Delhi – Dil hai Hindustan ka

Introduction :- Delhi The heart of India. Sometime referred to as Dilli is second largest city of India after Indian economy capital Mumbai. Delhi is situated at the banks of River Yamuna. Traditionally, Delhi is known as old Indrprastha in the great Indian epic Mahabharat. Indraprastha used to be a small village in Delhi until 19th century


Population of Delhi :-Delhi is a very fast growing city and home of more than 13 million people. Delhi’s population and economical growth rate is very high. Due to lesser employment opportunities at other places, people from various other cities come to Delhi for employment, which also forms the major reason of increasing population residing in Delhi. Delhi has the political status of a federally-administered union territory known as the National Capital Territory of Delhi. Delhi has four major satellite cities which lie outside the National Capital Territory of Delhi. These are Gurgaon and Faridabad (in Haryana), and NOIDA and Ghaziabad (in Uttar Pradesh).

Transportation :- Delhi is very well connected from another cities of India via rail and bus service. And Delhi is also home of Indra Gandhi International Airport that connects Delhi with other countries of world in 2005-2006 airport recorded a traffic of more than 8.5 million people making him one of the busiest airport of south Asia . Public transport in Delhi provided by busses of DTC (Delhi Transport Corporation) auto rickshaw, taxis and railway.


Education :- Delhi is very important place of India in Education also. According to a report published in 2004-05 there were 2,515 primary, 635 middle, 504 secondary and 1,208 senior secondary schools in Delhi. That year, the higher education institutions in the city included 165 colleges, among them five medical colleges and eight engineering colleges,[71] six universities—Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Jamia Millia Islamia and Indira Gandhi National Open University, Jamia Hamdard, —and nine deemed universities.

Notable higher education or research institutes in Delhi include All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Delhi School of Economics, Shri Ram College of Commerce, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology, Delhi College of Engineering, and St Stephen's College.

Private schools in Delhi - which employ either English or Hindi as the language of instruction—are affiliated to one of two administering bodies: the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) and the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE). In 2004–05, approximately 15.29 lakh (1.529 million) students were enrolled in primary schools, 8.22 lakh (0.822 million) in middle schools and 6.69 lakh (0.669 million) in secondary schools across Delhi.[71] Female students represented 49% of the total enrollment. The same year, the Delhi government spent between 1.58% and 1.95% of its gross state domestic product on education – Source of this Paragraph Wikipedia


Sports : - As in the rest of India cricket is favorite sport of Delhi. Delhi have many cricket stadiums including the firoz shah kotla one of the oldest cricket ground in India. Delhi cricket team represents the city in Ranji trophy a first class cricket championship played between different cities and states of India Virender Sehwag is popular cricket palyer from Delhi. Other sports such as field hockey, Football (soccer), tennis, golf, badminton, swimming, kart racing, weightlifting and table tennis are also popular in the city. The coming years will see the city host the 2010 Commonwealth Games, projected to be the largest multi-sport event ever held in the city.


Weather :- The city has an extreme climate. December and January are chilly with night times lows of 4 °C. The city has spring months in February and March. The summer months of May & June are scorchingly hot with mercury soaring to a high of 46 °C. The city does not have much of rainy season. The monsoon lasts from July to September.

Culture :- 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)[61] and Red Fort. Three World Heritage Sites—the Red Fort, Qutab 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 Lotus Temple, Laxminarayan Temple and Akshardham are examples of modern architecture

Things to see in Delhi :- Lots of things to see in Delhi the list starts and never ends, here is detail of some places

Red Fort ( Laal Kila)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 (who also built Agra's Taj Mahal) as his ruling palace. Completed in 1648, the years since have not treated the buildings kindly: the rooms have long since been stripped of all objects, the marble inlays are long gone and quite a few buildings are off limits. Still, the scale remains imposing and the gardens are kept lush and green even in midwinter. Major buildings within include:

Chatta Chowk (Covered Bazaar). True to the name, this is a covered bazaar between the gate and the fort itself, now filled with souvenir hawkers.

Diwan-i-Am (Hall of Public Audience). This building separates the outer court from the inner court, and has a marble platform for the emperor's throne.

Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience). Built completely of marble, this is where the emperor received special visitors.

Khas Mahal (Private Palace). The Emperor's main residence. The octagonal Mussaman Burj tower looks out toward the Yamuna River, and is where the Emperor used to appear before the public for each morning.

Rang Mahal(Colour Palace). The residence of the Sultan's main wife.

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. Delicately carved, it has been astonishingly well preserved and is still an awe-inspiring sight today — it's often visible from air when flying into IGI airport! (Sticklers for archaeological truth will, however, note that the top of the tower has twice been rebuilt after an earthquake, and the base has been restored more recently.) While entry into the tower itself is no longer permitted, for Rs.10 per 5 min you can view the scenery via a little webcam on top.

Some more notable buildings in Delhi

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. Check out the extraordinarily ornate carvings near the tomb of Iltutmish on the west side of the complex

Daawat Khana. A minor palace at the northmost end of the Fort, this was originally the residence of a prince, but it was converted into a tea house by the British, a function it continues today. Basic meals go for around Rs. 60, drinks Rs. 10-20, and it also has the cleanest toilets around.

Swatantra Sangrama Sangrahalaya (Museum of the Independence Movement). To the left after the Chatta Chowk, this is a reasonably well-presented museum on the history of independence activism in India, starting from the Mutiny of 1857 all the way to Gandhi.

Hayat Baksh Bagh (Life-Bestowing Gardens). Once a grand garden of full of fountains and streams, now sadly all dry — only dry channels and acres of green grass remain

Parks and Garden

Lodhi Garden - a peaceful park in the heart of New Delhi, Lodhi garden is ideal for mornings 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

Religious buildings : -

Bahá'í Lotus Temple, Kalkaji, South Delhi, Shaped like a lotus bud with 27 petals, this stunning temple suspended above milky-blue ponds is surely one of the magnificent monuments ever made from concrete -- but there is very little to see inside. The lush park around is well landscaped but mostly off-limits. Free entry. Open Tue-Sun 9 AM-7 PM summer, 9 AM-5:30 PM winter.

Chhattarpur Mandir Huge & beautiful temple complex with a big surrounding campus - located near Mehrauli area of South Delhi

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib just off Baba Kharak Singh Marg near Connaught Place, is the main gurudwara for the many Sikhs of Delhi. You will need to cover your head (scarves provided for free) and stash your shoes in the shoe storage run by volunteers (also free).

Gurudwara Sis Ganj on Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi, a short walk from the Jama Masjid and Red Fort, is an important Sikh place of worship. Built on the spot where their ninth guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, was beheaded on the orders of the mughal emperor Aurangzeb, it is an oasis of calm in the chaos of Old Delhi's Chandni Chowk. You will need to cover your head (scarves provided for free) and stash your shoes in the shoe storage run by volunteers (also free)

ISKCON (Hare Krishna) temple, at East of Kailash. Centre for Krishna Consciousness, it has robotic shows and multimedia presentations, apart from the traditional temple complex. Lively atmosphere and excellent tasting sweets - and the delicious Govinda's restaurant on site.

Jama Masjid, opposite the Red fort, next to Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi (Metro: Chawri Bazaar). The largest mosque in India and a must-see while in Delhi. Entry is free, but use of a camera (still or video) costs Rs.200. The climb up into the minaret is steep, dark and somewhat claustrophobic, but is worth the extra Rs.20 for the great views over the complex and the city around it. You'll need to cover up your shoulders and legs (scarfs and lungis available for rental), and take off your shoes — either carry them with out or leave them with the gatekeeper, who'll ask for some money when you collect (Rs.5 is more than enough). Open from 7 AM to sunset, but note that tourists are not allowed in between 12:15 and 1:45 PM and pictures should not be taken during prayer hours.

Lakshmi Narayan Temple or popularly known as Birla Mandir, located next to Connaught Place, is a big Hindu temple complex. Closest Metro - Rajiv Chowk (Yellow Line)

Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple, off National Highway 24, East Delhi, Completed only in 2005 by the controversial spiritual organization BAPS, no expense has been spared in decorating this large and elaborate temple carved of red sandstone. The central monument, built without any steel, houses an 11-ft golden statue of the founder of the Swaminarayan faith, Bhagwan Swaminarayan. The Premvati food court on grounds serves up fast, cheap, huge but mediocre portions of vegetarian food (Rs. 75 for a thali). Note that there is a strict ban on all electronic items, cameras, tobacco and pretty much everything except the clothes on your back; you can leave your worldly belongings in the cloakroom outside. Free entry, guide booklet Rs.5, access to multimedia exhibitions Rs.125. Allow at least three-four hours to explore it all. Open Tue-Sun 9 AM-7 PM.

Bazaars : -

Chandni Chowk, Metro Yellow Line. The heart of Old Delhi, this is the place to go for the full-on Indian experience of crowded, twisting alleys and tiny shops. The Fountain serves as a useful orientation point, and there are great Delhi-style snacks to be found in the vicinity too.

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. Janpath is not a place for those unwilling or unable to bargain ruthlessly. Also, as in any flea market, quality will vary greatly.

Palika Bazaar, Connaught Place. A large underground market in the center of Connaught Place. This is a great place to hunt for DVD's, VCD's and Audio CD's of Hindi, English and a few regional and foreign language films and PC based games. Vendors stock both legal & pirated wares — quite easily distinguishable, but vendors may try to charge you full price for fakes. For all discs, try before you buy at the shop. If you want to buy anything from there always quote 1/3 of the price stated by the shopkeeper and stick to it. If he doesn't seem to agree with you after a long period of bargining then walk on. Chances are good that he will call you back and agree on the price you stated, and if he doesn't then there are plenty more shops to find the same item!

The List goes on now m tired so ending this article here last but not least ….. Delhi is a major transit hub for trains, planes and buses for all of India and internationally.

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, 10-12 hours north. Tickets can be purchased from Main Bazaar Tourist offices, Majnu ka Tilla Tibetan Settlement or the I.S.B.T.
Jaipur and Rajasthan are reachable by plane or overnight train.
Kathmandu in neighboring Nepal is a rough 36+ hour coach ride, or longer (but more comfortably) on a combination of train and coach.
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

These facts make Delhi Heart of India, so its true Delhi – Dil hai hindustan ka
Your Friend - Rohit Tripathi