Location

Delhi is located at 28°61’N, 77°23’E, in northern India, on the banks of River Yamuna. It borders the states of Uttar Pradesh on the east and Haryana on the west, north and south. Delhi lies almost entirely in the Gangetic plains.

• Population: 13,782,000 (Census 2001)
• Area: 1,483 km² (573 sq mi)
• Elevation: 239 m (784 ft)
• Languages Spoken: Hindi, Urdu, English, Punjabi
• Currency: Indian Rupee (INR, Rs.)
• Electrical Plugs: 230-240V 50Hz
• Time Zones: GMT/UTC +5.5
• Dialling Code: +91 011
• Weights & Measures: Metric

Political Status
Delhi has the political status of a federally-administered union territory known as the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT), which in itself is part of National Capital Region. A constitutional amendment in 1991 gave Delhi a special status among the Union Territories; Delhi has its own legislative assembly with limited powers.

Weather in March
Mean daily maximum temperature: 29°C/84°F
Mean daily minimum temperature: 15°C/59°F
March is one of pleasantest time to visit Delhi – with the flowers of every hue and colour in bloom.

About the City
The culture of Delhi, the political capital of India, is a dynamic amalgam of the traditional and the modern. Historically, Delhi has played host to a range of outsiders: from early Muslim invaders to the Mughals to the British. It has assimilated these cultures within it while retaining its own identity. As a result, today it is fast growing cosmopolitan metropolis with deep cultural and traditional roots. Conclaves of traditional values and beliefs are juxtaposed against modern lifestyles; burqas and saris are seen alongside the ubiquitous jeans and the latest haute couture; elegant Mughal architecture stands in contrast to towering steel and glass structures; chic designer ware vies for attention with centuries-old arts and crafts; the rickshaw travels the same road as the latest Mercedes; sprawling multi-product malls coexist with 200-year-old speciality shops; the Metro rail speeds past urban villages; stately colonial buildings and crowded modern housing exist side by side; the contrasts are many and varied. The city is a stimulating and exciting mix that continues to change and evolve.

As the political centre of the country, Delhi is home to a large number of government officials, politicians and diplomats. The city’s entrepreneurial spirit finds expression in the numerous global and Indian corporates, business houses as well as traders and entrepreneurs. The city has a large population of young professionals who work at its various commercial and business houses. The city’s suburbs, Gurgaon and Noida, are centres of IT and BPO/KPO businesses where expatriates from several nations work. The city’s writers, journalists, painters, artistes specialising in the performing arts take forward the intellectual tradition of excellence set into motion by Delhi greats of yester years such as Ghalib and Zauq. 

Delhi has a huge variety of clubs, pubs and discotheques, many of them located in Delhi’s world-class hotels. A range of restaurants from the most economical to the upmarket offers cuisine from every part of the country and every corner of the world.

The malls are a relatively new inclusion in Delhi’s culture – and the shops with every global brand, multiplex cinemas and eateries within these are usually crowded with people out to have a good time.

Delhi is also one of the world’s greenest capital cities; over the last 10 years, its green cover has grown 13 times to spread over an area of 330 square kilometres.