Delhi is a city that blends the dynamism of a booming urban civilization with memories of a grand past, of overwhelming passion, of quiet culture, of Mughal spendour and a colonial past. It is the seat of political power and a city of myriad contradictions. Delhi is so much more than it seems to a first glance, a sum of parts far greater than anything that can be described on a single page in a guidebook.
Hardly surprising, since Delhi has been the capital of seven empires through Indian history and has over 60,000 recognized monuments built over several millennia. As per the Archaeological Survey of India, it is believed to be the site of Indraprastha, founded by the Pandavas of the Mahabharata more than 3000 years ago.
Delhi is a city that has moved forward with the rest of the world while keeping its roots firmly planted deep in the past. The capital of India and the nerve centre of Indian politics, it is now a throbbing metropolis, with everything a visitor may be looking for - history and culture, architectural marvels, the best of Indian and world cuisine, traditional bazaars offering a unique shopping experience, flamboyant restaurants and nightclubs, polo grounds, imperial gardens and much, much more.
The historic architecture of Delhi is one of its main tourist attractions. The majestic Red Fort, the towering Qutub Minar, the unique Jama Masjid and the Rashtrapati Bhavan are some of the most popular monuments visited by tourists. However, it is along the wayside, within bazaars and at almost every curve of any road in Delhi that there are fascinating ruins of tombs, palaces and mosques, unnamed and unmarked, waiting to be explored. With as many facets as a kaleidoscope, you can rest assured that you'll find a little bit of every part of India in this city.
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