New Delhi | History, Population, Map, & Facts

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designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.</span></span> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <span class="link-blue">(more)</span> </button> </span> </div> </figcaption> </figure> </div><div class="topic-header"> <div class="d-flex align-items-top justify-content-between"> <div class="d-flex flex-column"> <div> <div> <h1>New Delhi</h1></div> </div> <div class="topic-identifier font-16 font-md-20">national capital, India</div> </div> </div> <div class="d-none d-sm-flex flex-row"> <div class="mr-10 mb-15"> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="d-none d-sm-block md-topic-tools qa-action-buttons mb-15" data-topic-id="1759701"> <button class="js-tooltip btn btn-sm btn-outline-blue border pr-10 border-2" > <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="more_vert"></em> More Actions </button> <div class="md-more-popover popover popover-sm p-0 font-14 z-1"> <div> <a class="js-modal btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool font-weight-bold btn-link" href="/print/article/1759701" target="_blank" > <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="print"></em> Print </a> </div> <div> <button class="js-modal qa-cite-modal-button btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool font-weight-bold btn-link" data-modal="[data-topic-id=1759701] .md-cite-modal"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="verified"></em> Cite </button> <div class="md-cite-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif d-flex align-items-center pb-15 border-bottom mb-15"> <em class="material-icons text-blue mr-10">verified</em>Cite </div> <div class="font-serif"> While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. 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They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2024-11-18T00:00:00CST" >Nov 18, 2024</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/New-Delhi/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : "<div>What is New Delhi?<\/div><em><\/em>", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "New Delhi is the national capital of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/India\">India<\/a>." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : "<div>Where is New Delhi?<\/div><em><\/em>", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "New Delhi is situated in the north-central part of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/India\">India<\/a> on the west bank of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Yamuna-River\">Yamuna River<\/a>, adjacent to and just south of Old Delhi, the historic centre of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Delhi\">Delhi<\/a>, and within the Delhi national capital territory." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : "<div>When was New Delhi founded?<\/div><em><\/em>", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "In December 1911 King <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/George-V-king-of-United-Kingdom\">George V<\/a> of Britain decreed that the capital of British <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/India\">India<\/a> would be moved from Calcutta (which is today called <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Kolkata\">Kolkata<\/a>) to Delhi. Construction began in 1912 at a site about 3 miles (5 km), south of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Delhi\">Delhi<\/a> city centre, and the new capital was formally dedicated in 1931." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : "<div>What is New Delhi known for?<\/div><em><\/em>", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "New Delhi is best known as the location of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/India\">India<\/a>\u2019s national government. New Delhi has great historical significance as it was home to powerful people, such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Pandavas\">P\u0101\u1E47\u1E0Davas<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Mughal-dynasty\">Mughals<\/a>. The city has many historical monuments and tourist attractions as well as lively marketplaces and great food, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/chaat\">chaat<\/a>." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : "<div>Why is New Delhi so polluted?<\/div><em><\/em>", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "New Delhi is among the world\u2019s most <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/pollution-environment\">polluted<\/a> cities. Contributing to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/smog\">smog<\/a> are traffic congestion, heavy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/money\/industry\">industry<\/a>, and the lack of cleansing winds in the area. Although antipollution measures undertaken since the 1980s have improved the city\u2019s air quality considerably, pollution continues to be a deadly problem." } } ] } </script> <div class="top-questions qa-accordion d-flex flex-column module-spacing"><div class="font-weight-bold font-14 mb-5"> Top Questions </div><div id="intent-accordion" class="md-intent-accordion"><div class="top-question bg-gray-50 rounded" data-value="1"> <h3 class="accordion--question font-14 font-weight-normal cursor-pointer rounded"><div class="pe-none d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center"><div>What is New Delhi?</div><em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></em></div></h3> <div class="accordion--answer hidden p-15 pt-5 font-16 mb-5"><div class="accordion--answer-copy"><p>New Delhi is the national capital of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/India" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">India</a>.</p></div></div> </div><div class="top-question bg-gray-50 rounded" data-value="2"> <h3 class="accordion--question font-14 font-weight-normal cursor-pointer rounded"><div class="pe-none d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center"><div>Where is New Delhi?</div><em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></em></div></h3> <div class="accordion--answer hidden p-15 pt-5 font-16 mb-5"><div class="accordion--answer-copy"><p>New Delhi is situated in the north-central part of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/India" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">India</a> on the west bank of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Yamuna-River" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Yamuna River</a>, adjacent to and just south of Old Delhi, the historic centre of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Delhi" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Delhi</a>, and within the Delhi national capital territory.</p></div></div> </div><div class="top-question bg-gray-50 rounded" data-value="3"> <h3 class="accordion--question font-14 font-weight-normal cursor-pointer rounded"><div class="pe-none d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center"><div>When was New Delhi founded?</div><em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></em></div></h3> <div class="accordion--answer hidden p-15 pt-5 font-16 mb-5"><div class="accordion--answer-copy"><p>In December 1911 King <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/George-V-king-of-United-Kingdom" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">George V</a> of Britain decreed that the capital of British <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/India" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">India</a> would be moved from Calcutta (which is today called <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Kolkata" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Kolkata</a>) to Delhi. Construction began in 1912 at a site about 3 miles (5 km), south of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Delhi" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Delhi</a> city centre, and the new capital was formally dedicated in 1931.</p></div></div> </div><div class="top-question bg-gray-50 rounded" data-value="4"> <h3 class="accordion--question font-14 font-weight-normal cursor-pointer rounded"><div class="pe-none d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center"><div>What is New Delhi known for?</div><em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></em></div></h3> <div class="accordion--answer hidden p-15 pt-5 font-16 mb-5"><div class="accordion--answer-copy"><p>New Delhi is best known as the location of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/India" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">India</a>’s national government. New Delhi has great historical significance as it was home to powerful people, such as the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pandavas" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Pāṇḍavas</a> and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mughal-dynasty" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Mughals</a>. The city has many historical monuments and tourist attractions as well as lively marketplaces and great food, such as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/chaat" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">chaat</a>.</p></div></div> </div><div class="top-question bg-gray-50 rounded" data-value="5"> <h3 class="accordion--question font-14 font-weight-normal cursor-pointer rounded"><div class="pe-none d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center"><div>Why is New Delhi so polluted?</div><em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></em></div></h3> <div class="accordion--answer hidden p-15 pt-5 font-16 mb-5"><div class="accordion--answer-copy"><p>New Delhi is among the world’s most <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/pollution-environment" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">polluted</a> cities. Contributing to the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/smog" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">smog</a> are traffic congestion, heavy <a href="https://www.britannica.com/money/industry" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">industry</a>, and the lack of cleansing winds in the area. Although antipollution measures undertaken since the 1980s have improved the city’s air quality considerably, pollution continues to be a deadly problem.</p></div></div> </div><button class="show-more-button js-toggle-top-questions btn btn-unstyled font-14 d-flex pr-10 rounded-sm"><em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></em></button></div></div><div class="bg-gray-50 p-15 rounded module-spacing recent-news d-flex flex-column float-false"> <div> <h2 class="font-weight-bold font-14 m-0 d-inline"> News <span class="text-gray-600">•</span> </h2> <div class="recent-news-item first-recent-news-item d-inline"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/1759701/ae1ec1e6292009db198f18b113047cd5" rel="nofollow">New Delhi closes schools, bans construction as air pollution shoots up to worst level this season</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 18, 2024, 1:51 AM ET (AP) <button class="btn btn-link d-inline p-0 font-12 js-toggle-recent-news"> <span class="text-gray-500">...</span><span>(Show more)</span> </button> </span> </div> </div> <div class="rest-of-recent-news-items"> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/1759701/a291df0d68d76d88da353e1e12ad1934" rel="nofollow">India's Modi likely to find comfort in Trump's return and a shared worldview</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 14, 2024, 9:38 AM ET (AP) </span> </div> <button class="js-toggle-recent-news d-flex btn btn-unstyled font-14 pr-10 rounded-sm mt-10" aria-label="Toggle additional news items"> Show less <em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_less"></em> </button> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies multiple medialist slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100" data-type="other"><div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex"><div class="rw-track d-flex align-items-center"><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="281475" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/39/241239-050-5B971E35/Locator-map-New-Delhi.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/1759701/281475"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/39/241239-050-5B971E35/Locator-map-New-Delhi.jpg"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/39/241239-050-5B971E35/Locator-map-New-Delhi.jpg?w=300" alt="New Delhi, India" data-width="2000" data-height="1700" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/39/241239-050-5B971E35/Locator-map-New-Delhi.jpg" data-href="/media/1/1759701/281475">New Delhi, India</a><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><button disabled="true" class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span></button><button disabled="true" class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span></button></div><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref1104856"></span>New Delhi</strong>, national capital of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/India" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">India</a>. It is situated in the north-central part of the country on the west bank of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Yamuna-River" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Yamuna River</a>, <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="adjacent" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adjacent" data-type="MW">adjacent</a> to and just south of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Delhi" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Delhi</a> city (Old Delhi) and within the Delhi national capital territory.</p><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">In December 1911 King <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/George-V-king-of-United-Kingdom" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">George V</a> of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/United-Kingdom" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Britain</a> decreed that the capital of British India would be moved from Calcutta (now <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Kolkata" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Kolkata</a>) to Delhi. Construction began in 1912 at a site about 3 miles (5 km) south of the Delhi city centre, and the new capital was formally dedicated in 1931. The straight and diagonal pattern of the broad tree-lined avenues in New Delhi, with extensive green spaces and wide vistas, contrasts sharply with the crowded, narrow, and winding streets <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="characteristic" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/characteristic" data-type="EB">characteristic</a> of Old Delhi. The main east-west axis of New Delhi is Central Vista Park, which is flanked by government buildings, museums, and research centres in a parklike setting. The city is governed by the appointed New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). Area city, 16.5 square miles (42.7 square km). Pop (2001) 302,363.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="md-signature"><a href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</a></span> <span class="md-signature">This article was most recently revised and updated by <a href="/editor/Adam-Augustyn/6394">Adam Augustyn</a>.</span><span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article></div> </div></div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":1,"pageId":1759701,"pageLength":173,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.130.14"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.130.14' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"A","adLeg":"A","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"SMALL","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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New Delhi | History, Population, Map, & Facts | Britannica