Hinduism, is the only major river flowing through Delhi. Most of the city, including New Delhi, lies west of the river. East of the river is the urban area of Shahdara. Delhi falls under seismic zone-IV, making it vulnerable to major earthquakes.

Delhi has a continental climate with high variation between summer and winter temperatures. Summers are long, from early April to mid-October, with the monsoon season in between. Winter starts in late October and peaks in January and is notorious for its heavy fog. Extreme temperatures range from −0.6 °C (30.9 °F) to 47 °C (117 °F). The annual mean temperature is 25 °C (77 °F); monthly mean temperatures range from 13 °C to 32 °C (56 °F to 90 °F). The average annual rainfall is approximately 714 mm (28.1 inches), most of which is during the monsoons in July and August. The average date of the advent of monsoon winds in Delhi is 29 June.

Dangers & annoyances
Lonely Planet receives many reports from travelers who have been victim to at least one of a number of scams operating in Delhi. Most scams involve touts, usually around tourist hubs such as Connaught Place, Paharganj and the New Delhi train station. These pushy fellows will try to cart you off to shops, travel agencies or ‘official’ tourist offices (the only official tourist office is India Tourism Delhi, above), where they earn commission at your expense. If you’re being pestered by touts or face other problems, seek out the ‘tourist police’, who have clearly marked jeeps stationed at tourist centers including the international airport, New Delhi train station and Janpath.

Always exercise caution with travel agencies, as scores of travelers have reported being hoodwinked by unscrupulous agents. To avoid grief, always shop around to gauge exactly what’s on offer and choose agents who are members of accredited associations such as the Travel Agents Association of India and the Indian Association of Tour Operators. Finally, before parting with your hard-earned cash, insist on getting what you’ve been promised in writing – this will be invaluable if you need to lodge a complaint with the tourist office or police.

More and more travelers are being sweet-talked by Delhi travel agents and touts into taking tours to Kashmir, either as part of a ‘special package’ or stand-alone trip. Once in Kashmir most travelers discover they’ve been given a very raw (often dodgy) deal, with far less delivered than promised. Given the number of complaints we’ve received, it’s probably best not to book tours to Kashmir from Delhi.

History
History of Delhi is an integral part of Delhi General Info. The capital city of India, Delhi bears the legacy of a glorious history. A city dotted with many places of interest and various forms of entertainment, Delhi has a charm of its own. The most popular tourist attractions of Delhi are the Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Humayun’s Tomb, India Gate, Hazrat Nizamuddin’s Tomb, the Parliament House, Qutab Minar, etc. Each of these tourist attractions in Delhi manifests the great history of Delhi, India.

The glorious and tumultuous history of Delhi is 5000-year-old. The history of Delhi begins with the formation of Indraprastha by the Pandavas and its subsequent conversion into a tranquil retreat. Several royal citadels such as the Indraprastha, Lal Kot, Quila Rai Pithora, Siri, Jahanpanah, Tughlakabad, Ferozabad, Dinpanah, and Delhi Sher Shahi (formerly Shahjahanabad) of various kings and emperors combine and integrate into one city that is always called Delhi. Thus, Delhi has always been identified for its power and imperial influence.

The ancient Purana Qila and the eternal Jamuna River stands witness to Delhi’s historic and legendary past. The famous Red Fort, when built by