New Delhi

From ArticleWorld

New Delhi is the capital city of India. It is an urban extension of Delhi and has been designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

India's capital

Most of New Delhi is symbolic of the power that it wields in the governance of the country. Delhi has been the seat of power for a long period of time. It is widely believed that in the ancient times, Indraprastha, the capital city of the Pandava’s was situated here. In later times the Mughals founded their capital here. Successive generations of emperors found no reason to shift the capital. The British East India Company had its headquarters in erstwhile Calcutta. However, the aura of power in Delhi made them rebuild it and a magnificent new urban city was built to suit the majesty of the British Empire. The city of New Delhi is more spacious, modern and certain grandeur attached to it. All the royal whims and fancies of the imperial British find an expression in the capital city of India.

Diplomatic Delhi

It houses most number of embassies and consulates in the world. International political activity is always at a high in New Delhi. New Delhi has also some of the magnificence of the Mughals in common with old Delhi. As such, New Delhi makes for a grand modern city as well as place of tourist importance. The Rashtrapati Bhavan, the parliament house, the heavily guarded Raj Path, the gigantic India Gate, all are awesome and grand to make the visitor get the feel of power within. Some of the major historical edifices are equally huge and architectural signatures of the Mughals.

Administrative issues

Delhi is administered both by nominated and elected representatives. This duality has been the special form of governance of the three districts that is Delhi, of which New Delhi is one. Delhi was an autonomous union territory headed by a lt. Governor, in the immediate aftermath of independence. However in 2005, Delhi was given a dual status-headed by a chief minister and has three districts.