
Delhi sometimes referred to as Dilli, is the second largest city in India, with over 11 million residents, the eight largest metropolis in the world by population. It is a federally administered union territory officially known as the National Capital Region.
Located on the banks of river Yamuna in northern India, Delhi has been continuosly inhabited since at least the 6th century BC, according to archaeological evidence. After the rise of the Delhi Sultanate, Delhi emerged as a major political, cultural and commercial city along the trade routes, between northwest India and the Indo Gangetic plains. It is the site of many ancient and medieval monuments, archaeological sites and remains.
When India gained independence from British rule in 1947, New Delhi was declared its capital and seat of government. As such, New Delhi houses important offices of the federal government, including the Parliament of India.
Climatic Conditions: Delhi has a continental climate with high variation between summer and winter temperatures. Summers are long, from early April to mid-October, with the monsoon season in between. Winter starts in late October and peaks in January and is notorious for its heavy fog. Extreme temperatures range from -0.6 (30.9) to 47 °C (117 °F) The annual mean temperature is 25 °C (77 °F); monthly mean temperatures range from 13 °C to 32 °C (56 °F to 90 °F). The average annual rainfall is approximately 714 mm (28.1 inches), most of which is during the monsoons in July and August. The average date of the advent of monsoon winds in Delhi is 29 June.
Temperature between end August and early September will be approximately as below:
Max C: 34, Min C: 24, Rain mm: 170
Transport
Public transport in Delhi is provided by buses, auto rickshaws and a rapid transit system. highways.
Buses are the most popular means of transport catering to about 60% of the total demand. The Delhi Metro, a mass rapid transit system built and operated by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), serves many parts of Delhi.
Auto rickshaws are one of the popular means of public transportation in Delhi, as they charge a lower fare than taxis. Taxis are not an integral part of Delhi public transport, though they are easily available. Private operators operate most taxis, and most neighborhoods have a taxi stand from which taxis can be ordered or picked up.
The Rajpath in Raisina Hill, New Delhi. Private vehicles account for 30% of the vehicles. An average of 963 new private vehicles are registered for use on Delhi's roads every day.
Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) is situated in the southwestern corner of Delhi and serves as the main gateway for the city's domestic and international civilian air traffic.
Culture & Cuisine: Delhi's culture has been influenced by its lengthy history and historic association as the capital of India. This is exemplified by the many monuments of significance found in the city; the Archaeological Survey of India recognises 175 monuments in Delhi as national heritage sites. The Old City is the site where the Mughals and the Turkic rulers constructed several architectural marvels like the Jama Masjid (India's largest mosque) and Red Fort. Three World Heritage Sites—the Red Fort, Qutub Minar and Humayun’s Tomb—are located in Delhi. Other monuments include the India Gate, the Jantar Mantar (an 18th century astronomical observatory) and the Purana Qila (a 16th century fortress). The Laxminarayan Temple, Akshardham and the Bahá'í Lotus Temple are examples of modern architecture. Raj Ghat and associated memorials houses memorials of Mahatma Gandhi and other notable personalities. New Delhi houses several government buildings and official residences reminiscent of the British colonial architecture. Important structures include the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Secretariat, Rajpath, the Parliament of India and Vijay Chowk. Safdarjung's Tomb is an example of the Mughal gardens style
Religious festivals include Diwali (the festival of lights), Mahavir Jayanti, Guru Nanak's Birthday, Durga Puja, Holi, Lohri, Maha Shivaratri, Eid and Buddha Jayanti.
Punjabi and Mughlai delicacies like kababs and biryanis are popular in several parts of Delhi. Due to Delhi's large cosmopolitan population, cuisines from every part of India, including Rajasthani, Maharashtrian, Bengali, Hyderabadi cuisines, and South Indian food items like idli, sambar and dosa are widely available. Local delicacies include Chaat and Dahi-Papri. There are several food outlets in Delhi serving international cuisine including Italian and Chinese.
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Lotus Temple is a Bahai House of Worship and the Mother Temple of the Indian Subcontinent.
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Jantar Mantar - Astronomical observations were regularly made over here and these observations were used for drawing up a new set of tables
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The Akshardham Temple in Delhi is the largest Hindu temple complex in the world.
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The Jama Masjid is the largest mosque in Asia-Pacific.
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At 72.5 meters, the 13th century Qutub Minar is the world's tallest brick minaret.
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Mausoleum of Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq at Tughlaqabad Fort.
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Humayun's Tomb is one of Delhi's most famous landmarks. The monument has an architectural design similar to the Taj Mahal.
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The Red Fort is the site from which the Prime Minister of India addresses the nation on Independence Day.
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The North Block, built in 1931 during the British Raj, houses key government offices.
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Rashtrapati Bhavan is the presidential palace.
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The India Gate is one of the most famous monuments in Delhi. Built in the memory of more than 90,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives during the Afghan Wars and World War I.
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Raj Ghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, it is a simple black marble platform that marks the spot of his cremation on 31 January 1948.
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