About the state

New Delhi, the capital of India, has always occupied a strategic position in the country`s history, as Hindu and Islamic dynasties have ruled from here, leaving their imprint in the form of relics, which recapture those bygone times. Geography

Delhi forms an enclave inside the eastern frontier of Haryana in North India, while sharing an eastern boundary with Uttar Pradesh. Its dry climate is a result of its proximity to the Rajasthan desert, and the Gangetic plains of Uttar Pradesh.

Historical Roots

Popular Hindu mythology purports that Delhi was the site of the fabled city of Indraprastha, which featured in the Mahabharata over 3000 years ago, but historical evidence suggests that the area has been settled for around 2500 years. Since the 12th century, Delhi has seen the rise and fall of seven major powers.

Delhi`s history dates back to the first millenium B.C., when it was known as Indraprastha. The Tomar Rajputs built Lal Kot, the core of the first of Delhi`s seven cities. It was annexed by Prithviraj Chauhan, who extended it, to create the Qila Rai Pithora. Qutub-ud-Din-Aibak made Delhi his capital in 1206
Around 1311, Allaudin Khilji established Siri, the second city. The Tughlaqs who ruled the city after the Khiljis, built the third city of Tughlaqabad. The fourth city of Jahanpanah has practically disappeared now, but the fifth city Firoz Shah Kotla rises off Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg. Babur’s son, Humayun, constructed a new capital in Delhi, on the banks of the river Yamuna, and called it Din Panah. Shah Jahan created Shahjahanabad along the river, as the well – planned, seventh township of Delhi. It remained the Mughal capital until 1857.

Contemporary History
Delhi came under British rule after 1857, and in 1911 they decided to make it their capital. The area south of Shahjahanabad, was chosen as the site for the imperial capital, and was built on a regal scale by January 1931. Lutyens and Baker designed much of the architecture along the stretch between India Gate at one end, and Rashtrapati Bhavan (the President`s residence) at the other; with the adjoining administrative buildings of North and South Block, Parliament House and Connaught Place nearby.
Only 16 years after the city was inaugurated as the nation`s capital, Delhi was torched during the trauma of Partition. In a matter of weeks it was transformed from a Muslim-dominated city of less than a million inhabitants to a largely Hindu city of almost two million. Today, very few city residents can lay claim to being `real` Delhi-wallahs, and most of the population of New Delhi comprises Hindu Punjabi families originally from Lahore.
Delhi was made a Union Territory on November 1, 1956. With the 69th Constitutional amendment, Delhi got a Legislative Assembly when the National Capital Territory Act was enacted in 1991. Following state assembly elections in Delhi, Mr. Madan Lal Khurana became the first Chief Minister of Delhi. Mr. Sahib Singh Verma took over from Mr. Khurana as the Chief Minister in early 1996.
Delhi, besides being the seat of the Central Government, has an economy supported by agriculture, tourism, commerce and a growing industry. With the development of infrastructure facilities, Delhi plays host to a number of national and international events including sports - related events, conferences and seminars.

Since Independence, Delhi has prospered as the capital of India. In the past decade, its population has increased by 50%, largely due to rapid economic expansion and increased job opportunities. The downside of this boom is increased overcrowding, traffic congestion, housing shortages and pollution.