Delhi
Content
Delhi (/ˈdɛli/, Hindustani pronunciation: [dd ɪlliː] Dilli), officially the National Capital
Territory of Delhi, is the Capital territory of India.[4]During the British Raj, Delhi was part
of the province of Punjab and is still historically and culturally connected to the Punjab
region.[5] It has a population of about 16.3 million, making it the second most populous
city and second most populous urban agglomeration in India.[6][7] Such is the nature of
urban expansion in Delhi that its growth has expanded beyond the NCT to incorporate
towns in neighbouring states and at its largest extent can count a population of about 25
million residents as of 2014.[8] Delhi has been continuously inhabited since the 6th
century BC.[9] Through most of its history, Delhi has served as a capital of various
kingdoms and empires. It has been captured, ransacked and rebuilt several times,
particularly during the medieval period, and modern Delhi is a cluster of a number of
cities spread across the metropolitan region. The NCT and its urban region have been
given the special status of National Capital Region (NCR) under the Constitution of
India's 69th Amendment Act of 1991. The NCR includes the neighbouring cities
History[edit]
The area around Delhi was probably inhabited before the second millennium BC, and
there is evidence of continuous inhabitation since at least the 6th century BC. [9] The city
is believed to be the site of Indraprastha, the legendary capital of the Pandavas in the
Indian epic Mahabharata.[10] According to this epic this land was initially a huge mass of
forests called 'Khandavaprastha' which was burnt down to build the city of Indraprastha.
The earliest architectural relics date back to the Maurya period (c. 300 BC); in 1966, an
inscription of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka (273–235 BC) was discovered near
Srinivaspuri. Remains of eight major cities have been discovered in Delhi. The first five
cities were in the southern part of present-day Delhi. Gurjara-pratihara King Anang
Pal of the Tomara dynasty founded the city of Lal Kot in AD 736.
The Chauhans conquered Lal Kot in 1180 and renamed it Qila Rai Pithora.
The king Prithviraj Chauhan was defeated in 1192 by Muhammad Ghori, a Tajik invader
from Afghanistan, who made a concerted effort to conquer northern India. [10] By 1200,
native Hindu resistance had begun to crumble, the dominance of foreign Turkic Muslim
dynasties in north India was to last for the next five centuries. On the death of
Muhammad in 1206, the Turkic slave-general, Qutb-ud-din Aibak, broke away from
the Ghurid Dynasty and became the first Sultan of Delhi. He began construction of
the Qutb Minar and Quwwat-al-Islam (might of Islam) mosque, the earliest extant
mosque in India. Qutb-ud-din faced widespread Hindu rebellions and it was his
Places to See in Delhi
India Gate
Category : History & Culture
India Gate is a stone monument dedicated to the memory of the Indian soldiers who fought and
died in the First World War It ranks as one of the primary places of interest in Delhi. The Indian
soldiers were part of the British army and represented the military might of the British Empire at
the height of its powers. India Gate was designed by Edward Lutyens and took 10 years to
complete. The structure of India Gate is a triumphal arch, which is 42 meters high. More...
Rashtrapati Bhawan
Category : History & Culture
The Rashtrapati Bhawan is a renowned monument in Delhi. It is said to be the palace of the
then Viceroy of India. At present, the Rashtrapati Bhawan is house of the President of India.
The building was designed by Edwin Lutyens. The construction began in 1911 and it took 19
years to finish its construction. There is a wonderful Mughal garden towards the west of
Rashtrapati Bhawan. It opens up to public every spring. Tours to Rashtrapati Bhawan and
Mughal Gardens are available with a nominal registration fee of Rs.25. Visitors in a group of 30
and more shall be offered discounted rates and children below 12 years will not be charged any
fee
Arts and Crafts of Delhi
The capital of India is not only known for its rich historical background but also for some
exquisite arts and crafts. Infact, the arts and crafts of Delhi have been patronized since
the times of the royals. As a cultural center of its time, Delhi attracted the best of
painters, musicians and dancers. Even though those days have gone, arts and crafts
continue to be encouraged in Delhi. As a matter of fact, Delhi has its own "cultural
season" that stretches on from October to March. This season is full of various events
related to both visual as well as performing arts. The numerous auditoriums in the city
are busy with the various music and dance performances. Not to forget the various
theatre groups in Delhi, especially the most famous National School of Drama (NSD).
From the Hindi translations of European plays, to regional theatre as well as folk forms,
there is a range of plays that serve as the food for your soul. Then, there is a hoard of
art galleries that serve as a reflection of the creative streak of the Delhiites. Numerous
exhibitions are held in the city that displays the works of both well-known as well as
Food & Cuisine
As India's national capital and centuries old Mughal capital, Delhi influenced the food
habits of its residents and is where Mughlai cuisineoriginated. Along with Indian cuisine,
a variety of international cuisines are popular among the residents. [174] The dearth of food
habits among the city's residents 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, Aloo Chaat, chaat, dahi vada, kachori, chole
bhature, Chole kulche,jalebi and lassi.[174][175]:40–50, 189–196 The fast living habits of Delhi's
people has motivated the growth of street food outlets.[175]: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.[176] 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. It has nearly become a tradition that
almost every prime minister of India has visited the street to eat paratha at least once.
Other Indian cuisines are also available in this area even though the street specializes
in north Indian food
Industries in delhi
Delhi is an important commercial capital in Asia. The service industry contributes the
largest chunk of the State Domestic Product (SDP)- about 70% followed by
manufacturing (25.2%) and agriculture (3.85%)
The key industries include Information
Technology,Telecommunications,Hotels, Media, Banking and Tourism. The
manufacturing industries of Delhi has also expanded as many consumer
goods industries have established manufacturing units and offices in the
region.
Delhi's large consumer market and its abundance of skilled labor has
attracted foreign investments to Delhi.
The Delhi State Industrial Development Corporation (DSIDC) has played a
vital role in shaping the Industrial growth of Delhi. The main objectives of
DSIDC are:
To aid, counsel,assist,finance,protect and promote the interests of Industries in
the Union Territory of Delhi
To undertake procurement and distribution of various raw materials
To undertake and provide marketing facilities to small industries
To acquire land and develop it suitably
To help co-ordination between small and large industry
To promote and operate schemes for Delhi Industries
To promote and develop industries of all types
To establish and maintain Manpower data to export Manpower to foreign
countries
flora and fauna[edit]
There is significant dispute over the extent of the city's green cover. City authorities
claimed in 2008 that the green cover had increased from 26 km 2 to 300 km2; moreover,
the Delhi Forest Act stipulated that for every felled tree ten saplings need to be planted.
Critics point out that the data as well as the meaning of "green cover" are unclear. The
actual increase may be only half of what was claimed, and there are estimates that
some 100,000 trees had been cut in Delhi, due in part to the construction of the Delhi
Metro and theDelhi Bus Rapid Transit System.[15]
The Northern Ridge (also called Old Delhi) comprises of the area near Delhi
University. It is approximately 87 Hectares and was declared a reserve forest in 1915.
The Central Ridge (also called New Delhi) consists of around 864 Hectares of forested
area, from south of Sadar Bazaar to Dhaula Kuan. This was declared a Reserve forest
in 1914.
Festivals and Events in Delhi
There are officially only three national holidays, but various festivals and events are
celebrated in Delhi because of its eclectic mix of people.
Lohri is celebrated widely by the Punjabis/Sikhs of Delhi in the month of January. This
festival signals the end of winter and heralds the coming of spring. Big bonfires are lit in
the evening and family and friends dance around it throwing in.
Holi, the festival of colour is celebrated with great gusto at the onset of spring
somewhere in February or early March. There is great merriment on this day and
people especially youngsters spray people with brightly coloured powder and water.
Other special events in Delhi include festivals like the Mango Festival that is held at
the Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi in the month of July. The festival features a wide
variety of mangoes and mango eating competitions.
Dussehra symbolises the triumph of good over evil and is celebrated with Ramlilas and
the burning of the effigy of Ravana the demon king in the month of September or
October.
Diwali the famous festival of lights is also widely celebrated with almost all homes being
lit up with diyas and the night sky being illuminated with fireworks.
India International Trade Fair is widely attended by the people of Delhi, which is held
in November every year. Held at Pragati Maidan this fair is a showcase of wonderful
handicrafts and textiles with all the states of India participating.
Culture[edit]
Delhi's culture has been influenced by its lengthy history and historic association as the
capital of India. This is exemplified by many significant monuments in the city. Delhi is
also identified as the location of Indraprastha, the ancient capital of the Pandavas.
TheArchaeological Survey of India recognises 1200 heritage buildings[153] and 175
monuments as national heritage sites.[154] In the Old City, the Mughals and the Turkic
rulers constructed several architecturally significant buildings, such as the Jama
Masjid – India's largest mosque[155] built in 1656 [156] and the Red Fort. Three World
Heritage Sites – the Red Fort, Qutab Minar and Humayun's Tomb – are located in Delhi.
[157]
Other monuments include the India Gate, the Jantar Mantar – an 18th-century
astronomical observatory – and thePurana Qila – a 16th-century fortress.
Territory of Delhi, is the Capital territory of India.[4]During the British Raj, Delhi was part
of the province of Punjab and is still historically and culturally connected to the Punjab
region.[5] It has a population of about 16.3 million, making it the second most populous
city and second most populous urban agglomeration in India.[6][7] Such is the nature of
urban expansion in Delhi that its growth has expanded beyond the NCT to incorporate
towns in neighbouring states and at its largest extent can count a population of about 25
million residents as of 2014.[8] Delhi has been continuously inhabited since the 6th
century BC.[9] Through most of its history, Delhi has served as a capital of various
kingdoms and empires. It has been captured, ransacked and rebuilt several times,
particularly during the medieval period, and modern Delhi is a cluster of a number of
cities spread across the metropolitan region. The NCT and its urban region have been
given the special status of National Capital Region (NCR) under the Constitution of
India's 69th Amendment Act of 1991. The NCR includes the neighbouring cities
History[edit]
The area around Delhi was probably inhabited before the second millennium BC, and
there is evidence of continuous inhabitation since at least the 6th century BC. [9] The city
is believed to be the site of Indraprastha, the legendary capital of the Pandavas in the
Indian epic Mahabharata.[10] According to this epic this land was initially a huge mass of
forests called 'Khandavaprastha' which was burnt down to build the city of Indraprastha.
The earliest architectural relics date back to the Maurya period (c. 300 BC); in 1966, an
inscription of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka (273–235 BC) was discovered near
Srinivaspuri. Remains of eight major cities have been discovered in Delhi. The first five
cities were in the southern part of present-day Delhi. Gurjara-pratihara King Anang
Pal of the Tomara dynasty founded the city of Lal Kot in AD 736.
The Chauhans conquered Lal Kot in 1180 and renamed it Qila Rai Pithora.
The king Prithviraj Chauhan was defeated in 1192 by Muhammad Ghori, a Tajik invader
from Afghanistan, who made a concerted effort to conquer northern India. [10] By 1200,
native Hindu resistance had begun to crumble, the dominance of foreign Turkic Muslim
dynasties in north India was to last for the next five centuries. On the death of
Muhammad in 1206, the Turkic slave-general, Qutb-ud-din Aibak, broke away from
the Ghurid Dynasty and became the first Sultan of Delhi. He began construction of
the Qutb Minar and Quwwat-al-Islam (might of Islam) mosque, the earliest extant
mosque in India. Qutb-ud-din faced widespread Hindu rebellions and it was his
Places to See in Delhi
India Gate
Category : History & Culture
India Gate is a stone monument dedicated to the memory of the Indian soldiers who fought and
died in the First World War It ranks as one of the primary places of interest in Delhi. The Indian
soldiers were part of the British army and represented the military might of the British Empire at
the height of its powers. India Gate was designed by Edward Lutyens and took 10 years to
complete. The structure of India Gate is a triumphal arch, which is 42 meters high. More...
Rashtrapati Bhawan
Category : History & Culture
The Rashtrapati Bhawan is a renowned monument in Delhi. It is said to be the palace of the
then Viceroy of India. At present, the Rashtrapati Bhawan is house of the President of India.
The building was designed by Edwin Lutyens. The construction began in 1911 and it took 19
years to finish its construction. There is a wonderful Mughal garden towards the west of
Rashtrapati Bhawan. It opens up to public every spring. Tours to Rashtrapati Bhawan and
Mughal Gardens are available with a nominal registration fee of Rs.25. Visitors in a group of 30
and more shall be offered discounted rates and children below 12 years will not be charged any
fee
Arts and Crafts of Delhi
The capital of India is not only known for its rich historical background but also for some
exquisite arts and crafts. Infact, the arts and crafts of Delhi have been patronized since
the times of the royals. As a cultural center of its time, Delhi attracted the best of
painters, musicians and dancers. Even though those days have gone, arts and crafts
continue to be encouraged in Delhi. As a matter of fact, Delhi has its own "cultural
season" that stretches on from October to March. This season is full of various events
related to both visual as well as performing arts. The numerous auditoriums in the city
are busy with the various music and dance performances. Not to forget the various
theatre groups in Delhi, especially the most famous National School of Drama (NSD).
From the Hindi translations of European plays, to regional theatre as well as folk forms,
there is a range of plays that serve as the food for your soul. Then, there is a hoard of
art galleries that serve as a reflection of the creative streak of the Delhiites. Numerous
exhibitions are held in the city that displays the works of both well-known as well as
Food & Cuisine
As India's national capital and centuries old Mughal capital, Delhi influenced the food
habits of its residents and is where Mughlai cuisineoriginated. Along with Indian cuisine,
a variety of international cuisines are popular among the residents. [174] The dearth of food
habits among the city's residents 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, Aloo Chaat, chaat, dahi vada, kachori, chole
bhature, Chole kulche,jalebi and lassi.[174][175]:40–50, 189–196 The fast living habits of Delhi's
people has motivated the growth of street food outlets.[175]: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.[176] 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. It has nearly become a tradition that
almost every prime minister of India has visited the street to eat paratha at least once.
Other Indian cuisines are also available in this area even though the street specializes
in north Indian food
Industries in delhi
Delhi is an important commercial capital in Asia. The service industry contributes the
largest chunk of the State Domestic Product (SDP)- about 70% followed by
manufacturing (25.2%) and agriculture (3.85%)
The key industries include Information
Technology,Telecommunications,Hotels, Media, Banking and Tourism. The
manufacturing industries of Delhi has also expanded as many consumer
goods industries have established manufacturing units and offices in the
region.
Delhi's large consumer market and its abundance of skilled labor has
attracted foreign investments to Delhi.
The Delhi State Industrial Development Corporation (DSIDC) has played a
vital role in shaping the Industrial growth of Delhi. The main objectives of
DSIDC are:
To aid, counsel,assist,finance,protect and promote the interests of Industries in
the Union Territory of Delhi
To undertake procurement and distribution of various raw materials
To undertake and provide marketing facilities to small industries
To acquire land and develop it suitably
To help co-ordination between small and large industry
To promote and operate schemes for Delhi Industries
To promote and develop industries of all types
To establish and maintain Manpower data to export Manpower to foreign
countries
flora and fauna[edit]
There is significant dispute over the extent of the city's green cover. City authorities
claimed in 2008 that the green cover had increased from 26 km 2 to 300 km2; moreover,
the Delhi Forest Act stipulated that for every felled tree ten saplings need to be planted.
Critics point out that the data as well as the meaning of "green cover" are unclear. The
actual increase may be only half of what was claimed, and there are estimates that
some 100,000 trees had been cut in Delhi, due in part to the construction of the Delhi
Metro and theDelhi Bus Rapid Transit System.[15]
The Northern Ridge (also called Old Delhi) comprises of the area near Delhi
University. It is approximately 87 Hectares and was declared a reserve forest in 1915.
The Central Ridge (also called New Delhi) consists of around 864 Hectares of forested
area, from south of Sadar Bazaar to Dhaula Kuan. This was declared a Reserve forest
in 1914.
Festivals and Events in Delhi
There are officially only three national holidays, but various festivals and events are
celebrated in Delhi because of its eclectic mix of people.
Lohri is celebrated widely by the Punjabis/Sikhs of Delhi in the month of January. This
festival signals the end of winter and heralds the coming of spring. Big bonfires are lit in
the evening and family and friends dance around it throwing in.
Holi, the festival of colour is celebrated with great gusto at the onset of spring
somewhere in February or early March. There is great merriment on this day and
people especially youngsters spray people with brightly coloured powder and water.
Other special events in Delhi include festivals like the Mango Festival that is held at
the Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi in the month of July. The festival features a wide
variety of mangoes and mango eating competitions.
Dussehra symbolises the triumph of good over evil and is celebrated with Ramlilas and
the burning of the effigy of Ravana the demon king in the month of September or
October.
Diwali the famous festival of lights is also widely celebrated with almost all homes being
lit up with diyas and the night sky being illuminated with fireworks.
India International Trade Fair is widely attended by the people of Delhi, which is held
in November every year. Held at Pragati Maidan this fair is a showcase of wonderful
handicrafts and textiles with all the states of India participating.
Culture[edit]
Delhi's culture has been influenced by its lengthy history and historic association as the
capital of India. This is exemplified by many significant monuments in the city. Delhi is
also identified as the location of Indraprastha, the ancient capital of the Pandavas.
TheArchaeological Survey of India recognises 1200 heritage buildings[153] and 175
monuments as national heritage sites.[154] In the Old City, the Mughals and the Turkic
rulers constructed several architecturally significant buildings, such as the Jama
Masjid – India's largest mosque[155] built in 1656 [156] and the Red Fort. Three World
Heritage Sites – the Red Fort, Qutab Minar and Humayun's Tomb – are located in Delhi.
[157]
Other monuments include the India Gate, the Jantar Mantar – an 18th-century
astronomical observatory – and thePurana Qila – a 16th-century fortress.
