The National Capital Territory of Delhi is an international metropolis with excellent tourist spots, recreational facilities and a history that dates back to ancient times. The name Delhi, first recorded in the 1st century BC, had been applied to a succession of cities built on this site before the present city was founded in 1638 by the Mughal
ruler Shah Jahan
. The first fortress city was built in the 12th century by Chauhan ruler, Prithviraj Chauhan
. Delhi was captured by Muslims in 1193 and it became the capital of the Muslim empire in India under
, the builder of the historic tower,
. Around 1771, the Marathas gained control of the city and the British forces seized the city from them in 1803. Delhi came under British rule after 1857 and in 1911 they decided to make Delhi their capital. After India gained independence in 1947, Delhi became the national capital of India.
The state of Delhi covers an area of 1,485 sq km. Situated on the banks of Yamuna River(a tributary of the Ganges), Delhi is bounded in the east by Uttar Pradesh and in the north, west and south by Haryana.
Old Delhi is surrounded by a high stone wall that was erected in 1638 and can be approached through seven arched gateways, including the Delhi Gate in the south, the Ajmeri Gate in the east and the
Kashmiri Gate in the north. The city has attracted several people from all parts of the country and today, Delhi presents an epitome of the Indian society.
Punjabis and Jats are two dominant communities in Delhi. Languages commonly spoken are Hindi, English, Punjabi and Urdu. Many of India's major cultural institutions - including the National Museum, the national academies of music, dance, art and theatre - are located in Delhi. The city is home to numerous fairs and festivals. In addition to a variety of trade and book fairs, the city hosts an annual film festival. The majority of the people are Hindus. Muslims constitute the largest minority, followed by Sikhs, Jains, Christians and Buddhists.
Delhi is a nucleus of trade, commerce and industry. It is the nerve centre of Indian politics. The President, Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers have their residences and offices in Delhi.
Government office complexes are a major source of employment and the city is also home to prominent business, medical, agricultural and educational institutions. Delhi has six universities and more than 100 colleges, besides several premier research institutions. A number of international companies have also opened their branches in Delhi.
The Parliament, the Rashtrapati Bhavan or the residence of the President of India are important landmarks of the city. Among other places of interest are the Red Fort, Qutab Minar, Purana Quila, Tughlaqabad Fort,
Humayun's Tomb, Firoz Shah Kotla, India Gate, Lodi Garden, Jama Masjid, Rajghat, Jantar Mantar, Safdarjung's Tomb, Lakshmi Narayan Temple, National Museum, National Gallery of Modern Art, Nehru Museum, Rail Transport Museum, International Dolls Museum, Delhi Crafts Museum, Bahai Temple which is also known as Lotus Temple, Buddha Jayanti Park, Coronation Durbar Site, Appu Ghar and Chattarpur Mandir.
Delhi is also a shopper's paradise. One can shop for ethnic products at the Dilli Haat and the Cottage Emporium. For the latest international brands one can shop at Ansal Plaza, Ebony and other multi-brand and centrally air-conditioned malls. Connaught Place, South Extension, Chandni Chowk, Karol Bagh, Lajpat Nagar and Sarojini Nagar Market are popular shopping areas.
Delhi caters to both domestic and international tourists and has hotels and restaurants that suit every possible taste and budget. The Taj Mahal Hotel, ITC Hotel Maurya Sheraton and Towers, Le Meridien Hotel, Hyatt Regency Delhi and The Oberoi Hotel are some of the internationally known hotels in Delhi.
A modern city with nearly 40 flyovers and an underground Metro Rail, Delhi has three main railway stations, the Old Delhi Railway Station, the New Delhi Railway Station and the Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station. Compressed Natural Gas or CNG-driven public transport system ensures lower levels of pollution in the city. The state-of-the-art Indira Gandhi International Airport is situated at Palam in Delhi.
Eneo la Mji Mkuu wa Taifa la Delhi ni mji mkuu wa kimataifa na maeneo bora ya utalii, vifaa vya burudani na historia ambayo inarudi nyuma hadi nyakati za kale. Jina la Delhi, lilirekodiwa kwa mara ya kwanza katika karne ya kwanza KK, lilikuwa limetumika kwa mfululizo wa miji iliyojengwa kwenye tovuti hii kabla ya mji wa sasa kuanzishwa mnamo 1638 na mtawala wa Mughal Shah Jahan. Jiji la kwanza lenye ngome lilijengwa katika karne ya 12 na mtawala wa Chauhan, Prithviraj Chauhan. Delhi ilishambuliwa na Waislamu mwaka 1193 na ikawa mji mkuu wa milki ya Kiislamu nchini India chini ya utawala wa Muislamu, ambaye aliunda mnara wa kihistoria. Mwaka 1771 Maratha walichukua mji huo na mwaka 1803 walishindwa na jeshi la Uingereza. Delhi ilijengwa na Uingereza mnamo mwaka wa 1857 na ilianza kuwa mji mkuu wa Uingereza mnamo mwaka wa 1911. Baada ya India kupata uhuru mwaka 1947, Delhi ikawa mji mkuu wa taifa la India. Jimbo la Delhi lina eneo la kilomita za mraba 1,485. Jiji la Delhi liko kwenye ukingo wa Mto Yamuna (mto wa Ganges), na lina mipaka ya Uttar Pradesh mashariki na Haryana kaskazini, magharibi na kusini. Jiji la Delhi la Kale limezungukwa na ukuta mrefu wa mawe uliojengwa mwaka 1638 na unaweza kuufikia kupitia milango saba yenye matao, ikiwa ni pamoja na lango la Delhi upande wa kusini, lango la Ajmeri upande wa mashariki na lango la Kashmir upande wa kaskazini. Jiji hilo limevutia watu kadhaa kutoka sehemu zote za nchi na leo, Delhi inatoa mfano wa jamii ya India. Wapanjabi na Jats ni jamii mbili kuu huko Delhi. Lugha zinazozungumzwa kwa kawaida ni Kihindi, Kiingereza, Kipunjabi na Kiurdu. Taasisi nyingi kuu za kitamaduni za India - ikiwa ni pamoja na Jumba la Makumbusho la Taifa, vyuo vikuu vya kitaifa vya muziki, densi, sanaa na ukumbi wa michezo - ziko Delhi. Jiji hilo huwa na maonyesho na sherehe nyingi. Mbali na maonyesho mbalimbali ya biashara na vitabu, jiji hilo huandaa tamasha la kila mwaka la filamu. Watu wengi ni Wahindu. Waislamu ndio wachache zaidi, wakifuatwa na Wasikh, Jains, Wakristo na Wabuddha. Delhi ni kiini cha biashara, biashara na viwanda. Ni kituo cha neva cha siasa za India. Rais, Waziri Mkuu na Mawaziri wa Baraza la Mawaziri wana makazi na ofisi zao huko Delhi. Majengo ya ofisi za serikali ni chanzo kikuu cha ajira na mji pia ni nyumbani kwa biashara mashuhuri, matibabu, kilimo na taasisi za elimu. Delhi ina vyuo vikuu sita na vyuo vikuu zaidi ya 100, pamoja na taasisi kadhaa za utafiti. Kampuni kadhaa za kimataifa pia zimefungua matawi yao huko Delhi. Bunge, Rashtrapati Bhavan au makazi ya Rais wa India ni alama muhimu za jiji. Sehemu za kuvutia zaidi ni: Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Puri, Tughlaqabad, Humayun's Tomb, India Gate, Lodhi Garden, Jamaa Masjid, Rajghat, Jantar Mantar, Safdarjung's Tomb, Lakshmi Narayan Temple, National Museum, National Gallery of Modern Art, Nehru Museum, Delhi International Dolls Museum, Crafts Museum, Bahai Temple, Jumba la Buddha, Lotus Jayanti Park, Coronation Durbar, Appu Ghat, Chhatarpur Mandir, na Jumba la Majumba. Delhi pia ni paradiso ya wanunuzi. Mtu anaweza kununua bidhaa za kikabila katika Dilli Haat na Cottage Emporium. Kwa bidhaa za hivi karibuni za kimataifa mtu anaweza kununua katika Ansal Plaza, Ebony na vituo vingine vya bidhaa nyingi na vituo vya hewa vya kati. Connaught Place, Upanuzi wa Kusini, Chandni Chowk, Karol Bagh, Lajpat Nagar na Sarojini Nagar Market ni maeneo maarufu ya ununuzi. Delhi inahudumia watalii wa ndani na wa kimataifa na ina hoteli na mikahawa inayolingana na ladha na bajeti yoyote inayowezekana. Hoteli ya Taj Mahal, Hoteli ya Maurya Sheraton na Towers, Hoteli ya Le Meridien, Hoteli ya Hyatt Regency Delhi na Hoteli ya Oberoi ni baadhi ya hoteli zinazojulikana kimataifa huko Delhi. Delhi ni mji wa kisasa na karibu 40 flyovers na chini ya ardhi Metro Reli, Delhi ina vituo vitatu kuu vya reli, Old Delhi Railway Station, New Delhi Railway Station na Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station. Gesi ya asili iliyofinyangwa (CNG) na mfumo wa usafiri wa umma wa umma (CNG) huwezesha uharibifu wa mazingira na mazingira. Uwanja wa Ndege wa Kimataifa wa Indira Gandhi wa kisasa uko Palam huko Delhi.