Delhi is an epic city. Its sprawling mass and plethora of sights, sounds, and smells will leave you with an eclectic mix of experiences of a city, which today, is going through massive economic growth.

But it wasn’t always that way. Old Delhi was built by Shah Jahan between 1638 and 1648 and is dominated by the Red Fort. The fort was built from red sandstone, hence its name, and is modelled on the fort at Agra. It is said to have cost 10 million Indian Rupees, much of which was spent on the opulent marble palaces within. The old city is a hive of activity with its labyrinth of narrow alleys, tightly packed markets, noise, bustle, smells, animals and lots and lots of people, and its vibrancy can really take you aback.

Less than 60 years ago the spacious city of New Delhi was the pride of colonial British India, while the lanes of Old Delhi resonated with the sounds of a bustling medieval market. Today, both worlds have been overtaken by the rush of modernization: shining malls, glitzy bars and a gleaming metro system. And, as Delhi’s population explodes, the city is sprawling in all directions.

As Delhi’s centre of gravity shifts southwards, a newer Delhi has grown up, and rural areas have been taken over by shopping malls, banks and private housing estates.