READ SOME EXCTING FACTS ABOUT DELHI AND Discover SOMETHING YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT INDIA’S BUSTLING CAPITAL.
Greenest cities in the world
Delhi is one of the greenest cities in the world. Surprised? I was too, but according to statistics, it has about 20% of its landmass covered by forests. This is a no mean feat to accomplish for a country that is home to a fifth of the world’s population.
Historical past and a vibrant present
Built on the banks of the Yamuna river, Delhi is a beautiful blend of a historical past and a vibrant present. In 1912, The capital shifted from Calcutta to Delhi.
During that time, the area from Willingdon Crescent, Connaught Place, and Lodhi Gardens were covered by villages.
Delhi has been consistently populated since the 6th century BC
Delhi’s extensive and vibrant history starts around the 6th century BC, and the many centuries since have seen it invaded, occupied, plundered and renewed on several occasions. The Medieval time was especially turbulent, and over the course of its history, it’s been a capital city for a number of various empires. It’s believed that the history of the site extends back even further, into prehistory; there’s most likely been an agreement here for at least three thousand years.
The seven cities of Delhi – or is it eight?
Traditionally, historians refer to “the seven cities of Delhi”, due to the fact over the centuries various different dynasties have had their capital cities situated here, each designed around a castle that doubled as a palace. Archaeological remains in the Delhi area, on the other hand, point to at least eight different major cities between AD 1100 and 1947.
Most bird-rich Capital city
After Nairobi in Kenya, The Delhi ridge makes it the World’s Second most bird-rich Capital city.
World’s largest brick minaret in Delhi
Built in the 13th century by Delhi’s 1st Muslim Sultan, the Qutb Minar is a magnificent brick minaret claiming to be the world’s largest. It’s, in fact, India’s 2nd tallest, but that doesn’t deter from the impressiveness of its ornately carved red sandstone.
Museum of Toilet
Delhi is also home to a museum keeping something fairly more routine: the toilet. Not that it’s probably high on your list of things to visit when you’re in Delhi, but it shows examples of examples of every kind of toilet you could imagine, including a replica of that used by King Louis XIV of France.
14 gates of the walled city of Delhi
Five of the original 14 gates of the walled city of Delhi are still standing. They include;
- Ajmeri Gate: Facing Ajmer in Rajasthan;
- Lahori Gate: Facing Lahore in Pakistan
- Kashmiri Gate: Pointing North to Kashmir
- Delhi Gate: Road to earlier cities of Delhi
- Turkman Gate: Named after pious saint Hazrat Shah Turkam.
Asia’s largest wholesale spice market
New Delhi’s Khari Baoli Market is Asia’s largest wholesale spice market. It also might be the largest in the world. If you love spiced food, then this market is a must visit.
Asia’s largest fruit and vegetable market
The wholesale market at Azadpur is Asia’s largest fruit and vegetable market. Nearly 3,000 trucks bring in fruits and vegetables here daily for over 30,000 retail vendors.
Delhi is larger than many nations
Delhi’s population is 1.68 crore, which is greater than many nations including Iceland, Maldives, Luxembourg, Bhutan, Estonia, Swaziland, Fiji, Cyprus, and much more.
World’s Largest Eco-Friendly Buses
The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) runs the largest group of eco-friendly buses in the world. DTC buses run on CNG which are less damaging to the environment.
World’s Second Most Popular Metro
Delhi Metro is the second most popular metro rail systems in the world. The first one is New York Metro.
