facts about Delhi
- Delhi stands along the banks of river Yamuna and is flanked by other states like Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab.
- Hindi, English, Punjabi, and Urdu are the most common languages of Delhi.
- Delhi is derived from the word “Dhillika” which had around 18 different sites of various kings and emperors that include Indraprastha, Lal Kot, Quila Rai Pithora, Siri, Jahanpanah, Ferozabad, Dinpanah, Tughlakabad, Delhi Sher Shahi, Shahjahanabad, etc.
- The city of Delhi was destroyed and rebuilt seven times and ruled by successive empires and dynasties.
- The grand colonial architecture of New Delhi is credited to Edwin Luyten who was called by King George V for designing and building the British Empire’s administrative buildings. The most grandiose among Luyten’s creation is the Viceroy’s building which is now the presidential palace and is known as Rashtrapati Bhavan.
- The Qutub Minar, the world’s tallest brick minaret at 72.5 meters, was built by Qutub-ud-din Aibek but it was completed by his successor Iltutmish.
- In the centre of the courtyard of Qutub Minar stands the iron pillar of Ashoka that is resistant to rust.
- The Delhi ridge makes Delhi the World’s Second most bird-rich Capital city after Nairobi in Kenya. Delhi has the third largest tree-cover among the cities in India.
- Delhi is ranked as the 7th most expensive office hotspot in the world.
- Delhi hosted the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the largest and reportedly the most expensive Commonwealth Games held till date.
- The female voice of Delhi Metro, who speaks in English, is Ms Rini Simon Khanna and male voice of Delhi Metro, who speaks in Hindi, is Mr Shammi Narang.
- The few of the famous movies ever to be shot in the Delhi metro are Bewafaa, Paa, Dev D, Love Aaj Kal and Delhi 6 to have scenes from Delhi metro.
- The escalators at all the Delhi metro stations are provided with unique ‘sari guard‘ feature that sidetracks loose clothing such as saris of ladies from getting trapped in the escalator.
- Khari Baoli is Asia’s largest wholesale spice market. A must visit for the once-in-a-lifetime overdose of a spice cocktail high.
- Delhi has an International Toilet Museum.
