Delhi

Del·hi

geographical name \ˈde-lē\

Definition of DELHI

1

union territory N India W of Uttar Pradesh ∗ Delhi area 573 square miles (1484 square kilometers), pop 13,782,976

2

city, its ∗ pop 12,791,458 — see new delhi

Rhymes with DELHI

belly, deli, felly, jelly, Pelly, shelly, smelly, tele, telly, wellie

Delhi

   (Concise Encyclopedia)

National capital territory (pop., 2008 est.: 17,076,000), north-central India. Bordered by the states of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, it has an area of 573 sq mi (1,483 sq km) and comprises the cities of Delhi (popularly known as Old Delhi) and New Delhi (India's capital) and adjacent rural areas. Delhi was the capital of a Muslim dynasty from 1206 until it was invaded and sacked by Timur in 1398. It again was made the capital by the Mughal Babur in 1526. Although the Mughal capital was relocated to Agra, Delhi was beautified by Shah Jahan beginning in 1638. Pillaged by Nadir Shah in 1739, it surrendered to the Marathas in 1771 before being taken by the British in 1803. Delhi was a centre of the Indian Mutiny in 1857. It replaced Calcutta (now Kolkata) as the capital of British India in 1911, at which time construction began on New Delhi, the section of the city that would become the seat of the central government. New Delhi was completed in 1931, and it became the capital of independent India in 1947. The area's economic and population centre, however, has remained mainly in Old Delhi. The services sector—including government—is the chief employer. The territory is also the transportation hub for north-central India.