Delhi Travel Information
Delhi is the third largest city of the world and is the second largest metropolitan with a population of as much as 13 million after Mumbai. Delhi is the present day as well as the traditional capital of India. This is one of the oldest city in India. This is surrounded by Haryana on all sides and the eastern side it is surrounded by Uttar Pradesh.
Why is Delhi the capital of India?
During the 13th century, Delhi passed into the hands of five Afghans and also Turkish dynasties and these dynasties formed a number of forts and also townships that are today part of the seven cities in Delhi.
After the Indian rebellion in the year 1857, Delhi came directly under the control of the British. Calcutta was declared as the official capital by the British; however, in the year 1911, Delhi again became the capital of India.
After India got its independence on the 15th of August 1947, Delhi officially became the capital of the republic. Delhi is the capital of India and it is, therefore, the center of all the political activities. Delhi initially was a bureaucratic power but now this is also becoming the corporate power. Geographically also Delhi is located very much in the heart of the country and therefore it is also the capital of India.
History of Delhi
Delhi is as old as 3000 BC. Indraprastha was the capital of the kingdom of the Pandavas in the Mahabharata and it is therefore also believed to be located in the same region. From the 8th till the 16th century, the Tomar dynasty ruled Delhi and they founded the Lal Kot in 736.
In the year 1180, the city was conquered by the Chaunhan kings. Mohammed Ghori defeated Prithviraj Chauhan in the year 1192. From the year 1206, the Delhi Sultanate declared Delhi as the capital. The city was later captured by a number of dynasties.
In the year 1938, India was invaded by Timur Lang who ransacked the city of Delhi. In the year 1526, the Mughal dynasty was founded by emperor Babur and this happened after the first battle of Panipat. This city was conquered by emperor Shah jahan.
The city was also attacked by the Marathas and later they were captured by the Persian kings. They were again conquered by the Marathas in the 18t century. In the year 1803, Marathas got defeated by the East India company.
Why is Delhi divided between Old and New Delhi?
Delhi is divided between two parts - Old Delhi and New Delhi. They are basically two faces of the same coin. Basically there is no fixed boundary that differentiates the two parts of Delhi. They are basically two zones of the state of Delhi. Chandni Chowk, which is a very famous market in Delhi is situated in old Delhi.
Apart from this market, Red Fort, Jain Mandir, Jama Masjid, Sheeshganj Gurudwara are also in old Delhi.
New Delhi however, speaks of a completely new story. When you get out of the airport, then you are in New Delhi. You will find some high rising buildings, the metro facilities, impressive examples of British architecture. New Delhi is a metropolitan city and some of the most famous sights of New Delhi include the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament House, Lotus Temple, Qutub Minar, etc.
New Delhi is a metropolitan city that has some amenities and luxuries that include 5-star hotels, multiplexes etc. The facilities of living in New Delhi are much better as compared to old Delhi. Most of the people in this part of Delhi are mostly in a hurry.
Here the modernization and industrialization have affected the bonds between human beings to a great extent. During the times of the festivals, people certainly enjoy here, however, only after a few days of celebration people get back to their mundane and monotonous life.
On the other hand, in Old Delhi, you will see some very small lanes that are very well connected and the buildings are also located quite close to each other. Here, you will still find the culture of joint families and the food here is also the most fantastic. The residents though are conservative but are also very friendly. Old Delhi is undoubtedly the soul of Delhi. Old Delhi helps you to get an idea of how Delhi was at the time of the Mughal era.
Best Time to Visit Delhi
The best time to visit Delhi is between the months of February and March. This is because during this time the weather here is quite comfortable. During the summers Delhi experiences too much of heat and during the winter, the city experiences too cold weather. The city has a mild climate during the months of February and March and it is for this reason that tourists throughout the world are attracted towards the city.
In the month of October, November also Delhi experiences a temperature ranging between 20 to 25 degrees and is quite similar to the temperature that the city experienced in the month of February and March.
Summer
The temperature in Delhi during the summer season varies between the months of April and July and the climate during this time remains quite humid.
Monsoon
The weather between the months of July and mod-September is referred to as the monsoon season. The temperature varies between 30 to 35-degree centigrade. The showers of the monsoon season puts some kind of relief to the extreme heat in the summers.
Winter
From the month of December winter starts in Delhi and during this time the temperature lowers down to a considerable extent. This season continues till the month of January and the temperature varies between 25 degree centigrade and 5 degree centigrade.
Why visit Delhi?
There are a number of reasons for you to visit Delhi and if you are interested in knowing about all those reasons a little more then you can certainly go through the points that are mentioned below:
1. Architectural Splendor
There have been some great kings ruling Delhi and these kings had actually erected very big structures that signify the glories of the various dynasties. Both the British as well as the Mughal dynasties had made some brilliant constructions in their times. The mightiness of the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the opulence of the Red fort is something that is admired by all.
Apart from these, the Qutub Minar, the Jama Masjid and the Indian gate are very famous tourist attractions that you simply cannot afford to miss. The beauty of the Lotus temple is also something that you truly cannot afford to miss.
2. Delhi can be regarded as the heaven for all the shoppers
If you are a shopaholic then Delhi is surely the place to be. There are a number of small markets present here and among them there are also some markets that have been extremely fascinating for the people. You can also bargain markets like Sarijini Nagar where you can bargain and get products at quite a reasonable price. There are also certain other markets like Connaught place which helps you to get some branded products as well. You can load your car with a lot of shopping items from these markets because the price in these places is quite reasonable.
3. This is also a great place for the people who are craving for knowledge
There are a number of museums, memorials etc. present here that will allow a person to know about the present as well as the history of the country. You also get to visit the National Science Museum which will allow a person who will be able to know about Science in quite a fun way.
Apart from the museums, there are monuments and memorials as well. These highlights the significance of both the persons as well as the events that are related to them.
4. The city also has quite a rich culture
Delhi is considered to be a full tank of traditions as well as cultures. You will get to see a mix of different cultures in this city. There are certain settlements in this city that are dominated mainly by the Muslims. This is mostly true about Old Delhi. There are some places that mainly have Punjabi population and you also will be able to discover folk art in Delhi.
5. Delhi also offers you tantalizing food
Food is one very important reason why prefer stepping out of their home. The parathas to the chaats, everything is available in Chandni chowk as well as the Lajpat Nagar market. If you visit Delhi, then Golgappa is surely something that you should not miss.
Apart from the street foods there are also a number of restaurants in this place where you get some of the best delicacies. You get delicacies from the entire country and also throughout the world. There are also cafes and coffee shops where you get the opportunity to relax.
5 Travel Tips to Visit Delhi
In order to visit Delhi, there are a few tips that you should know about the place and you can go through the list given below to understand it better:
1. Delhi is quite a crowded place
If you are travelling to Delhi then it is very important that you actually get used to crowded streets. This is because Delhi is an extremely crowded place and this is in fact one of the most populated cities in the entire world. This is a place that can also be said to be the meeting points of people belonging to different cultures. There are a number of migrants in the place and for this reason you get to meet people belonging to different cultures in this particular city.
2. The food in this city
Delhi is a place where you get to enjoy some very delicious foods and these include the chaat, Mughlai curries, Cuisines throughout India and also across the world. If you are able to make some local friends here then they will be able to accompany you to some of the best places in Delhi.
3. Make sure that you are aware of the various scams in Delhi
It is very important that you know about the various touts in Delhi. They are actually present everywhere. When you land on the airport, it is highly recommended that you head towards the pre-paid taxi booth immediately. If you arrive to Delhi by train, you can be rest assured that you will come across a number of touts who will force you to go to the hotels that they recommend. There are a lot of them who will try to send you to hotels that are really dingy. There are a number of affordable hostels in Delhi and you can reach those hostels easily via metro.
4. Water in Delhi
When you visit Delhi, it is very important that you know about the drinking water in this place. Make sure that you drink only bottled water except the scenarios where you go to meet a local resident there. This is also applicable for ice because the ice made from tap water is also not very good for your health.
5. Know about Delhi Belly
When you travel to Delhi from outside India, there is every possibility that you may develop Delhi belly. Therefore it is highly recommended that you carry a medicine for diarrhea. This in most cases last for about 2 to 3 days. If you develop this disease make sure that you do not eat melon or papaya. Curd rice and bananas is the ideal diet during this time.
If you are planning to visit Delhi, then knowing about these important details will certainly help you a lot in staying in this place.
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