Delhi vs New Delhi, what is the difference? This confuses so many people, including Delhiites! Even though the two terms get used interchangeably, they are different. New Delhi is a small part of Delhi, and it’s the official capital of India.
I wasn’t sure about the difference between Delhi and New Delhi myself for a long time, and I live there! But they are distinctly different.
What is the difference between Delhi and New Delhi?
Officially, Delhi is the entire mega city which is made up of 11 districts. One of those districts is New Delhi.
New Delhi is the capital of India. It was primarily built in the 1920s and 1930s by the British Raj (India was a colony of Britain until 1947).
It’s a nice part of Delhi with wide leafy roads, roundabouts, huge white bungalows and heritage hotels. New Delhi is actually one of the greenest capital cities in the world!
The city of Delhi is a union territory of India. India is made up of 28 states and 9 union territories. Each state of India has its own government, but the union territories are governed directly by the federal government. For more information on the states and union territories of India, check the Know India government website.
It’s a little confusing, but all you really need to remember is that New Delhi is a district of Delhi.
Delhi vs New Delhi
| Topic | Delhi | New Delhi |
| Location | Northern India | a district within Delhi, in the central, slightly south part of the city |
| Size | 1,484 km2 | 43 km2 |
| Characteristics | huge mega city, 3 UNESCO sites | government offices, embassies, upper scale residences |
| History | one of the oldest cities in the world – dates back to 1400 BC | built in 1920s and 1930s, established as the capital of India in 1931 |
| Famous Landmarks/Areas | Old Delhi, UNESCO sites (Red Fort, Humayun’s Tomb & Qutub Minar) | Lutyens’ Delhi (India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Connaught Place) |
| Population | 33 million | hard to get official stats – much less densely populated than the rest of Delhi |
What about Old Delhi?
Just like New Delhi, Old Delhi is a part of the mega city of Delhi. It is the most historic area of the city, and a treasure trove of culture and food. Old Delhi has many worthwhile sites to see, and a day there will be one you won’t forget.
What is the NCR (National Capital Region)?
The city of Delhi, together with adjoining suburbs Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Noida are referred to as the National Capital Region (commonly called NCR). If you ever see or hear the term ‘Delhi NCR’, you know it is referring to the whole region, Delhi plus adjoining suburbs.
In Conclusion…
I hope this clears it up for you. New Delhi is the capital of the country, and just a small part of the mega city of Delhi.
By the way, New Delhi is a really nice part of the city to stay in. There are wonderful hotels in South Delhi, where New Delhi is located. New Delhi is very central, it has many sites and attractions, great metro service, and it’s got some of the best air in Delhi thanks to all the greenery.
Don’t forget travel insurance! It’s always a good idea to carry travel insurance just in case something goes wrong. I really like and use SafetyWing
