Delhi history

For centuries, Delhi was at the heart of the Mughal Empire, and its many historic monuments stand testament to its former glories. However, the area's human history probably dates back 4,000 years or more.

Modern Delhi is really two cities: Old Delhi is a medieval web of narrow, crowded streets woven beneath the Red Fort's imposing walls which was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century. New Delhi boasts broad, leafy boulevards, grand colonial buildings and gracious Lutyens bungalows, and was built by the British who took power in 1803.

Delhi has been the capital of India since the British moved their headquarters from Kolkata in 1911. Since then, the city has prospered owing to economic growth and increased job opportunities. This has attracted migrants, and a rapidly expanding population that has brought greater poverty to the city – almost half of Delhi's inhabitants live in slums and shantytowns.

Delhi's biggest claim to fame in recent times was the staging in 2010 of the Commonwealth Games, which despite some pre-games scepticism around the world, passed off successfully and contributed greatly to an overall improvement in the city's transport and tourism infrastructure.