Delhi

Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory of Delhi, contains New Delhi, the capital of India, and is one of the largest and most historic urban areas in the world. A union territory with its own elected government, it is the political heart of the nation and a sprawling metropolis layered with millennia of history.

Delhi lies on the banks of the Yamuna River in northern India, on a flat plain at the edge of the Thar Desert's influence, with the low Aravalli ridge running through it. It has a semi-arid climate with very hot summers, a monsoon season and cool, foggy winters.

Delhi is a vibrant cultural melting pot, blending Mughal heritage, Punjabi influence and cosmopolitan modernity. It is famous for its street food, bazaars, monuments and a thriving arts scene, drawing people from across India.

Site of numerous historic cities over more than a thousand years, Delhi was a capital of the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire, leaving landmarks such as the Red Fort, Qutub Minar and Humayuns Tomb. The British built New Delhi as their capital, inherited by independent India in 1947.

This overview is AI-assisted and grounded with available atlas facts and reference material. Treat linked primary data as authoritative. Read the methodology.