New Delhi, India

Delhi's site has been continuously inhabited for over 3,000 years, with archaeological evidence of settlement from at least 1000 BCE. The city's formal history tracks through seven successive urban phases: Lal Kot (Rajput, 11th century), Mehrauli (Qutub dynasty, 12th century), Siri (Khalji, 14th century), Tughlaqabad, Firozabad, Dinpanah/Shergarh, and Shahjahanabad — the Mughal capital built by Shah Jahan from 1639, whose Red Fort and Jama Masjid survive today. New Delhi as a planned capital was commissioned by the British in 1911 (when they moved the capital from Calcutta), designed by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker, and inaugurated on 13 February 1931. Indian independence (15 August 1947) was declared at the Red Fort; Partition brought an estimated 500,000 Punjabi Hindu and Sikh refugees to the city, fundamentally reshaping its demography, cuisine (the butter chicken origin story begins here), and commercial character.

Old Delhi and Chandni Chowk anchor Delhi's food identity: Karim's (since 1913, Mughlai nihari and seekh kebab near Jama Masjid), Paranthe Wali Gali (stuffed parathas since 1872), and Moti Mahal in Daryaganj (inventor of butter chicken and dal makhani in the 1950s). South Delhi adds fine dining depth — Indian Accent (Khan Market, consistently ranked among Asia's best) and a dense corridor of upscale restaurants in Hauz Khas Village and around GK-1. Street-food highlights: chole bhature from Sita Ram Diwan Chand in Paharganj (from 08:00), daulat ki chaat (a milk-foam winter sweet sold by Old Delhi vendors December–February), and chaat from Bittoo Tikki Wala in Rajouri Garden. Festivals: Republic Day (26 January): India's premier civic ceremony — military parade and tableaux from all states along Kartavya Path, with a grandstand ticketing system; tickets available through the Ministry of Defence website, Diwali (October/November, lunar calendar): Delhi lights up city-wide with diyas, firecrackers and public fireworks — Connaught Place and the Old Delhi markets are the most atmospheric settings, Holi (March, full moon): the festival of colours is particularly vivid in Old Delhi's residential colonies and around Connaught Place; many hotels host rooftop Holi events, Eid-ul-Fitr (lunar calendar): morning prayers at Jama Masjid draw tens of thousands; the surrounding Old Delhi lanes fill with sewaiyyan (vermicelli) stalls and festive street food, Delhi International Arts Festival (December): 10-day programme of classical Indian music, Kathak, Bharatanatyam, and visual arts at Purana Qila and the NGMA. Museums: National Museum (Janpath) — ₹650 foreigners; the country's premier collection from Harappan seals (2500 BCE) through Mughal manuscripts, Buddhist sculpture, miniature paintings and decorative arts; open Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA, India Gate) — Indian art from the 1850s Company School through to contemporary practice; rotating exhibitions; open Tue–Sun 11:00–18:30, Crafts Museum (National Handicrafts Museum, Bhairon Road) — living-craft complex with artisans demonstrating weaving, pottery and metalwork from every Indian state; open Tue–Sun 09:30–17:00, National Rail Museum (Chanakyapuri) — heritage steam locomotives including the Fairy Queen (1855, world's oldest working steam engine); open Tue–Sun 09:30–17:30, Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum (Safdarjung Road) — the former PM's residence preserved as a museum; the walkway where she was assassinated in 1984 is marked in the garden; open Tue–Sun 09:30–17:00.

Safety: Air quality is Delhi's most significant health factor for visitors. November–January regularly sees AQI levels above 300 (hazardous by WHO standards) due to Haryana and Punjab crop-burning, vehicle emissions and winter inversions — carry an N95 mask, check AQI apps (SAFAR-India is the official source) daily, and minimize strenuous outdoor activity on bad days. February–March and October are the clearest months. Standard big-city precautions apply in crowded markets and interchange hubs: keep phones and wallets secured in Chandni Chowk and Connaught Place; use Ola, Uber or prepaid auto stands at night. Emergency: 112 (police + ambulance unified). Language: Hindi is the primary language of daily life; English is the working language of government, business, tourism and higher education. Road signs, Metro announcements and official communications are bilingual. In Old Delhi markets, vendors will switch to English on request; in the Lutyens' Zone and south Delhi, English is effectively universal in service contexts. Currency: Indian Rupee (INR, ₹). Notes: 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 (₹2,000 notes were withdrawn from circulation in 2023 and are no longer valid). ATMs widely available at Metro stations, malls and major streets; international Visa and Mastercard accepted. UPI digital payments (PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm) are ubiquitous — most vendors, street stalls and auto-rickshaw drivers accept QR-code payment. Cards accepted at hotels, mid-range restaurants and malls; cash still required for many market vendors, heritage monument entry queues, and small local restaurants. Currency exchange at international airport (reasonable rates); Thomas Cook and Forex bureaux in Connaught Place.