The earliest known capital city of Indraprastha was founded by the Pandavas in c1450BC. Maya, the Danava architect built a splendid palace and court for them. Recent finds support the view that it was located in the Purana Qila area.

There are various views as to how Delhi, the capital of Indian Subcontinent, derived its name. It may have come from Raja Dillu's Dilli, c100BC, which was sited just east of Lalkot, or from Dhilba founded by the Tomar Rajputs in c736AD. And some say it came from the medieval town of Dhillika located near present date Mehrauli.

Other cities recorded are Surajpal's Surajkund c1024 AD, Qila Lal Kot c1024 AD which was built by Anangpal and Qila Rai Pithora c1170 AD of the brave and daring king Prithviraj Chauhan.

In the same area Qutb-ud-din-Aibak built his citadel and the Qutb Minar in the year 1199. He completed 3 storeys and his son-in-law Iltutmish, added the fourth. It was damaged by lightning in the years 1326 & 1366. Firoz Shah Tughlaq repaired the damage and added the fifth storey. It stands 72 metres high.

Ala-ud-Din-Khilji built a new capital for himself at Siri, c1302 AD. His palace of a thousand pillars saw many triumphs and tragedies, but has since completely gone to ruins. It was Ala-ud-Din-Khilji who built the magnificent tank called Hauz Khas. At that time it had enough water to meet the needs of the city.

Ghiyas-ud-Din-Tughluq, in c1320 moved south and built the fort city of Tughlakabad on the rocky southern ridge. It has massive bastions and walls. Though strategically located, it was deserted within 5 years perhaps because of a shortage of water.

Muhammad Shah Tughluq first built Adilabad just south of Tughlakabad but soon abandoned it. He moved north and gave his city the name of Jahanpanah (asylum of the world) in 1334 AD. Using the fortifications of the older cities, it had 13 gates. His son, Firuz Shah Tughluq, did not want to be left behind, so he created his own city Firuzabad (Kotla Firoz Shah), in the year 1351. He bought and erected a 8m tall 27 ton glittering golden monolith from Topra, near Ambala. Encased in reeds and raw skins it was transported on a carriage of 42 wheels, with 200 men pulling each wheel with ropes. This was emperor Ashoka's pillar with his edicts inscribed on it. It still stands in Kotla Firoz Shah.

Babar's son Humayun, in 1530 AD, built a fort on one of the oldest settlements and called it Dinpanah. The afghan king, Sher Shah Suri, wrested control from Humayun and built Dilli in 1542, encompassing a very large area. 

The Mughal emperor Shah Jahan built his fort, the Lal Qila and the huge well laid out city, Shahjahanabad, in 1648 AD. It took 10 years to build. The city fort had 14 gates many of which still exists. This city survives as the old Delhi of today.

Finally, the British built New Delhi, south of Shahjahanabad and shifted their capital from Calcutta in 1931. In the six decades since the creation of New Delhi as the Capital of British India, the city has undergone a sea change. Made initially to cater to a population of 70,000, the total urban population of Delhi now exceeds 8 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 Shikhs 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 Shahjahanabad.

Since then, the influx into the city hasn't ceased. The manpower required by the Government in the Capital is itself staggering. Industrialists, Entrepreneurs and migrant labour 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 prevalant 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 mission, the growing number of multi-national companies andforeign investors, and the influx of tourists and visiting professionals have given the city, especially its southern and central parts, a cosmopolitan air.

The coexistence of the past and the present at many levels characterizes Delhi, as it does India. The assimilation of a specific cultural influence is expressed differently by people living in different parts of the city, a fact which offers insights into the social strata. South Delhi is undoubtedly the trend-setter, and the fashions and lifestyle introduced here become the aspirations of many. There are however, dramatic differences in localities, standards of living and adherence to traditions.

Delhi 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 dynamism of India.

The capital city today has grown. It has engulfed all the ancient city sites and overflows across the Yamuna and the Northen Ridge. Delhi is still changing.

Geography of New Delhi

New Delhi and its vicinity have a somewhat exaggerated continental climate due to its distance from the coasts and location with respect to mountain ranges. The temperature varies from 40 degrees Celsius in summers to around 4 degrees Celsius in winters. Delhi has a semi-arid climate with high variation between summer and winter temperatures. Summers are long, from early April to October, with the monsoon season in between. Winter starts in November and peaks in January. The annual mean temperature is 25 °C (77 °F); monthly mean temperatures range from 14 °C to 33 °C (58 °F to 92 °F).The average annual rainfall is approximately 714 mm (28.1 inches), most of which is during the monsoons in July and August.

New Delhi is governed by its own municipal government, known as the New Delhi Municipal Council. Other urban areas of the metropolis of Delhi are administered by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and are hence not considered a part of the capital city. However, the entire metropolis of Delhi is commonly known as New Delhi in contrast to Old Delhi.

Transport in New Delhi
Public transport in New Delhi is provided by buses, auto rickshaws, a rapid transit system, taxis and suburban railways.

Metro
The Delhi Mass Rapid Transit System; a world class metro service, has been instituted in New Delhi and in the rest of the metropolis. In order to meet the transport demand in Delhi, the State and Union government started the construction of a mass rapid transit system, including the Delhi Metro. As of 2007, the metro operates three lines with a total length of 65 km (40 miles) and 59 stations while several other lines are under construction.

Taxi & Rickshaw
Auto rickshaws are popular means of public transportation in New Delhi. They are usually coloured green and yellow and many run on CNG. Taxicabs are not as prevalent and tend to be more expensive. However, both private taxis and the state-permit taxis (which are black and yellow in colour) are easily accessible.

Bus
Buses are the most popular means of transport catering to about 60% of the total demand. The state-owned Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) is a major bus service provider for the city and plays a crucial role in connecting it with the rest of the metropolis. The buses operate around 34 depots, and the inter-state buses operate from the three Inter State Bus Terminals in Kashmere Gate, Sarai Kale Khan and Anand Vihar. DTC coordinates with Delhi Metro to connect commuters in areas surrounding the metro stations.

Airport in New Delhi
Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) is situated in the southwestern corner of Delhi and is the main airport serving New Delhi. In 2006–07, the IGI airport recorded traffic of more than 19.4 million passengers, making it the second busiest airport in South Asia. Safdarjung Airport is the other airfield in Delhi used for general aviation purpose.

Railway of India
Railways served only 1% of the local traffic as of 2003. The headquarters of Indian Railways and the Northern Railway are situated in New Delhi. The New Delhi Railway Station serves as the main railway station for the city and is a major railway hub in northern India.

Road and National Highways
Private vehicles account for 30% of the total demand for transport.At 1922.32 km of road length per 100 km², Delhi has one of the highest road densities in India.Delhi is well connected to other parts of India by five National Highways: NH 1, 2, 8, 10 and 24. Roads in Delhi are maintained by MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi), NDMC, Delhi Cantonment Board, Public Works Department (PWD) and Delhi Development Authority.

Culture
New Delhi is a cosmopolitan city due to the multi-ethnic and multi-cultural presence of the vast Indian bureaucracy and political system. The city's capital status has amplified the importance of national events and holidays. National events such as Republic Day, Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti (Gandhi's birthday) are celebrated with great enthusiasm in New Delhi and the rest of India. On India's Independence Day (15 August) the Prime Minister of India addresses the nation from the Red Fort. Most Delhiites celebrate the day by flying kites, which are considered a symbol of freedom.The Republic Day Parade is a large cultural and military parade showcasing India's cultural diversity and military might.

Religious festivals include Diwali (the festival of light), Durga Puja, Holi, Lohri, Maha Shivaratri, Eid ul-Fitr, Eid ul-Adha and Buddha Jayanti.The Qutub Festival is a cultural event during which performances of musicians and dancers from all over India are showcased at night, with the Qutub Minar as the chosen backdrop of the event.Other events such as Kite Flying Festival, International Mango Festival and Vasant Panchami (the Spring Festival) are held every year in Delhi.