Pre-20th-Century History 
According to the mythology of Hindus, Delhi was the site of the fabled city of Indraprastha that featured in the Mahabharata over 3000 years ago. The historical evidence, however, indicates that the region has been settled for about 2500 years.
Since the 12th century, the city has seen the rise and fall of seven major dynasties. The Chauhans took the control of Delhi in 12th century and made it the most prominent Hindu centre in northern India.
When Qutab-ud-din Aibak occupied Delhi in 1193, he ushered in six and a half centuries of the Muslim rule. The Delhi Sultanate lasted from 1206 to 1526, despite its inconsistent rule, which was followed by the mighty Mughals from 1526 to 1857.
Most parts of the Old Delhi, including the Jama Masjid and the Red Fort, were built during the rule of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (1628-58). In 1803, the British occupied Delhi and established a British administration. Delhi was not the capital of India at the time, however it was commercial centre of significant importance and had a population of 150,000 by the start of the 20th century.
Modern History
When the British decided to make Delhi the capital of India in 1911, they constructed New Delhi in a grand imperial style, as if the sun would never set on the British Empire. However, only 16 years after the city was inaugurated as the capital of nation, it was torched during the trauma of Partition.
Recent History
Today, very few residents of the city can lay claim to being 'real' Delhiites, and majority of the population of New Delhi comprises Hindu-Punjabi families, of which many are originally from Lahore (located in present-day Pakistan).
Since Independence, Delhi has prospered and gained an important place in the world as the capital of India. Over the past decade, its population has increased by 50%, primarily due to the fast economic expansion and increased job opportunities. However the flipside of this growth huge overcrowding, traffic congestion, child labour, housing shortages, power cuts and pollution.
