Delhi - Fact File
Location : North India.
Area : 1483 sq. kms
Population : 1,37,82,976
Main Languages : English, Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi etc.
Known As : Capital city of India.
Major Attractions : Red Fort, Jama Masjid, India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhawan, Qutub Minar, Lotus Temple, Parliament House, Akshardham Temple, Humayun's Tomb.
Climate : Extreme tropical climate, Maximum temp : 45°C, Minimum temp : 2°C-4°C .
Ideal Time to Visit : October to March.


Delhi - The Heart of India
Delhi, the capital city of India is the emblem of India's past and present. The 5000-year- old city boasts of rich art, culture and heritage. Delhi has been ruled by a number of dynasties who gave various names to the city like Indraprastha, Tughlakabad, Ferozabad, Jahanpanah, Din Panah, Dinpanaha, Shahjahanabad etc. Great Pandavas of the Mahabharata created the city as Indraprastha and ruled from 1000 B.C. to 4 B.C. The history failed to record its previous incident. However, writing of Ptolemy on the 2nd century referred Mourya rulers who established the city on Trank route. Time is changed and with the change of time the name of the place - Indraprastha became New Delhi. Not only the name, the ruling pattern and the rules is also changed.

As recored in the pages of history, in 737 A.D., at Dillika village, Anangapal the leader of Tomar Rajput set up 1st capital city Lal Kote. From Tomar the kingdom went in the hands of Chauhan Rajputs in the 12th century, Prithviraj Chauhan III founded the 2nd capital city Killa Raj Pithora. In 1192 Prithviraj was defeated and killed in the invasion of Afghan. Mohd. Ghori became the sultan of Delhi and after successive incidents the Delhi came under the rule of Mughal dynasty. The Mughal ruled over the city from 1527 A.D till 1857. On 12th December 1911 King George V visited India and announced a proclamation at Delhi shifting the capital of India from Calcutta to Delhi. Today the metamorphosis of the city is highly acclaimed and it draws tourists from different parts of country and the world.

Attractions of Delhi
Delhi consists of two main parts called as Old Delhi and New Delhi. Old Delhi is located to the west of Red Fort and is surrounded by high walls. It is very shabby and over crowded city with narrow lanes and by-lanes. On the other hand New Delhi is known for its smooth roads, houses and buildings of modern architecture, offices and establishments. Other attractions of Delhi include the flyovers, metro railway, shopping malls, multiplexes, monuments, forts, temples, mosques, parks, gardens, museums etc.

Monuments
Delhi is home to several monuments of historic and architectural importance. Some of the famous monuments are Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Jama Masjid, India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhawan, Parliament House, Humayun's Tomb etc.

Shopping Areas
Connaught Place is the most sophisticated and famous shopping complex in New Delhi. Janpath, South Ex, Lajpat Nagar, Sarojini Nagar, Khan Market are other popular shopping areas of Delhi. Delhi Haat is another famous market which is known for handicraft goods and delectable food items. The traditional market like Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi still retains its old charm. One can also shop at shopping malls like Ansal Palaza, Vishal Mega Mart, Big Bazaar etc.

The Ghats
The Ghats are located along the banks of river Yamuna, here the leaders and freedom fighters of the country were cremated. The Rajghat is the most popular ghat where Mahatama Gandhi was cremated. The Shanti Van is the cremation ground of Jawaharlal Nehru. Other leaders like Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, Sanjay Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi were also created in the ghats.

Temples
The Lotus Temple is the temple of the Bahai community. Lakshmi Narayan Temple (Birla Mandir) and Akshardham Temple are other popular temples of Delhi.

Entertainment Options
Delhi is a happening place and it offers plenty of entertainment options to the tourists. Cinema theatres and multiplexes are the proffered options for entertainment seekers. Pubs, discotheques, night clubs are ideal for partying. Amusement park - Appu Ghar offers several fun and entertainment options for children.

Accommodation
Delhi has a wide variety of accommodation options that suits everyone's budget. One can choose from numerous hotels ranging from luxury, star, standard to budget hotels. Most popular hotels of Delhi are Ashoka Hotel (5 Star Deluxe), Crowne Plaza Surya (5 Star Deluxe), Hyatt Regency (5 Star Deluxe), ITC Hotel Maurya Sheraton & Towers (5 Star Deluxe), Le Meridien (5 Star), Hotel City Park (4 Star), Hotel Janpath (4 Star) etc. In addition to hotels the guest houses, rest houses and tourist lodges are also available at cheap rate.

How to Reach Delhi
By Air : Delhi has two airports- Indira Gandhi International airport and the Palam airport. Between the town airports the shuttle coach service is in operation. Indira Gandhi airport links Delhi with the whole world, while the Palam airport is a domestic airport.

By Rail : Delhi has three main railway stations - Old Delhi, New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station. Express, Super fast and mail trains are available for almost all parts of the country from Delhi.

By Road : Good networks of roads connect Delhi with different parts of the cities and other states. Delhi is linked with the cities beyond the state boundary with regular bus services.

Local Transportation : For local transportation Auto-rickshaws, city buses, cycle rickshaws, taxis and cars are available.