Delhi tourist information

Delhi was the capital of several Hindu, Mughal, Rajput, Turkic and Afghan empires in ancient India. As a consequence, Delhi has a unique history of blending itself with several different cultures. After Delhi was declared as the capital of the Republic of India, several people from every corner of the country have Delhi their home, adding to its cultural diversity. Delhi's art and crafts industry is as diverse as the city's culture. Delhi is the home of Zardozi, an embroidery done with gold thread and Meenakari, the art of enamelling. Delhi has several art and crafts museums like the Pragati Maidan and Dilli Haat. Pragati Maidan showcases rare and exquisite pieces of art and craft from all over India and hosts a 13-day long International Fair Trade every year in November.

A direct consequence of Delhi's rich history is its magnificent monuments. The Old City is the site where the Mughals and Pashtuns constructed several architectural marvels like the Jama Masjid and Lal Qila while the Birla Mandir and Chattarpur Temple represent a blend of North and South Indian architectural styles. The Archaeological Survey of India recognises more than 172 monuments in Delhi as national heritage sites. Two World Heritage Sites, the 72.5 meters tall Qutab Minar and Humayun's Tomb, are located in Delhi. Other famous monuments include India's only war memorial, the India Gate, an 18th century astronomical observatory, the Jantar Mantar and a 5th century BC fortress, the Purana Qila.

The Lotus Temple, a symbol of Delhi's religious tolerance and unity, is the most visited edifice in the world with more 50 million visitors annually. Delhi offers a glimpse of India's religious diversity. The largest mosque in India, the Jama Masjid and one of the most visited Vaishnavite temples in the world, the Birla Mandir, are located in Delhi. New Delhi, a spacious, well-designed district of Delhi, houses several government buildings and official residences reminiscent of the British colonial architecture. Important structures include the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Secretariat, the Rajpath, the Parliament of India and the Vijay Chowk.

Delhi is a noted centre of performing arts. Several theatres and cinema halls are located here. However, the cinema industry in the city is virtually non-existent. The India Habitat Centre provides a physical environment which would serve as a catalyst for a synergetic relationship between individuals and institutions working in diverse habitat related areas.

Events and Festivals - Due to Delhi's lively and colorful religious and cultural diversity, several events are held in the city throughout the year. Being the capital of India, several national events such as Republic Day, Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti are celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm in Delhi. The Republic Day Parade, held on 26 January, the day India became a republic, is a large cultural and military parade showcasing India's cultural diversity and military might.

Every year on 15 August, the day India achieved independence from Britain, the Prime Minister of India addresses the nation on Delhi Fort. The Hindu religious and cultural festivals like Durga Puja, Diwali, Holi, Lohri, and Shivratri and Muslim festivals like Eid and Bakrid are also celeberated with great fervour. Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is by far the most popular cultural and religious festival in Delhi during which millions of Hindus and Sikhs lit traditional lamps, known as diyas and make rangolis, a colorful pattern drawn on floor. Fireworks is also an integral part of Diwali festivities. Buddha Jayanti, a festival celebarating the birth of Gautama Buddha is also a popular festival in Delhi.

Several other famous events such as Kite Flying Festival, International Mango Festival and Basant Panchami or Spring Festival are held every year in Delhi. The Qutub Festival is a cultural event organized by Delhi Tourism Department every year in October during which performances of musicians and dancers from all over India are showcased at night, with the 12th-century Qutub Minar as the chosen backdrop of the event.

Cuisine - Spicy and oil-rich Punjabi cuisine is popular throughout the city. Bengali sweetdishes like Rossogulla and Sandesh can be found in most sweet shops in Delhi. Mughlai delicacies like Kababs and Biryanis remain popular in several parts of Delhi, especially the Old City. Due to Delhi's large cosmopolitan population, cuisines from every part of India, including Rajasthani, Maharashtrian and Hyderabadi cusines, are very popular. Local delicacies include Chaat and Bhalle-Papri. South Indian food items too, like Idli, Sambhar and Dosa have a huge following in Delhi. There are several food outlets in Delhi serving American and other international cuisines. One can easily find a food outlet of American food giants, like McDonalds and Pizza Hut, in Delhi.

Shopping - Historically, Delhi has always remained an important trading center in northern India. Chandni Chowk, a three century old shopping area, is perhaps the most famous commercial area in India. Connaught Place, a major commercial center in the heart of New Delhi, is not only a shopper's paradise but also offers a glimpse of Anglo-Indian architecture. The central market of Lajpat Nagar offers quality Indian handicrafts and garments. Other major shopping areas include Sarojni Nagar, Sabzi Mandi, Karol Bagh and Greater Kailash market.

Dilli Haat and Hauz Khas village offer a variety of cultural Indian handicrafts and handlooms. Delhi's retail industry is one of the fastest growing industries in Delhi. Several western-style shopping malls have opened across Delhi's metropolitan area. The main market in South Delhi offers quality garments and footwear and have outlets of almost all the top international brands. Many travellers view Delhi as a bargain hunter's paradise, as the city offers a wide variety of quality products available at a fraction of the cost in Europe and the United States.

Sports - Cricket is the most popular sport in the city. There are several cricket grounds (locally known as maidan) across Delhi. The local Delhi cricket team is one of the top cricket teams in the Ranji Trophy, India's top domestic cricket tournament. One of the oldest cricket grounds in India to be granted international status, the Feroz Shah Kotla, is situated in Delhi. But other sports, particularly soccer, tennis, golf, badminton, swimming, kart racing, weightlifting and table tennis are becoming more popular. Field Hockey is also popular, even though cricket has overtaken it by a long way in terms of popularity.

Delhi is believed to be the site Indraprastha, capital of the Pandavas in the Indian epic Mahabharata, founded around 5000 BC. Hindu texts state that the city of Delhi used to be referred to in Sanskrit as Hastinapur, which means "elephant-city". Archaeological evidence suggests that Indraprastha once stood where the Old Fort is today. The earliest architectural relics date back to the Maurya Period (c. 300 BC); since then the site has seen continuous settlement. The famous Iron pillar near the Qutub Minar was commissioned by the emperor Kumara Gupta I of the Gupta dynasty (320-540) and transplanted to Delhi during the 10th century. Eight major cities have been situated in the Delhi area. The first four cities were in the southern part of present-day Delhi.

The Tomara Rajput dynasty founded the city of Lal Kot in 736 A.D. near the Qutub Minar. The epic Prithvirajaraso names the Rajput Anangpal as the founder of Delhi. The Chauhan Rajput kings of Ajmer conquered Lal Kot in 1180 A.D. and renamed it Qila Rai Pithora. The Chauhan king Prithviraj III was defeated in 1192 by the Afghan Muhammad Ghori. From 1206, Delhi became the capital of the Delhi Sultanate under the Slave Dynasty. The first Sultan of Delhi, Qutb-ud-din Aybak was a former slave who rose through the ranks to become a general, a governor and then Sultan of Delhi. Qutb-ud-din started the construction the Qutub Minar to commemorate his victory but died before its completion.

In the Qutb complex he also constructed the Quwwat-al-Islam (might of Islam), which is the earliest extant mosque in India. After the end of the Slave dynasty, a succession of Turkic and Central Asian dynasties, the Khilji dynasty, the Tughluq dynasty, the Sayyid dynasty and the Lodhi dynasty held power in the late medieval period and built a sequence of forts and townships that are part of the seven cities of Delhi. In 1526, following the First Battle of Panipat, Zahiruddin Babur, the former ruler of Fergana, defeated the last Lodhi sultan and founded the Mughal dynasty which ruled from Delhi, Agra and Lahore.

In the mid-sixteenth century there was an interruption in the Mughal rule of India as Sher Shah Suri defeated Babur's son Humayun and forced him to flee to Afghanistan and Persia. Sher Shah Suri built the sixth city of Delhi, as well as the old fort known as Purana Qila and the Grand Trunk Road. After Sher Shah Suri’s early death, Humayun recovered the throne with Persian help. The third and greatest Mughal emperor, Akbar, moved the capital to Agra resulting in a decline in the fortunes of Delhi. In the mid-seventeenth century, the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (1628-1658) built the seventh city of Delhi that sometimes bears his name (Shahjahanabad), and is more commonly known as the old city or old Delhi. The old city served as the capital of the later Mughal Empire from 1638 onwards, when Shah Jahan transferred the capital back from Agra. Aurangzeb (1658-1707) crowned himself as emperor in Delhi in 1658. In 1761, Delhi was raided by Ahmed Shah Abdali after the Third battle of Panipat.

Delhi passed to British control in 1857 after the First War of Indian Independence. Shortly after the First War of Independence, Calcutta was declared the capital of British India and Delhi was made a district province of the Punjab. But in 1911, Delhi was again declared as the capital of India. Parts of the old city were pulled down to create New Delhi, a monumental new quarter of the city designed by the British architect Edwin Lutyens to house the government buildings. New Delhi, also known as Lutyens' Delhi, was officially declared as the seat of the Government of India after independence in 1947. During the Partition of India thousands of Hindu and Sikh refugees from West Punjab and Sindh migrated to Delhi.

In 1984, the assassination of then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, led to a violent backlash against the Sikh community, resulting in more than two thousand seven hundred deaths.

In 1991, the Parliament of India passed the National Capital Territory Act which gave Delhi its own legislative assembly, though with limited powers.