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Delhi (Territory of Delhi, Is The
Delhi (Territory of Delhi, Is The
Delhi (Territory of Delhi, Is The
Territory of Delhi, is the Capital territory of India.[4]During the British Raj, Delhi was part
of the province of Punjab and is still historically and culturally connected to the Punjab
region.[5] It has a population of about 16.3 million, making it the second most populous
city and second most populous urban agglomeration in India.[6][7] Such is the nature of
urban expansion in Delhi that its growth has expanded beyond the NCT to incorporate
towns in neighbouring states and at its largest extent can count a population of about 25
million residents as of 2014.[8] Delhi has been continuously inhabited since the 6th
century BC.[9] 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 modern Delhi is a cluster of a number of
cities spread across the metropolitan region. The NCT and its urban region have been
given the special status of National Capital Region (NCR) under the Constitution of
India's 69th Amendment Act of 1991. The NCR includes the neighbouring cities
History[edit]
The area around Delhi was probably inhabited before the second millennium BC, and
there is evidence of continuous inhabitation since at least the 6th century BC. [9] The city
is believed to be the site of Indraprastha, the legendary capital of the Pandavas in the
Indian epic Mahabharata.[10] According to this epic this land was initially a huge mass of
forests called 'Khandavaprastha' which was burnt down to build the city of Indraprastha.
The earliest architectural relics date back to the Maurya period (c. 300 BC); in 1966, an
inscription of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka (273235 BC) was discovered near
Srinivaspuri. Remains of eight major cities have been discovered in Delhi. The first five
cities were in the southern part of present-day Delhi. Gurjara-pratihara King Anang
Pal of 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 king Prithviraj Chauhan was defeated in 1192 by Muhammad Ghori, a Tajik invader
from Afghanistan, who made a concerted effort to conquer northern India. [10] By 1200,
native Hindu resistance had begun to crumble, the dominance of foreign Turkic Muslim
dynasties in north India was to last for the next five centuries. On the death of
Muhammad in 1206, the Turkic slave-general, Qutb-ud-din Aibak, broke away from
the Ghurid Dynasty and became the first Sultan of Delhi. He began construction of
the Qutb Minar and Quwwat-al-Islam (might of Islam) mosque, the earliest extant
mosque in India. Qutb-ud-din faced widespread Hindu rebellions and it was his
There is significant dispute over the extent of the city's green cover. City authorities
claimed in 2008 that the green cover had increased from 26 km 2 to 300 km2; moreover,
the Delhi Forest Act stipulated that for every felled tree ten saplings need to be planted.
Critics point out that the data as well as the meaning of "green cover" are unclear. The
actual increase may be only half of what was claimed, and there are estimates that
some 100,000 trees had been cut in Delhi, due in part to the construction of the Delhi
Metro and theDelhi Bus Rapid Transit System.[15]
The Northern Ridge (also called Old Delhi) comprises of the area near Delhi
University. It is approximately 87 Hectares and was declared a reserve forest in 1915.
The Central Ridge (also called New Delhi) consists of around 864 Hectares of forested
area, from south of Sadar Bazaar to Dhaula Kuan. This was declared a Reserve forest
in 1914.
There are officially only three national holidays, but various festivals and events are
celebrated in Delhi because of its eclectic mix of people.
Lohri is celebrated widely by the Punjabis/Sikhs of Delhi in the month of January. This
festival signals the end of winter and heralds the coming of spring. Big bonfires are lit in
the evening and family and friends dance around it throwing in.
Holi, the festival of colour is celebrated with great gusto at the onset of spring
somewhere in February or early March. There is great merriment on this day and
people especially youngsters spray people with brightly coloured powder and water.
Other special events in Delhi include festivals like the Mango Festival that is held at
the Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi in the month of July. The festival features a wide
variety of mangoes and mango eating competitions.
Dussehra symbolises the triumph of good over evil and is celebrated with Ramlilas and
the burning of the effigy of Ravana the demon king in the month of September or
October.
Diwali the famous festival of lights is also widely celebrated with almost all homes being
lit up with diyas and the night sky being illuminated with fireworks.
India International Trade Fair is widely attended by the people of Delhi, which is held
in November every year. Held at Pragati Maidan this fair is a showcase of wonderful
handicrafts and textiles with all the states of India participating.
Culture[edit]
Delhi's culture has been influenced by its lengthy history and historic association as the
capital of India. This is exemplified by many significant monuments in the city. Delhi is
also identified as the location of Indraprastha, the ancient capital of the Pandavas.
TheArchaeological Survey of India recognises 1200 heritage buildings[153] and 175
monuments as national heritage sites.[154] In the Old City, the Mughals and the Turkic
rulers constructed several architecturally significant buildings, such as the Jama
Masjid India's largest mosque[155] built in 1656 [156] and the Red Fort. Three World
Heritage Sites the Red Fort, Qutab Minar and Humayun's Tomb are located in Delhi.
[157]
Other monuments include the India Gate, the Jantar Mantar an 18th-century