red sandstone structure was completed in 1648, and the years since then have not treated the buildings kindly - most of them are in bad condition.

AIRPORT

Indira Gandhi International Airport - located in the south-western corner of Delhi is one of India's major domestic and international gateways. It has been named after the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru Indira Gandhi - the first prime-minister of India. The facility has a terrible reputation, but it has been significantly improved since it was taken over by an international consortium. The major problem of the airport remains overcrowding during peak hours. At the international terminal you could get at taxi to the city from the pre-paid taxi booths. The best way to get to the airport is to organize a shuttle ahead of time from your hotel - some hotels even offer that service free to their clients. http://www.aai.aero/igi/index.jsp

LOCAL TRANSPORTATION

Metro - currently, there are 3 lines open of the new Delhi Metro - red, yellow and blue line. They provide a safe, cheap and hassle-free way of getting around the city. Unfortunately, the network still does not cover southern Delhi, but there are plans for expansion.
Bus - tickets range in price from Rs.3 to Rs.10. Almost all parts of Delhi are connected by bus lines. Delhi's buses are often crowded and rarely air-conditioned. Bus routes are written only in Hindi.
Taxi - there are assigned taxi stands at a lot of places in Delhi. You can also call a cab by dialling 1090. Cars are old but quite reliable, and all of them are metered. The usual charge is Rs.6 to start and Rs.7 per kilometre. You could always agree on price in advance.
Auto and Cycle Rickshaws b- three wheeled, either equipped with a motor or pedalled. Rickshaws are usually cheaper than cabs. They could be hailed from the street. Cycle rickshaws are the best way to get around Old Delhi - they allow you to enjoy the smells and the sounds of the city.

HISTORY
Delhi came under British control after the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Shortly after that, Calcutta was declared the capital of British India and Delhi became district province of the Punjab. Delhi was declared the capital of British India again in 1911. Parts of the old centre were knocked down to create New Delhi. The new quarter of the city was designed by the British architect Edwin Lutyens, and its purpose was to house the government buildings. After India gained its independence from Great Britain, the seat of the capital of the republic and the Government of India was established officially in New Delhi (in 1947).

CITY LINKS

Official cite of Delhi's government - http://delhigovt.nic.in/index.asp
Municipal corporation of Delhi - http://www.mcdonline.gov.in/
Delhi travel guide - http://wikitravel.org/en/Delhi
Maps of Delhi - http://www.mapsofindia.com/delhi/index.html
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation - http://www.delhimetrorail.com/index.htm

UNIVERSITY LINKS

Indian Institute of Technology Delhi - http://www.iitd.ac.in/
University of Delhi - http://www.du.ac.in/