The Things You Should Know About Delhi

Delhi is a city and territory in north-central India. It is famous for many things, for instance, its spice markets, religious monuments and for being one of the most populated cities in the world. Unfortunately, it is also famous for its awful pollution, although this has improved since officials started using CNG to power the public bus system. Ready to delve deeper into this fascinating place? Here are some of the most interesting facts about Delhi.

If you are planning a trip to India, Here are 7 interesting facts about Delhi

1. Delhi and New Delhi are different

Delhi and New Delhi are not the same places. New Delhi is a city and the official capital of India. Delhi, or to give it its full title, the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and territory which contains New Delhi. Therefore, New Delhi is the capital of India and is a part of Delhi.

2. Delhi is the second most populated city in the world

Delhi has a population of 29,399,141 (as of 2022), which makes it the second most populated city in the world. For comparison, the world’s most populated city is Tokyo which has a population of 37,435,191.

3. Delhi is home to the tallest brick minaret in the world

The neighbourhood of Mehrauli in South Delhi is where you’ll find the tallest brick structure in the world -the Qutub Minar. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, constructed around 1192, is made from red and buff sandstone and at 73 metres is the tallest brick minaret in the world. Qutub Minar is a victory tower and was built to celebrate the victory of Muslim dominance over Delhi after the defeat of the Prithviraj Chauhan, the last Hindu ruler.

4. The largest wholesale spice market in Asia is in Delhi

The Khari Baoli Market in Delhi is the largest wholesale spice market in the whole of Asia. Operating since the 17th-century, you’ll find the market close to the historic Delhi Red Fort. It sells a variety of items, for instance, spices, nuts, herbs and grocery products like rice and tea.

5. Dehli’s public transport system runs on CNG

Dehli is one of the most polluted cities in the world, for example, at one stage it was the world’s second-most polluted city. However, following efforts by officials to reduce the city’s pollution, it dropped down to tenth place in 2022. One of the ways officials tackled the city’s terrible pollution problem was to introduce buses running on compressed natural gas (CNG). The city’s entire public transport system runs on CNG and in some cases, hydrogen-enriched compressed natural gas (HCNG).

6. Dehli is home to the only Bahai Temple in Asia

The only temple dedicated to the Baha’i religion in the whole of Asia is in Delhi. The Lotus Temple – notable for its flowerlike shape – is one of just eight Baha’i continental temples in the world. The other seven are located in Sydney (Australia), Santiago (Chile), Panama City (Panama), Apia (West Samoa), Kampala (Uganda), Frankfurt (Germany), and Willamette (USA). The Lotus Temple is open to people of all religions and is a very popular tourist attraction and landmark in the city.

7. Five of the Gates of Dehli are still standing

Dehli is famous for its city gates. City rulers constructed 14 gates from the 8th-century to the 20th-century. Out of the 14 gates, just five gates remain. The Lahori Gate faces Lahore in Pakistan. The Delhi Gate is the pathway to earlier cities in the state. The Ajmeri Gate faces Ajmer in Rajasthan The Kashmiri Gate faces north to Kashmir. The Turkman Gate got its religious name from Saint Hazrat Shah Turkman.