New Delhi, the capital city of the Federal Republic of India,
unwinds a splendor rich with cultural heritage. The successive seat
of power, Delhi is adorned with powerful history, historical
monuments, museums, galleries, panoramic gardens and cultural shows.
Comprising into two distinct Delhi, the Old Delhi and the New Delhi.
The city is a travel hub of entire India. New Delhi is a metropolis
in northern India. The name Delhi also refers to the
National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT) which is a special
union territory jointly administered by the Central government, the
NCT elected government and three municipal corporations. The
metropolis of Delhi and the National Capital Territory of Delhi are
coextensive and for most practical purposes they are considered to
be the same entity. New Delhi, an urban area within the metropolis
of Delhi, is the seat of the Government of India.
Delhi is the sixth most populous metropolis in the world with a
population of 15.3 million (2005 figure). Delhi's metropolitan area,
informally known as the National Capital Region (NCR), comprises of
the NCT and the neighbouring satellite towns of Faridabad and
Gurgaon in Haryana, and Noida and Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh making
it the sixth most populous agglomeration in the world, with an
estimated population of 19.7 million. Delhi has the most vibrant
history among prominent cities or towns of India. Delhi was the
capital of several empires in ancient India and has over 60,000
recognized monuments built over several millennia. Delhi derives its
historic importance from its position in northern India between the
Aravalli Hills to the southwest and the Yamuna river on whose
western banks it stands. This enabled it to dominate the old trade
routes from northwest India to the plains of the Ganges. As a
result, it has always been an important cultural and intellectual
centre. Due to high migration rate, Delhi registers as one of the
fastest growing cities in Asia. As a consequence, it faces key
issues like environmental degradation, air and water pollution,
traffic congestion and acute power and water shortage.
Narrating the city's Mughal past, Old Delhi, takes you through the
narrow lanes of Chandani Chalk, passing through formidable mosques
of Jama Masjid, just opposite to it lies the famous monument of Red
fort. The imperial city of New Delhi highlights the monumental
structures of India Gate, President House representing the colonial
style of architecture. Besides its monumental heritage, Delhi is
also a shopper's paradise and has most exciting nightlife in its
disco-thecae, restaurants, and cinema halls. The capital of India,
Delhi blends an historic past and a vibrant present. The Imperial
city planned for the British by Lutyens is set in parks and shaded
avenues. Legend has it that Delhi, then called Indraprastha, was
originally founded around 1200 B.C. by the Pandavas, the august
heroes of the epic Mahabharata. Present day Delhi is built around
the ruins of seven ancient cities. The remains of seven distinctive
capital cities – among them Shahjahanabad and Qutab Minar – can be
seen.
The name Delhi is of uncertain etymology. One suggestion is that the
name Delhi is derived from the Mauryan king, Maharaja Dhillu.
However, some historians believe that the word Dilli, another
name for Delhi, orignated from the Persian word Dahleez
(Urdu: دہلیز) meaning frontier
or threshold. Another school suggests that the city's original name
is Dhillika. The Persianized surname Dahelvi is also related to
residents of Delhi. The Hindi/Prakrit word for loose, Dhili,
was used then for the locality, which over time morphed into the
local name of "Dilli". Delhi is a palimpsest, bearing the
complexities, the contradictions, the beauty and the dynamism of a
city where the past coexists with the present. Many dynasties ruled
from here and the city is rich in the architecture of its monuments.
Diverse cultural elements absorbed into the daily life of the city
have enriched its character. Exploring the city can be a fascinating
and rewarding experience....
