Delhi: The Historic, Cultural, and Political Heart of India

Delhi is defined by its mouth-watering food, historic lanes and monuments, broad roads, welcoming hearts of Delhiites, and its modern buildings. Delhi is the capital of India, and it has both historic and modern places. Delhi has a rich culture and Heritage from all around India, which is why it is also known as Mini India. Delhi is divided into two parts, which are referred to as Old Delhi and New Delhi. Initially, Delhi was surrounded by 14 Gates, and 5 of those Gates are still seen in Delhi, namely Kashmere Gate which was constructed in 1835 by Robert Smith, The Lahori Gate is also the main entrance to Red Fort. The Ajmeri gate was constructed in 1644. Dilli Darwaza which is also known as Delhi Gate falls on the way to Red Fort.

The last one is the Turkman Gate, which was constructed in the 13th century and is situated in Shahjahanabad. Delhi is also having the 13th largest metro rail network in the world, having a total length of 193km. Delhi was designed by the British architects, namely Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker. There are various shopping streets and malls in Delhi Delhi has the trendiest and the cheapest market for Clothing, Fashion accessories, electronics, house decor, and other such items. Markets like Sarojini Nagar, Palika Bazar, Nehru Place, Khan Market, Lajpat Nagar, and Karol Bagh are famous markets of Delhi and one should visit these markets while they visit Delhi. Different emperors combined the seven cities to form Delhi.

Formation / History of Delhi

The history of Delhi is as old as the Epic Mahabharata. Delhi was the place where Pandavas used to live in older times and at that time this place was named Indraprastha. During that time eight other cities too came into existence which was adjacent to Indraprastha, namely Firozabad, Quila Rai Pithora, Siri, Jahapanah, Dinpanah, Lal Kot, Shahjahanabad, and Tughlakabad. A lot of political disorder had been experienced by Delhi, over the past five centuries. Delhi has been ruled by the Mughals in accession to Tughlaqs and Khiljis.

The Afghan warrior Muhammad Ghori captured this Rajputana town in 1192 and later in the year 1206 Delhi sultanate was established. In 1398, when Taimur invaded Delhi, put Sultanat to an end. The last Delhi sultanate was The Lodis, and then Babur came into existence, in the year 1526 Mughal Empire was founded after winning the battle of Panipat. Mughals preferred Agra to be the capital but later in 1638 when the walls of old Delhi were built by Shah Jahan, Dekhi became the permanent seat for Mughals. The reins of Delhi kept on shifting from one Hindu king to another Muslim sultanate. The walls of monuments and forts in Delhi seem to be silent, but even this silence narrates the story of its past and the rulers who used to live there.

Later, Delhi came under the rule of the British in 1803 AD. After that, the capital was shifted from Calcutta to Delhi and since then Delhi has been considered the center of all governing activity. After the Britishers, the reins came into the hands of the current political leaders. And finally, when India gained independence in 1947, Delhi was officially declared the capital of India.

Temperature

During the summer season: 20°C to 45°C
During the rainy/ monsoon season: 14°C to 35°C
During the winter season: 20°C to 03°C

Famous Food of Delhi

The two most famous things that Delhi is famous for are its mouth-watering food and its rich history. There are various ranges of gastronomy in Delhi, from Majnu Ka Tilla to Chandni Chowk, you can find more than 1000 culinary delights.

Paranthas - In Delhi, you can try Paranthas of Paranthe wali Gali in Chandni Chowk or Murthal Highway. There is a variety of stuffing from potato, radish, cauliflower, banana, keema, or even last night’s leftover food, you name it, and you can get that as stuffing in paratha.

Chaat - Chaat is the most famous street food that you can find on Delhi’s roadside. You can taste the best of Delhi’s chaat in places like Chandni Chowk, Karol Bagh, Shahjahan Road, etc.

Momos - the first-ever momo stall in Delhi was set up by a Tibetan lady named Dolma. In the present time, you can get momos in probably every corner of Delhi. Some of the best spots to have momos in Delhi are Dolma Aunty Momos in Lajpat Nagar, Wow Momos located in multiple areas, Pema’s located in Malviya Nagar, etc.

Chole Bhature - This is a popular Punjabi dish that you can find in Delhi. All local food joints and big restaurants serve this lip-smacking spicy dish. You can have it at Chache Di Hatti in Kamla Nagar or Sitaram Diwan Chand in Paharganj.

Biryani - this famous food of Hyderabad is widely eaten in Delhi. It was the favorite dish of the Mughals. The pieces of meat covered with Indian spices are put together in earthen pots with flavorful-smelling rice. It can be treated at Defence Colony, R K Puram, ITC Maurya, etc.

Nihari - As you walk down the streets of Old Delhi, you can smell the great-tasting aroma of Nihari. This dish can be tasted at the Bara Hindu Rao area or near the Jama masjid at Karim’s.

Rolls - the famous Kathi rolls of Kolkata, which can also be found in Delhi, have their special touch. The best kathi rolls can be had at Nizam’s in Connaught Place, Qureshi’s Kabab Corner in South Ext- II, and at Khan Chacha at Khan Market.

Chole Kulche - Chole Kuchle or Chole Parathe is the most famous on-the-go street food for Delhiites. White grams with freshly chopped onion, tomatoes, coriander, and green chili with bread known as Kulcha or with paratha is served with some pickles and salad.

Kulfi - This is the most preferred dessert that is famous among the people of Delhi. You can get a variety of Kulfi flavors from Aam papad, Custard Apple, or tamarind. Other than this, you can also have hot Jalebis, Rabri Falooda, cheesecake, or Motichoor Ladoos made from pure ghee.

Things to do in Delhi

You can scroll down to the largest wholesale market for spices in Asia, which is located on the western end of Chandani Chowk in Khari Baoli. This market was formed by rich local merchants in 1920, and since the 17th century, people have been doing their business in this market. As you pass the Kinari Bazar in Chandni Chowk, you will come across the lane of nine Mansions or Havelies that were colorfully painted and constructed during the 18th century. You can also spot the carved white marble Jain temple that is located at the end of this lane. But while visiting it, you can’t wear leather and can not do photography. In Karol Bagh, there is a 108-foot-tall statue of Lord Hanuman that is also famous as the landmark of this place. The entrance of this temple is in the form of a cavernous, carved mouth of a demon whom Lord Hanuman has slain.

You can also visit the resting place of Nizamuddin Auliya, who was a famous Sufi saint. One can enjoy live qawalis every Thursday evening. If you are a creativity lover or an art person, then you can also visit the open-air art gallery in Lodhi Art District, which is located in Lodhi Colony of South Delhi. These arts are made by a non-profit organization. You can also visit Rashtrapati Bhavan, where one can witness the Guard changing ceremony, which is held every Saturday and Sunday (8 a.m. on Saturday and 5 p.m. on Sunday). This ceremony is kind of similar to that of Buckingham Palace in London.

You can also chill with like-minded travelers at Kunzum Travel Cafe in Hauz Khas. This is Delhi’s first “Pay what you feel” cafe for coffee and biscuits. You can expect rural tourism around the slums, where you can understand the living patterns of people or rural areas. One can also visit the craft museum, where you can enjoy activities like pottery, weaving, and carving. One can also visit Bangla Sahib Gurudwara, where you can volunteer in the huge kitchen, where lunches are cooked for people to have it all free of cost. The meal for around 40,000 people is served here per day.

You can also take a bicycle tour around the streets of old and new Delhi. If you want to hang out with your friends, then you can visit Champa Gali, where there are lanes of Bohemian street and cafes, boutiques, and studios.

Places to visit in Delhi

1. Red Fort

Red Fort was built during the Mughal era and also tells the story of India’s struggle for freedom. The Red Fort was constructed under the guidance of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the year 1638 when he planned to shift the Capital from Agra to Delhi. Each evening, a light and sound show is held inside the fort, which narrates the story of how it was captured by Sikhs and then by the British.

Entry fee: INR 35 Indians, INR 500 Foreigners.

Timing: 9:30 am to 6:00 pm (Monday Closed)

2. Jama Masjid

Jama Masjid is located in Old Delhi and is one of the largest mosques in India. It was constructed in 1656 after the hard work of 12 years. At a time, there can be 25000 devotees inside this mosque. You need to cover your head, shoulders, and legs before entering this Mosque.

Entry fee: Free of cost.

Timing: 7:00 am to 12:00 pm and again from 1:30 pm to 6:30 pm.

3. Chandni Chowk

Chandni Chowk Chowk Street is the oldest street in Delhi. Here you can see congested roads with a lot of pedestrians, rickshaws, cars, cycles, and hand carts. Chandni Chowk market is one of the busiest and oldest markets in Delhi, which was formed by Jahanara, the elder child of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.

4. Swaminarayan Akshardham temple

Swaminarayan Akshardham temple was constructed in 2005 by BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. This temple depicts the Indian Culture and is constructed using White marble and Pink sandstone. No leather item, camera, or cell phone is allowed inside the premises. You can enjoy the boat ride, a musical water show, and a short movie in this temple.

Entry fee: free of cost, but exhibition tickets need to be purchased.

Timing: 9:30 am to 6:30 pm (Monday Closed)

5. Humayun’s Tomb

The architecture of Humayun’s tomb is inspired by that of the Taj Mahal. This tomb was constructed by Bega Begum, who was the elder widow of Humayun in 1570. The architecture of this tomb inspired the tombs all over the country. There is a beautiful garden known as Char Bagh.

Entry fee: INR 30 Indians, INR 500 Foreigners.

Timing: 6:30 am to 6:00 pm

6. Lodhi Gardens

You can visit the Lodhi Garden when feeling worn out or tired. This part is attended by young couples and yoga enthusiasts. The tomb was built by the rulers in the 15th and 16th centuries. The garden here was constructed by the British in 1936.

Entry fee: Free of cost.

Timing: 6:30 am to 8:00 pm

7. Qutub Minar

This is the tallest minaret in the world that was constructed in 1193 by Different Mughal emperors and Rulers. Indo-Islamic architecture is used in its construction. It is a five-story tower, which has India's first mosque on its ground floor. There are carvings of the Holy Quran on the wall of this tower.

Entry fee: INR 30 Indians, INR 500 Foreigners.

Timing: 6:30 am to 6:00 pm

8. India Gate

India Gate is constructed on the Rajpath in Delhi. This is an iconic gate known as the All India War Memorial. The architecture was given by Edwin Lutye,n and sandstones were used in construction. It was constructed in memory of warriors who lost their lives in World War I and the Anglo-Afghan War held in 1919.

Entry fee: Free of cost.

Timing: opens all day.

9. Lotus temple

It is located in Nehru Place and is constructed in the shape of a Lotus flower. It is a Bahai temple that was constructed in 1986. Pure white marble is used in the construction of this temple.

Entry fee: Free of cost.

Timing: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm (Monday Closed)

Where to stay in Delhi

Delhi has a huge variety of accommodations to choose from, and many decent 1-star and 2-star hotels fulfill the basic needs of the guests. In places like Kalkaji, Chattarpur Enclave, East of Kailas, New Friends Colony, and Greater Kailash Enclave-1, you will generally find these categories of hotels. Delhi also has many luxurious properties, from 3-star to 4-star hotels, in places like Rohini, near Delhi Airport, New Delhi, Saket, Mayur Vihar, Connaught Place, IP Extension, Shahdara, Lajpat Nagar, Nehru Place, Airport Highway, etc. If you want your trip to be a memorable one and also enjoy the luxury of Delhi, you can visit these places, which are among the most visited places in Delhi.

How to reach Delhi

By Road

If you are going by road, then you can opt for the bus that is driven on the highway having the best connectivity from Delhi to other states. There are three major Interstate Bus Terminus (ISBT) that can be found in Delhi, namely Kashmiri Gate ISBT, Sarai Kalekhan ISBT, and Anand Vihar ISBT. You can also opt for a direct private taxi system from your place to Delhi.

By Rail

For trains, Delhi has good connectivity with major cities like Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Rajasthan, and other major cities. There are many small and big railway stations in Delhi, which are New Delhi Railway Station, Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station, and Old Delhi Railway Station are the major ones, and Delhi Cantt, Tughlakabad Railway Station, etc. are the smaller ones, which makes traveling to Delhi easy.

By Air

The Indira Gandhi International Airport of Delhi is well-connected with all International and domestic flights to foreign countries and states of India, respectively. There is a domestic Palam Airport that connects Delhi to other states within India.

Best time to visit Delhi

As we all know, during the summer season, Delhi remains hot and humid, so it is advisable to visit Delhi in the months from October to late March. At this time, the weather of Delhi remains pleasant, and the beauty of the place is enhanced due to the newly bloomed flowers during this period. Other than this, you can visit Delhi at all times throughout the year; there is no issue. It’s just it remains a bit hot during summer.