General Information

State

New Delhi, the capital of India, became a state in 1992 under the national capital territory Act. Under this system of diarchy, the elected Government is given wide powers; except law and order that remain with the central Government. New Delhi is the preferred starting point for the popular Golden Triangle tour that comprises of New Delhi, Jaipur and Agra.

General Info & History

New Delhi, the capital of India, is a bustling metropolis that has an amazing mix of modernisation and carefully preserved antiquity. Sprawled over the west bank of the river Yamuna, it is one of the fastest growing cities in India. New Delhi was built by a British architect Edward Lutyens in 1912 as the new capital of the British Raj. The Victorian architecture now intermingles with the city's high rise buildings. Concrete flyovers built to ease the growing traffic are interspersed with well laid gardens, Mughal tombs, forts and monuments.

The city traces its history to Mahabharata, the great epic tale of wars fought between estranged cousins, the Kauravas and the Pandavas for the city of Indraprastha. 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. Old Delhi was founded by Mughal rulers who ruled the city in succession starting from Qutab-ub-din to Khiljis, Tughlaqs each, under a different name given to the city. this fast developing region.

Delhi was made the capital of Independent India in 1950 and it was declared a state in 1992.

Gurgaon, 8 kms from Indira Gandhi International Airport is the modern suburb of Delhi. Multinational investors have built swanky office blocks, malls, multiplexes, hotels and amusement parks in this fast developing region.

Best Season to visit

From October to March is the best time to visit, with cool but sunny weather. Nights can be quite chilly in December and January.

Climate / Temperature

Summer - Max.45°C, Min.27°C

Winter - Max.25.5°C, Min.4°C

Monsoon - Max 35°C, Min 25°C

Rainfall (Average) - 170 mm

Summer in Delhi is harsh - from April to june, the temperature climbs to more than 45°C and the heat continues in monsoon until October.

Weather Chart

Due to its vast size, India has a varied climate and it is possible to travel at almost all times of year and find certain areas of the Subcontinent that are at their best. The country has a three season year - summer, monsoon and winter. Generally the best time to visit is during winter (November to February), although there are regional variations. The rainy season is from June to September. And the post-monsoon season, which is the north-east monsoon in South India, is from October-November. Summer (March to May) is hot everywhere, except in the hills.

Recommended Clothing: During the winter months of November to February, light woolen clothes are appropriate for travel in the plains of North India and heavy woolens for travel in the hills of North India. For the rest of the year, it can be very hot, so light, tropical clothing is advised. Raincoat or waterproof clothing is advisable throughout the monsoon season.

We have put together a guide below to enable you to get a general idea of the best time to travel to the different parts of the Subcontinent.

North India

Delhi Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Max Temp (°C) 21 24 31 36 41 39 36 34 34 34 29 23
Min Temp (°C) 7 9 14 20 26 28 27 26 24 18 11 8

Local language

Although English is generally used for official and business purposes, Hindi is the official language and is spoken by most of the people. Punjabi and Urdu are also commonly spoken.

Cue Words

Just remember the golden words refer to yourself as hum and address people with a ji after their names, that should get you by most problems, but otherwise Hindi and Punjabi are the most widely spoken languages, and English is well understood. Car and auto drivers can normally speak in broken English, but speak to them in hindi and you will get a better rate.

Some helpful words to know

Hello Namaste
Yes Haan
No Nahin
Thank you Shukriya
You are welcome Aapka swagat hai
What is your name Aapka naam kya hai
I do not understand Mujhe samjha nahin aaya
Nice to meet you Aap se milke khushi hui
How are you Aaap kaise hai
What is the price Daam kya hai