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New Delhi is the capital of India

New Delhi time zone: UTC/GMT +5:30
(No time zone abbreviation)
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New Delhi, Delhi India travel


New Delhi coordinates:
latitude: 28° 37' North
longitude: 77° 13' East

India population: 1129866154
India currency: Rupee
India voltage: 230

About New Delhi

New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi and is one of the fastest growing cities in the world and home to a population of 14 million. New Delhi is one of the nine districts of Delhi.

The climate of New Delhi is a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate with high variation between summer and winter temperatures and precipitation. The temperature varies from 40 degrees Celsius in summers to around 4 degrees Celsius in winters. New Delhi's version of a humid subtropical climate is noticeably different from many other cities with this climate classification in that it features long and very hot summers, relatively dry cool winters, and monsoon and dust storms. Summers are long, from early April to October, with the monsoon season in between. Winter starts in November and peaks in January.

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 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.

New Delhi Tourist Attractions

Rashtrapati Bhawan

Modern Delhi centres around the Rashtrapati Bhawan. It is architecturally a very impressive building standing at a height, flowing down as it were to India Gate. This stretch called the Rajpath is where the Republic Day parade is held. The imposing plan of this area conceived by Lutyens does not fade in its charm with the numerous summers or winters that go past.

Rashtrapati Bhavan was originally built for the Governor General of India. Inaugurated in 1931 as the Viceregal Lodge, the name was changed in 1959 after India became a republic. Now it is the Presidential Palace of India.

Red Fort

The Red Fort is a 17th century fort complex constructed by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the walled city of Old Delhi (in present day Delhi, India). It served as the capital of the Mughals until 1857, when Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar was exiled by the British Indian government. The British used it as a military camp until India was made independent in 1947. It is now a popular tourist site, as well as a powerful symbol of India's sovereignty. the Prime Minister of India raises the flag of India on the ramparts of the Lahori Gate of the fort complex every year on Independence Day. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.

Mughal Emperor Shahjahan, started construction of the massive fort in 1638 and work was completed in 1648. The Red Fort was originally referred to as "Qila-i-Mubarak" (the blessed fort), because it was the residence of the royal family. The layout of the Red Fort was organised to retain and integrate this site with the Salimgarh Fort. The fortress palace was an important focal point of the medieval city of Shahjahanabad. The planning and aesthetics of the Red Fort represent the zenith of Mughal creativity which prevailed during the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan. This Fort has had many developments added on after its construction by Emperor Shahjahan. The significant phases of development were under Aurangzeb and later Mughal rulers. Important physical changes were carried out in the overall settings of the site after the First War of Independence during British Rule in 1857. After Independence, the site experienced a few changes in terms of addition/alteration to the structures. During the British period the Fort was mainly used as a cantonment and even after Independence, a significant part of the Fort remained under the control of the Indian Army until the year 2003.The Red Fort is a tourist attraction from around the world.

India Gate and Rajpath

Situated along the ceremonial Rajpath avenue in New Delhi, India Gate is a memorial raised in honour of the Indian soldiers who died during the Afghan wars and World War I. The names of the soldiers who died in these wars are inscribed on the walls. The cenotaph (or shrine) in the middle is constructed with black marble and depicts a rifle placed on its barrel, crested by a soldier's helmet. Each face of the cenotaph has inscribed in gold the words Amar Jawan (in Hindi, meaning Immortal Warrior). The green lawns at India Gate are a popular evening and holiday rendezvous for young and old alike.

Chandni Chowk

The living legacy of Delhi is Shahjahanabad. Created by the builder of Taj Mahal, this city, with the Red Fort as the focal point and Jama Chandni Chowk Masjid as the praying centre, has a fascinating market planned to shine under the light of the moon, called Chandni Chowk. Shahjahan planned Chandni Chowk so that his daughter could shop for all that she wanted. It was divided by canals filled with water, which glistened like silver in moonlight. The canals are now closed, but Chandni Chowk remains Asia's largest wholesale market. Crafts once patronized by the Mughals continue to flourish in the small lanes of the city. Tradition and modernity meet at unexpected places in Shahjahanabad. If you see a man pulling a rickshaw or feeding pigeons, you will see just as many talking over the cello or assembling a computer! An experience of timelessness awaits you at Shahjahanabad.

2010 Commonwealth Games

The 2010 Commonwealth Games are the nineteenth Commonwealth Games, and the ninth to be held under that name. The Games are scheduled to be held in Delhi, India between 3 October and 14 October 2010. The games will be the largest multi-sport event conducted to date in Delhi and India generally, which has previously hosted the Asian Games in 1951 and 1982. The opening ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi.

Qutab Minar

The Qutab Minar is located at a small village called Mehrauli in South Delhi. It was built by Qutub-ud-din Aibek of the Slave Dynasty, who took possession of Delhi in 1206. It is a fluted red sandstone tower, which tapers up to a height of 72.5 metres and is covered with intricate Qutab Minar carvings and verses from the holy Qur'an. Qutub-ud-din Aibak began constructing this victory tower as a sign of Muslim domination of Delhi and as a minaret for the Muslim priest, the muazzin, to call the faithful to prayer. However, only the first storey was completed by Qutb-ud-din. The other storeys were built by his successor Iltutmish. The two circular storeys in white marble were built by Feroz shah Tughlaq in 1368, replacing the original fourth storey.

The projected balconies in the tower are supported by exquisite stalactite designs. The tapering tower has pointed and circular flutings on the first storey and star-shaped on the second and third storeys. The bands of calligraphic inscriptions are amazing in perfection with the exquisite stalactite designs seen on the exterior of this tower.

The Qutab Minar, apart from being a marvel in itself, is also significant for what it represents in the history of Indian culture. In many ways, the Qutab Minar, the first monument of Muslim rule in India, heralded the beginning of a new style of art and architecture that came to be known as the Indo-Islamic style.

Jama Masjid

Facing west, the Jama Masjid is covered on three sides with open arched colonnades with a tower like gateway in the center. Also called Masjid-I-Jahanuma or the 'mosque commanding view of the world', the Jama Masjid is a constructional wonder with alternating strips of red sandstone and marble. The mosque owes much of the respect associated with it to the relics of Mohammad, which it houses. These include Quran written on deerskin, a red beard-hair of the prophet, his sandals and his footprint, embedded in a marble slab, all of which are still preserved.

Architecturally, the Jama Masjid is similar to many other mosques that the Emperor of Architecture, Shah Jahan built all around his realm. These include mosques by the same name in cities like Ajmer, Agra and a number of others. The courtyard of the Jama Masjid, which is completely built of red sandstone, is accessible from the east, north and south by three different flights of stairs. These steps are used to house markets, entertainers as well as food stalls. The mosque also housed a Madrassah near the southern side of the mosque which had been pulled down after the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857.

Bahá'í Lotus Temple

One of the most beautiful architectural temples in India, construction of the Bahai Temple was completed in 1986. At night, one can enjoy its elegant beauty even from a kilometer away. This grand temple, termed by many as the Taj of modern India, belongs to the Bahai sect.

The temple represents the Bahai faith, which is broad in its outlook, scientific in the influence it exerts on the hearts and minds of the people. It signifies the purity and the universality of the lord and people of any faith can enter this temple to offer their prayers. This temple happens to be the seventh and most recent Bahai House of Worship in the world.

The structure of the Bahai Temple is made of pure white marble in the shape of a half-opened lotus, reaching a height of more than 40m, and is surrounded by deftly groomed lawns. This architectural wonder is made of a combination of marble, cement, sand and dolomite. One can see 27 giant white petals of marble in a lotus shape, springing from nine pools and walkways indicative of the nine unifying spiritual paths of the Bahai faith. Visited by over four million people annually, the Bahai Temple is located on Bahapur Hills in South Delhi.

Humayun's Tomb

Home to a phase of history that has shaped much of present day India, Delhi, is a historian's paradise. Much of this revolves around the activities of the Mughal Dynasty, who were responsible to a large extent in influencing the Indian way of life as we see it today. One of the greatest rulers of this dynasty was Humayan, whose promising reign was tragically cut short by a freak accident on the stairs of the Sher Mandal Library.

Humayun's Tomb was built in the memory of this charismatic ruler whom fate prevented from proving his charisma to the rest of the world. Built by his Persian widow, Haji Begum, Humayun's Tomb was the first architectural construction built during Akbar's reign. Built around 1562-1572 AD, Humayun's Tomb is one of the leading attractions of Delhi today, drawing thousands of visitors everyday. Exhibiting a very obvious influence of Persian architecture that owes its origin to its Persian architect Mirak Mirza Ghiyuath, the mausoleum was built on the banks of the Yamuna River, next to the shrine of Sufi saint of Chisti Silsilah, Nizamuddin Auliya. A number of other Mughal luminaries are buried here like: Hamida Begum, Akbar's mother, Dara Shikoh, Shah Jahan's son and Bahadur Shah II, the last Mughal Emperor.

One of the greatest examples of architecture in India, Humayun's Tomb is known for influencing the structure of the Taj Mahal as well. The first example of the garden tomb, Humayun's Tomb is in the UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites as well. Humayun's Tomb is also protected under the ownership of the Archaeological Survey of India. The tomb is an architectural masterpiece forming the basis of the definition of Mughal architecture that is characterized by high arches and double domes. The Tomb is maintained by the Aga Khan Trust that has to a large extent restored its lost glory to the tomb.

Transportation in New Delhi

Being a planned city, New Delhi has numerous arterial roads, some of which have an iconic status associated with them such as Rajpath, Janpath and Akbar Road. Road construction and maintenance is primarily the responsibility of NDMC's Civil Engineering Department. Underground subways are a common feature across New Delhi. As of 2008, 15 subways were operational. In 1971, the administrative responsibility of the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) was transferred from Municipal Corporation of Delhi to Government of India following which DTC extended its operations to New Delhi. In 2007, there were 2700 bus stops in New Delhi, of which 200 were built and maintained by NDMC and the rest by DTC.

The Delhi Metro, constructed and operated by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), connects the city with the rest of the metropolis of Delhi. NDMC is also constructing multi-level parking systems in collaboration with DMRC at various Delhi metro stations across New Delhi to increase parking space. The New Delhi Railway Station which is the main railway station in Delhi, is the second busiest and one of the largest stations in India connects Delhi with the rest of the country. New Delhi current temperature, weather
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