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New Delhi

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New Delhi is the capital city of India.

Dehli districts
Dehli districts

It serves as the primary seat for all three branches of the Indian government. This includes the Rashtrapati Bhavan, which is the Presidential Palace. It also hosts the Sansad Bhavan, or Parliament House, and the Supreme Court. New Delhi is a municipality within the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT). It is governed by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). This council manages mostly Lutyens' Delhi and some nearby areas.

Three Municipalities of Delhi as of 2022
Three Municipalities of Delhi as of 2022

Understanding the administrative layers of the region is important. Many people use the names Delhi and New Delhi interchangeably. However, they are distinct entities. New Delhi is a relatively small part of the massive megacity of Delhi.

Dehli districts
Dehli districts

Even larger than the NCT is the National Capital Region. This region includes the NCT and adjoining districts from two neighboring states. This creates a continuously built-up area. It includes cities like Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida, Meerut, YEIDA City, Gurgaon, and Faridabad.

The history of the capital involves a major shift in location. Until December 1911, Calcutta was the capital of India under British rule. However, Calcutta became a center for nationalist movements. This led to political unrest and a boycott of British goods. The colonial government decided to move the capital to Delhi. They believed Delhi was more central to northern India. This would make the empire easier to administer.

Gare-New-Delhi-intérieur
Gare-New-Delhi-intérieur

The land for the new city was acquired under the Land Acquisition Act of 1894.

Construction of New Delhi was a massive engineering project. King George V laid the foundation stone in 1911.

Rashtrapati Bhavan (Dehli)
Rashtrapati Bhavan (Dehli)

British architects Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker designed the city. Lutyens designed the central administrative area to show imperial power. The original plan for the site was changed due to space constraints. A committee also rejected a northern site because property costs were too high. The builders eventually settled on a southern site atop Raisina Hill.

Rashtrapati Bhavan (Dehli)
Rashtrapati Bhavan (Dehli)

To move materials, they built the Imperial Delhi Railway. This circular line supported workers for twenty years. The city was finally inaugurated in February 1931 by Viceroy Irwin.

New Delhi's layout features several famous landmarks and zones. The central axis includes the Rajpath, also known as King's Way. This path stretches from the India Gate to the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The Secretariat Building flanks the palace and houses important ministries. These include the Ministries of Defence, Finance, Home Affairs, and External Affairs. The Parliament House was also designed by Herbert Baker. In the south, the Lutyens' Bungalow Zone was created. Later, in the 1950s, the Chanakyapuri diplomatic enclave was developed. This area provides space for embassies and high commissions around Shanti Path.

The geography of the area is mostly flat. New Delhi sits on the Indo-Gangetic Plain.

Rashtrapati Bhavan (Dehli)
Rashtrapati Bhavan (Dehli)

While it is near the Yamuna River, the city is landlocked. The area was once part of the Aravali Range. Today, only the Delhi Ridge remains. People call this ridge the "Lungs of Delhi."

Rashtrapati Bhavan (Dehli)
Rashtrapati Bhavan (Dehli)

However, the city faces seismic risks. It falls under seismic zone-IV, making it vulnerable to earthquakes. It sits on several fault lines. This causes frequent earthquakes, often of mild intensity. For example, a 5.4 magnitude earthquake occurred in 2015.

The climate in New Delhi is quite extreme. It features a humid subtropical climate.

Connaught Place sunset
Connaught Place sunset

This is closely bordered by a hot semi-arid climate. Summers are very long, lasting from mid-April to late September. During this time, frequent thunderstorms called andhi occur. The summer monsoon arrives in late June and lasts until mid-September.

Connaught Place sunset
Connaught Place sunset

Winters are mild but characterized by dense fog. The city also struggles with serious air pollution. In 2014, the World Health Organization ranked it as the world's most polluted city.

2015 Air pollution in New Delhi (AQI)
2015 Air pollution in New Delhi (AQI)

To help, the government has tried schemes like alternate-day driving for cars.

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🖼️ Images & Media (12)
File:New Delhi government block 03-2016 img6.jpg
New Delhi government block 03-2016 img6.jpg
File:Connaught Place sunset.jpg
Connaught Place sunset.jpg
File:2015 Air pollution in New Delhi (AQI).svg
2015 Air pollution in New Delhi (AQI).svg
File:Three Municipalities of Delhi as of 2022.png
Three Municipalities of Delhi as of 2022.png
File:Dehli districts.png
Dehli districts.png
File:Skyline at Rajiv Chowk.JPG
Skyline at Rajiv Chowk.JPG
File:India national museum 01.jpg
India national museum 01.jpg
File:Gandhi Memorial.jpg
Gandhi Memorial.jpg
File:Rashtrapati Bhavan (Dehli).jpg
Rashtrapati Bhavan (Dehli).jpg
File:Gare-New-Delhi-intérieur.JPG
Gare-New-Delhi-intérieur.JPG
File:DelhiMetroBlueLineBombardier.jpg
DelhiMetroBlueLineBombardier.jpg
File:Commonwealth-Games-2010-Opening-Ceremony.jpg
Commonwealth-Games-2010-Opening-Ceremony.jpg
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