In the six decades since the creation of New Delhi as the capital of British India, the city has undergone a sea change. Made in initially to cater to a population of 70,000, the total urban population of Delhi now exceeds 10 million. The city has exploded in all directions beyond the confines of Lutyen's wide, tree-lined avenues, with an exuberance that is characteristically Indian.
Several factors have contributed to this breathless pace of growth. For North India, especially, Independence also meant Partition. In 1947, many Muslim families of Delhi migrated to Pakistan while many Hindus and Sikhs from west Punjab sought refuge in the city. They were given land west of the Ridge and south of New Delhi. Many of these refugees also built their houses across the Yamuna and north of Shahijahanabad. Since then, the influx into the city has not ceased. The manpower required by the government in the capital is itself staggering. Industrialists, entrepreneurs and migrant labor from all over India have turned to Delhi in search of livelihood and success, and made it a commercial capital as well. The cultivated fields which till recently could be seen on the outskirts of the city have been developed into residential colonies and commercial complexes. High-rise buildings now stand check-by-jowl with Delhi's 1300 monuments. Villages such as Khirkee, Begumpur, Hauz Khas, Sheikh Sarai and Nizamuddin, which grew around medieval Delhi's, shifting capital "cities", have now been engulfed by the urban sprawl. Many of them, however, retain their old-world characteristics.
The line of distinction between Old and New Delhi has begun to blur north, south, east and west Delhi are more prevalent terms of demarcation. The facilities and opportunities available in Delhi have attracted Indians from far-flung corners of the country, making it a melting pot of sorts. On the other hand, the presence of diplomatic and trade missions, the growing number of multi-national companies and foreign investors, and the influx of tourists and visiting professionals have given the city, especially its southern and central parts, a cosmopolitan air.
DIndia gateelhi is one of the most historic capitals in the world and two of its monuments-the Qutb Minar and Humayun's Tomb-have been declared World Heritage Sites. It is also one of the greenest capitals. For the visitor, it serves as a perfect introduction to the cultural wealth, the complexities and the dynamism of India which Jawaharlal Nehru likened to "an ancient palimpsest' on which layer upon layer of thought and reverie has been inscribed".
Delhi has some of the finest museums in the country. Its boutiques and shopping arcades offer access to a wealth of traditional and contemporary crafts from all over the country. It has specialty restaurants to please the gourmet, the open parks and gardens ablaze with flowers and in the winter months particularly, a variety of cultural events. Its many-layered existence is tantalizing and can entice the curious traveler into a fascinating journey of discovery.
| Area | 42.7 sq km |
|---|---|
| Capital | New Delhi |
| Population | 9.879 million (2001) |
| Official Languages | Hindi |
| Boundary | The Yamuna River lies east of New Delhi.With a total area of 42.7 km2, New Delhi forms a small part of the Delhi metropolitan area and is located in the Indo-Gangetic Plain. |
The Festivals Of Delhi Provide The Delhites With A Much-needed Break From The Routine And Monotonous City Life. Numerous Festivals Are Celebrated In This Capital City. Since It Is A Melting Pot Of Different Religions And Cultures, Delhi Celebrates Almost All The Festivals That Are Celebrated In Other Parts Of The Country. From The Diwali Of The Hindus To The Eid Of The Muslims To The Christmas Of The Christians To The Guru Nank Jayanti Of The Sikhs, Each And Every Festival Is Celebrated In Delhi. Throughout The Year, The City Remains Immersed In The Festivities. However, The Festivals Of New Delhi, India Do Get An Additional Touch Of The City When They Are Celebrated Here.
Bhai Dooj Festival Is Celebrated In The Month Of October Or November. The Date Is Not Fixed And Is Calculated Every Year By The Pandits. It Falls On The New Moon Night, Approximately One Day After The Festival Of Diwali. The Name Bhai Dooj, With "bhai" Meaning Brother And "dooj" Meaning The Second Day After The New Moon (the Day Of The Festival), Literally Means The Day Of The Brother. Bhai Dooj Is Also Known As The Festival Of Tikka.
The Chhath Festival Is Basically A Major Festival Of Bihar, But Is Celebrated With Equal Devotion In Delhi As Well. This Festival, Which Honors The Sun God, Is Celebrated Six Days After The Festival Of Diwali. The Chhath Puja Celebrations Do Not Include Much Fanfare, Rather, It Is A Festival Of Prayer And Propitiation That Is Undertaken With Somberness.
Christmas Is Celebrated Every Year On 25th December. It Commemorates The Birth Anniversary Of Jesus Christ, The Founder Of Christianity. Conventionally, It Involves Decorating A Fir Tree, Singing Christmas Carols And Exchanging Gifts With Loved Ones. The Main Celebrations Of Christmas Take Place On The Christmas Eve, That Is December 24.
Diwali Festival Is Also Known By The Name Of "the Festival Of Lights". One Of The Major Hindu Festivals, It Is Celebrated Almost In Each And Every City Of India. There Is A Legend Associated With This Festival. It Is Believed That Demon King Ravana Had Kidnapped Sita Mata, The Wife Of Lord Rama, While They Were Undergoing Their 14 Years Of Exile.
Durga Puja Festival Is One Of The Major Festivals Celebrated By The Bengalis. The Festival Is Dedicated To Ma Durga, The Goddess Of Power, Also Known As Shakti. It Is Believed That Festival Of Durga Puja Commemorates The Victory Of The Goddess Over The Demon Mahishasura.
Hindus Throughout India Celebrate Dussehra Festival, Although By Different Names. Also Known As Vijaya Dashmi ('vijay' Meaning 'victory' And 'dashmi Meaning 'tenth Day'), Dussehra Festival Has A Number Of Legends Associated With It. It Is Believed That It Was On This Day That Lord Rama Killed The Demon King Ravana And Took Over His Empire, Lanka.
Eid Festival Has A Lot Of Significance For Muslims All Over The World. The Celebration Of This Festivitiy Takes Place Twice A Year. According To The Muslim Calendar, For The First Time Eid Falls Somewhere Around The Month Of Zil-haji And Is Known As Eid-ul-zuha. Eid-ul-zuha Celebrations In New Delhi, The Capital Of India, Take Place With Great Pomp And Show.
Guru Nanak Jayanti Festival Commemorates The Birthday Of Guru Nanak Dev The Founder Of The Sikh Faith. Guru Nanak Dev Was Born In The Hindu Month Of Kartik (october-november) In 1469 Ad At Talvandi, Almost 30 Miles From Lahore. Sikhs Celebrate The Birthdays Of All The Ten Gurus And Call Them Gurpurabs.
Holi Festival Is Celebrated In The Hindu Month Of Phagun (month), On A Full Moon Day. It Is The Festival Of Colors And Involves Smearing Each Other With Gulal (colors) And Throwing Water On Each Other. There Are A Number Of Legends Associated With The Origin Of The Hindu Festival Of Holi. One Legend Has It That On This Day Holika, An Evil Demoness, Tried To Burn Prahlad, A Devotee Of Lord Vishnu.
Independence Day In India Commemorates 15th August, The Day On Which India Attained Independence. After Remaining Under British Rule For Over 100 Years, India Finally Regained Freedom In The Year 1947. Declared A National Holiday, The Independence Day Is Celebrated Throughout The Country With Much Fanfare And Gaiety.
Janmashtami Festival Is Celebrated To Commemorate The Birth Anniversary Of Lord Krishna. It Falls In The Month Of August Or September, With The Date Being Calculated Every Year. On The Day Of Janmashtami, People Fast Until Midnight And Thereafter Worship The Image Or Statute Of Lord Krishna At Home Or Temple.
Muharram Festival Is Celebrated To Honor The Martyrdom Of Hazrat Imam Hussain, The Grandson Of The Holy Prophet. The Festival Begins On The First Day Of Muharram, The First Month Of The Islamic Calendar And Lasts For 10 Days.
Navratri Festival Is Regarded As One Of The Most Holy And Revered Festivals Of The Hindus. Lasting For A Period Of Nine Days, The Festival Is Dedicated To Goddess Shakti. Also Known As The Divine Mother, The Goddess Assumes Many Forms. Three Of Her Forms Consist Of Goddess Durga (destructive), Goddess Lakshmi (protective) And Goddess Saraswati (knowledge).
Raksha Bandhan Festival Is Celebrated Amongst Hindus Throughout The World. The Festival Of Raksha Bandhan Celebrates Love And Affection Between A Brother And Sister. It Falls In The Hindu Month Of Shravan (generally August). However, The Date Is Not Fixed And Is Calculated Every Year.
Republic Day Commemorates The Adoption Of The Constitution Of India. On 26th January 1950 India Adopted Its New Constitution And Became A Republic. From That Year Onwards, 26th January Is Celebrated As The Republic Day Of India Every Year. The Day Has Been Declared A National Holiday Since Then And All The Commercial As Well As Educational Establishments Observe Holiday.
The Soil Of Delhi Has Seen Ten Different Rules And Has Gracefully Assimilated Them In Its Blood In The Form Of Various Historical Monuments That Dot The City. Despite All The Past Baggage Attached To It, Delhi Has Emerged As One Of The Fastest Developing Cities In The World. People From All Over India And Some From Different Countries Flock Here To Share The Ever Growing Economic Indian Pie. The Atmosphere, Though Very Traditional At Times, Is Moderately Multi-ethnic. Discover The Living Museum Beneath This Modern Metropolitan, Which Is Also The Capital Of India. Know About Heritage And Culture In Delhi. The Cultural Diversity And Religious Unity Are The Core Values Of The Indian Society. Delhi, Being The Capital Of India, Naturally Reflects It All, As People From Different States Come Here For Best Education, Best Medicinal Assistance
From Being The Perfect Start To A "healthy" Morning In Most Delhi Households, To A Meal For Hungry College Students And Even A Late-night Snack, Paranthas Are Definitely On The Top Of The List When It Comes To My Favourite Food In Delhi. Choose From A Plain One Or Select A Stuffing Of Your Choice - Potatoes, Cauliflower, Radish, Eggs, Keema, Bananas Or Even Last Night's Left Over Dal - The Options Are Galore.
If There Is One Thing That Keeps The Delhi Food Scene Ticking It's The Street Food. With A Variety That Is Unmatched, Eating On The Streets Of Delhi Is A Crash Course In The History And Culture Of The Place. Chandni Chowk Is Undoubtedly The Street Food Capital Of Delhi, And While No Guide Book Can Actually Pinpoint The Best Places For Chaat, There Are Some Landmark Food Haunts That Really Stand Out. Of Course, If You Aren't Willing To Travel That Far, Fret Not For There Are Plenty Of Options For Street Food In Delhi.
Here's An Interesting Story About The Origin Of One Of The Most Gratifying Dishes On This Planet. It Originated In The 1950s In Moti Mahal Restaurant, Daryaganj, A Neighbourhood Skirting The Walled City. Known For Its Tandoori Chicken, The Cooks There Accidentally Tossed The Sauce Consisting Of Butter, Tomato And Chicken Juices With Tandoori Chicken Pieces; The Rest Is History. Today, This Dish Can Be Found In Almost Every Non-vegetarian Restaurant And Highway Dhabas And Is Best Enjoyed With Rice Or Naan.
Whoever Thought Grilled Chunks Of Meat Or Fish Marinated In Aromatic Indian Spices Couldn't Give You Joy Should Think Again. While We Delhiites Have A Lot To Be Thankful For To The Mughals, Kebabs Are One Of Them. Whether It Is Kebabs Being Delivered To Your Car, A Quintessentially Delhi Experience, To Food Stalls And Fine Dining Restaurants Across The City, Try This Popular Dish And You Will Be Hooked Forever.
Here's A Piece Of Advice: This Dish Is Best Enjoyed On An Empty Stomach. Rich, Spicy And Heavy, This Is One Of The Most Popular Punjabi Dishes And Is Definitely On My List Of Top 10 Must-try Dishes In Delhi. Don't Be Surprised If You Find It On The Breakfast Menu Of Restaurants Across The Capital. It Is Generally Accompanied With Lassi.
A Favourite Of The Mughal Emperors, The Biryani Has Stood The Test Of Time And Is Today Enjoyed All Over India. This Poultry Or Meat Based Dish Is Prepared In An Earthen Pot And The Lid Is Sealed With Dough So That The Spices, Flavours And Aromas Are Soaked In. The Biryani Experiences In Delhi Vary From The Commercial Chains And Road Side Dhabas, To The Sufi Shrines And Five-star Hotels.
As You Enter Old Delhi And Walk Into The Serpentine Lanes, You Can't Help But Be Drawn To The Aroma Of One Of The Region's Signature Delicacies, The Nihari. This Rich, Spicy Broth Of Slow Cooked Meat Is Served Alongside Hot Tandoori Rotis Or Preferably Khameeri Rotis. The Dish Was A Favourite Within The Royal Families, Who Used To Feast On It In The Mornings. Today It Serves As The Ideal Nourishment For Labourers, Rickshaw Pullers, Coolies And Many Others Looking To Kick Start Their Day.
This One Bags The Prize For Being One Of The Most Popular Snacks, Be It In Office Complexes, Birthdays Or Even Cocktail Parties. It Is Not Uncommon To Find Vendors Outside Almost Every Office Building, Housing Area And Market Place Selling Momos. These Tasty Dumplings Are Available In Both Vegetarian And Non-vegetarian Options And Are Enjoyed With The Fiery-red Sauce.
You Are Probably Familiar With This Line Used Across All Delhi Households "khaane Ke Baad Kuch Meetha Ho Jaye" ("let's Eat Something Sweet After A Meal"). With The Extensive Variety Of Desserts Offered In The Capital, It Is Hard To Say No. From The Piping-hot Jalebis And Lip-smacking Rabri Falooda, To Innovative Kulfis In Flavours Like Custard Apple, Tamarind And Aam Papad, The Delicious Motichoor Ladoo Made From Pure Desi Ghee And Blueberry Cheesecake; Delhi Sure Loves Its Sweets!
Handicrafts In Delhi Speak Of Its Prosperous Artistic History And Time-honored Traditions. Term Handicrafts Is Usually Applied To Traditional Way Of Creating Merchandise. These Handcrafted Beauties Awestruck And Magnetize People From All Countries, Strata And Society. The Raw Materials Usually Used To Make Them Are Ivory, Metals, Stones Including Sandstone, Leather, Silk, Cotton, Paper, Wood And Many Other Materials.
Nowadays The Traditional Cum Modern Designs Of Handicrafts Allure The People To Buy Them And Are Differentiated By The Needs Of People. They Appeal To Those Who Like Their Stuff A Combination Of Tradition, Elegance, Beauty, Simplicity With A Dash Of Color. Handicrafts Are Divided Into Categories Like Paintings, Saris, Home Decor Pieces Like Statues And Wall Hangings, Furnishings Like Cushion Covers And Knick-knacks Like Key-chains.
Delhi Is A City Full Of Skilled Artisans, Who Are Proficient In Handicrafts Of The City. Shahjanabad, Which We Today Know As Old Delhi, Possesses A Rich Heritage Of Handicrafts. This Is So Because The Mughal Were Great Patrons Of Works Of Arts And Crafts. You Can Visit The Matia Mahal's Pahadi Bhojla To See Numerous Jewelers' Shop. These Shops Are Full Of Exclusively Made Necklaces And Bangles That Are Carved Out Of The Bones Of Buffaloes And Camels. This Is Indeed An Exotic Art Form.
Decorative Lacquer Work On Bangles Is A Very Ancient Form Of Art, Yet It Is Still Thriving In The City Of Shahjanabad. The Handicrafts Of Delhi Also Include Embroidering On The Saris Or Dresses. Embroidering With Golden Threads Is Known As Zardozi. The Craftsmen Of Delhi Create Exclusive Designs On Velvet, Silk, Tissue Materials, Etc.
The Silver Paper Which We Use To Cover And Protect Our Food Is Prepared In Old Delhi. You Can Visit The Matia Mahal In Delhi Where You Will Find Many Craftsmen, Busily Engaged In Beating Silver In Thin Sheets By Hand. A Little Searching Through The Alleys Can Lead You To Those Small Workshops Of Great Craftsmanship.
The Very Popular Meenakari Work Is Also Found In Delhi. It Is A Work In Which The Paint Is Embossed On Silver Or Gold, Which Makes It Appear Like A Precious Stone. The Other Handicrafts Of Delhi Include Beautiful And Attractive Pottery. The Potters In Delhi Fashion Wonderful Pots To Satisfy Your Thirst, Especially In The Hot Summers, And Also Your Aesthetic Sense. They Also Create Exquisite Clay And Paper-mache Dolls. These Dolls Made Of Clay Can Be Used As Decorations, As A Toy Or Even Clay Idols, At The Time Of Different Festivals. The Places In Delhi Where You Can Get These Indigenous Materials Are Hauz Khas, Chandni Chowk, Ajmeri Gate, Paharganj And Ramakrishna Puram. You Will Also Find A Rich Collection Of Good Quality Belts In Delhi. They Are Created In An Exclusive Style To Suit The Needs Of The Young Generation.
They Are Made Out Of Wooden Beads And Some Other Materials Like Stones, Etc And Are Available To You In Different Styles, Designs, Size And In A Fashionable Outlook. The Handicrafts Of Delhi Do Not Stop Here Only. Delhi Is A City Rich In Handmade Articles. You Will Also Find Perfumes (attars), Incense Sticks, Brass Molding, Earthenware Figures, And Many More Articles Here, Which Will Exude The Aroma Of A Delhi Gone Long By.
Given Under Is A List Of Some Handicrafts Stalls And Shops In Delhi Which Includes Both Government Run And Ngos Handled Ones. The Information Is Accurate To The Best Of Our Knowledge.
