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| City Guide |
Climate
New Delhi lies in northern India, almost entirely in the Gangetic plains. New Delhi was once a part of the Aravalies, but all that is left now is the Delhi ridge, the first prominent geographical feature. The second feature is the Yamuna floodplains; New Delhi lies west of the Yamuna river, although for the most part, New Delhi is a landlocked city.
New Delhi and its vicinity have a somewhat exaggerated continental climate due to its distance from the coasts and location with respect to mountain ranges. The temperature varies from 40 degrees Celsius in summers to around 4 degrees Celsius in winters.[4] Delhi has a semi-arid climate with high variation between summer and winter temperatures. Summers are long, from early April to October, with the monsoon season in between. Winter starts in November and peaks in January. The annual mean temperature is 25 °C (77 °F); monthly mean temperatures range from 14 °C to 33 °C (58 °F to 92 °F). The average annual rainfall is approximately 714 mm (28.1 inches), most of which is during the monsoons in July and August
Urban Structure
New Delhi is structured around two central promenades called the Rajpath and the Janpath. The Rajpath, or King's Way, stretches from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to the India Gate. The Janpath, formerly Queen's Way, begins at Connaught Circus and cuts the Shantipath at right angles.
At the heart of the city is the magnificent Rashtrapati Bhavan (formerly known as Viceroy's House) which sits atop Raisina Hill. The Secretariat, which houses various ministries of the Government of India, flanks out of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Parliament House, designed by Herbert Baker, is located at the Sansad Marg, which runs parallel to the Rajpath.
Culture
New Delhi is a cosmopolitan city due to the multi-ethnic and multi-cultural presence of the vast Indian bureaucracy and political system. The city's capital status has amplified the importance of national events and holidays. National events such as Republic Day, Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti (Gandhi's birthday) are celebrated with great enthusiasm in New Delhi and the rest of India. On India's Independence Day (15 August) the Prime Minister of India addresses the nation from the Red Fort. Most Delhiites celebrate the day by flying kites, which are considered a symbol of freedom.The Republic Day Parade is a large cultural and military parade showcasing India's cultural diversity and military might.
Religious festivals include Diwali (the festival of light), Durga Puja, Holi, Lohri, Maha Shivaratri, Eid ul-Fitr, Eid ul-Adha, Christmas and Buddha Jayanti. The Qutub Festival is a cultural event during which performances of musicians and dancers from all over India are showcased at night, with the Qutub Minar as the chosen backdrop of the event. Other events such as Kite Flying Festival, International Mango Festival and Vasant Panchami (the Spring Festival) are held every year in Delhi.
Currency
The currency is the Rupee (INR), which is divided into 100 paisa.
Language
New Delhi is a cosmopolitan city where one finds people from all over India. Hindi is the official and widely spoken language in Delhi, followed by Punjabi. However, English happens to be the official language for Business and official purposes. Urdu is the common language being spoken in Muslim community. There are sixteen other languages which are spoken by people from different parts of India.
Transport
Public transport in New Delhi is provided by buses, auto rickshaws, a rapid transit system, taxis and suburban railways.
Metro
The Delhi Mass Rapid Transit System; a world class metro service, has been instituted in New Delhi and in the rest of the metropolis. In order to meet the transport demand in Delhi, the State and Union government started the construction of a mass rapid transit system, including the Delhi Metro. As of 2007, the metro operates three lines with a total length of 65 km (40 miles) and 59 stations while several other lines are under construction
Taxi & Rickshaw
Auto rickshaws are popular means of public transportation in New Delhi. They are usually coloured green and yellow and many run on CNG. Taxicabs are not as prevalent and tend to be more expensive. However, both private taxis and the state-permit taxis (which are black and yellow in colour) are easily accessible.
Bus
Low floor DTC Buses operate across the city
Buses are the most popular means of transport catering to about 60% of the total demand. The state-owned Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) is a major bus service provider for the city and plays a crucial role in connecting it with the rest of the metropolis. The buses operate around 34 depots, and the inter-state buses operate from the three Inter State Bus Terminals in Kashmere Gate, Sarai Kale Khan and Anand Vihar. DTC coordinates with Delhi Metro to connect commuters in areas surrounding the metro stations.
Air
Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) is situated in South West Delhi and is the main airport serving New Delhi. In 2006–07, the IGI airport recorded traffic of more than 20.44 million passengers, making it the second busiest airport in South Asia. Palam Airport and Safdarjung Airport are the other airfields in Delhi used for general aviation purpose.
Suburban Railway
The headquarters of Indian Railways and the Northern Railway are situated in New Delhi. The New Delhi Railway Station serves as the main railway station for the city and is a major railway hub in northern India.
Road
Private vehicles account for 30% of the total demand for transport. At 1922.32 km of road length per 100 km², Delhi has one of the highest road densities in India. Delhi is well connected to other parts of India by five National Highways: NH 1, 2, 8, 10 and 24. Roads in Delhi are maintained by MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi), NDMC, Delhi Cantonment Board, Public Works Department (PWD) and Delhi Development Authority.howcases modern forms of public and private transport
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