Delhi, India -- National Geographic's Ultimate City Guides

A young man dashes barefoot across the courtyard of Delhi’s Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque) in Shahjahanabad, or Old Delhi.

Photograph by Mark Henley/Panos

With one foot deeply grounded in time-revered traditions and the other dipping more than just a few toes in the dotcom domain, Delhi embraces diversity with verve and gritty gumption. Modern Delhi has only been India’s capital since 1931, but thanks to its location—a strategic gateway city—it has long played a critical role in shaping the subcontinent’s history. Today, Delhi is one of India’s most multifaceted cities, with the downtown swish restaurants and chichi boutiques serving as a stark contrast to the old city’s medieval-flavored bazaars and historic masterpieces like the Red Fort and Jama Masjid.

Delhi Photos and Quiz

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