Facts About Delhi
The most interesting fact about Delhi is its vibrancy – from the food to the people. If Delhi is the heart of the country, then its heart beat is always racing. And there’s no way you can escape this energy that comes with all the many things Delhi has to offer. Yup, the capital of the country is also the capital of good things. From historical monuments to street food. From the best colleges to the best coliving residences.
Speaking of which, we at Stanza Living have made sure our residences in Delhi are in line with the vibrant nature of the city. So that you feel more welcome in the new city after stepping into your new home. And that is also the reason we have made this list – to help you with some cool information about Delhi so that you start seeing it as less of a sheher (city), and more of a mehfil (gathering).
Interesting Facts About Delhi You Must Know
20 interesting facts about Delhi are given below:
- The Red Fort was Originally White
- Tallest Minaret in the World
- Asia’s Largest Spice Market
- Asia’s Largest Wholesale Market for Fruit and Vegetables
- Unique museums
- Only Bahai Temple in Asia
- Most Expensive Office Space in India
- Delhi Metro Platforms are user Friendly for Blind People
- Green City
- Delhi was Walled by 14 Gates
- Paradise For Bird Watchers
- Large Metro Network
- New Delhi was Planned by a British Architect
- One of the Oldest Stadiums in India
- Most Expensive Commonwealth Games
- Capital Since 1931
- Mention in the Mahabharata
- Humayun’s Tomb is the Inspiration behind the Taj Mahal
- New Delhi and Delhi are two different Places
- Highly populated
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The Red Fort was Originally White
Red Fort is one of the best things about Delhi, especially if you love history. But did you know this monument was not always red in colour? According to the Archaeological Survey of India, it was actually made of white limestone and when the colour started chipping off, some British officials decided to paint it red.
Tallest Minaret in the World
If you search for information about New Delhi on the internet, you won’t find a single place that doesn’t mention Qutub Minar. After all, it is not only a special historical monument but also the tallest brick minaret in the whole world. It was built way back in 1200 AD, but the Minar stands “tall” even today.
Asia’s Largest Spice Market
Even though it’s situated really close to the Red Fort, there are high chances that you might not have heard of this one. Khari Baoli, Asia’s largest spice market, started somewhere in the 17th century and continues to be a bubbly marketplace to date. Do visit this market if you want to spice up your food (or your knowledge about Delhi). Quite literally.
Asia’s Largest Wholesale Market for Fruit and Vegetables
Speaking of Asia’s largest markets, Delhi has another one of them. The Azadpur wholesale is the largest fruit and vegetable market in all of Asia. If you love fruits, this is the place to be. From local produce to international varieties of kiwi, Alphonso mango, peach, you will find everything here. And for the ones who have chosen the organic life, you’ll find plenty of options too. Just for a few extra bucks.
Unique museums
Another bit of interesting information about New Delhi – it houses some of the most unique museums in the country. Be it the commode exhibits at the Sulabh International Museum of toilets, toy trains at the National Rail Museum, dolls teaching “how to wear a saree” at
Shankar’s International Dolls Museum or the cameras from World War II at Vintage Analogue Camera Museum.
Only Bahai Temple in Asia
If you already didn’t know this about Delhi, let us tell you that the city houses the only temple dedicated to the Baha’i religion in Asia. In fact, Lotus Temple is one of the eight Bahai temples in the entire world. It’s open to people of all religions and is no longer just a place of worship anymore. It’s a place you can come to meditate, date or simply take some aesthetic pictures.
Most Expensive Office Space in India
Well well well. If you’re thinking of leasing space to start your own office here, maybe…think again? Connaught Place is the most expensive in terms of office spaces in India, and the 9th most expensive in the world. While as a whole, the rent around the city is a little lesser than cities like Mumbai, do not make the mistake of choosing a space in CP if you don’t want to spend all your capital on paying rent in the capital.
Delhi Metro Platforms are user Friendly for Blind People
Ever noticed the yellow tiled tracks inside Delhi’s metro stations and platforms? Well, these are not just for decor purposes. They are put there to help blind people find their way to the metro coaches, the lift and the exits. This kind of accessibility is another reason the Delhi Metro is the second-best metro in the world after the US.
Green City
Although you hear a lot about pollution levels in Delhi, an interesting fact to note here is that it is one of the greenest cities on the globe. Its entire public transport runs on CNG. In fact, the city’s transport corporation owns the largest fleet of CNG fueled buses in the world. These kinds of accomplishments make even the hour-long wait at the CNG stations worth it.
Delhi was Walled by 14 Gates
Delhi was once a full-fledged walled city. With not one or two, but fourteen gates around it. Out of which, five stand strong even today – Kashmere Gate, Ajmeri Gate, Lahori Darwaza, Dilli Darwaza and Turkman Gate, all located in different parts of the city. Even though these are remnants of the city’s rich history, migrants and outstation students are glad that the city has finally let its walls down.
Paradise For Bird Watchers
Who knew New Delhi would be the second-best bird-rich capital city in the world, next to Nairobi in Kenya? Well, we did. And the officials at the Delhi Ridge most certainly did. The massive ridge is a forest area with beautiful walking trails and special spots for bird-lovers. It’s divided into four main zones, so you can choose the place for your morning jog depending on which part of the city you live in. We say, bird-vengers, assemble. (yk, like Avengers, assemble? No? Ok.)
Large Metro Network
Delhi Metro is the 12th largest metro network in the whole world. And it is the second-best in the world too. Super affordable, good connectivity, trains at frequent intervals – what else does one need? Around 2.4 million people use the Delhi Metro every single day. Well, that explains the endless queue at Rajiv Chowk.
New Delhi was Planned by a British Architect
Although Delhi was a prominent historical kingdom, modern-day New Delhi was actually designed by British architects Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker. Hence, it is also known as Lutyens Delhi, although no one uses that name anymore.
One of the Oldest Stadiums in India
Feroze Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi is one of India’s oldest. It is second in age only to Kolkata’s famous Eden Gardens. It was renamed Arun Jaitley Stadium in 2019, but still holds the legacy of its old name. If you’re an IPL fan, you may know this place as the home ground of the Delhi Capitals.
Most Expensive Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games held in 2010 in Delhi went on for almost two weeks. To date, it is reported to be the largest and most expensive of all CWGs in the world. But hey, they at least got A R Rahman to perform for the opening ceremony so we’d say it was money well-spent.
Capital Since 1931
Although it seems like the city has been the capital of India forever, here’s another interesting fact about Delhi – it wasn’t. It used to be the capital for many kings before the British invasion. But it was actually Kolkata that was the British capital until 1931, and only after that, did Delhi take back its throne. We guess it’s not giving it back anytime soon.
Mention in the Mahabharata
If you think Delhi is a new city, you couldn’t be more mistaken. Delhi, earlier known as Indraprastha, goes back to the Mahabharata. It was mentioned in the epic as the capital of the Pandavas. The city is no longer called by that name, but you can find a few colleges and a metro station still using it.
Humayun’s Tomb is the Inspiration behind the Taj Mahal
There is no one who hasn’t heard of the Taj Mahal. But there are few who know that it was actually Humayun’s Tomb in Nizamuddin that was the inspiration behind its unique architecture.
New Delhi and Delhi are two different Places
Although used interchangeably, here’s some information about New Delhi – it is not the same as Delhi. Delhi is a state and the city at large, while New Delhi is just an area within it. New Delhi is also the capital of the country. And no, Old Delhi and Delhi are not the same either. These are three different places. Confusing, we know.
Highly populated
To no one’s surprise, Delhi is the second-most populous city in the world, Tokyo being the first. This explains the shared walls between buildings, cars parked on the road and no space between two houses to even breathe. But the parks in every neighbourhood make up quite well for it.
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FAQs on Facts about Delhi
What is Delhi Famous for?
Delhi is famous for a lot of things, besides being the national capital. Some of them being:
- Gardens like The Garden of Five senses, Lodhi Garden, Nehru Park
- The lotus temple – only Baha’i architecture in India
- Historical places like The Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Jama Masjid
Who Built the City of Delhi?
Initially, it was Mughal emperor Shah Jahan who built the beautiful city of Shahjahanabad, now known as Delhi. But modern-day Delhi was planned and built by British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens.
Which City is known as the City of Rallies?
Delhi, the heart of India’s political debate, is called the city of rallies.
Which City is called the Heart of India?
The heart of India is the country’s capital, New Delhi. There’s a reason it’s the capital, right?
