Tourist information on Delhi, India

Situated on the banks of the River Yamuna, Delhi is the largest city in north India. With a population of over ten million, it is both the country's most important economic centre and a leading tourist destination. Part of the city, New Delhi, is designated the country's capital. Delhi is a modern cosmopolitan metropolis and whilst its native language is Hindi, most people speak English.

Whilst Delhi is increasingly a city of commerce and industry, it remains a popular tourist destination. One of its main attractions is the Red Fort (Lal Qila), a red sandstone fort built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century. This contains several things of interest: Chatta Chowk (Covered Bazaar); Diwan-i-Am (Hall of Public Audience); Hayat Baksh Bagh (Life-Bestowing Gardens); Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience); Khas Mahal (Private Palace, the Emperor's main residence); Rang Mahal (Colour Palace, the residence of the Sultan's first wife); Mumtaz Mahal (Jewel Palace, used for the Sultan's harem); and Swatantra Sangrama Sangrahalaya (Museum of the Independence Movement).

Other principal attractions include Humayun's Tomb, in south Delhi, near Hazrat Nizamuddin station and the Qutub Complex in Mehrauli, which comprises buildings from the 13th century Slave Dynasty and some excellent gardens. The Qutub Complex contains some of Delhi's most famous landmarks: Qutub Minar, a 72m minaret dating back to the 12th century; Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, Delhi's first and grandest mosque, now in ruins; and the Tomb of Imam Zamin. Delhi's cultural heritage is preserved by several museums. These include: India Habitat Centre (Lodhi Road), noted for its art displays; the International Doll's Museum (Nehru House); the National Museum (Janpath), which exhibits arts and crafts from the various regions of India and numerous historical artefacts; the National Science Centre (Gate No. 1, Pragati Maidan), an educative science museum, particularly well-suited for children; and the National Railway Museum (Chanakyapuri), which celebrates India's railway heritage.

The city's best-known monuments are: Rajpath, the main parade route from Rashtrapati Bhavan (the President's residence) to India Gate; India Gate, a memorial for the fallen Indian soldiers of World War I; Jantar Mantar, an observatory built in the 18th century; Raj Ghat, a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi; Purana Qila (Old Fort), containing the ruins of the 16th century city of Shergarh; and Tughlaqabad Fort, a fortress built by Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq in the 14th century. There are also plenty of green open spaces to relax in, including Mughal Garden, the Garden of Five Senses and Lodhi Garden, a large park in the centre of New Delhi.

Most visitors to Delhi arrive by air at Indira Gandhi International Airport, situated in the west of the city and reached from New Delhi Railway Station. The airport's Terminal, opened in 2010, is now one of the most advanced in the world. The city has an extensive (albeit somewhat chaotic) bus network, the main termini being at Kashmere Gate, Sarai Kale Khan and Anand Vihar. There are four main train stations: Delhi Junction (a.k.a. Old Delhi or Purani Dilli), New Delhi (in Central Delhi); Hazrat Nizamuddin (a few kilometres to the south); and Anand Vihar (to the east). The city's rapidly expanding Metro can easily be accessed from Delhi Junction and New Delhi Railway Station. The Metro is the cheapest and most comfortable way to travel around the city (which is mostly pedestrian unfriendly). Auto rickshaws (three-wheeled scooters) are convenient for short trips and provide a cheap alternative to taxis.

Delhi is reputed to be one of the oldest surviving cities in the world. Archaeological evidence shows that the region was inhabited as far back as the second millennium BC, and it is likely that a well-developed human settlement existed in the area further back than that. The earliest historically recognised version of Delhi is Qila Rai Pithora, a city founded in the 10th century AD by the Tomar Rajputs. This was the capital of India under the reign of Prithviraj Chauhan. In 1192, Chauhan was defeated in battle by Muhammad Ghori. The latter's viceroy Qutub-ud-din Aibak captured Delhi a year later and, after Ghori's death, appointed himself the city's ruler. Aibak not only founded the Slave Dynasty, which lasted until 1290, but also transformed the architectural landscape of the city, now known as Mehrauli. The Slave Dynasty was followed by the six Khilji rulers, the most prominent of whom was Allauddin, who extended the kingdom southwards and established the city of Siri.

When the last of the Khiljis was slain, the Turk Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq invaded India in the 1320s and founded the city of Tughlakabad. It was a descendent of Tughlaq, Firoze, who created the city of Firozabad, which included many grand palaces and mosques. After Firoze's death, the sultanate fell into administrative chaos and was easy prey to the Samarkhand invader Taimur the Lame, who ransacked the city. The successive rulers of Delhi, the Sayyids and Lodhis, brought stability to the kingdom and established its military defences. When Barbur defeated the last of the Lodhis in the first battle of Panipat, he founded the Mughal dynasty. Barbur's son was killed and supplanted by Sher Shah Suri, who established the new city of Shergarh to the north. After the Mughals had left Delhi and founded Agra as the capital of their kingdom, Shahjehan returned to the city to establish Shahjehanabad. Thereafter, Delhi remained the capital of the Mughal Empire until 1857, after which it fell under the control of the British East India Company. In the 1920s, the new city of New Delhi was built in the south. After India had acquired independence from the British in 1947, New Delhi became the country's capital and seat of government. Relics of the various phases in Delhi's history can be seen across the city today.