New Delhi –The capital Of India…History…Location…
Delhi
Basics
Location is the benchmark for development of any city around
the world. New Delhi is located northern part of India on 300 Kilometers away
from foot hills of Himalayas, which brings good weather of winters, good fresh
fruits like apple and rivers. So ideally location is the best except we do not
have sea beaches and snow fall, but we have really good seasons except hot
summers.
Summers are good for some people coming from hilly or snowy
part of world, but for typical Delhi person it is bit hard, in commuting during
day time, thanks to Delhi metro train which gives pleasant air conditioned deride
better than any car.
On mother earth we are located on Latitude:
28.38 N, longitude: 77.12 E. Far East side of Asia. Delhi is
293 m above sea level.
We will talk about in different article
on influence of longitude and above sea level climate of the city in details.
As these matters influence a lot on the city’s people, attitude, dressing .fashion
and above all food.
Climate influences everything
on city life, and in Delhi, the fashion capital of Asia now, we have all four season.
Means we can have food for all four season.
Climate—We have
all four season, although summers are getting longer and during MAY-June-July are
the hottest months with max temperature going to 45C,although morning and
evening are cooler.
We
have monsoon from July-August. September and November are pleasant with max
temp at 37C and low sometimes 20C.Winters from November-December-January-February.
We get rich fog days in month of December and January also; we get 2-5 min
temperature during winters. But best is February and March when we get the spring,
lot of flowers coming and going. You love to walk down gardens city have.
Time: GMT +5.5. Electricity: 240
volts, 50Hz. A variety of power outlets are used in India, but most plugs have
two or three round pins. The currency is the Rupee (INR), which is divided into
100 paisa.
Delhi
has a long history, remains shows it has human existence 5000 years back on the
banks of river Yamuna, present day old Delhi.. A history which says Delhi had
old name Indraprastha made by the Pandavas.
History
is long and we need to back for almost 2500 years back to learn about city but
not this time as I am talking about New
Delhi…mainly built by English men and their influences remains in all form of architects,
governance, attitude and food also.
You
know, I really trying to find remains of British attitudes, habits, food and art
in this very vivid city. But I find very less chances, may be I am not meeting
very original people, but I love to take some interviews later and post it here
for you.
English
as language has it is mark in the city, we original Delhi, rather New Delhi
born and brought person speaks good British English not American English.
INFLUENCE
OF BRITISH EMPIRE ON NEW DELHI
It
is major topic to write about, so here I will write in synopsis. Colonial India
was not so good, at least I see that way, but lot of people say British people
made this city modern and beautiful, yes they did on city’s cost and could have
been better because it is influences are bitter at least in late 18th
century and early years of 1900, when whole world is going into modern life,
yes we had locomotives, cars and fabrics made out of Manchester city of United Kingdom,
but we had as Delhi person lost our own identity to manage.
Anyhow
time has gone, but we live in past and influences reacts till date in our talk,
walk and food.
Delhi
speaks in English, New Delhi eats bread daily, and New Delhi wears English
fashion fast.
The 2011 World Wealth Report ranks economic activity in New
Delhi at 39, but overall the capital is ranked at 37, above cities like Jakarta
and Johannesburg.
But
in 20 th century this city have everything from France fragrance, Italian
pasta, gay community of USA. Chinese noodles, Thailand’s sea food restaurant, Middle
East petrol and its own Hindu marriage events.
The
Etymology and idioms of "Delhi" is uncertain, but many possibilities
exist. The very common view is that its eponym is Dhillu
or Dilu, a king of the Mauryan
dynasty, who built the city in 50 BC and named it after himself. References
has been takes from WIKIPEDIA..
We
have remains of old Hindu Kings dates back 325 BC. We have history.
.With a total area of
42.7 km2, New Delhi had 42.7 square km area located in the Indo-Gangetic Plain. New Delhi and surrounding
areas were part of the Aravalli Range, but all that is left now is the Delhi ridge,
the river Yamuna
floodplains; New Delhi lies west of the Yamuna River, although for the most
part, New Delhi is a landlocked city. East of the river is the urban area of Shahdara.
New Delhi falls under the seismic zone-IV, vulnerable
to earthquakes.
New
Delhi was built by British colonial government in 1913.Two London based architects
namely Sir Edwin Lutyens and Baker, designed the city,
mainly present day president house, Government offices call South and North block,
Indian Gate. and the famous shopping arcade in round shape called Con naught Place.
So
during this period of 1920 to 1947 New Delhi has seen changes and major influences
of the world, everything changed during this period, emergence of Indian
freedom movement, British losing hold in the country, world witnessing two
world wars. New Delhi took shape as major city in the world, form where the great
democracy works, people get jobs, industry starts working and culture develops
and takes formation of living in society.
Talking about
culture and living in the city called New Delhi. Again I would say it is long
talk to write.
You know Delhi is the only city in the world where people
live life king size and in huts also, every one can get food to eat anytime on
the day. Oh man I love this city, where history and modern art can be seen at
same time.
IT IS SAYING THAT NEW DELHI BELONGS TO NO ONE BUT TO ALL.
It means we live in lot of Indian and other countries cultures,
religion together.
New Delhi has almost
40 countries embassies and their people living, they also make mark and
influences in the city. We have the best rail metro in the world. Above all
,this city has a acceptance power of accommodating everyone, Fortunes has been
made here from rags to riches, India runs from here and people say from other
part of the county that Delhi is still to far to catch or reach. Means this
city loves every one but to be real Delhi it is not easy for everyone, what I believe
that this city is too liberal for every person that is why we can say some time
it is hard to live in this city. May be it is bit too expensive, but it is up
to you, one can have meal for one dollar and accommodation for 10 dollars a day.
Whereas city have hotels of colonial time and modern times where you need to
pay 1000 dollars per night.
Sometimes city gets struck on traffic because it
has the maximum number of cars in the whole nation and 20% of its traffic is
passing by from other states. Its has maximum number of flyovers bridges and
over crowded metro trains, which really influence the city attitude and life,
we need everything here and we are contented with what we have, as yearn for
more and we feel passionate for what we have. Some of the best schools, sports
stadium and universities also attract lot of people from every part of world to
this city. Computer software and information technology has made this city so
attractive and rise in middle class earnings.
Today we have apartments and houses more expensive than
Manhattan and London; we have the best luxury cars like Porsche running around
the roads.
It is getting too long, so let’s talk about food in the
city….
FOOD AND EATING HABITS
IN THE NEW DELHI………
It is foodies delight to
live and eat in Delhi, because we have all four seasons and roads and air
transport is so good to have sea food even from 1300 miles away in day time.
Europe is 7 hours by air, so you can have fresh cheese on asking. City have lot
of foreign delegates living so we have for them all type continental restaurants
in fine dine segments but small vendors all provide pizza and noodles at low
prices.
Above all city have habits
and in its culture you can have free food also in form of thanks giving or religion
purposes.
New Delhi also has major influences
of other parts of country because of its working and job power. We have almost every
regional cuisine available, like south India vegetarian coconut based meal and
non vegetarian food of northern part of cities like Kashmir and Punjab.
Person like me thinks 10
times to choose the meal for the day because we have lot of variety to cook and
eat in the offering.
There is one more interesting
thing about this city as far as food is concerned. We have very big fat
weddings where we can eat at for 3-4 days with all family and friends all type
of best Indian food. Normally during marriage season at grooms or brides home
offers meals to every guest for whole day and during this period we get the
best of Indian cuisines.
These days in pretext of showing off one wealth and
prosperity weddings happens in big hotels and banquet halls where one can have continental
pastry in desserts’ and best French wine to drink.
Overall this city is full
of events; eat outs and making life richer in all means.
ART AND MUSIC
You know this my kind of city, where
we can have good music in all forms. Western, pop, classical or even historical
we have all events happening same day same evening.
Today we have Delhi International
Festival is going on, where we have artist from Europe and Middle East also.
Art shows are running fast as we have almost 40-60 galleries around. We have permanent
regional culture events places like Delhi Haat.
All foreign embassies have their active
culture departments and auditorium in central part of Delhi to have world class
artists around the year.
New Delhi have acting school and art
school in central part of the city where 4-5 auditoriums presents dance, theater
and music shows almost daily.
City is happening you think about any
thing you can have it.
So how about this visiting city again
and again…..
Love this city so please keep this
city clean.
We will talk more please share your experiences
here, so that I can also learn more about this city. As sometime I feel I miss
so much from this city, because it has so many things around, oh I miss new
science museum to show to my kid.
Ah, I just get news from internet
that some organization is organizing New Delhi historical and nature tour for the
day.
So it is happening…..city love to
accept you……
Above I have talked about all good
parts of the city….we also have some bad parts but we all know every city have
crime and its drawback…
So from my side it is good to be
good, do not talk to strangers a lot check internet for information. Late night
is not good in the city but 5 star hotels are safe for night out. Please do not
drive and drink together as this city have bad roads too….
. So God bless New Delhi.
If we have no corruption than,
this city shall be better than London or Venice.
Written By
Shailesh Sharma Pokriyal
Loving New Delhi for 40 years now..Getting more every day
from this city…
Dawrka,New Delhi,INDIA
