Delhi is a palimpsest, bearing the complexities, the contradictions, the beauty and the dynamism of a city where the past coexists with the present. Many dynasties ruled from here and the city is rich in the architecture of its monuments. Diverse cultural elements absorbed into the daily life of the city have enriched its character. Exploring the city can be a fascinating and rewarding experience. India's capital & land of mysteries is Delhi. Delhi is just not a city but it is a book-- a book which narrates the history of India. The city was built and destroyed seven times and has been witness to the various events, which has brought India through the history books. Seven times this city went through the pain of being built and rebuilt.

Today as the capital of India Delhi is the seat of administration and the monuments, which tell the saga of a bygone era, stand there. These icons are testimony to the grandeur of past and also an attraction for the tourists. With an area of 1483 sq. Kms, Delhi is all set to acquire full statehood. The charm of Delhi has attracted Emperors, Conquerors and poor in equally. It is correctly said that Delhi is a land of 'Dilwalas' or for people with heart. This phrase acquires a true colour when one goes around the lanes of Delhi. Delhi-- a window to the kaleidoscope that is India.


Overview
Area1,483 sq kms
Population About 9.4 million
Altitude 239m above sea level
Climate Extreme summers and winters
Geographical Location Latitude - 28° 40', Longitude - 77° 20'
Warmest Months April - June
Coolest Months November - March
Temperature Summer: 45° C to 35° C, Winter: 20° C to 7° C
Rainfall Average annual rainfall: 59.58 mm
Primary rainy season: July to mid-August

Flowering Trees of Delhi : Kanak Champa, Coral tree, Jacaranda, Amaltas, Champa or Temple tree, Gulmohur, Pride of India, Rusty Shieldbearer & Devil's tree.

Language : Regional Language: Hindi ,English, Punjabi, Urdu and Bihari are also widely spoken

Public Transport : The state-owned Green Line service & the private Blue Line buses function on all routes in Delhi. They are the cheapest mode of travel. The fare ranges from Rs.1 to Rs.5 for a single ticket. Auto Rickshaws, Taxis and Cycle Rickshaws form the other bulk of the public transport.

Private Taxi Service : You can hire a private taxi of different luxury categories on a day-to-day basis. The average rental per day will be around Rs.550/- for 8 hours up to 80 kms. Every extra hour costs Rs 40/-, and every extra km travelled will cost Rs 5/-.

Pollution Statistics : SO2 */ NOx **- 37 per 1000 SPM*** - 420
* Sulphur Dioxide
** Oxides of Nitrogen
*** Suspended Particulate MatterThe statistics are on the higher side in areas like the ITO, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, Connought Place, AIIMS Crossing, Savitri Cinema crossing, Daryaganj
Source: Star News

Dressing & Eating : Formal for business and informal for others. Except for the three summer months, it is comfortable to wear tie & jacket. Cottons are comfortable round the year.



Tourist Information

Entertainment

Banking, Exchanges & ATM's

India has an extensive network of banks and financial institutions covering urban and rural areas. It is estimated that there are some 63,000 bank branches across the subcontinent, including those in small villages.

Significant reforms have been introduced to the banking sector in recent years, the most important of which was the entry of new private and foreign banks, as well as the easing of restrictions on foreign bank activities. The entry of new players helped improve customer service in general in light of tighter competition.

Bank Directory
Most foreign banks in Delhi are open 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Mondays to Fridays, and 10 a.m.-noon on Saturdays. Banks are closed on Sundays.

Here is a list of international banks and their branches

ABN Amro Bank Hansalaya Bldg 15 Barakhamba Road, Connaught Place Tel: 2372-2333	Credit Lyonnais 6/F Mercantile House K G Road, Connaught Place Tel: 2375-5213
American Express Bank Hamilton House, A Block, Connaught Place Tel: 2332-7602	Deutsche Bank Tolstoy House, Tolstoy Road Tel: 2371-2028
Bank of America Hansalay Bldg Barakhamba Road, Connaught Place Tel: 2372-2332	HSBC (Hongkong Bank) ECE House K G Road, Connaught Place Tel: 2331-4355
Bank of Nova Scotia Dr. Gopal Das Bhawan Barakhamba Road, Connaught Place Tel: 2335-1522	Sakura Bank Dr. Gopal Dass Bhawan 29 Barakhamba Road, Connaught Place Tel: 2332-1479
Bank of Tokyo Jeevan Vihar Bldg. Parliament Road, Connaught Place Tel: 2373-3490	Sanwa Bank Mercantile House K G Road, Connaught Place Tel: 2331-3333
Banque Nationale de Paris 2/F Hansalaya Bldg. Barakhamba Road, Connaught Place Tel: 2332-9747	Societe Generale 4/F Mohandev Bldg., 13 Tolstoy Road Tel: 2332-9747 Fax: 2335-5380
Citibank Jeevan Vihar Bldg Parliament Road, Connaught Place Tel: 2374-7451	Standard Chartered Bank 17 Parliament Street , Connaught Place Tel: 2373-2260

Traveler's Checks and Cash:
American Express and Thomas Cook have extensive networks of offices throughout India, and most banks -- both government and private -- will accept these traveler's checks. However, be prepared to duplicate your signature exactly as it appears on your checks and in your identification, or you may have some trouble getting your cash.


ATM Machines:
ATM machines are becoming more available in Indian cities, especially as large multinational banks shift operations to India. In large cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Calcutta, Pune, and Bangalore ATM machines are plentiful. One can usually find an ATM machine at any major airport as well. The machines will accept most bank debit cards, and will usually offer cash advances on credit cards.


Credit Cards:
Many shops and merchants accept credit card purchases on their premises. American Express, Visa, and MasterCard are the most common.


Shopping in Delhi

Shopping in Delhi For visitors to Delhi, shopping is high on the list of "things to do". Tourists find a wide choice of items- such as carpets, silks, jewellery, leather and silver ware, handicrafts and handprinted cotton - that are synonymus with India. Each item is available in a range of prices, depending on the quality and the outlet.

Another interesting is that each market has its own, distinctive ambience and adds its own flavour to the experience of shopping. Haus Khas Village, Connaught Place, Sarojini Nagar, South Extension, Greater Kailash and Chandni Chowk are worlds apart from one another, yet each of them reflects an aspect of this many - faceted city. In fact one of the fascinating ways of understanding a city is by wandering through its market places for it is here that contemporary culture is most visible to the outsider.

While shopping in Delhi, Be sure to bargain with the shopkeepers of small stores as haggling is a part of the buying process. But keep in mind that standard and big stores have kept their prices fixed.

Shopping Hours: 10 Am to 6 Pm for Government Emporiums & 0930 am to 0730 Pm for other shops.

Closed Days for Shops :
Sundays : Connaught Place, Hauz Khas Village, Chandni Chowk.
Mondays : Sarojini Nagar, South Extension,.
Tuesday : Greater Kailash.

Recommended Markets for Shopping in Delhi
1.. Connaught Place - Down Town
2.. Hauz Khas Village – South Delhi
3.. South Extension - South Delhi
4.. Karol Bagh - West Delhi
5.. Greater Kailash - South Delhi
6.. Chandni Chowk -


Recommended Emporium for Shopping in Delhi.
1.. Cottage Industry Emporium ( Hauz Khas) South Delhi.
2.. Cottage Industry Emporium ( Barakhamba Road) Down Town.