Delhi is the capital of India and comprises of one of the biggest metropolitan areas in the north. It roughly covers an area of 1,484 square kilometers with a population of over 11 million. Throughout its history, it has served as a capital for different kingdoms and dynasties. It has been seized, vandalized, and rebuilt several times, particularly during the medieval period. Modern Delhi is an assemblage of numerous cities spanning the metropolitan region. Several historians claim that Delhi is derived from the word ‘Dehleez,’ meaning ‘threshold’ or ‘gateway.’ The local people of Delhi are often referred to as Delhites.

The area around Delhi was inhabited before the second millennium BCE, and the city is believed to be the site of Indraprastha, the legendary capital of the Pandavas in the Indian epic Mahabharata. According to the Mahabharata, this land was initially a huge mass of forests called ‘Khandavaprastha,’ which was burned down to build the city of Indraprastha. The earliest architectural relics date back to the Maurya period. In 1966, the inscription of the Mauryan emperor Ashoka was discovered near Srinivaspuri. Remains of eight cities have been discovered in Delhi. The first five cities were in the southern part of present-day Delhi. 

Muslim invaders ruled Delhi from CE 1192 to 1236. For the next three hundred years, Delhi was ruled by a succession of Turkic and an Afghan Lodhi dynasty. They built several forts and townships that are part of the seven cities of Delhi. Delhi was a major center of Sufism during this period. The Mughals took over in 1526. In 1752, the Marathas took over the protection of the Mughal throne, and from 1757, the Afghan dynasty ruled until the British East India Company defeated the Maratha forces and took over following the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The city came under the direct control of the British Empire in 1857. The name New Delhi was given in 1927, and the city was officially declared as the new capital of India after the country gained independence in 1947. Learn about the history of Delhi in a detailed manner from the video links. The next page will offer insights into the present heritage of Delhi.

Watch:
Historic Delhi: A City of Heritage
Talking History of Delhi: Delhi Sultanate