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New
Delhi, the capital of India, sprawled over the west bank of the river
Yamuna is one of the fastest growing cities in India. It is surrounded
on three sides by Haryana and to the east, across the river Yamuna
by Uttar Pradesh. Historically, the city has long since been the foremost
in political importance with successive dynasties choosing it as their
seat of power, between the 13th and the 17th centuries. Remnants
of the glorious past survive as important monuments in different parts
of the city.
The myriad faces of the city are simply fascinating.
In some places it remains a garden city, tree lined and with beautiful
parks, but in some places it can also be crowded with heavy traffic. Turbaned
Sikhs, colourfully dressed Rajasthani and Gujarati women working
in offices, Muslim shopkeepers along Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi, Tibetans
and Ladakhis in the street stalls along Janpath and Kashmiris in the handicraft
emporia around Connaught Place, all add to the cosmopolitan feel of the
city. Soaring skyscrapers, posh residential colonies and bustling commercial
complexes can be seen along with the ancient historical monuments. Its
boutiques and shopping arcades offer access to a wealth of traditional
and contemporary crafts, from all over the country. Old Delhi which
looks entirely different from New Delhi area, is about 6 Km north of the
city center.
Delhi has some of the finest museums in the country.
The main places to see in Delhi are Parliament House, Qutab Minar, Rashtrapati
Bhavan, Lodi Garden, Humayun's Tomb, Birla Mandir, Lotus Temple etc.
The city has extreme climates- it experiences immense
heat waves during the summer months and chilly coldness during the winters.
The average temperature ranges from 25°C to 46°C during summer and 2°C
to 5°C during winter. The best seasons to visit New Delhi is during
the pleasant spring season of February to March when the flowers are
blooming, and from October to November when the weather is at its best.
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