Delhi – The city with an antiquated history has perpetually changed through ages. The vast and sprawling megapolis that stands today is a far cry from the ancient Indraprasth or the medieval Shahjahanbad. There was a time long long ago when the Aravalli hills reached down to Yamuna, covered with forests that were thick and impenetrable. The Mahabharata describes how this Khandava forest was leveled by Pandavas to lay out the grand palace of Indraprastha. For centuries after this, Delhi remained lost to history. The city made its presence felt once again in the 10th century as a frontier outpost, when the Tomar Rajputs built a fort here – Lalkot.And later this Lalkot became instead of frontier town, a kingdom that was later called as Sultanate of Delhi. Not only did Delhi become the site of royal power, but also became the capital of Islam India.Delhi, the capital of India now given the status of an independent state is the third largest city and industrial hub of North India. Surrounded by the states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, this bustling city has a blend of the old and the new, the oriental and the western, the quite and the congested. Spread over 1483 sq.kms the city is home to 12 million people from all over the country. Main languages spoken are Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi and English. It is the seat of the Central Government and a major travel mode. Almost all the major government bodies, embassies and state governments have their buildings here. The city stands at the west bank of the Yamuna riverat the narrowest point between the Aravalli hills and the Himalayas. It has strategically commanded the mostly viral route from the North – West frontier to the agriculturally rich Ganga plain. It is surrounded by the states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and is blend of the old and the new, the oriental and the western, the quite and the congested. As the steel and the concrete structures ruthlessly claim the city’s horizons, a growing urge was felt to re-integrate with one’s root.
Delhi – The name brings the images of not just the city, it also spells splendour. It is where history is elegantly preserved by modernity. Fascinating Forts ruined cities and an extremely engrossing historical upbringing make Delhi a place of worth exploring. Consisting two parts – Old Delhi and New Delhi, it is the most happening city of India. The old Delhi was the capital of Muslim India between the 17th and 19th centuries and a legacy of forts, mosques and monuments testify this. The old city is settled within the remnants of a sturdy defensive wall and spread to the west of the famous Ref Fort built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan between 1638 and 1648 A.D.New Delhi – India’s capital and fastest growing large city is rapidly catching up Mumbai and Kolkata in size, having long since eclipsed them into political importance. The planning of New Delhi began in 1911 under Edwin Lutyens, soon after the declaration of King Emperor GeorgeV at Delhi Durbar that the capital of India was to move from Calcutta to Delhi. Today in many parts Delhi is a spacious garden city, tree-lined and with beautiful parks, contains embassies and government buildings. The newer wealthier Delhi’s architecture and opulence dazzled the eye, attracting invaders like Timur who in 1398 ransacked Delhi, though he paid a compliment to the city when he took all its artisans back with him to build Samarkhand. Suburbs are mostly to the south of New Delhi. The intense air pollution and nightmarish traffic unsettles the new comers.
Being the country’s capital, people from every part of India have sttled in the city, giving Delhi an unique identity and culture. The rich craft tradition of Delhi dates back to the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan. Like many other cosmopolitan cities in the world, Delhi boasts of sartorial diversity, drawing off different regional traditions and networking them into a national fashion.In addition to its historic interest and role as the Government centre, Delhi is a major travel gateway.It is one of the India’s busiest entrance points for overseas airlines, the hub of North Indian travel network and a step on the overland route across Asia. The city is like a canvas, which reflects the complexities, contradictions, beauty and dynamism of a city where the past co-exist with the present. Many dynasties ruled from here and the city is rich with the architecture of its monuments. Diverse cultural elements that have been absorbed into daily life of the city have enriched its character. Exploring the city can be a fascinating a truly rewarding experience!!
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