Delhi History
The Indian capital city of Delhi has a long history, including a history as the capital of several empires. The earliest architectural relics date back to the Maurya Period (300 BC); since then, the site has seen continuous settlement. In 1966, an inscription of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka (273-236 BC) was discovered near Srinivaspuri, which is near Noida. Two sandstone pillars inscribed with the edicts of Ashoka were brought to the city by Firuz Shah Tughluq in the 14th century. The famous Iron pillar near the Qutub Minar was commissioned by the emperor Kumara Gupta I of the Gupta dynasty (320-540) and transplanted to Delhi during the 10th century. Delhi, one of the world's oldest cities, became India's capital in 1912 when the British moved the seat of government there from what was then Calcutta. Today, the area has become one of India's most vibrant and fast-growing metros. Cities such as Faridabad and Ghaziabad are now mimicking the well-established corporate and high-tech Gurgaon area in building new high-rise housing. Delhi's new Metro, are being extended to more distant suburban towns. New Delhi, the capital city of India is a political and business hub of India. Delhi played an important role in the history of India, around eight cities were built around it – Indraprastha, Siri, Tughlaqabad, Jahanpanah, Firozabad, Purana Qila, Shahjahanabad, and finally New Delhi. The modern city contains






                       The remnants of seven successive ancient cities including:
1. Qila Rai Pithora built by Prithvi Raj Chauhan, near the oldest Rajput settlement in Lal Kot; it was a seven-gated fort in Delhi. Quila Rai Pithora is supposed to be the First City of Delhi, built by Prithviraj, a Chauhan king and also the second last Hindu king of Delhi.
2. Siri, built by Alauddin Khilji in 1303;
3. Tughluqabad, built by Ghiyasuddin Tughluq (1321-1325);
4. Jahanpanah, built by Muhammad bin Tughluq (1325-1351);
5. Kotla Firoz Shah, built by Firuz Shah Tughluq (1351-1388);
6. Purana Qila, built by Sher Shah Suri and Dinpanah built by Humayun, both in the area near the speculated site of the legendary Indraprastha (1538-1545); and
7. Shahjahanabad, built by Shah Jahan from 1638 to 1649, containing the Lal Qila and the Chandni Chowk. It was the capital of the Mughal Empire during Shah Jahan's reign. It is presently referred to as "Old Delhi".
Today, Delhi India spread in the area of 1483 sq kms is divided into two main parts –
                                                               1. Old Delhi 
                                                               2. New Delhi.
Old Delhi includes Red fort, Jama Masjid, and Chandani Chowk while New Delhi consists of Connaught Place, the government areas around Rajpath, Defence Colony, Greater Kailash, and Vasant Vihar. The national capital territory of Delhi with an area of 1483sq.km is situated between the Himalayas and Aravalis range in the heart of the Indian sub-continent. It is surrounded on 3 sides by Haryana and to the east, across the river Yamuna by Uttar Pradesh. The major part of the territory lies on the western side of the river Yamuna, only some villages and the urban area of Shahdara lie on the eastern side of the river. Its greatest length is around 33 miles and the greatest breadth is 30 miles. Delhi's altitude ranges between 213 to 305 metres above the sea level.