Facts
Area: 1,483 sq. km.
Sea Level Elevation: 225 m (741 ft.)
Languages: Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, English
Population: 9,370,475. (Males: 5,120,733 Females: 4,249,742) Growth Rare (per cent) 1981-92: 50.64 Density (persons per sq.km.): 6,139 Urban population: 89.93%. Sex Ratio-females per 1000 males-830 Literacy: 76.09%. (Males: 82.63%. Females: 68.01%)
Per capita income: Rs. 5,315.00 (Highest amongst Indian cities)
Time difference: GMT+ five hours 30 minutes
Electricity: 230-240 V, 50 HZ

Climate
Delhi is most comfortable between October and February with daytime temperatures of around 71.5 degree F (22 degree C) and cool evenings. December Arid January is chilly with the temperature of 39 degree F (4 degree C) during the night time. The city has a fleeting, but beautiful flowering splendor during the spring months of February and March, when parks are brimmed over with flowers. The summer months of May and June are hot, with the mercury soaring to a high of 114 degree F (46 degree C). Delhi does not have much of a rainy season compared to the other parts of the country. The monsoon or what there is of it in the city lasts from July to September.

Money
Most banks are open from 1000 hrs to 1400 hrs. from Monday to Friday and up to 12 noon on Saturdays. Some branches of banks are also open on Sundays and many others have the ATM facility. There are several foreign banks located mostly in and around Connaught Place. The foreign banks include American Express, Bank of America, Hong Kong Bank, Bank of Tokyo, Banque Nationale de Paris, Deutsche Bank, Standard Chartered, Citibank and Mercantile Bank, among others. Credit Cards American, Citibank, Master Charge Visa and Diners Club credit cards are generally accepted by large establishments including hotels, shops and airlines.

Communication
Local and long distance services are provided throughout all regions of the country. The field has recently been opened up to the private sector. You can pick up a mobile phone connection from most departmental stores and often even at small roadside stores. The service provided by these private companies is on par with the best in the world. The international direct dialing code for India is 91. International 24-hour fax, telex, and telegram services are available from large hotels and telegraph offices in major cities.

Shopping
The best crafts from across India are available at the State Emporia on Baba Kharak Singh Marg. Also worth visiting include Central Cottage Industries Emporium, the Hauz Khas Village, Connaught Palace, Chandni Chowk and Karol Bagh. The sought-after goods are silk and cotton fabric, pottery, terracotta, jewelry, brassware, rosewood and sandalwood carvings, miniature paintings.

Cuisine
An irresistible range of Indian cuisines are available at numerous restaurants and fast food outlets in central Connaught Place. Also, specialty restaurants offer international delicacies. For authentic Mughal cuisine, try the restaurants in the Old Delhi area.

Festivals
Delhi enjoys its colorful festivals and events all year round. There are both official and religious holidays as following:

- 26th January, the Republic Day, commemorates the forming of the Indian Republic and is celebrated with a spectacular parade.
- 15th August, the Independence Day, is celebrated on a grand scale in the capital with cultural programmes.
- Holi, the festival of colors, is celebrated with gaiety.
- Id-ul-Fitr, a festival that celebrates comradeship and brotherhood.
- Deepawali celebrates the return of the triumphant Lord Rama to the city of Ayodhya.

This article is authored and copyrighted by
Royal Exclusive Travel Co., Ltd.