New Delhi

New Delhi is the capital city of India and is located within the National Capital Territory of Delhi. It is where important government buildings are, such as the Rashtrapati Bhavan (the Presidential Palace), Sansad Bhavan (Parliament House), and the Supreme Court. New Delhi is its own small area, managed by the New Delhi Municipal Council, and is part of a much larger city called Delhi.

Although many people use the names Delhi and New Delhi interchangeably, they are actually different. New Delhi is just a small part of the big city of Delhi, which is also called a megacity. There is an even larger area called the National Capital Region, which includes Delhi and some nearby places such as Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, and Faridabad.

The history of New Delhi began in 1911 when the foundation stone was laid by George V during the Delhi Durbar of 1911. Famous British architects Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker designed the city. New Delhi was officially opened on 13 February 1931 by the Viceroy and Governor-General Irwin.

History

See also: Construction of New Delhi

Until 1911, Calcutta was India’s capital during British rule. The government decided to move the capital to Delhi because it would be easier to manage the country from there. The new city was planned by famous architects Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker. Building started after World War I and finished in 1931.

After India gained independence in 1947, New Delhi was given some self-rule. Later changes made it part of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, with its own elected government for many areas. In the 1950s, the area of Chanakyapuri was built to house foreign embassies.

Geography

New Delhi covers an area of 42.7 km² (16.5 sq mi). It is a small part of the larger Delhi area. New Delhi sits on the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It was once part of the Aravali Range, now only represented by the Delhi Ridge, often called the "Lungs of Delhi." New Delhi lies on the floodplains of the Yamuna River but is mostly landlocked, with the urban area of Shahdara to the east.

Delhi has a humid subtropical climate. Summers are hot and winters are cool. Summers bring frequent thunderstorms, known locally as andhi. Winters are mild and sometimes foggy. The city experiences a summer monsoon from late June to mid-September, which brings most of the annual rainfall.

Demographics

As of 2011, the New Delhi Municipal Council area had a population of 249,998. Hindi is the main language spoken by most people in New Delhi. English is used in business and government work. The city has a high rate of people who can read and write, at 89.38%, the highest in Delhi.

Most people in New Delhi practice Hinduism. There are also smaller groups of Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and Jains. Other groups include Parsis, Buddhists, and Jews. Important religious buildings are Sacred Heart Cathedral, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Laxminarayan Temple, and Qila-i-Kuhna Mosque inside Old Fort.

Government

New Delhi is the capital of India. It is governed by the Government of India and the Government of Delhi. The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) helps manage New Delhi. This group is different from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the Delhi Cantonment Board, which manage other parts of Delhi. The NDMC is led by a chairperson and has members from the local government and representatives from both the Chief Minister and the central government.

Economy

See also: Companies in New Delhi

New Delhi is a big business city in northern India. It is one of the largest places for business and money, with important areas like Connaught Place and Barakhamba Road. Many big companies from other countries have offices here, especially in jobs like computer work, banking, and tourism. The city's economy is strong because many people there know how to work well and speak English.

The government and service jobs are also important for people living in New Delhi. Over time, the city has become one of the richest places in India, with lots of money and work for many people. Most of Delhi's jobs are in services, with other jobs in making things and using natural resources.

Culture

New Delhi is a lively and diverse city, showing India's rich culture. As the capital, it holds important national days like Republic Day and Independence Day. On these days, the prime minister of India speaks to the nation. People celebrate with joy, often flying kites to show their freedom. The city also celebrates many religious festivals such as Diwali, Holi, Eid ul-Fitr, and Christmas.

New Delhi has many historic sites and museums. The India Gate remembers soldiers who served in World War I. The National Museum has thousands of artworks and artifacts from different times and places. Beautiful gardens like Lodi Gardens and Buddha Jayanti Park make the city a nice place to visit.

Cityscape

New Delhi was planned by British architect Edwin Lutyens to be the main part of the city. The city has two main streets called the Rajpath and the Janpath. The Rajpath goes from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to the India Gate. The Janpath crosses the Rajpath and starts at Connaught Circus. Many foreign embassies are nearby on Shantipath.

The Rashtrapati Bhavan is at the heart of the city, on top of Raisina Hill. Government offices are close by, and the Parliament House is at Sansad Marg, near the Rajpath. Connaught Place is a big, round area for shopping, designed to look like the Royal Crescent in England. Twelve roads lead out from Connaught Place, including the Janpath.

The buildings of New Delhi mix Hindu, Islamic, and British styles. Building the city took about 20 years, starting in 1911. In 2019, plans were made to change part of the city.

Transport

Main article: Transport in Delhi

New Delhi has many ways to get around, making it easy for people to travel within the city and beyond. The main airport is Indira Gandhi International Airport, located to the southwest of Delhi. It is very busy and has won awards for being a great airport.

The city also has many roads, including important ones like the Inner Ring Road and Outer Ring Road. There are also expressways connecting New Delhi to nearby cities such as Noida, Gurgaon, and Faridabad. New Delhi is well-connected by railways, with several main stations and a circular railway line.

The Delhi Metro is a fast way to travel around the city. It has many lines and stations, and includes features to help everyone. The Metro has helped reduce traffic on the roads.

Sports

New Delhi is a key host for many sports events. The city held the 2010 Commonwealth Games and has the yearly Delhi Half Marathon. It also held the 1951 Asian Games and the 1982 Asian Games.

Big sports places in New Delhi include the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Ambedkar Stadium, Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, Arun Jaitley Stadium, R.K. Khanna Tennis Complex, Dhyan Chand National Stadium, and Siri Fort Sports Complex.

International relations and organisations

Main article: Declaration of Delhi

See also: List of diplomatic missions in India

New Delhi is a key city for international groups. Many United Nations offices work there, like UNDP, UNESCO, UNICEF, and WHO. The city has many foreign embassies and high commissions.

New Delhi has hosted big international meetings. These include the 7th NAM Summit in 1983, the 4th BRICS Summit in 2012, and the G20 summit in 2023. The city works with major cities around the world, such as Moscow in Russia and Beijing in China.

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in India