Delhi- 100 years as the Capital SWATI DAFTUAR Delhi as a capital hits the century mark this year.

Through wars and riots, pomp and show, the history of Delhi is as colourful as it is interesting. Let us celebrate this unique and historical city. The last 100 years have seen Delhi grow and change. Photo: S. Subramanium

On the banks of the Yamuna is the city of Delhi. This year it celebrates its centenary as a nation's capital. Delhi was a major political, cultural as well as commercial city on the trade route between northwest India and the Gangetic plain, after the rise of the Delhi Sultanates. It is a city steeped in history and some of the monuments are still there today. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Calcutta was the capital. It was in 1911 that King George V announced that the capital would be shifted back to Delhi. This is a multicultural, cosmopolitan metropolis and people from all over the country have migrated to it and made it their home. Some famous personalities Khushwant Singh is one of the best-known Indian writers. Singh has also written extensively about Delhi.

M.F. Hussain is one of India's most famous painters. Also a filmmaker, In 1967 he made his first film, Through the Eyes of a Painter. Shown at the Berlin Festival, the movie won a Golden Bear. Pervez Musharraf, the former President of President, was born in Delhi

Shah Rukh Khan, one of Bollywood's leading actors, was born in Delhi and has a Masters Degree in Mass Communication from Jamia Milia Islamia, Delhi. Pandit Ravi Shankar, the legendary sitarist and composer is India's venerated musical icon and is known for his pioneering work in introducing Indian classical music to the West. Photo : PTI Raisina Hill : An important location in Delhi. On December 12, 1911, the capital of colonised India was shifted from Calcutta to Delhi, re-establishing the city as the political centre for the British Empire in the country. This month, Delhi completes its centenary year as the capital of modern day India. The city had been a capital before, according to references dating back to 1450 B.C. Between 12th and 19th century A.D., Delhi served as the capital for many rulers. The original seven cities that came together to form what we know as Delhi today were Siri, Tughlakabad, Jahanapanah, Ferozabad, Dinpanah, Shergarh and Shahajahanabad. The eighth city, the new' Delhi that never really got another name, was built by the British. Clearly, the city was a choice capital, and for reasons that are obvious even now. The two characteristic features of the city, the Delhi Ridge and the Yamuna, gave it natural sustenance and protection. Flanked by these two geographical features, Delhi was the obvious choice for ambitious rulers. Variety and diversity Before New Delhi, the core of the city lay in the northern parts: Chandni Chowk, Kashmere Gate and Civil Lines flourishing with trade and commerce. The small villages and hamlets in the southern part of the city had a motley group of communities living in them: Jats,

Brahmins, Christians, Muslims and Gujjars. They reared animals, engaged in agriculture and worked as labourers in Shahjahanabad, the city established by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Eventually these villages gave way to symmetrical, planned neighbourhoods and architectural marvels like the Secretariat and the Parliament, landmarks that define a certain face of New Delhi. The nation's capital is perhaps the best example of the variety and diversity of the country, a perfect salad bowl that accepts people of all religions, regions and groups. With no single citizen a true son of Delhi, the city has become home for many migrants in search of livelihood from all over the country. The last 100 years have seen Delhi grow and change. The recent Commonwealth Games even gave the city a rapid makeover. The nation's capital has indeed come a long way, and perhaps the greatest change has been in the population. Bursting at the seams, a city initially intended for around 70,000 people is currently the home of over 16 million citizens, an ever increasing number. The river, which was the source of life and sustenance, has begun to closely resemble a drain. The pressure on the depleting resources of the city is ever growing and poses serious ecological crises. Perhaps, as we celebrate the centenary year of a great city, it is time to remember and preserve what made it great in the first place. Photo : V. Sudershan Connaught Place :A bird's eye view. Places to look out for Connaught Place was named after the Duke of Connaught, a member of the British royal family. A sprawling circular market, it was once the largest of its kind in India. The British believed that a market in the shape of a horseshoe would prove lucky. CP' continues to be Delhi's premier shopping destination 65 years after of its birth. Jama Masjid in Delhi is the biggest mosque in India. Constructed by Shah Jahan in 1650, it took six years to complete. The mosque stands on a rocky elevation and is constructed in sandstone and white marble and can be entered from both North and the South Gates. The eastern gateway is supposed to remain open in Friday and was used by the emperor himself. National Museum is rightly called the cultural gateway into India. Set up on August 15, 1949, the museum is a treasure house of antiques and historical memorabilia ranging from sculpture through carving, paintings, jewellery and manuscripts to arts and crafts The museum now boasts of over 2,00,000 works of exquisite art, both of Indian and foreign origin, covering a time span of more than 5,000 years. Chandni Chowk, a main marketplace in Delhi, is the city's living legacy of Shahjahanabad. Created by Shah Jahan, the fascinating market was planned, as legend has it, so that his daughter could shop for all that she wanted. The market was divided by canals. The canals are now closed, but Chandni Chowk remains Asia's largest wholesale market. Darya Ganj is another exciting shopping centre, popular for its Sunday Book Market. The pavements of Darya Ganj become shopping stalls for book sellers every Sunday. The market stretches for almost two kilometres. Books on virtually every topic are available at throwaway prices.

Delhi, as the National Capital of modern day India turns one hundred years old (or some would say young) today. On 12 December, 1911 the National Capital of the then colonized India was shifted by the British from Kolkata to Delhi. With this, the political focus also shifted and Delhi was re-established as the center for ruling the Indian sub-continent. This was not the first time that Delhi, which has reference dating back to 1450 BC, became a capital. Between the 12th and the 19th century AD, Delhi was the capital for many rulers. Siri, Tughlakabad, Jahanapanah, Ferozabad, Dinpanah, Shergarh and Shahajahanabad are the historic seven cities that took shape in Delhi. Shahajahanabad, built by Shah Jahan between 1639 and 1648 AD remained the capital of the Mughal Empire until 1857. The eighth city, or the present New Delhi, was built by the British Empire and is the one which is celebrating its 100 years today.

What needs to be understood here is the reason that made Delhi the capital-of-choice for many a rulers in recorded history. The answer is not too hidden and lies in the citys landscape and topography. Two characteristic geographic features River Yamuna and the Delhi Ridge are indeed the reason why Delhi enjoyed the status that it still does. Now aptly called the lifelines of Delhi, the Yamuna and the Ridge are Delhis natural resources that have served the city since time immemorial. While River Yamuna ensures the much needed water which is essential for the survival and sustenance of any settlement, the Ridge, the extension of the Aravali range, provides a natural protection thus making Delhi a site of strategic importance. The river on one side and the Ridge on the other made Delhi the perfect capital for any man who had a dream to conquer, conquest and rule. It is a matter of separate discussion that any man who made Delhi his capital could not really last his rule. Delhi today manifests the symptoms of uncontrolled urbanization with respect to population, transport, industrialization and trade, and commercialization. The city, made initially to cater to 70,000 people has grown outward to host over 16 million people in the present day. This has put understandable pressure on Delhis natural resources and led to depletion in quality of the ecosystem services provided by these. Yamuna is now a drain that flows in one part of the city and is known only because there is a trans-Yamuna. The once continuous Ridge is now split into parts. It lies quiet but is slowly facing ecological crisis of all kinds. Both the Yamuna and the Ridge have been opened up for construction allowing urbanization to destroy the very lifelines that first facilitated it. And now, there is an urgent need to highlight the issues of the river and the Ridge before more damage is done to these. When the lifelines of a system are damaged, its sustainability becomes difficult and its ability to host life impossible. Delhis survival and sustainability is intricately linked to the health of the Delhi Ridge and River Yamuna. The Ridge acts as the green lungs, an air purifier, provides a green refuge and what not. The River brings all forms of water surface, rain and ground water for the citizens of Delhi and replenishes us. But in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, most of us forget this and remain detached from the essential reality that we too are part of the ecosystem and will be impacted by any unnatural adverse change. It is now time to realize this truth and be more aware and informed about our surroundings. On this 100 year capital celebration, give Delhi the gift it deserves. Give it some of your time and it will only be an investment in your own future. Heres a toast to a forever Delhi!

100 Years of Delhi As National Capital

A general view of the historic Qutub Minar is pictured in New Delhi. City of Djinns to city of gin? By Madhusree Chatterjee Its 20 years since William Dalrymples immensely readable "City of Djinns: A year in Delhi" was published, but the author feels Delhi, in its centenary year as the national capital, has transformed from a predominantly Punjabi city to a multi-cultural one with the hip nightclubs and a new demography.

The cover of William Dalrymple's (right) "City of Djinss: A year in Delhi". The national capital is unrecognisably different from what it was three decades ago when writer William Dalrymple came to the metropolis as a freshman in 1989 to sample the sights and sounds of India.His "City of Djinns: A Year in Delhi", which was inspired by the colours of Delhi, will complete 20 years in 2012. Ruminating on the changes that the metropolis, celebrating its centenary year as the national capital in 2011, has undergone, Dalrymple said: "It is unrecognisably different. It was an extensively Punjabi city in the 80s." "People were still coming for jobs; the demography was changing. But by the 90s, it was a proper capital city. Not Washington or Canberra; but New York," Dalyrymple told IANS on the sidelines of a session on "Transformation of Delhi: India's Capital at 100". The city was declared the national capital by King George V on Dec 12, 1911, and the "seat of government was transferred from erstwhile Calcutta to the ancient capital of Delhi". "This is the city where the media is; the buzz is. Kolkata used to be a great intellectual centre (earlier), but all the publishers and writers are here in Delhi," Dalrymple said.

A view of the old Delhi city now from the top of the Jama Masjid. "Earlier Mumbai (Bombay) was known as a hip place; but it has been replaced by Delhi, which has all the hip new night clubs," the writer said. The "City of Djinns", according to Dalrymple, "records Delhi not just as a historical memory" but as a living city that has continuously evolved over the centuries, making room for the old and the new. Dalrymple would not like to re-write "City of Djinns" again on the capital's centenary year. "Books are like children. You give them as good a start as a thing as you can. Writing that kind of book would be difficult now... but it is very much a record of the city," Dalrymple said.

An 19th century impression of the Red Fort, Jama Masjid and old Delhi. The author is planning to celebrate the 20th birthday of the "City of Djinns", but is not sure about the nature of celebrations. "What's lovely about the book is that it still has its little place. University kids who come here refer to the book. When it came out, 'Djinns...' had a modest beginning. It now sells 15,000 to 20,000 copies every year," he said. The book, which won the 1994 Thomas Cook Travel Book Award, also earned Dalrymple the Sunday Times Young British Writer of the Year award. The hype notwithstanding, Dalrymple still does not consider himself a "pucca Delhiite". "I am a bit insider, a bit outsider which is a useful thing for a writer to be," he said.

Old British East India company painting of the 19th century historical Delhi showing the ruins. "City of Djinns" captures Delhi in a way no other book on the city by a non-Indian does; it relates to the history of the capital spontaneously. "It was in the citadel of Feroz Shah that I met my first Sufi. Pir Sadr-ud-Din had weasel eyes and a beard as tangled as myna's nest. The mystic sat me down on a carpet; offered me tea and told me about the djinns...," Dalrymple said in the book. The writer wanted to see a djinn - one of the spirits - from "the other race of men created by Allah", which haunted the capital. The Pir said Dalrymple would run away. Dalrymple was only 17 when he met the Pir Sdar-ud-din. After 10 years at a school in a remote valley in the moors of North Yorkshire, the writer "quite suddenly found himself in India... in Delhi." "From the very beginning, I was mesmerised by the great capital, so totally unlike anything I had ever seen before. Delhi, it seemed at first, was full of riches and horrors; it was a labyrinth, a city of palaces, an open gutter, filtered light through a filigree lattice, a landscape of domes, an anarchy, a press of people, a choke of fumes; a whiff of spices..." Three decades on, the writer's primary concerns about his "City of Djinns" are "better preservation of monuments; better roads as they were when he came to the capital and the falling water table." "The depleting ground water poses a danger to the city. I see my neighbours in Mehrauli digging up to 100 feet every year for water borewells," Dalrymple said. "City of Djinns" has an infectious creativity, say young writer duo Shalabh from Himachal and Rachel Leven from New York. The young travellers are writing a book, "Seeking Djinns" inspired by Dalrymple's book. "We have visited the places that are mentioned in the book and are documenting the changes. Some of them are the same, while others have degenerated," Rachel Leven told IANS Etymology and idioms

The Etymology and idioms of "Delhi" is uncertain, but many possibilities exist. The very common view is that its eponym is Dhillu or Dilu, a king of the Mauryan dynasty, who built the city in 50 BC and named it after himself.[10][17][18] TheHindi/Prakrit word dhili ("loose") was used by the Tomaras to refer to the city because the Iron Pillar built by Raja Dhava had a weak foundation and was replaced.[18] The coins in circulation in the region under the Tomaras were called dehliwal.
[19]

Some other historians believe that the name is derived from Dilli, a corruption of dehleez (Persian: )or dehali (Sanskrit: ) both terms mean

'threshold' or 'gateway' and symbolic of the city as a gateway to the Gangetic Plain.[20][21]Another theory suggests that the city's original name was Dhillika.[22] Delhi is referenced in various idioms of North Indian and Pakistani languages. Examples include -

Abhi Dilli door hai (or, its Persian version, Hanouz Dehli dour ast (Persian: )) literally meaning Delhi is still far

away, which is generically said about a task or journey is still far from complete. del or dili also meaning heart. In Persian 'del or dili have many meaning cordial, heart, center, love, etc.[23][24]

Dilli dilwalon ka shehr or Dilli Dilwalon ki meaning Delhi belongs to the large-hearted/daring.[25] Aas-paas barse, Dilli pari tarse (Persian: ) literally meaning it pours all around, while Delhi lies parched.

An allusion to the sometimes semi-arid climate of Delhi, it idiomatically refers to situations of deprivation when there is plenty all around.[24] [edit]History Main articles: History of Delhi and Old Delhi

At 72.5 m (238 ft), the Qutub Minar is the world's tallest free-standing brickminaret.[26]

Built in 1560, Humayun's Tomb is the first example of Mughal tomb complexes.[27]

Red Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the location from which the Prime Minister of India addresses the nation onIndependence Day Human habitation was probably present in and around Delhi during the second millennium BC and before,[9] and continuous inhabitation has been evidenced since at least the 6th century BC.[8] The city is believed to be the site of Indraprastha, legendary capital of the Pandavas in the Indian epic Mahabharata.
[10]

Settlements grew from the time of the Mauryan Empire (c. 300 BC).[9]

Remains of seven major cities have been discovered in Delhi. The Tomara dynasty founded the city of Lal Kot in AD 736. The Chauhans conquered Lal Kot in 1180 and renamed it Qila Rai Pithora. The Chauhan king Prithviraj III was defeated in 1192 by the Afghan Muhammad Ghori.[10] In 1206, Qutb-ud-din Aybak, the first ruler of the Slave Dynasty established the Delhi Sultanate. Qutb-ud-din started the construction the Qutub Minar and Quwwat-al-Islam (might of Islam), the earliest extant mosque in India.[10][28] After the fall of the Slave dynasty, a succession of Turkic and Afghan dynasties, the Khilji dynasty, the Tughluq dynasty, the Sayyid dynasty and the Lodhi dynasty held power in the late medieval period, and built a sequence of forts and townships that are part of the seven cities of Delhi.[29] In 1398, Timur Lenk invaded India on the pretext that the Muslim sultans of Delhi were too lenient towards their Hindu subjects. Timur entered Delhi and the city was sacked, destroyed, and left in ruins.[30]Near Delhi, Timur massacred 100,000 captives.[31] Delhi was a major centre of Sufism during the Sultanate period.
[32]

In 1526, Zahiruddin Babur defeated the last Lodhi sultan in the First Battle of Panipatand founded the Mughal Empire that ruled from Delhi, Agra and Lahore.

[10]

The Mughal Empire ruled northern India for more than three centuries, with a sixteen-year hiatus during the reign of Sher Shah Suri, from 1540 to 1556.
[33]

During 15531556, the Hindu king, Hemu Vikramaditya acceded to the throne of Delhi by defeating forces of Mughal Emperor Akbar at Agra and Delhi.

However, the Mughals reestablished their rule after Akbar's army defeated Hemu during theSecond Battle of Panipat.[34][35][36] Shah Jahan built the seventh city of

Delhi that bears his name (Shahjahanabad), and is more commonly known as the "Old City" or "Old Delhi". The old city served as the capital of the Mughal Empire from 1638. After 1680, the Mughal Empire's influence declined rapidly as the Hindu Marathas rose to prominence.[37] A weakened Mughal Empire lost the Battle of Karnal, following which the victorious forces of Nader Shah invaded and looted Delhi, carrying away many treasures, including the Peacock Throne.[38] A treaty signed in 1752 made Marathas the protector of the Mughal throne at Delhi.[39] In 1761, after the Marathas lost the third battle of Panipat, Delhi was raided by Ahmed Shah Abdali. In 1803, the forces ofBritish East India Company overran the Maratha forces near Delhi and ended the Mughal rule over the city.[40] After the Indian Rebellion of 1857, Delhi came under direct rule of the British crown and was made a district province of the Punjab.[10] In 1911, the capital of British India was transferred from Calcutta to Delhi, following which a team of British architects led by Edwin Lutyens designed a new political and administrative area, known as New Delhi, to house the government buildings. New Delhi, also known as Lutyens' Delhi, was officially declared as the capital of the Union of India after the country gained independence on 15 August 1947. During the partition of India, thousands of Hindu and Sikh refugees from West Punjab and Sindh fled to Delhi, while many Muslim residents of the city migrated to Pakistan. Starting on 31 October 1984, approximately three thousand Sikhs were killed during the four-day long anti-Sikh riots after the Sikh body guards of then-Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, assassinated her. Migration to Delhi from the rest of India continues, contributing more to the rise of Delhi's population than the birth rate, which is declining.[41] The Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1991 declared the Union Territory of Delhi to be formally known as National Capital Territory of Delhi.[42] The Act gave Delhi its own legislative assembly, though with limited powers.[42] In December 2001, the Parliament of India building in New Delhi was attacked by armed militants resulting in the death of six security personnel.[43] India suspected the hand of Pakistan-based militant groups in the attacks resulting in a major diplomatic crisis between the two countries.[44] Delhi again witnessed terrorist attacks in October 2005 and September 2008 resulting in the deaths of 62[45] and 30[46] civilians respectively. [edit]Geography Main article: Environment of Delhi

River Yamuna near Delhi

Lightning strikes near India Gate, New Delhi. Delhi receives much of its rainfall during the monsoon season which lasts from July to September The National Capital Territory of Delhi is spread over an area of 1,484 km2 (573 sq mi), of which 783 km2 (302 sq mi) is designated rural, and 700 km2 (270 sq mi) urban. Delhi has a maximum length of 51.9 km (32 mi) and the maximum width of 48.48 km (30 mi). There are three local bodies (statutory towns) namely, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (area is 1,397.3 km2 or 540 sq mi), New Delhi Municipal Committee (42.7 km2 or 16 sq mi) and Delhi Cantonment Board (43 km2 or 17 sq mi).[47] Delhi is an expansive area, in its extremity it spans from Narela in the north to Badarpur in the south. Najafgarh is the furthest point west, and Seemapuri is its eastern extremity. The NCR encompasses towns south and east of the said border, namely Ghaziabad, Noida, Faridabad and Gurgaon.

Oddly, the main expanse of Delhi does not follow a specific geographical feature. The main city area of Delhi does not end until Saket in the South, whilst the northern limit is Jahangirpuri and the western limit is Janakpuri-Dwarka. The terrain of Delhi shows great variation. It changes from plain agricultural fields in the north to dry, arid hills (an offshoot of the Aravalli Hills of Rajasthan) in the south and west. There used to be large natural lakes in the southern part of the city, but most have now dried up. Most of Delhi, including New Delhi, is situated on the western banks of the river Yamuna which separates the main city from eastern suburbs (commonly known as trans-Yamuna), although there is a good connectivity between the eastern and western sides, with a number of road and railway bridges as well as the Delhi Metro. Delhi is located at 28.61N 77.23E, and lies in northern India. It borders the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh to the east and Haryana on the north, west and

south. During British Raj it was adjacent to the province of Punjab and still historically and culturally tied closely to the region of Punjab.[48] Almost entirely within the Gangetic plains, two prominent features of the geography of Delhi are the Yamuna flood plains and the Delhi ridge. The low-lying Yamuna flood plains provide fertile alluvial soilsuitable for agriculture but are prone to recurrent floods. Reaching up to a height of 318 m (1,043 ft),[49] the Delhi ridge forms a dominating feature in this region. It originates from the Aravalli Range in the south and encircles the west, northeast and northwest parts of the city. Yamuna, a sacred river in Hinduism, is the only major river flowing through Delhi. Another river called the Hindon River separates Ghaziabad from the eastern part of Delhi. Delhi falls under seismic zone-IV, making it vulnerable to major earthquakes, but earthquakes have not been common in recent history.[50] Delhi has the third highest tree-cover among cities in India.[51] Delhi was one of the world's ten most polluted cities in the 1990s, with vehicles producing 70% of the polluting emissions.[52] In 1996 the Centre for Science and Environment started a public interest litigation in the Supreme Court of India that ordered the conversion of Delhi's fleet of buses and taxis to be run on Compressed Natural Gas and banned the use of leaded petrol in 1998. In 2003, Delhi won the United States Department of Energys first Clean Cities International Partner of the Year award for bold efforts to curb air pollution and support alternative fuel initiatives Culture See also: Culture of India

Traditional pottery on display in Dilli Haat

Rice and Kadai chicken from Delhi Delhi's culture has been influenced by its lengthy history and historic association as the capital of India. This is exemplified by the many monuments of significance found in the city; the Archaeological Survey of India recognises 1200 heritage buildings[115] and 175 monuments in Delhi as national heritage sites.
[116]

The Old City is the site where the Mughals and the Turkic rulers constructed several architectural marvels like the Jama Masjid (India's largest mosque) and Red Fort. ThreeWorld Heritage Sitesthe Red Fort, Qutab Minar and Humayun's Tombare located in Delhi.[118] Other monuments include the India

[117]

Gate, the Jantar Mantar (an 18th-century astronomical observatory) and thePurana Qila (a 16th century fortress). The Laxminarayan Temple, Akshardham, the Bah' Lotus Temple and the ISKCON Temple are examples of modern architecture. Raj Ghat and associated memorials houses memorials of Mahatma Gandhi and other notable personalities. New Delhi houses several government buildings and official residences reminiscent of the British colonial architecture. Important structures include the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Secretariat,Rajpath, the Parliament of India and Vijay Chowk. Safdarjung's Tomb is an example of the Mughal gardens style.[citation needed]

Delhi's association and geographic proximity to the capital, New Delhi, has amplified the importance of national events and holidays. National events like Republic Day, Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti (Gandhi's birthday) are celebrated with great enthusiasm in Delhi. 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.[119] The Republic Day Paradeis a large cultural and military parade showcasing India's cultural diversity and military might.[120][121] Over the centuries Delhi is known for its composite culture, and a festival that symbolizes it truly is the Phool Walon Ki Sair, which takes place each year in September, and where flowers and fans embroidered with flowers, pankha are offered to the shrine of 13th century Sufi saint, Khwaja Bakhtiyar Kaki, along with the Yogmaya Temple also situated in Mehrauli.[122] Religious festivals include Diwali (the festival of lights), Mahavir Jayanti, Guru Nanak's Birthday, Durga Puja, Holi, Lohri, Chhath, Krishna Janmastami, Maha Shivaratri, Eid ul-Fitr, Moharram and Buddha Jayanti.[121] 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.[123] Other events such as Kite Flying Festival, International Mango Festival and Vasant Panchami(the Spring Festival) are held every year in Delhi. The Auto Expo, Asia's largest auto show,[124] is held in Delhi biennially. The World Book Fair, held biannually at the Pragati Maidan, is the second largest exhibition of books in the world with as many as 23 nations participating in the event.[125] Delhi is often regarded as the "Book Capital" of India because of high readership.[126]

The Auto Expo is held annually at Pragati Maidan and showcases the technological prowess of the Indian automobile industry Punjabi and Mughlai delicacies like kababs and biryanis are popular in Delhi. The street food there is known to be delicious and includes chaat, golgappe and aloo tikki.[127][128] Due to Delhi's large cosmopolitan and migrant population, cuisines from every part of India, including Gujarati Rajasthani, Maharashtrian, Bengali, Hyderabadi cuisines, and South Indian food items like idli, sambar and dosa are widely available. Local delicacies include Chaat, Golgappe, Aloo-Tikki and Dahi-Papri. There are several food outlets in Delhi serving international cuisine, including Italian, Japanese, Continental, Middle-Eastern, Thai and Chinese. Within the last decade western fast food has become more popular as well. Historically, Delhi has always remained an important trading centre in northern India. Old Delhi still contains legacies of its rich Mughal past, which can be found among the old city's tangle of snaking lanes and teeming bazaars.[129] The dingy markets of the Old City have an eclectic product range, from oil-swamped mango, lime and eggplant pickles, candy-colored herbal potions to silver jewelry, bridal attire, uncut material and linen, spices, sweets.[129] Some of old regal havelis (palatial residences) are still there in the Old City.[130] Chandni Chowk, a three-century-old shopping area, is one of the most popular shopping areas in Delhi for jewellery and Zari saris.[131] Notable among Delhi's arts and crafts are the Zardozi (an embroidery done with gold thread) and Meenakari (the art of enameling). Dilli Haat, Hauz Khas, Pragati Maidan offer a variety of Indian handicrafts and handlooms. Over time Delhi has absorbed a multitude of humanity from across the country and has morphed into an amorphous pool of cultural styles.[16][132] [edit]Education Main article: Education in Delhi

Consistently ranked as India's top medical college,[133] All India Institute of Medical Sciences is a global leader in medical research and treatment[134] Schools and higher educational institutions in Delhi are administered either by the Directorate of Education, the NCT government, or private organizations. In 200405, there were 2,515 primary, 635 middle, 504 secondary and 1,208 senior secondary schools in Delhi. That year, the higher education institutions in the

city included 165 colleges, among them five medical colleges and eight engineering colleges,[135] seven major universities (Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU), National Law University, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and Jamia Hamdard), and nine deemed universities.[135] Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University and National Law University are the only state universities; IGNOU is for open/distance learning; the rest are all central universities. Delhi boasts of being home to 3 of top 10 engineering colleges in India IIT Delhi, NSIT (Formerly DIT) and DTU (Formerly DCE).

Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi is ranked as Asia's fourth-best institute in science and technology in year 1999.[136] Private schools in Delhiwhich employ either English or Hindi as the language of instructionare affiliated to one of two administering bodies: the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), the Central Board for Secondary Education(CBSE) and the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). In 200405, approximately 15.29 lakh (1.529 million) students were enrolled in primary schools, 8.22 lakh (0.822 million) in middle schools and 6.69 lakh (0.669 million) in secondary schools across Delhi.[135] Female students represented 49% of the total enrollment. The same year, the Delhi government spent between 1.58% and 1.95% of its gross state domestic product on education.[135] After completing the ten-year secondary phase of their education under the 10+2+3/4 plan, students typically spend the next two years either in junior colleges or in schools with senior secondary facilities, during which their studies become more focused. They select a stream of studyliberal arts, commerce, science, or, less commonly, vocational. Upon completion, those who choose to continue, either study for a three-year undergraduate degree at a college, or a professional degree in law, engineering, architecture, or medicine. Notable higher education or research institutes in Delhi include All India Institute of Medical Sciences, School of Planning and Architecture, Dr.Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital & PGIMER, Maulana Azad Medical College, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Indian Statistical Institute, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Delhi Technological University, National Law University, Delhi, Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology, Indian Law Institute, Delhi School of Economics, Jamia Millia Islamia. As of 2008, about 16% of all Delhi residents possessed at least a college graduate degree.[137] [edit]Media

Pitampura TV Tower broadcasts programming to Delhi As the capital of India, New Delhi is the focus of political reportage, including regular television broadcasts of Parliament sessions. Many country-wide media agencies, among them the state-owned Press Trust of India, Media Trust Of India andDoordarshan, are based in the city. Television programming in the city includes two free terrestrial television channels offered by Doordarshan, and several Hindi, English and regional-languages cable channels offered by multi system operators. Satellite television, in contrast, has yet to gain large-scale subscribership in the city.[138] Print journalism remains a popular news medium in Delhi. During 200405, 1029 newspapers in thirteen languages were published from the city. Of these, 492 were Urdu and Hindi language newspapers, including Navbharat Times, Hindustan Dainik,Punjab Kesari, Pavitra Bharat, Dainik Jagran, Dainik Bhaskar and Dainik Desbandhu. Amongst the English language newspapers, The Hindustan Times, with over a million copies in circulation, was the single largest daily. Other major English newspapers include Times of India, The Hindu, Indian Express, Business Standard, The Pioneer and Asian Age . Regional dailies include Malayala Manorama and Dinakaran. Radio is a less popular mass medium in Delhi, although FM radio has been gaining ground[139] since the

inauguration of several new FM channels in 2006.[140] A number of state-owned and private radio stations broadcast from Delhi, including All India Radio (AIR), one of the world's largest radio service providers, which offers six radio channels in ten languages. Other city-based radio stations include "Aaj Tak", "Radio City(91.1 MHz)", "Big FM(92.7 MHz)", "Red FM(93.5MHz)", "Radio One(94.3 MHz)", "Hit FM(95 MHz)", "Apna Radio", "Radio Mirchi(98.3 MHz)", "FM Rainbow(102.4 MHz)", "Fever FM(104 MHz)", "Oye FM(104.8 MHz)", "FM Gold(106.4 MHz)". Various news and general interest magazines are also published from Delhi like India Today, Outlook, COVERT and many more. [edit]Sports Main article: Sports in Delhi

The 2010 Commonwealth Games was the largest sports event held in India. Shown here is the Opening Ceremony at theJawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the third largest stadium in India. Cricket and soccer are the most popular sports in Delhi.[141] There are several cricket grounds (or maidans) located across the city. The Feroz Shah Kotla stadium is one of the oldest cricket grounds in India and is a venue for international cricket matches. The Delhi cricket team represents the city in the Ranji Trophy, a domestic first-class cricket championship.[142] The city is also home to the IPL team Delhi Daredevils, and ICL team Delhi Giants (earlier named Delhi Jets). Football is a very popular sport in the city and is home to the newly formed AIFF-u19 club which will take part in the 2011 format of the I League. The only football stadium in Delhi is the Ambedkar Stadium which holds 20000 people though in the past few years due to tremendous rise in popularity of the sport has held up to 50000 people in the past years.Delhi even witnessed India winning back to back trophies in football in the form of the 2007 Nehru Cup defeating Syria 10 AFC Challenge Cup 2008defeating favourites Tajikistan 41 by a stellar performance by local Star Sunil Chhetri and the 2009 Nehru Cup. Rugby has become an increasingly popular sport among youngsters and the city is home to the Delhi Lions and Delhi Hurricanes. The city successfully played host to 2010 Asian Five Nations Rugby Tournament's Division Two match between India and Philippines. The Philippines defeated India to win promotion to Division One in 2011, and maintain their unbeaten record within the tournament in 2010. The Only Stadium in the city for this particular sport is in the Delhi University North Campus. Boxing and shooting figure among increasingly popular sports in the suburb of Gurgaon. When the Elite Football League of India was introduced in August 2011, Delhi was noted as one of eight cities to be awarded a team for the inaugural season. Named the Delhi Defenders[143], the team's first season will be played in Pune, and it will be Delhi's first professional American football franchise.[144][145] Formula 1 has now got a circuit in India in Greater Noida, a suburb of Delhi in the twin cities area of (Noida-Greater Noida), which is all set to host the Indian Grand Prix in October 2011 with the Jaypee Groupconstructing the circuit. It is set to be among the top 5 fastest circuits in the world. The team, Force India F1, was formed in October 2007 when a consortium led by Indian businessman Vijay Mallya and Michiel Mol bought the Spyker F1 team for 88 million. Force India F1 represents increased Indian participation within Formula One. Golf is also a very popular sport in the capital city and the National Capital Region, which is home to the highest number of golf courses in India. Other sports such as field hockey, basketball, tennis, squash, badminton, swimming, kart racing, weightlifting, table tennis, cycling, roller skating and cue sports, such as snooker, billiards and diving are also popular.[citation needed]

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium are other stadiums in Delhi. In the past, Delhi has hosted several domestic and international sporting events, such as the First and the Ninth Asian Games.[146] Delhi hosted the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the largest multi-sport event ever held in India. Delhi lost bidding for the 2014 Asian Games,[147] and considered making a bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics.[148] However, sports minister Manohar Singh Gill later stated that funding infrastructure would come before a 2020 bid.[149] The mess left after the Commonwealth Games prompted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to replace sports and youth affairs minister Manohar Singh Gill with Ajay Maken in the 19 January 2011 cabinet reshuffle Utility services

The headquarters of the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC). On the foreground isJantar Mantar. The water supply in Delhi is managed by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). As of 2006, it supplied 650 MGD (million gallons per day) of water, while the water demand for 200506 was estimated to be 963 MGD.[77] The rest of the demand is met by private and public tube wells and hand pumps. At 240 MGD, the Bhakra storage is the largest water source for DJB, followed by the Yamuna and the Ganges.[77] With falling groundwater level and rising population density, Delhi faces severely acute water shortage. Delhi daily produces 8000 tonnes of solid wastes which is dumped at three landfill sites by MCD.[78] The daily domestic waste water production is 470 MGD and industrial waste water is 70 MGD.[79] A large portion of the sewerage flows untreated into the river Yamuna.[79] The city's per capita electricity consumption is about 1,265 kWh but actual demand is much more.[80] In 1997, Delhi Vidyut Board (DVB) replaced Delhi Electric Supply Undertaking which was managed by the MCD. The DVB itself cannot generate adequate power to meet the city's demand and borrows power from India's Northern Region Grid. As a result, Delhi faces a power shortage resulting in frequent blackouts and brownouts, especially during the summer season when energy demand is at its peak. Several industrial units in Delhi rely on their own electrical generators to meet their electric demand and for back up during Delhi's frequent and disruptive power cuts. A few years ago, the power sector in Delhi was handed over to private companies. The distribution of electricity is carried out by companies run by Tata Power and Reliance Energy. The Delhi Fire Service runs 43 fire stations that attend about 15,000 fire and rescue calls per year.[81] State-owned Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) and private enterprises like Vodafone Essar, Airtel, Idea cellular, Reliance Infocomm, and Tata Indicom provide telephone and cell phone service to the city. In May 2008, Airtel alone had approximately 4 million cellular subscribers in Delhi.[82] Cellular coverage is extensive, and both GSM and CDMA (from Reliance and Tata Indicom) services are available. Affordable broadband penetration is increasing in the city.[83] [edit]Transport Main article: Transport in Delhi

The Indira Gandhi International Airport is the busiest airport in South Asia.[84] Shown here is Terminal 1D of the airport.

The Delhi metro has an average ridership of 1.6 million commuters per day and runs at an operational profit.[85]

The DTC operates the world's largest fleet of CNG buses, totaling 9000[52][86]

AC bus fleet of Delhi Transport Corporation Public transport in Delhi is provided by buses, auto rickshaws and a metro rail system. Buses are the most popular means of transport catering to about 60% of the total demand.[87] The state-owned Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) is a major bus service provider for the city. The DTC operates the world's largest fleet of environment-friendly CNG buses.[88] Delhi BRTS is Bus rapid transit serving the city which runs between Ambedkar Nagar and Delhi Gate. The Delhi Metro, a mass rapid transit system built and operated by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), serves many parts of Delhi as well as the satellite city of Gurgaon in the neighbouring Haryana and Noida in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh. As of October 2010, the metro consists of six operational lines with a total length of 153 km (95 mi) and 130 stations while several other lines are under construction.[89] The Phase-I was built at a cost of US$2.3 billion and the Phase-II will cost an additional US$4.3 billion.[90] Phase-II of the network is under construction and will have a total length of 128 km. It is expected to be completed by 2010.[91] Phase-III and IV will be completed by 2015 and 2020 respectively, creating a network spanning 413.8 km, longer than that of the London Underground. Auto rickshaws are a popular means of public transportation in Delhi, as they charge a lower fare than taxis. Most run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and are yellow and green in colour. Taxis are not an integral part of Delhi public transport, though they are easily available. Private operators operate most taxis, and most neighborhoods have a taxi stand from which taxis can be ordered or picked up. In addition, air-conditioned radio taxis, which can be ordered by calling a central number, have become increasingly popular, charging a flat rate of 15 per kilometre. Delhi is a major junction in the rail map of India and is the headquarters of the Northern Railway. The five main railway stations are New Delhi Railway Station, Old Delhi, Nizamuddin Railway Station, Anand Vihar Railway Terminal and Sarai Rohilla.[87]Delhi is connected to other cities through many highways and expressways. Delhi currently has three expressways and three are under construction to connect it with its prosperous and commercial suburbs. The DelhiGurgaon Expressway connects Delhi with Gurgaon and the international airport. The DND Flyway and Noida-Greater Noida Expressway connect Delhi with two prosperous suburbs of Noida and Greater Noida. Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) is situated in the western corner of Delhi and serves as the main gateway for the city's domestic and international civilian air traffic. In 200607, the airport recorded a traffic of more than 23 million passengers,[92][93]making it one of the busiest airports in South Asia. A new US$1.93 billion Terminal 3 handles an additional 34 million passengers annually in 2010.[94] Further expansion programs will allow the airport to handle more than 100 million passengers per annum by 2020. Private vehicles account for 30% of the total demand for transport.[87] At 1922.32 km of road length per 100 km, Delhi has one of the highest road densities in India.[87] 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.[95] Delhi's high population growth rate, coupled with high economic growth rate has resulted in an ever increasing demand for transport creating excessive pressure on the city's existent transport infrastructure. As of 2008. Also, the number of vehicles in the metropolitan region, i.e., Delhi NCR is 112 lakhs (11.2 million).[96] In 2008, there were 85 cars in Delhi for every 1,000 of its residents.[97] 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.[87] In 1998, the Supreme Court of India ordered all public transport vehicles of Delhi to use compressed natural gas (CNG) as fuel instead of diesel and other hydro-carbons.[98]