Delhi, sometimes referred to as Dilli, is the second-largest metropolis in India, after Mumbai, with a population of 13 million and with an extended metropolitan population of almost 22 million. Located in Northern India, on the banks of the River Yamuna, Delhi has the political status of a federally-administered union territory known as the National Capital

Source: wikipedia / wikitravel

Best For :

Delhi is the best place to get a glimpse into the true spirit of India.

Human habitation was probably present in and around Delhi during the second millennium BC and before, as evidenced by archeological relics. The city is believed to be the site of Indraprastha, legendary capital of the Pandavas in the Indian epic Mahabharata. Settlements grew from the time of the Mauryan Empire ( 300 BC). Remains of seven major cities have been discovered in Delhi. King Prithviraj III was defeated in 1192 by the Afghan Muhammad Ghori. Delhi was a major center of Sufism (a mystic tradition of Islam) during the Sultanate period. In 1526, Zahiruddin Babur defeated the last Lodhi sultan in the First Battle of Panipat and founded the Mughal Empire that ruled from Delhi, Agra and Lahore.

The Mughal Empire ruled northern India for more than three centuries, with a five-year hiatus during Sher Shah Suri's reign in the mid-16th century. Mughal emperor Akbar shifted the capital from Agra to Delhi. Shah Jahan built the seventh city of Delhi that bears his name (Shahjahanabad), and is more commonly known as the Old City or Old Delhi. Delhi came under direct British control after the Indian Rebellion of 1857.

Delhi has a semi-arid climate with high variation between summer and winter temperatures. Summer is long from early April to October with the monsoon season in between. Winter starts in November and peaks in January and is notorious for its heavy fog, which often disrupts road, air and rail traffic. Extreme temperatures range from −0.6 °C to 47° C.  The annual temperature is 25 °C. The average annual rainfall is approximately 714 mm, most of which is during the monsoons in July and August. The average date of the advent of monsoon winds in Delhi is 29th June.

Source: wikipedia / wikitravel

Visitors can easily get foreign currency exchanged at the many banks and exchange counters in Delhi as well as at the Delhi International Airport. Indian Rupees is the acceptable form of currency here.

Delhi can be reached by air, road or by rail from most of the cities of India.

By Rail: Trains arrive at one of three main stations: Delhi Junction, also called Old Delhi or Purani Dilli, the second at New Delhi which lies in Central Delhi, and one at Hazrat Nizamuddin a few kilometers to the south. (A very few trains also use Delhi Sarai Rohilla or Delhi Cantt stations.) Delhi Junction and New Delhi Railway Station are now conveniently connected by Metro Line 2, just minutes apart. It will take around 40 minutes to an hour to travel from the New Delhi Railway Station to the airport by car, depending on traffic.

By Air: The domestic airport at Delhi is well-connected to most of the cities of India.

International Flight:

Indira Gandhi International Airport is the arrival point for many visitors into Delhi. Most terminals have basic facilities like money changing and restaurants. Flights from all the major cities of the world ply to Delhi.

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By Road: Buses arrive from Kathmandu and Chitwan in Nepal and virtually every city in India. Delhi has a confusing slew of inter-state bus termini (ISBT), which all have two names to boot. The Delhi Transport Corporation is the major operator, but every state also runs its own buses and there are some private operators too.

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The Red Fort (Lal Qila) is one of Delhi's top tourist sights. A brilliant red sandstone fort built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.

Humayun's Tomb in South Delhi, near Hazrat Nizamuddin station, is one of Delhi's three UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The centerpiece of the complex is the Tomb of Humayun, the second Mughal emperor. Built starting in 1562, it was the first major Mughal structure in the city.
Before you leave, be sure to visit the South Gate, the original royal entrance, from where one can get picture-postcard views without too many tourists in the way. In the southeast corner is the Barber's Tomb, also built in the same style, but regarding which very little is known.

The Qutub Complex in Mehrauli, south Delhi, houses structures dating from the Slave Dynasty (1206-1290) and is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The gardens are kept in excellent shape, making this a popular relaxation and picnic spot. Qutub Minar-The most famous structure on grounds, this 72.5m minaret was the tallest "skyscraper" in the world when built (1193-1368) on the orders of Qutb-ud-din Aybak.

Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque. Delhi's first and grandest mosque, now mostly in ruins, but many parts of the complex are still standing and the sandstone decorations are still impressive. Iron Pillar, in the center of the mosque. True to its name, this is a seven-meter iron pillar erected c. 400 AD by Chandragupta II Vikramaditya.

Ala-i-Minar. Ala-ud-din-Khilji set out to build a tower twice as high as the Qutub Minar, but died after a mere 24.5m was complete. The first storey stands to this day.

Rajpath is the main parade route that leads to the President's residence (Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Rajghat - Memorial of Mahatma Gandhi.

Nehru House or 'Teen Murti Bhavan' was the house of the first Prime Minister of India.

India Gate- This monument has been built as a memorial for the Indian soldiers who died in World War One. There is also a fire ("eternal flame") burning.

Parliament House

Lodhi Garden - a peaceful park in the heart of New Delhi, Lodhi garden is ideal for morning walks in the hot season and for afternoon strolls and picnics during the cooler months.

Nehru Park - a large park in the South Delhi neighborhood of Chankayapuri

India Habitat Center, Lodhi- Most noted for its ever-changing art exhibits, plays and film shows, as well as an international selection of food items in its food court.

International Doll's Museum- A museum of dolls from all over the country. You get to see the costumes and art from all over India

National Museum- the collection is unparalleled and contains some true masterpieces. Keep an eye out for the 4600-year-old Harappan temple dancer, the Gandhara-era standing Buddha with Greek hair and a Roman toga, the stunning miniature painting gallery, and the giant temple chariot parked outside.

National Railway Museum houses a collection of Indian trains from the past to the present.

Amongst the religious places to visit are the Akshardham Temple, the Lotus Temple, the Jama Masjid Gurudwara Bangla Sahib,Gurudwara Sis Ganj, ISKCON (Hare Krishna) temple, Jama Masjid, opposite the Red fort, next to Chandni Chowk in Old Lakshmi Narayan Temple or popularly known as Birla Mandir, Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple and Sai Baba Temple.

Source: wikipedia / wikitravel

	Jama Masjid
	Image By Flickr User markbold Used under Creative Commons Attribution License

Where To Eat:

The best place to go for chaat is the Bengali Market near Connaught Place in the center of town. The restaurants are of high quality, the food is great, and there are ATMs there as well. One of the best known restaurants there is Nathu's. But for the really good  street food you have to make your way to Old Delhi, and particularly to Ashok's near Chawri Bazaar.

Source: wikipedia / wikitravel

Where To Stay:

Delhi's nightlife scene has undergone a total transformation in the last decade and there are plenty of modern, cosmopolitan joints. While everything is theoretically supposed to shut down by 1 AM, quite a few keep going much longer. Aqua - At the Park Hotel, Aura - At the Claridges, Climax- central Delhi, Ministry of Sound, Vasant Kunj and Orange at the Ashoka Hotel, are some of the prominent nightclubs.

Chandni Chowk, in the heart of Old Delhi, is the place to go for the full-on Indian experience of crowded, twisting alleys and tiny shops. Silverware, prayer and ceremonial  items are just some of the wares you can shop for.

Janpath is a bargain-hunter's dream and just a two minutes' walk from Connaught place. Think of it as a vast fleamarket, where you can get all kinds of knick-knacks and clothes.

Palika Bazaar at Connaught Place is a large underground market, better known for electronics, cheap fashions and pirated music, games and software.

Cottage Emporium, located near Connaught Place, is the main government-run location for selling handicrafts from all over the country. You can pay with credit cards.

Many state emporia are all located on Baba Kharak Singh Marg, one of the radial streets coming off of Connaught Place. You can shop for carpets, rugs and dhurries, curtains, tablecloths, bedspreads and pillow covers, sarees,  and various handicraft that the state specialises in.

Dilli Haat, located in South Delhi is a wonderful place to get crafts from all over the country. What is distinctive here is that the artists themselves come to sell their goods, so your money goes directly to them.

Source: wikipedia / wikitravel

• Agra and the Taj Mahal is a 3-4 hour drive or train ride.
• Dharamsala, the seat of the Dalai Lama's government in exile, is 10-12 hours north.
• Jaipur, Rajasthan are reachable by plane or overnight train.
• Kathmandu in neighboring Nepal is a rough 36 hour coach ride.
• The holy cities of Haridwar and Rishikesh, in the foothills of the Himalayas, are a 5-6 hour bus or train ride away.
• Mussoorie, the original British hill station in India
• Nainital, another beautiful hill station in the Kumaon hills with a magnificent lake.

Delhi is often referred to as the ‘heart’ or ‘dil’ of India and is a true reflection of the culture and hospitality of the citizens of India. There is a lot to see and experience here and a visit to this historical place should not be missed.