DELHI
Delhi, the capital of India, is an amalgam of the old and the new. The ancient and the modern times are in juxtaposition here, not only in the remains of a succession of empires, but equally in present social structure and lifestyles. The name Delhi, Dehali, or Dilli is derived from Dhillika, the name of the first medieval township of Delhi, located on the southwestern border of the present Delhi, in Mehrauli. This was the first in the series of seven medieval cities. It is also known as Yoginipura, that is, the fortress of the yoginis (female divinities).
Jantar Mantar
There was, however, an ancient urban settlement in Delhi known as Indraprastha on the banks of the Yamuna which is traditionally believed to have been founded by the Pandava brothers, the mythical heroes of Mahabharata, the national epic of India. Excavations at the site of the township inside Purana Kila or the Old Fort show that the date of the oldest habitation in Delhi is around the 3rd or 4th century B.C.
Delhi is divided into two parts. The old Delhi or Delhi was one of the capitals of Muslim India between the 12th and 19th centuries. Old forts, mosques and monuments related to India's Muslim history are located here. New Delhi is the imperial city which was created as the capital by the British. It is spread over a wide area and is lined with imposing boulevards.
Delhi is a major travel gateway into India. It is one of India's busiest entry points for overseas airlines and is on the overland route access across Asia.
What to See
Bahai Temple
Among the places of special interest to tourists in Delhi are the Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Coronation Durbar Site, Raj Ghat, Jantar Mantar, Lakshmi Narayan Temple, Qutab Minar, India Gate, Secretariat Building, Rashtrapati Bhawan, Parliament House, National Museum, National Gallery of Modern Art, Nehru Museum, Rail Transport Museum, International Dolls Museum, Crafts Museum, Gandhi Darshan, Purana Qila, the Zoo, Safdarjung's Tomb, and Bahai House of Worship.
When to Visit
The best season to visit Delhi is between October to March. Summers in Delhi are very hot and it is not recommended to visit it during May, June or July.
Where to Stay
Some of the five star hotels located in Delhi are Ashok Hotel (Tel: +91-11-600121, Fax: 6873216), Hilton (Tel: 3320101, Fax: 3325335), Hotel Le Meridien (Tel: +91-11-3710101, Fax: 3714545), Hotel Oberoi (Tel: 4363030, Fax: 4360484), Maurya Sheraton (Tel: 3010101, Fax: 3010908) and Taj Mahal Hotel (Tel: 3016162, Fax: 3017299).
Other good hotels to stay in Delhi are Ambassador Hotel (Tel: +91-11-4632600, Fax: 4632252), Connaught Place Hotel (Tel: 3344225, Fax: 3310757), Hotel Hans Plaza (Tel: 3316868, Fax: 3314830), and Hotel Kanishka (Tel: 3324422).
How to Get There
Air: Delhi has a extensive network of international and domestic flights. All the major airlines in the world fly through Delhi and it is easily accessible from anywhere in the world. Domestic air links cover Delhi from all the major cities in the country.
Train: Trains run from all the parts of the country to Delhi. For nearby places like Chandigarh, Dehradun, Gwalior, Bhopal, Lucknow and Kanpur, the Shatabdi Express is recommended.
Bus: Buses from all the major places in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are available for getting to Delhi. During summer months air-conditioned coaches are recommended.
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