Delhi City Tours of India
Delhi is the heart of India. The city saw its share of glorious and tumultuous 5,000-year-old empire rise and fall before the dawn of history. Delhi witnessed citadels of emperors appear and disappear. The old ruins of the city proclaim a majestic and imperial past. In the mysterious eternity of Delhi its present still pulsates vibrantly with the ever-flowing life of Incredible India. The history of Delhi began with the creation of Indraprastha by the legendary Pandavas who went on to transform this barren land gifted by the Kauravas into an idyllic haven.
The history of Delhi encompasses various kings and emperors who established the royal citadels, namely, Indraprastha, Lal Kot, Siri, Jahanpanah, Quila Rai Pithora, Tughlakabad, Firozabad, Dinpanah, Delhi Sher Shahi or Shahjehanabad. Delhi remained combined and integrated one despite creation of new cities as suffixes to the ruling dynasties. Delhi always stood intrinsically identified with ruling power and imperial sway, of which most recent being the British who founded New Delhi in 1911.
The history is replete with instances that as and when Delhi was put to demolish threats from the likes of emperors Nadir Shah, Abdali, Taimur Lane, etc., the city rose with a boon to regain its lost glory. The historic Purana Qila (Old Fort) stand testimony to the anarchy, raise & fall of empires, and rejuvenations that its panoramic environs spell. The Red Fort built by Shah Jahan shifted the attention of administration to many of the gorgeous palaces of the fort. Delhis historic and legendary past remains alive.
The first war of independence in 1857 saw Delhi continuing to become the focal point that it always did in ancient times or even in the medieval period. The struggles for freedom made the Britishers shift their capital from Calcutta to Delhi. Ultimately, the hosting of the tricolour at Red Fort in Delhi marked a lasting chapter in the history of India.
General Information:
• Capital - New Delhi. Area: 491 sq km.
• Population - 10.25 million.
• Language - Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, and English is equally in the use.
• Touring season - Oct, Nov, Feb and March. However, winter is severe and long from Nov to early March.
Climate:
The summer season lasts from mid-March to the end of June, with average maximum and minimum temperatures of 36º C and 25º C. The monsoon season, following the hot summer, some times continues until the end of September, with an average rainfall of about 26 inches. The winter season extends from late November to mid-February. The coldest month is January, when both the mean maximum temperature and the mean minimum temperature are at their lowest at 21º C and 7º C, respectively.
How to Reach
By Air : Delhi has an extensive network of international and domestic flights. All the major airlines in the world fly through Delhi and it is easily accessible from anywhere in the world. Domestic air links cover Delhi from all the major cities in the country.
By Train: The Indian Railway with their modern and organized network connects Delhi to major and minor destination in India. There are three important railway stations in Delhi to all major and minor destinations in India, namely New Delhi Railway Station, Old Delhi Railway Station and Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station. Trains run from all the parts of the country to Delhi. For nearby places like Chandigarh, Dehradun, Gwalior, Bhopal, Lucknow and Kanpur, the Shatabdi Express is recommended.
By Road: Delhi is well connected by road to all major destinations in North India. Buses from all the major places in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are available for getting to Delhi. During summer months, air-conditioned coaches are recommended.
Airports: Delhi has two airports. Indira Gandhi International Airport is 20km away towards city in the same area. Palam is city bound Internal Terminal Airport. The shuttle coach service is in operation between the two airports. Indira Gandhi Airport links Delhi with the whole world. Flights of almost all Airways of the World come to Delhi. IAC, Alliance Air, Vayudoot and such other Airlines serve from Palam to all parts of the country.