Delhi NCR, the biggest urban cluster of the country, is consists of a number of towns and cities including the capital of India, New Delhi. Before the British imperialism carved out a capital of Delhi in 1911, the region had served as the headquarters of various powerful dynasties and emperors ranging from the legendary Pandavas of Mahabharata to the Mughals. In the past Delhi witnessed a fascinating fact; invaders who unleashed devastation had rebuilt it later. Today, it stands as a lively microcosm of India with mazy alleys and rickety havelis of Old Delhi, wide boulevards and sprawling government complexes of New Delhi, and bustling industrial centers like Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, Noida or Faridabad.
Delhi is north India’s prime commercial and industrial zone. It is ranked as number one in India in terms of per capita income. Service sector is the main pillar of its economy. Constituents of Delhi’s tertiary sector include tourism, IT, banking and finance, telecommunications, media, and hotels. Besides service-oriented organisations other leading industries are engineering and electronics, electrical appliances, power, and automobile. Delhi is also a rapidly developing retail and real estate hub. Traditional crafts like zardozi, metalwork, meenakari, brocades, and ivory carvings have a strong base in Delhi.
Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport is India’s busiest airport. It is 16 km away from the city. Delhi has extreme climate, in summers it’s as high as 45o C and in winters it goes below 5o C. A sophisticated metro railway system serves Delhi and its adjoining cities. Besides the metro, DTC buses (red and green coloured) and private buses (orange coloured) are available in the city. Delhi, home to scores of majestic monuments, boasts of three World Heritage Sites. Some of the notable tourist attractions in Delhi are Red Fort, Jantar Mantar, Lotus Temple, Jama Masjid, Humayun’s Tomb, International Doll’s Museum, Qutub Minar, India Gate, and Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple.