Delhi Tours

The name Delhi originated from the Persian word Dahleez (Threshold or frontier) or from the name of a Mauryan king, Raja Dhillu. Another possible etymology is the city's original name Dhillika. Delhi was the site of ancient Indraprastha, the mythical capital of the Pandavas during the Mahabharata. Delhi re-emerged as a major political, cultural and commercial city along the trade routes between northwest India and the Gangetic plain during the Delhi sultanates.

Delhi has been continuously inhabited since the 6th century BC. Through most of its history, Delhi has served as a capital of various kingdoms and empires. It has been captured, ransacked and rebuilt several times, particularly during the medieval period, and the modern Delhi is a cluster of a number of cities spread across the metropolitan region. This is why Delhi is sometimes called as City of cities...

Although technically a federally administered union territory, the political administration of the NCT of Delhi today more closely resembles that of a state of India, with its own legislature, high court and an executive council of ministers headed by a Chief Minister. New Delhi is jointly administered by the federal government of India and the local government of Delhi, and is the capital of the NCT of Delhi.

Once the capital of Islamic India, is a labyrinth of narrow lanes lined with crumbling havelis and formidable mosques. In contrast, the imperial city of New Delhi created by the British Raj is composed of spacious, tree-lined avenues and imposing government buildings. Delhi has been the seat of power for several rulers and many empires for about a millennium. Many a times the city was built, destroyed and then rebuilt here. Interestingly, a number of Delhi's rulers played a dual role, first as destroyers and then as creators.

Area: 1,483 sq km
Latitudinal parallel: 28.3oN
Longitudinal meridian: 77.13oE
Altitude: 293 m above sea level
Average Temperature: 45oC (Max) - usually in May - Jun, 5oC (Min) - usually in Dec - Jan
Rainfall: 714 mm
Monsoon: July to mid-September
Population: 13.85 (Census 2001)Best time to visit: October to March
STD Code: 011
Languages: Hindi, English, Urdu
Religions: Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, Christianity...

Places to visit

Bahai Temple
Birla Mandir
Humayun's Tomb
India Gate
Parliament House
Qutab Minar
Red Fort