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Andhra Pradesh (ISO 15919: Āndhra Pradēśa)Basic StatsAndhra is India’s 7th largest state by area and 10th largest by population.HDI —The state ranks 27th for HDI rankings among all states and UTs, at 0.643 (medium HDI)Crime stats —The state ranks at 15th among all states and UTs in terms of rank based on crime rate. Its rank based on % share of incidences is 13th. [NCRB report 2016][1]In terms of crime against women, the state’s rank has been 9th according to crime rate, while its rank based on % share is 8th. [NCRB report 2016]It recorded the 13th highest suicide rate in India at 12.1 suicides per 1 lakh people [NCRB Report 2015][2]It unfortunately ranks at 9th in terms of crime rate and 7th in terms of % share of number incidences of human trafficking among states and UTs for which data was available — at 239 cases reported in the year 2016 against 404 of next higher state Karnataka and 3579 of the 1st ranking West Bengal. [NCRB Report on Human Trafficking 2016][3]Health —It recorded the 6th highest number of institutional deliveries among all states and UTs with ~90% children delivered in hospitals in 2015–16. [National Family Health Survey of 2015-16][4]It ranks at 13th among all states with regards to vaccination coverage. [National Family Health Survey 2015–16]Economy —It is India’s 7th largest economy in terms of GSDP and 15th largest in terms of GDP per capita.[5]It recorded 4th lowest unemployment (tied with Madhya Pradesh) among all states and UTs with ~4.5% population unemployed as of 2017–18. [Labour Force Survey 2017–18][6]It ranked at 1st among the states and UTs for ease of doing business in 2018, improving on its previous rank of 2nd in 2015.[7][8][9]It was the 4th most visited state for domestic tourists in the country as of 2017.[10][11]NatureNatural Wonders:Pulicat Lake[12]Pulicat is India’s 2nd largest brackish water lagoon in India (after Chilika in Odisha). Its major part comes under Nellore district of Andhra. The lagoon was cut across in the middle by the Sriharikota Link Road, which divided the water body into lake and marshy land.The lake is the site of Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary[13] that comprises Nellore district of Andhra and Thiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu.Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) is located on Sriharikota island — a barrier island that separates the lake from Bay of BengalAlarmingly, Pulicat Lake may disappear within 100 years by being filled up with silt.[14]Kolleru Lake[15]Kolleru Lake is a Ramsar designated wetland of international importance — this is to allow the indigenous Vaddi community to continue their livelihood in their traditional ways that preserves and protects the ecosystem. It is the location of Kolleru Bird Sanctuary, established in 1999 to protect the lake.Even so, thousands of fish tanks were dug up, effectively converting the lake into a mere drain. This had great impact in terms of pollution, leading to difficulty in getting drinking water for local people. This is in addition to loss of ecological diversity and intrusion of sea water into the land masses and its fallout in terms of adverse influence on the rainfall pattern in this region. This imbalance has an adverse effect on the thousands of acres of crop in the upper reaches of sanctuary in view of stoppages water flow into the sea because of obstruction by bunds of the fish tanks that appeared illegally. About half of the lake has now disappeared.Protected Areas:→ Logo of Andhra Forest Department [Source: File:Andhra Pradesh Forest Department logo.png - Wikipedia]E-publications by Andhra Pradesh government can be accessed from here: A.P. Forest DepartmentIndira Gandhi Zoological Park in Vishakhapatnam[16]Opened in May 1977, Indira Gandhi Zoological Park is India’s 3rd largest zoo, comprising ~625 acres of area. The zoo conducts various educational awareness activities & programmes for children and students.Sri Ventakeswara Zoological Park in Tirupati[17]Established in 29th September 1987, it is India’s, as well as Asia’s largest zoo, at 5532 acres of area.[18] The zoo was the home of Balaji, the heaviest ever leopard recorded in captivity — at ~140kg compared to the average 70kg for leopards.→ Male Indian peafowl in SV Zoo [Source: File:Indian peafowl SVZoopark Tirupathi.JPG - Wikipedia]Education and Literacy{See: Education in Andhra Pradesh - Wikipedia}Higher Education:{See: List of institutions of higher education in Andhra Pradesh - Wikipedia}→ Map of Universities of Andhra [Source: File:Universities Map of Andhra Pradesh.png - Wikipedia]There are 18 state universities in the districts providing higher education in horticulture, law, medical, technology, Vedic and veterinary.[19] The oldest university is Andhra University[20] (ISO 15919: Āndhra Vișvakalāpariṣhat) established in 1926 in Vishakhapatnam.→ Emblem of Andhra University [Source: File:Andhra University logo.png - Wikipedia]Institutes of higher education in Andhra include —IIT Tirupati[21] (currently functioning in a temporary campus Krishna Theja Educational Institutions in Chadalawada Nagar)IIM Visakhapatnam[22] (currently functioning in a temporary campus in Andhra University)AIIMS Mangalagiri[23] in Guntur district (part of Phase IV AIIMS)Indian Institute of Information Technology Design and Manufacturing, Kurnool[24] - established in 2015National Institute of Design, Vijayawada[25] - established in 2015National Institute of Technology, Tadepalligudem, West Godavari district[26]Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy, Visakhapatnam[27]Indian Institute of Information Technology, Sri City[28][29] in Chittoor districtIndian Institute of Science Education and Research, Tirupati[30]Research:Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota[31] —SDSC is a rocket launch centre operated by ISRO in Sriharikota island in Pulicat Lake. Established in 1971, it was renamed after Dr. Satish Dhawan, ISRO’s 2nd chairman, in 2002. It is India's primary orbital launch site.The 1st successful satellite launch from this centre took place in 1971 — flight-test of a 'Rohini-125'.School of Planning and Architecture, Vijayawada (SPA Vijayawada)[32] —SPA Vijayawada was established in 2008 by MHRD. It forms a part of the league along with the other two SPAs: SPA Bhopal and SPA Delhi.Government of Andhra Pradesh is in the process of allotting nearly 60 acres of land, spread over two locations in and around Vijayawada, for the development of the school. Of this, the first 7.2 acres was handed over on 22 February 2010. In January 2012, design for the new campus was adopted as part of an all-India competition and it is proposed to be developed as an eco-friendly campus with state-of-the-art facilities.National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL)[33][34] in Gadanki —NARL is an autonomous research laboratory fully funded by Department of Space. It is involved in carrying out fundamental and applied research in Atmospheric and Space Sciences.NARL is one of the prime centers for atmospheric research in the country and operates MST radar, Rayleigh/Mie Lidar, Boundary Layer Lidar, Sodium Lidar, Lower Atmospheric Wind Profiler, Sodar, Disdrometer, Optical Rain Gauge, Dual frequency GPS receiver, Automatic Weather Station apart from regular launching of GPS balloon sonde.Museums:→ Archaeological Museums map of Andhra Pradesh [Source: File:Archaeological Museums map of Andhra Pradesh.png - Wikipedia]Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation Museum[35]—This museum houses archaeological artifacts and treasures of Kalingandhra[36] region (Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts). Collections available for viewing in the museum include ancient armory, crockery, coins, silk costumes, jewelry, stuffed animals, portraits, manuscripts, letters, diaries, scrapbooks, periodicals, and maps — these were used by the early settlers in the region. Many models of warships, planes and submarines can also be found here.INS Kursura[37] —INS Kursura was a Kalvari-class submarine of Indian Navy — India’s 5th submarine. After decommissioning in 2001, it was converted into South Asia’s 1st submarine museum after being towed to Ramakrishna Beach, Visakhapatnam, and inaugurated in 2002 — this conversion is credited to Admiral V Pasricha.Source: File:INS Kursura (S20).jpg - WikipediaTU 142 Aircraft Museum in Visakhapatnam[38]—This museum preserved a Tu-142 aircraft that served Indian Navy for 29 years. It was opened in 2017.→ Tu-142 exhibit at the museum [Source: File:TU-142 Aircraft Model.jpg - Wikipedia]Economy{See: Economy of Andhra Pradesh - Wikipedia}Agriculture:Agriculture is the primary contributor to Andhra’s economy. 60 percent of the population is engaged in agriculture and related activities.Rice is the major food crop and staple food of the state. It is an exporter of many agricultural products and is also known as "Rice Bowl of India".[39] Farmers also grow jowar, bajra, maize, minor millet, coarse grain, many varieties of pulses, oil seeds, sugarcane, cotton, chili pepper, mango nuts and tobacco. Crops used for vegetable oil production such as sunflower and peanuts are popular.The state has 3 Agricultural Economic Zones — Chittoor district for mango pulp and vegetables, Krishna district for mangoes, Guntur district for chillies.The state is also the largest producer of eggs in the country and hence, it is nicknamed as "Egg Bowl of Asia".[40]The location of Andhra allows both marine and inland fishing — it contributes to 0% of total fish and over 70% of the shrimp production of India.[41]→ Map of Sugar industries in Andhra Pradesh [Source: File:Map of Sugar industries in Andhra Pradesh.png - Wikipedia]Industrial sector:The industrial sector of the state includes some of the key sectors like pharmaceutical, automobile, textiles etc.The state is emerging as destination for the automobile industry which already hosts companies including Ashok Leyland in Krishna district, Hero Motors in Chittoor district, Kia Motors in Anantapur district.The state is emerging in information technology and biotechnology. The IT/ITES revenues of Visakhapatnam was at ₹14.45 billion (US$210 million) in 2012–2013.Satyavedu Reserve Infracity Pvt. Ltd (Sri City)[42] —It is an integrated business city (township) located on NH-16. Much of its are is in Chittoor district, and a smaller area lies in Thiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu. Being at proximity of 55km north of Chennai, the facility has a seamless connectivity to road, air and sea ports within 100km radius. Sri City SEZ is characterized by its strong industrial base, productive workforce, and excellent industrial relations. It encompasses a multiproduct Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and a Free Trade and Warehousing Zone (FTWZ).PepsiCo India’s largest plant is located here.[43] Other enterprises having established their manufacturing plants in Sri City include Isuzu Motors, Cadbury India, Kellogg's, Colgate-Palmolive, Kobelco etc.→ Isuzu manufacturing plant in Sri City [Source: File:Isuzu manufacturing plant India.jpg - Wikipedia]→ Sri City Business Centre [Source: File:Sricity Business Centre.jpg - Wikipedia]Resources:Mining —The state is one of the store houses of mineral resources with large deposits of Chrysotile, mica Asbestos, barytes and limestone India.Andhra Pradesh has varied geological formations with a rich variety of industrial minerals and building stones.Other important minerals in the state are copper ore, manganese, mica, coal and limestone, coal, oil and natural gas, barytes, limestone, diamond, gold, beach sand, bauxite, ball clay, fire clay, dolomite, dimensional stones etc.It has about 1/3rd of India's limestone reserves.It accounts for about 93% of total production of Barytes in India.Tummalapalle uranium mine[44] —Results from research conducted by Atomic Energy Commission of India in 2011 made the analysts conclude that this mine might have one of the largest reserves of uranium in the world.[45] Earlier, uranium reserves were found only up to a depth of about 250m; the latest findings reportedly indicate that the reserves run as deep as 1km.This finding substantially increased India’s capability of producing energy from nuclear plants. As of 2018, India was producing about 3.13% of its energy from nuclear plants. These findings suggest that this output can be increased to more than 30% by 2050; essential if India hopes to reduce its emissions, pollution and use of coal power. This domestic uranium find would not only boost India's nuclear energy plans but also help reduce costs by switching from expensive sources of power like coal.Power sector{See: Power sector of Andhra Pradesh - Wikipedia}Andhra is a power surplus state, exporting power to neighboring states.Hydro-electricity:Nagarjuna Sagar Dam[46] —Nagarjuna Sagar Dam is a large masonry dam constructed over Krishna river. The dam is 180m tall and 1.6km long. Nagarjuna Sagar dam is designed and constructed to use all the water impounded in its reservoir of 312 TMC gross storage capacity which is the 2nd biggest water reservoir in India.[47]The artificial lift irrigation based diversion of the river from its natural delta area into Nalgonda district caused erosion of fluorine rich volcanic rocks in Nalgonda and contaminated its groundwater supply. It also caused uncertain flows of water into Krishna river delta area and shrinkage of Kolleru Lake. The use of erosion resistant canals interfered with the natural silting process of a river to the deltas and created long-term ecological issues to the health of the delta lands. Reduced flows into the sea resulted in land salinization and sea encroachment of coastal lands in Diviseema. The diversion of Krishna water for 200km to Hyderabad resulted in massive evaporation losses especially in summer and reduced the size of the river.Srisailam Dam[48] —Srisailam Dam is constructed on Krishna river near Srisailam town. It is India’s 2nd largest capacity hydroelectric station. It is 512m long, 145m maximum height and has 12 radial crest gates. It has a reservoir of 616 square km.Solar Power:Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park[49] —At 5,932.32 acres (24.0072 [math]km^2[/math]), it is India’s 2nd largest, and the world’s 9th largest solar power plant, and has a capacity of 1000 MW.[50] It is located in Panyam mandal of Kurnool district.The project was implemented by Andhra Pradesh Solar Power Corporation Private Limited (APSPCL), a joint venture of Solar Energy Corporation of India, Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation and New & Renewable Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh Ltd.The park utilizes >4 million solar panels with capacities of 315W and 320W. The panels are connected to four 220/33 kV pooling stations of 250 MW each and a 400/220kV grid substation through nearly 2,000 circuit km of cables. During a sunny day, it is able to generate more than 8 million kWh of electricity, which is sufficient to meet virtually the entire electricity demand in Kurnool district.Wind Power:Andhra Pradesh has ~4000 MW installed wind capacity, and houses Beluguppa Wind Park in Beluguppa, Anantapur Wind Park in Nimbagallu andPutlur RCI in Putlur — India’s 8th, 10th and 23rd largest wind power plants.Nuclear Power:Andhra does not have any functional nuclear power plant. A 6600 MW plant at Kodavva[51] has been proposed.TransportRailways:The rail density of the state is 16.59/1,000 km, compared to all India average of 20.Visakhapatnam railway station[52]In 2017, as part of Swachh Rail campaign, Quality Council of India declared Visakhapatnam as the cleanest railway station in the country.[53]Roadways:Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation[54] is the state owned road transport corporation. Its headquarters is located at NTR Administrative Block of RTC House in Pandit Nehru Bus Station, Vijayawada.It introduced many innovations in Indian road transport scenario:First to introduce long distance night express servicesFirst to introduce depot computerisation - 1986. All 126 depots in the state are computerizedFirst to appoint a Safety Commissioner for improving the safety of passengersReservation of tickets on telephone and door delivery of ticketsAPSRTC entered Guinness Book of World Records in 1999 - with 22,000 buses it has the largest bus fleet in the world.Pandit Nehru Bus Station (PNBS)[55] —The station provides amenities such as miniplex, ticket-vending and kiosks for passengers, and has a city bus port for local passengers.→ Deccan Queen bus owned by Nizam State Railways - Road Transport Division at Vijayawada bus station [Source: File:Vintage Bus.jpg - Wikipedia]Airways:{See: List of airports in Andhra Pradesh - Wikipedia}→ Map of airports and airstrips of Andhra Pradesh [Source: File:Map of Airports and airstrips of Andhra Pradesh.png - Wikipedia]Visakhapatnam Airport [56]—The only international airport of Andhra, it is the 21st busiest airport in India.[57] It also houses an Indian Navy helipad - INS Dega[58].In 1981, the airport commenced civilian operations with one flight per day.Waterways:{See: List of ports and harbours of Andhra Pradesh - Wikipedia}→ Seaports Map of Andhra Pradesh [Source: File:Seaports Map of Andhra Pradesh.png - Wikipedia]Andhra has 1 major and 5 minor ports under operation, with 6 more under construction under PPP scheme.It is the 2nd maritime state (after Gujarat) in terms of cargo handled by Non-Major Ports and the 3rd maritime state (after Gujarat and Maharashtra) in terms of overall cargo handled including Visakhapatnam port trust.Visakhapatnam Port[59] —Visakhapatnam Port, the only major port of Andhra, has 3 harbours - the outer harbour, inner harbour and the fishing harbour. The inauguration of Gangavaram Port, located 15 km away, has led to a significant diversion of traffic away from Visakhapatnam Port. This loss of cargo traffic is an important reason for the port's fall from its position as the largest port in India.It is modernising its coal handling berth in the outer harbour to enable it to handle capesize vessels. This will also solve the problem of air pollution caused by the open handling of coal that had earlier led to citywide protests.Gangavaram Port[60]—Gangavaram Port is India’s deepest port, with a depth of 21m. [61] A major client of the port is Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited that runs Vizag Steel Plant, and earlier used Vishakhapatnam Port.Tourism and Pilgrimage{See: Tourism in Andhra Pradesh - Wikipedia}Andhra Pradesh has many spectacular tourist and pilgrimage sites.Historical Sites:→ File:Buddhist sites Map of Andhra Pradesh.png - WikipediaBuddhist Relic Sites —→ Holy Buddhist relic sites map of Andhra Pradesh [Source: File:Holy relic sites map of Andhra Pradesh.jpg - Wikipedia]Salihundam[62] — Buddhist site in the eponymous village on south bank of Vamsadhara river. Four stupas, relic caskets, and architectural shrines were discovered during digging performed by state authorities, as well as sculptures of Buddhist deities Mareechi and Tara.Ramatheertham[63] — Buddhist remnant site in Nellore district. Black and red Polished ware, terracotta and brick remnant's were recovered from the site.Pavurallakonda a.k.a. Pavurallabodu[64] — Ruined hill-top Buddhist monastic complex probably inhabited from 3rd century BCE-2nd century CE. It is one of the largest Buddhist monasteries of North Coastal Andhra Region.Bavikonda (Hill of wells) Buddhist Complex[65] — Lying ~16km from Visakhapatnam, a Buddhist monastery site on a hill-top. Bavikonda Monastery dates back to 3rd century BCE.Shankaram, Visakhapatnam district — Shankaram village has 2 Buddhist rock-cut caves - Bojjannakonda & Lingalakonda[66]. The sites are believed to date between 4th and 9th Century CE.Kotturu Dhanadibbalu & Pandavula Guha in Kotturu village, Visakhapatnam district[67] — A site of a large stupa, monastery and rock-cut cave used by Buddhist monks - dating to 1st-2nd century CE.Kodavali[68] — A site having votive stupas, a large stupa, monastery and pillared hall.Guntupalli Group of Buddhist Monuments[69] — Located near Kamavarapukota, West Godavari district, consisting of both rock-cut and structural sites. One of the caves has a Caētya arch (facade) entrance - similar to that of Lomas Rishi cave, Bihar.Gudiwada Dibba, Vizianagaram[70] — A hillock in Gudivada village having an ancient Buddhist heritage site possibly of 2nd Century BCE.Ghantasala, Krishna district[71] — It features a Buddhist stupa ~34m wide and ~7m tall — a cube of solid bricks is set in its centre, inscribed with 12 constellations of the zodiac. Ghantasala was once a flourishing town of Indo-Roman trade as well as an important religious centre.Bhattiprolu , Guntur district[72] — A village having central protected Buddhist stupa called Vikramarka kota dibba built ~3rd-2nd century BCE. {See: Bhattiprolu script - Wikipedia}Vaddamanu[73] — Theravada site close to Amaravati. The oldest remains date to the 2nd century BCE. Punch mark coins from the 1st century CE were also found.Gummadidurru in Krishna district[74][75] — Much of the site has been removed by local people for building materials; the lower portions of the main stupa were below the current day ground level and have yielded many sculpted stone slabs showing scenes from the life of Buddha and Jatakas. The site shows evidence of long occupation, from 2nd century CE to 7th century CE.Amaravathi village in Guntur district— Amaravati Stupa[76] is a ruined Buddhist monument, built in phases between 3rd century BCE-250 CE. The site includes Amaravati archaeological museum as well.Jaggayyapeta[77] — It is believed to house one of Andhra’s oldest stupas - dating back to 2nd century BCE. Much of the site was damaged by removal of material for buildings.Nagarjunakonda[78] — It is one of India's richest Buddhist sites, and now lies almost entirely under the Nagarjunasagar Dam. It is named after Nagarjuna, a southern Indian master of Mahayana Buddhism who lived in 2nd century CE, and believed to be responsible for Buddhist activity in the area.→ Entrance to prayer hall of Guntupalli [Source: File:Entrance of Rock-cut temple.JPG - Wikipedia]→ Buddhist Maha Stupa at Bhattiprolu [Source: File:Maha Stupa at Bhattiprolu 01.jpg - Wikipedia]Cave Temples —Undavalli caves[79] —Undavalli caves are a collection of rock-cut Paōraṇika caves, and is one of the centrally protected monuments of national importance. These caves were carved out of solid sandstone on a hillside in 4th-5th centuries CE. There are several caves and the best known largest one has 4 stories with a huge recreated statue of Viṣṇu in a reclining posture.→ The largest of the Undavalli Caves [Source: File:Ananta Padmanabha Swami Temple.jpg - Wikipedia]Borra Guhalu[80]—Borra Guhalu — here Borra is Odia for hole, Guhalu is Telugu for caves — is a collection of agamic caves featuring stalagmites worshipped as Śiva Lingam. The caves are one of the deepest and largest in India.→ Worship of Stalagmite Lingam inside the Borra Caves [Source: File:Borra Caves Lingam.JPG - Wikipedia]→ A view of Gosthani (cow’s udder) river that originates at the site [Source: File:Gosthani River during rains near Borra Caves 01.jpg - Wikipedia]Akkana Madanna cave temple[81] in Vijayawada—The cave temple dates back to 6th-7th century CE and located at the foothill of Indrakeeladri.→ File:Akkanna Madanna caves Indrakeeladri Vijayawada03.jpg - WikipediaBelum Caves:[82]Belum caves is largest and longest cave system open to the public on Indian subcontinent. This cave system was formed over the course of tens of thousands of years by the constant flow of underground water. The cave system reaches its deepest point ((46m) from entrance level) at the point known as Patālagaṅgā.The caves were used to dump wastes from nearby places until 1988. Local people of nearby settlements, notably policemen and residents of Belum village co-operated with Government of Andhra Pradesh and developed the cave site as a tourist attraction. Finally, their ~20 year long efforts resulted in government declaring the entire area to be a protected.Archaeological survey of India (ASI) found remnants of vessels of the pre-Buddhism era and dated them to 4500 years BCE.→ Saint Bed inside Belum Caves [Source: File:Saint Bed.jpg - Wikipedia]→ Meditation Hall inside Belum Caves [Source: File:Belumcave1.jpg - Wikipedia]Category:Archaeological sites in Andhra Pradesh - WikipediaReligious Sites:Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala[83] in Tirupati, Chittoor district —It is a landmark Vaēṣṇava temple dedicated to Veṅkaṭēśvara constructed in Drāviḍa style architecture. The temple is visited by ~50,000 to 100,000 pilgrims daily (30 to 40 million people annually on average), while on special occasions and festivals, like the annual Brahmotsavam, the number of pilgrims shoots up to 500,000, making it the most-visited religious place in the world. The temple is one of the 8 Viṣṇu Svayambhu Kṣētras as well as one of 108 Divya Desam of Viṣṇu.→ Main gate of Venkateswara Temple with 5-storied gateway tower over it [Source: File:Tirumala Venkateswara temple entrance 09062015.JPG - Wikipedia]→ Ananda Nilayam (Abode of Happiness) — the gold plated canopy of sanctum tower of the temple [Source: File:Tirumala gopurams.JPG - Wikipedia]→ Svami Pushkarni — the temple pond [Source: File:SwamiPushkarni.JPG - Wikipedia]Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga[84] in Srisailam, Kurnool district —It is one of the 12 Jyōtirliṅga temples of Śiva and one of 52 Śakti Pīṭhas. It is also one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams of Śiva.→ Gold plated sanctum tower of the temple [Source: File:Srisailam.jpg - Wikipedia]Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Simhachalam[85] —The temple is located on Simhachalam (Lion Hill) and is one of the 32 Narasimha temples in Andhra. It resembles a fortress from outside with 3 outer courtyards and 5 gateways. The temple faces west.Viṣṇu is worshipped here as Varāha-Narasimha — a compound deity formed by 2 of his incarnations.→ Main tower of the Simhachalam temple [Source: File:Simhachalam Gopuram Night.jpg - Wikipedia]→ Canopy of Simhachalam temple’s sanctum tower [Source: File:Simhachalam Temple Vimana Gopuram View.JPG - Wikipedia]Srikalahasteeswara temple[86] in Srikalahasti, Chittoor district —Its is dedicated to Śiva in form of Śrīkālahastīśvara. It is one of Pancha Bhootha Sthalams (5 element places), having Vayu Lingam (Lingam with the element of air) — the only one in Andhra Pradesh.The temple is also regarded as Rahu-Ketu kshetra and Dakshina Kailasam. The inner temple was constructed around 5th century CE and the outer temple was constructed in 12th century CE by Chola kings and Karnata kingsSource: File:Sri Kala Hasti.jpg - WikipediaPancharama Kshetras[87]Pancharama Kshetras (5 Arama areas) consist of 5 Śiva temples, all located in Andhra.Amararama[88] in Amaravati, Guntur district — Śiva is worshipped here as AmarēśvaraDraksharama[89] in Draksharamam, East Godavari district — Śiva is worshipped here as BhīmēśvaraSomarama[90] in Bhimavaram, West Godavari district — Śiva is worshipped here as SōmēśvaraKsheerarama[91]in Palakollu, West Godavari district — Śiva is worshipped here as KṣhīrāramaliṅgēśvaraKumararama[92] in Samalakota, East Godavari district — Śiva is worshipped here as Bhīmēśvara. It is one of the centrally protected monuments in Andhra Pradesh.→ Amararama Temple gateway tower [Source: File:Main Structure of Amareswara Temple.jpg - Wikipedia]→ Draksharama Temple [Source: File:Draksharama temple, Draksharamam.jpg - Wikipedia]→ Somarama Temple gateway tower [Source: File:SomeswaraSwamy-5.JPG - Wikipedia]→ Ksheerarama Temple Complex as seen from the nain gateway tower [Source: File:CompleteTempleComplex.jpg - Wikipedia]→ Kumararama Bhimesvara Temple, Samalkota [Source: File:Kumararama Bhimesvara temple outside view,samalkota.jpg - WikipediaList of Hindu temples in Tirupati - WikipediaCategory:Religious buildings and structures in Andhra Pradesh by district - WikipediaCategory:Hindu temples in Andhra Pradesh by district - WikipediaCategory:Tourist attractions in Andhra Pradesh - WikipediaCategory:Tourist attractions in Visakhapatnam - WikipediaList of Monuments of National Importance in Andhra Pradesh - WikipediaCategory:Buildings and structures in Andhra Pradesh by district - WikipediaFurther ReadingSatyanarayana Sastry garu’s answers on Andhra PradeshVijaya Lakshmi Mam’s answers on VishakhapatnamFootnotes[1] http://ncrb.gov.in/StatPublications/CII/CII2016/pdfs/Table%201A.1.pdf[2] http://ncrb.gov.in/StatPublications/ADSI/ADSI2015/chapter-2%20suicides-v1.pdf[3] http://ncrb.gov.in/StatPublications/CII/CII2016/pdfs/Table%2014.1.pdf[4] http://rchiips.org/NFHS/pdf/NFHS4/AP_FactSheet.pdf[5] http://mospi.nic.in/sites/default/files/press_releases_statements/State_wise_SDP_01_08_2019_for_uploading.xls[6] http://www.mospi.gov.in/sites/default/files/publication_reports/Annual%20Report%2C%20PLFS%202017-18_31052019.pdf[7] Ease of doing business: 18 states claim perfect score in reforms[8] EODB : India & States Ranking Map[9] Ease of doing business ranking of states of India - Wikipedia[10] http://tourism.gov.in/sites/default/files/Other/ITS_Glance_2018_Eng_Version_for_Mail.pdf[11] Tourism in India - Wikipedia[12] Pulicat Lake - Wikipedia[13] Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary - Wikipedia[14] http://www.nbaindia.org/docs/bulletin6-pulicatlake.pdf[15] Kolleru Lake - Wikipedia[16] Indira Gandhi Zoological Park - Wikipedia[17] Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park - Wikipedia[18] Asia’s biggest zoo beckons tourists[19] University[20] Andhra University - Wikipedia[21] Indian Institute of Technology Tirupati - Wikipedia[22] Indian Institute of Management Visakhapatnam - Wikipedia[23] All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Mangalagiri - Wikipedia[24] Indian Institute of Information Technology Design and Manufacturing, Kurnool - Wikipedia[25] National Institute of Design, Vijayawada - Wikipedia[26] National Institute of Technology, Andhra Pradesh - Wikipedia[27] Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy - Wikipedia[28] Indian Institute of Information Technology, Sri City, Chittoor| Top B-tech college in Andhra Pradesh[29] Indian Institute of Information Technology, Sri City - Wikipedia[30] Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Tirupati - Wikipedia[31] Satish Dhawan Space Centre - Wikipedia[32] School of Planning and Architecture, Vijayawada - Wikipedia[33] National Atmospheric Research Laboratory - Wikipedia[34] National Atmospheric Research Laboratory[35] Visakha Museum - Wikipedia[36] Uttarandhra - Wikipedia[37] INS Kursura (S20) - Wikipedia[38] TU 142 Aircraft Museum - Wikipedia[39] Rice bowl of India worst hit[40] https://web.archive.org/web/20150403094839/http://www.ap.gov.in/Other%20Docs/Socio%20Economic%20Survey%20Book%20let.pdf[41] AP top producer of shrimp: MPEDA[42] Sri City - Wikipedia[43] PepsiCo inaugurates new facility at Sri City[44] Tummalapalle uranium mine - Wikipedia[45] 'Massive' uranium find in India[46] Nagarjuna Sagar Dam - Wikipedia[47] http://www.cwc.nic.in/main/downloads/National%20Register%20of%20Large%20Dams%202009.pdf[48] Srisailam Dam - Wikipedia[49] Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park - Wikipedia[50] List of largest power stations - Wikipedia[51] Kovvada Atomic Power Project - Wikipedia[52] Visakhapatnam railway station - Wikipedia[53] Vizag billed the cleanest rail station[54] Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation - Wikipedia[55] Pandit Nehru bus station - Wikipedia[56] Visakhapatnam Airport - Wikipedia[57] List of the busiest airports in India - Wikipedia[58] INS Dega - Wikipedia[59] Visakhapatnam Port - Wikipedia[60] Gangavaram Port - Wikipedia[61] CM inaugurates Gangavaram Port[62] Salihundam - Wikipedia[63] Ramatheertam - Wikipedia[64] Pavurallakonda - Wikipedia[65] Bavikonda - Wikipedia[66] Bojjannakonda - Wikipedia[67] Kotturu Dhanadibbalu - Wikipedia[68] Kodavali - Buddhist Archaeological Site - Wikimapia[69] Guntupalli Group of Buddhist Monuments - Wikipedia[70] Gudiwada Dibba, Vizianagaram - Wikipedia[71] Ghantasala, Krishna district - Wikipedia[72] Bhattiprolu - Wikipedia[73] Mapping Buddhist Monasteries[74] GUMMADIDURRU BUDDHA STUPA,KRISHNA Dt,A.P[75] Mapping Buddhist Monasteries[76] Amaravati Stupa - Wikipedia[77] Jaggayyapeta and Andhra’s Great Stupa[78] Nagarjunakonda - Wikipedia[79] Undavalli Caves - Wikipedia[80] Borra Caves - Wikipedia[81] Akkana Madanna Caves - Wikipedia[82] Belum Caves - Wikipedia[83] Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala - Wikipedia[84] Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga - Wikipedia[85] Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Simhachalam - Wikipedia[86] Srikalahasteeswara temple - Wikipedia[87] Pancharama Kshetras - Wikipedia[88] Amararama - Wikipedia[89] Draksharama - Wikipedia[90] Somarama - Wikipedia[91] Ksheerarama - Wikipedia[92] Kumararama - Wikipedia

Delhi (English: /ˈdɛli/; Hindi: [ˈdɪlːi] Dillī; Punjabi: [ˈdɪlːi] Dillī; Urdu: [ˈdeːɦli] Dēhlī), officially known as the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT), is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India.[14][15] It is bordered by the state of Haryana on three sides and by Uttar Pradesh to the east. The NCT covers an area of 1,484 square kilometres (573 sq mi). According to the 2011 census, Delhi's city proper population was over 11 million,[5] the second-highest in India after Mumbai,[16] while the whole NCT's population was about 16.8 million.[6] Delhi's urban area is now considered to extend beyond the NCT boundaries, and include the neighbouring satellite cities of Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gurgaon and Noida in an area called the National Capital Region (NCR) and had an estimated 2016 population of over 26 million people, making it the world's second-largest urban area according to the United Nations.[7] Recent estimates of the metro economy of its urban area have ranked Delhi either the most or second-most productive metro area of India.[10][17] Delhi is the second-wealthiest city in India after Mumbai and is home to 18 billionaires and 23,000 millionaires.[18] Delhi ranks fifth among the Indian states and union territories in human development index.[12] Delhi has the second-highest GDP per capita in India.[9] Delhi is of great historical significance as an important commercial, transport, and cultural hub, as well as the political centre of India.[19]Delhi has been continuously inhabited since the 6th century BCE.[20] Through most of its history, Delhi has served as a capital of various kingdoms and empires, most notably the Pandavas, the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire. The city has been captured, ransacked and rebuilt several times, particularly during the medieval period, and modern Delhi is a cluster of a number of cities spread across the metropolitan region. For many centuries Delhi has been a dominant trading and commercial centre in northern India, and after 1990s it has emerged as an important node in the international corporate and financial network.[21]A union territory, the political administration of the NCT of Delhi today more closely resembles that of a state of India, with its own legislature, high court and an executive council of ministers headed by a Chief Minister. New Delhi is jointly administered by the federal government of India and the local government of Delhi, and serves as the capital of the nation as well as the NCT of Delhi. Delhi hosted the inaugural 1951 Asian Games, 1982 Asian Games, 1983 NAM Summit, 2010 Men's Hockey World Cup, 2010 Commonwealth Games, 2012 BRICS Summit and was one of the major host cities of the 2011 Cricket World Cup.Delhi is also the centre of the National Capital Region (NCR), which is a unique 'interstate regional planning' area created by the National Capital Region Planning Board Act of 1985.There are a number of myths and legends associated with the origin of the name Delhi. One of them is derived from Dhillu or Dilu, a king who built a city at this location in 50 BCE and named it after himself.[24][25][26] Another legend holds that the name of the city is based on the Hindi/Prakrit word dhili (loose) and that it was used by the Tomaras to refer to the city because the iron pillar of Delhi had a weak foundation and had to be moved.[26] According to Panjab Notes and Queries, the name of the city at the time of King Prithviraj was dilpat, and that dilpat and dilli are probably derived from the old Hindi word dil meaning "eminence". The former director of the Archaeological Survey of India, Alexander Cunningham, mentioned that dilli later became dihli/dehli.[27] Some suggest the coins in circulation in the region under the Tomaras were called dehliwal.[28] According to the Bhavishya Purana, King Prithiviraja of Indraprastha built a new fort in the modern-day Purana Qila area for the convenience of all four castes in his kingdom. He ordered the construction of a gateway to the fort and later named the fort dehali.[29] Some historians believe that Dhilli or Dhillika is the original name for the city while others believe the name could be a corruption of the Hindustani words dehleez or dehali—both terms meaning "threshold" or "gateway"—and symbolic of the city as a gateway to the Gangetic Plain.[30][31][32]The people of Delhi are referred to as Delhiites or Dilliwalas.[33] The city is referenced in various idioms of the Northern Indo-Aryan languages. Examples include:Abhi Dilli door hai (अभी दिल्ली दूर है) or its Persian version, Hanuz Dehli dur ast (هنوز دهلی دور است), literally meaning "Delhi is still far away", which is generically said about a task or journey still far from completion.[34][35]Dilli dilwalon ka shehr (दिल्ली दिलवालों का शहर) or Dilli dilwalon ki (दिल्ली दिलवालों की), meaning "Delhi belongs to the large-hearted/daring".[36]Aas-paas barse, Dilli pani tarse (आस-पास बरसे, दिल्ली पानी तरसे), literally meaning "It pours all around, while Delhi lies parched". An allusion to the sometimes semi-arid climate of Delhi, it idiomatically refers to situations of deprivation when one is surrounded by plenty.[35]HistoryMain articles: History of Delhi and Old DelhiAncient and Early Medieval PeriodsThe area around Delhi was probably inhabited before the second millennium BCE and there is evidence of continuous inhabitation since at least the 6th century BCE.[20] The city is believed to be the site of Indraprastha, the legendary capital of the Pandavas in the Indian epic Mahabharata.[24] According to the Mahabharata, this land was initially a huge mass of forests called 'Khandavaprastha' which was burnt down to build the city of Indraprastha. The earliest architectural relics date back to the Maurya period (c. 300 BCE); in 1966, an inscription of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka (273–235 BCE) was discovered near Srinivaspuri. Remains of several major cities can be found in Delhi. The first of these were in the southern part of present-day Delhi. King Anang Pal of the Tomara dynasty founded the city of Lal Kot in 736 CE. Prithviraj Chauhan conquered Lal Kot in 1178 and renamed it Qila Rai Pithora.late medevial periodThe king Prithviraj Chauhan was defeated in 1192 by Muhammad Ghori in the second battle of Tarain, a Muslim invader from Afghanistan, who made a concerted effort to conquer northern India.[24] By 1200, native Hindu resistance had begun to crumble, and the Muslim invaders were victorious. The newfound dominance of foreign Turkic Muslim dynasties in north India would last for the next five centuries. The slave general of Ghori, Qutb-ud-din Aibak, was given the responsibility of governing the conquered territories of India until Ghori returned to his capital, Ghor. When Ghori died without an heir in 1206 CE, his territories fractured, with various generals claiming sovereignty over different areas. Qutb-ud-din assumed control of Ghori's Indian possessions, and laid the foundation of the Delhi Sultanate and the Mamluk dynasty. He began construction of the Qutb Minar and Quwwat-al-Islam (Might of Islam) mosque, the earliest extant mosque in India. It was his successor, Iltutmish (1211–1236), who consolidated the Turkic conquest of northern India.[24][41] Razia Sultan, daughter of Iltutmish, succeeded him as the Sultan of Delhi. She was the first and only woman to rule over Delhi.For the next three hundred years, Delhi was ruled by a succession of Turkic and an Afghan, Lodi dynasty. They built several forts and townships that are part of the seven cities of Delhi.[43] Delhi was a major centre of Sufism during this period.[44] The Mamluk Sultanate (Delhi) was overthrown in 1290 by Jalal ud din Firuz Khalji (1290–1320). Under the second Khalji ruler, Ala-ud-din Khalji, the Delhi sultanate extended its control south of the Narmada River in the Deccan. The Delhi sultanate reached its greatest extent during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughluq (1325–1351). In an attempt to bring the whole of the Deccan under control, he moved his capital to Daulatabad, Maharashtra in central India. However, by moving away from Delhi he lost control of the north and was forced to return to Delhi to restore order. The southern provinces then broke away. In the years following the reign of Firoz Shah Tughlaq (1351–1388), the Delhi Sultanate rapidly began to lose its hold over its northern provinces. Delhi was captured and sacked by Timur in 1398,[45] who massacred 100,000 captives.[46] Delhi's decline continued under the Sayyid dynasty (1414–1451), until the sultanate was reduced to Delhi and its hinterland. Under the Afghan Lodi dynasty (1451–1526), the Delhi sultanate recovered control of the Punjab and the Gangetic plain to once again achieve domination over Northern India. However, the recovery was short-lived and the sultanate was destroyed in 1526 by Babur, founder of the Mughal dynasty.Early modern periodBabur was a descendant of Genghis Khan and Timur, from the Fergana Valley in modern-day Uzbekistan. In 1526, he invaded India, defeated the last Lodhi sultan in the First Battle of Panipat and founded the Mughal Empire that ruled from Delhi and Agra.[24] The Mughal dynasty ruled Delhi for more than three centuries, with a sixteen-year hiatus during the reigns of Sher Shah Suri and Hemu from 1540 to 1556.[47] In 1553, the Hindu king Hemu acceded to the throne of Delhi by defeating the forces of Mughal Emperor Humayun at Agra and Delhi. However, the Mughals re-established their rule after Akbar's army defeated Hemu during the Second Battle of Panipat in 1556.[48][49][50] Shah Jahan built the seventh city of Delhi that bears his name Shahjahanabad, which served as the capital of the Mughal Empire from 1638 and is today known as the Old City or Old Delhi.[51]After the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, the Mughal Empire's influence declined rapidly as the Hindu Maratha Empire from Deccan Plateau rose to prominence.[52] In 1737, Maratha forces led by Baji Rao I sacked Delhi following their victory against the Mughals in the First Battle of Delhi. In 1739, the Mughal Empire lost the huge Battle of Karnal in less than three hours against the numerically outnumbered but militarily superior Persian army led by Nader Shah of Persia. After his invasion, he completely sacked and looted Delhi, carrying away immense wealth including the Peacock Throne, the Daria-i-Noor, and Koh-i-Noor. The Mughals, severely further weakened, could never overcome this crushing defeat and humiliation which also left the way open for more invaders to come, including eventually the British.[53][54][55] Nader eventually agreed to leave the city and India after forcing the Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah I to beg him for mercy and granting him the keys of the city and the royal treasury.[56] A treaty signed in 1752 made Marathas the protectors of the Mughal throne in Delhi.[57]Raghunath Rao, the Maratha Empire's Peshwa who played a key role in capturing Delhi from the Afghans in the Second Battle of Delhi.In 1757, the Afghan ruler, Ahmad Shah Durrani, sacked Delhi. He returned to Afghanistan leaving a Mughal ruler named Alamgir II in nominal control. The Marathas again occupied Delhi in 1758, and were in control until their defeat in 1761 at the Third Battle of Panipat when the city was captured again by Ahmad Shah Durrani.[58] However, in 1771, the Marathas established a protectorate over Delhi when the Maratha ruler, Mahadji Shinde, recaptured Delhi and the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II was installed as a client of the Maratha Confederacy in 1772.[59] In 1783, Sikhs under Baghel Singh captured Delhi and Red Fort but due to the treaty signed, Sikhs withdrew from Red Fort and agreed to restore Shah Alam II as the emperor.Colonial PeriodSee also: British RajIn 1803, during the Second Anglo-Maratha War, the forces of British East India Company defeated the Maratha forces in the Battle of Delhi.[60]During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, Delhi fell to the forces of East India Company after a bloody fight known as the Siege of Delhi. The city came under the direct control of the British Government in 1858. It was made a district province of the Punjab.[24] In 1911, it was announced that the capital of British-held territories in India was to be transferred from Calcutta to Delhi.[61] The name "New Delhi" was given in 1927, and the new capital was inaugurated on 13 February 1931. New Delhi, also known as Lutyens' Delhi,[62] was officially declared as the capital of the Union of India after the country gained independence on 15 August 1947.[63] During the partition of India, thousands of Hindu and Sikh refugees, mainly from West Punjab fled to Delhi, while many Muslim residents of the city migrated to Pakistan. Migration to Delhi from the rest of India continues (as of 2013), contributing more to the rise of Delhi's population than the birth rate, which is declining.[64]Post-IndependenceAerial view of Delhi in April 2016 with river Yamuna in top-right.The States Reorganisation Act, 1956 created the Union Territory of Delhi from its predecessor, the Chief Commissioner's Province of Delhi.[1][2] The Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1991 declared the Union Territory of Delhi to be formally known as the National Capital Territory of Delhi.[3] The Act gave Delhi its own legislative assembly along Civil lines, though with limited powers.[3]In 2001, the Parliament of India building in New Delhi was attacked by armed militants, killing six security personnel.[65] India suspected Pakistan-based militant groups were behind the attack, which caused a major diplomatic crisis between the two countries.[66] There were further terrorist attacks in Delhi in 2005 and 2008, resulting in a total of 103 deaths.[67]EcologyMain article: Environment of DelhiLocal symbols of DelhiAnimal Nilgai[68] Boselaphus tragocamelus1.jpgBird House sparrow[69][70] House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)- Male in Kolkata I IMG 5904.jpgTree Not designated[71]Flower Alfalfa[68] MedicagoSativa-CloseUp-hr.jpgDelhi is located in Northern India, at 28.61°N 77.23°E. The city is bordered on its northern, western, and southern sides by the state of Haryana and to the east by that of Uttar Pradesh (UP). Two prominent features of the geography of Delhi are the Yamuna flood plains and the Delhi ridge. The Yamuna river was the historical boundary between Punjab and UP, and its flood plains provide fertile alluvial soil suitable for agriculture but are prone to recurrent floods. The Yamuna, a sacred river in Hinduism, is the only major river flowing through Delhi. The Hindon River separates Ghaziabad from the eastern part of Delhi. The Delhi ridge originates from the Aravalli Range in the south and encircles the west, north-east and north-west parts of the city. It reaches a height of 318 m (1,043 ft) and is a dominant feature of the region.[72]The National Capital Territory of Delhi covers an area of 1,484 km2 (573 sq mi), of which 783 km2 (302 sq mi) is designated rural, and 700 km2 (270 sq mi) urban therefore making it the largest city in terms of area in the country. It has a length of 51.9 km (32 mi) and a width of 48.48 km (30 mi).[citation needed]Delhi is included in India's seismic zone-IV, indicating its vulnerability to major earthquakes.[73]ClimateSee also: Climate of DelhiDelhi features a dry-winter humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cwa) bordering a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen BSh). The warm season lasts from 21 March to 15 June with an average daily high temperature above 39 °C (102 °F). The hottest day of the year is 22 May, with an average high of 40 °C (104 °F) and low of 28 °C (82 °F).[74] The cold season lasts from 26 November to 9 February with an average daily high temperature below 20 °C (68 °F). The coldest day of the year is 4 January, with an average low of 2 °C (36 °F) and high of 14 °C (57 °F).[74] In early March, the wind direction changes from north-westerly to south-westerly. From April to October the weather is hot. The monsoon arrives at the end of June, along with an increase in humidity.[75] The brief, mild winter starts in late November, peaks in January and heavy fog often occurs.[76]Temperatures in Delhi usually range from 2 to 47 °C (35.6 to 116.6 °F), with the lowest and highest temperatures ever recorded being −2.2 and 48.4 °C (28.0 and 119.1 °F), respectively.[77] The annual mean temperature is 25 °C (77 °F); monthly mean temperatures range from 13 to 32 °C (55 to 90 °F). The highest temperature recorded in July was 45 °C (113 °F) in 1931.[78][79] The average annual rainfall is approximately 886 mm (34.9 in), most of which falls during the monsoon in July and August.[24] The average date of the advent of monsoon winds in Delhi is 29 June.[80]vteClimate data for New Delhi (Safdarjung) 1981–2010, extremes 1901–presentMonth Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec YearRecord high °C (°F) 30.0(86.0) 34.1(93.4) 40.6(105.1) 45.6(114.1) 47.2(117.0) 46.7(116.1) 45.0(113.0) 42.0(107.6) 40.6(105.1) 39.4(102.9) 36.1(97.0) 29.3(84.7) 47.2(117.0)Mean maximum °C (°F) 25.5(77.9) 29.1(84.4) 35.3(95.5) 41.3(106.3) 43.7(110.7) 43.8(110.8) 39.7(103.5) 37.4(99.3) 37.1(98.8) 36.0(96.8) 32.2(90.0) 27.0(80.6) 44.5(112.1)Average high °C (°F) 20.5(68.9) 23.9(75.0) 29.6(85.3) 36.3(97.3) 39.5(103.1) 39.2(102.6) 35.4(95.7) 34.1(93.4) 34.1(93.4) 32.8(91.0) 28.2(82.8) 23.1(73.6) 31.4(88.5)Daily mean °C (°F) 14.1(57.4) 17.4(63.3) 22.7(72.9) 28.9(84.0) 32.7(90.9) 33.2(91.8) 31.4(88.5) 30.3(86.5) 29.6(85.3) 26.0(78.8) 20.5(68.9) 15.5(59.9) 25.2(77.4)Average low °C (°F) 7.6(45.7) 10.4(50.7) 15.6(60.1) 21.3(70.3) 25.8(78.4) 27.9(82.2) 27.4(81.3) 26.6(79.9) 25.0(77.0) 19.1(66.4) 12.9(55.2) 8.3(46.9) 19.0(66.2)Mean minimum °C (°F) 4.1(39.4) 6.1(43.0) 10.7(51.3) 16.0(60.8) 20.8(69.4) 22.3(72.1) 24.0(75.2) 23.6(74.5) 21.7(71.1) 14.7(58.5) 8.6(47.5) 4.6(40.3) 3.6(38.5)Record low °C (°F) −0.6(30.9) 1.6(34.9) 4.4(39.9) 10.7(51.3) 15.2(59.4) 18.9(66.0) 20.3(68.5) 20.7(69.3) 17.3(63.1) 9.4(48.9) 3.9(39.0) 1.1(34.0) −0.6(30.9)Average rainfall mm (inches) 19.3(0.76) 22.1(0.87) 15.9(0.63) 13.0(0.51) 31.5(1.24) 82.2(3.24) 187.3(7.37) 232.5(9.15) 129.8(5.11) 14.3(0.56) 4.9(0.19) 9.4(0.37) 762.3(30.01)Average rainy days 1.3 1.8 1.6 1.2 2.5 4.6 9.4 9.8 5.5 1.0 0.5 0.9 40.1Average relative humidity (%) (at 17:30 IST) 52 42 35 23 26 39 62 66 58 44 48 54 45Mean monthly sunshine hours 220.1 223.2 248.0 276.0 285.2 219.0 179.8 176.7 219.0 260.4 246.0 220.1 2,773.5Mean daily sunshine hours 7.1 7.9 8.0 9.2 9.2 7.3 5.8 5.7 7.3 8.4 8.2 7.1 7.6Source 1: India Meteorological Department (sun 1971–2000)[81][82][83][84]Source 2: Tokyo Climate Center (mean temperatures 1981–2010)Climate data for Delhi (Indira Gandhi International Airport) 1981–2010, extremes 1956–presentAir pollutionSee also: Environmental issues in Delhi and Air pollution in DelhiAccording to the World Health Organization (WHO) Delhi was the most polluted[90] city in the world in 2014. In 2016 WHO downgraded Delhi to eleventh-worst in the urban air quality database.[91] According to one estimate, air pollution causes the death of about 10,500 people in Delhi every year.[92][93][94] Air quality index of Delhi is generally moderate (101–200) level between January to September, and then it drastically deteriorates to Very Poor (301–400), Severe (401–500) or Hazardous (500+) levels in three months between October to December, due to various factors including stubble burning, fire crackers burning during Diwali and cold weather.[95][96][97] During 2013–14, peak levels of fine particulate matter (PM) in Delhi increased by about 44%, primarily due to high vehicular and industrial emissions, construction work and crop burning in adjoining states.[92][98][99][100] It has the highest level of the airborne particulate matter, PM2.5 considered most harmful to health, with 153 micrograms.[101] Rising air pollution level has significantly increased lung-related ailments (especially asthma and lung cancer) among Delhi's children and women.[102][103] The dense smog and haze in Delhi during winter results in major air and rail traffic disruptions every year.[104] According to Indian meteorologists, the average maximum temperature in Delhi during winters has declined notably since 1998 due to rising air pollution.[105]India's Ministry of Earth Sciences published a research paper in October 2018 attributing almost 41% of PM2.5 air pollution in Delhi to vehicular emissions, 21.5% to dust/fire and 18% to industries.[106] The director of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) alleged that the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) is lobbying "against the report" because it is "inconvenient" to the automobile industry.[107] Environmentalists have also criticised the Delhi government for not doing enough to curb air pollution and to inform people about air quality issues.[93] In 2014, an environmental panel appealed to India's Supreme Court to impose a 30% cess on diesel cars, but till date no action has been taken to penalise the automobile industry.[108]Most of Delhi's residents are unaware of alarming levels of air pollution in the city and the health risks associated with it;[99][100] however, as of 2015, awareness, particularly among the foreign diplomatic community and high-income Indians, was noticeably increasing.[109] Since the mid-1990s, Delhi has undertaken some measures to curb air pollution—Delhi has the third-highest quantity of trees among Indian cities[110] and the Delhi Transport Corporation operates the world's largest fleet of environmentally friendly compressed natural gas (CNG) buses.[111] In 1996, the CSE started a public interest litigation in the Supreme Court of India that ordered the conversion of Delhi's fleet of buses and taxis to run on CNG and banned the use of leaded petrol in 1998. In 2003, Delhi won the United States Department of Energy's first 'Clean Cities International Partner of the Year' award for its "bold efforts to curb air pollution and support alternative fuel initiatives".[111] The Delhi Metro has also been credited for significantly reducing air pollutants in the city.[112]However, according to several authors, most of these gains have been lost, especially due to stubble burning, a rise in the market share of diesel cars and a considerable decline in bus ridership.[113][114] According to CSE and System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), burning of agricultural waste in nearby Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh regions results in severe intensification of smog over Delhi.[115][116]The Circles of Sustainability assessment of Delhi gives a marginally more favourable impression of the ecological sustainability of the city only because it is based on a more comprehensive series of measures than only air pollution. Part of the reason that the city remains assessed at basic sustainability is because of the low resource-use and carbon emissions of its poorer neighbourhoods.[117] In December 2019, IIT Bombay, in partnership with the McKelvey School of Engineering of Washington University in St. Louis, launched the Aerosol and Air Quality Research Facility to study air pollution in Delhi, among other Indian cities.[118] On 3 January 2020, Delhi got its first smog tower to tackle air pollution.[119][120]Civic administrationSee also: Neighbourhoods of Delhi, Districts of Delhi, and List of towns in National Capital Territory of DelhiCurrently, the National Capital Territory of Delhi is made up of one division, 11 districts, 33 subdivisions, 59 census towns, and 300 villages.[121] Local civic administration has, since the trifurcation of the former Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) in January 2012,[122] been in the hands of five bodies:the East Delhi Municipal Corporation;the North Delhi Municipal Corporation;the South Delhi Municipal Corporation;the New Delhi Municipal Council; andthe Delhi Cantonment Board.It was in July 2012, shortly after the MCD trifurcation, that the Government of Delhi increased the number of districts in the capital territory from nine to eleven.[123]In terms of good governance and best administrative practices, Delhi was ranked fifth out of 21 Indian cities in 2014. It scored 3.6 out of 10 compared to the national average of 3.3.[124]Delhi is home to the Supreme Court of India and the regional Delhi High Court. A Small Causes Court deals with civil cases, while a Magistrates' Court and the Sessions Court handle criminal cases in the city. For policing purposes Delhi is divided into eleven police districts which are further subdivided into 95 local police station zones.[125]Government and politicsMain articles: Government of Delhi and Government of IndiaAs a first-level administrative division, the National Capital Territory of Delhi has its own Legislative Assembly, Lieutenant Governor, council of ministers and Chief Minister. Members of the legislative assembly are directly elected from territorial constituencies in the NCT. The legislative assembly was abolished in 1956, after which direct federal control was implemented until it was re-established in 1993. The Municipal corporation handles civic administration for the city as part of the Panchayati Raj Act. The Government of India and the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi jointly administer New Delhi, where both bodies are located. The Parliament of India, the Rashtrapati Bhavan (Presidential Palace), Cabinet Secretariat and the Supreme Court of India are located in the municipal district of New Delhi. There are 70 assembly constituencies and seven Lok Sabha (Indian parliament's lower house) constituencies in Delhi.[126][127] The Indian National Congress (Congress) formed all the governments in Delhi until the 1990s, when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Madan Lal Khurana, came to power.[128] In 1998, the Congress returned to power under the leadership of Sheila Dikshit, who was subsequently re-elected for 3 consecutive terms. But in 2013, the Congress was ousted from power by the newly formed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led by Arvind Kejriwal forming the government with outside support from the Congress.[129] However, that government was short-lived, collapsing only after 49 days.[130] Delhi was then under President's rule until February 2015.[131] On 10 February 2015, the Aam Aadmi Party returned to power after a landslide victory, winning 67 out of the 70 seats in the Delhi Legislative Assembly.[132]Since 2011 Delhi has had three municipal corporations:[133]SDMC having jurisdiction over South and West Delhi areas including Mahipalpur, Rajouri Garden, Janakpuri, Hari Nagar, Tilak Nagar, Dwarka, Jungpura, Greater Kailash, R K Puram, Malvya Nagar, Kalkaji, Ambedkar Nagar and Badarpur.NDMC has jurisdiction over areas such as Badli, Rithala, Bawana, Kirari, Mangolpuri, Tri Nagar, Model Town, Sadar Bazar, Chandni Chowk, Matia Mahal, Karol Bagh, Moti NagarEDMC has jurisdiction over areas such as Patparganj, Kondli, Laxmi Nagar, Seemapuri, Gonda, Karawal Nagar, Babarpur and ShahadraIn 2017 the BJP emerged the victors in elections to all three corporations.[134]EconomyMain article: Economy of DelhiDelhi is the largest commercial centre in northern India. As of 2016 recent estimates of the economy of the Delhi urban area have ranged from $167 to $370 billion (PPP metro GDP) ranking it either the most or second-most productive metro area of India.[17] The nominal GSDP of the NCT of Delhi for 2016–17 was estimated at ₹6,224 billion (US$87 billion), 13% higher than in 2015–16.[135][10] As per the Economic survey of Delhi (2005–2006), the tertiary sector contributes 70.95% of Delhi's gross SDP followed by secondary and primary sectors with 25.20% and 3.85% contributions, respectively.[136] Delhi's workforce constitutes 32.82% of the population, and increased by 52.52% between 1991 and 2001.[137] Delhi's unemployment rate decreased from 12.57% in 1999–2000 to 4.63% in 2003.[137] In December 2004, 636,000 people were registered with various employment exchange programmes in Delhi.[137]In 2001 the total workforce in national and state governments and the quasi-government sector was 620,000, and the private sector employed 219,000.[137] Key service industries are information technology, telecommunications, hotels, banking, media and tourism.[138] Construction, power, health and community services and real estate are also important to the city's economy. Delhi has one of India's largest and fastest growing retail industries.[139] Manufacturing also grew considerably as consumer goods companies established manufacturing units and headquarters in the city. Delhi's large consumer market and the availability of skilled labour has also attracted foreign investment. In 2001, the manufacturing sector employed 1,440,000 workers and the city had 129,000 industrial units.[140]Utility servicesDelhi's municipal water supply is managed by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). As of June 2005, it supplied 650 million gallons per day (MGD), whereas the estimated consumption requirement is 963 MGD.[141] The shortfall is met by private and public tube wells and hand pumps. At 240 MGD, the Bhakra storage is DJB's largest water source, followed by the Yamuna and Ganges rivers. Delhi's groundwater level is falling and its population density is increasing, so residents often encounter acute water shortage.[141] Research on Delhi suggests that up to half of the city's water use is unofficial groundwater.[142]In Delhi, daily domestic solid waste production is 8000 tonnes which is dumped at three landfill locations by MCD.[143] The daily domestic waste water production is 470 MGD and industrial waste water is 70 MGD.[144] A large portion of the sewage flows untreated into the Yamuna river.[144]The city's electricity consumption is about 1,265 kWh per capita but the actual demand is higher.[145] In Delhi power distribution is managed by Tata Power Distribution and BSES Yamuna & Rajdhani since 2002. The Delhi Fire Service runs 43 fire stations that attend about 15,000 fire and rescue calls per year.[146] The state-owned Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) and private enterprises such as Vodafone, Airtel, Idea Cellular, Reliance Infocomm, Aircel, Reliance Jio and Tata Docomo provide telephone and cell phone services to the city. Cellular coverage is available in GSM, CDMA, 3G and 4G.Transportmain article : transport in DelhiAirIndira Gandhi International Airport, situated to the south-west of Delhi, is the main gateway for the city's domestic and international civilian air traffic. In 2015–16, the airport handled more than 48 million passengers,[149] making it the busiest airport in India and South Asia. Terminal 3, which cost ₹96.8 billion (US$1.4 billion) to construct between 2007 and 2010, handles an additional 37 million passengers annually.[150] In 2010, IGIA was conferred the 4th best airport award in the world in the 15–25 million category, by Airports Council International. The airport was rated as the Best airport in the world in the 25–40 million passengers category in 2015, by Airports Council International. Delhi Airport was awarded The Best Airport in Central Asia and Best Airport Staff in Central Asia at the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2015.[151][152]The Delhi Flying Club, established in 1928 with two de Havilland Moth aircraft named Delhi and Roshanara, was based at Safdarjung Airport which started operations in 1929, when it was the Delhi's only airport and the second in India.[153] The airport functioned until 2001; however, in January 2002 the government closed the airport for flying activities because of security concerns following the New York attacks in September 2001. Since then, the club only carries out aircraft maintenance courses and is used for helicopter rides to Indira Gandhi International Airport for VIP including the president and the prime minister.[153][154]Hindon Domestic Airport in Ghaziabad was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the second airport for the Delhi-NCR Region on 8 March 2019.[155]A second international airport open for commercial flights has been suggested either by expansion of Meerut Airport or construction of a new airport in Greater Noida.[156] The Taj International Airport project in Jewar has been approved by the Uttar Pradesh government.[157]RoadDelhi has the highest road density of 2103 km/100 km2 in India.[158] It is connected to other parts of India by five National Highways: NH 1, NH 2, NH 8, NH 10 and NH 24. The city's road network is maintained by MCD, NDMC, Delhi Cantonment Board, Public Works Department (PWD) and Delhi Development Authority.[159]Buses are the most popular means of road transport catering to about 60% of Delhi's total demand.[160] Delhi has one of India's largest bus transport systems. In 1998, the Supreme Court of India ruled that all public transport vehicles in Delhi must be fuelled by compressed natural gas (CNG) to tackle increasing vehicular pollution.[161] The state-owned Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) is a major bus service provider which operates the world's largest fleet of CNG-fuelled buses.[162][163] In addition, cluster scheme buses are operated by Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) with the participation of private concessionaires and DTC.[164][165] In December 2017, the DTC and cluster buses carried over 4.19 million passengers per day.[166] Kashmiri Gate ISBT, Anand Vihar ISBT and Sarai Kale Khan ISBT are the main bus terminals for outstation buses plying to neighbouring states. Delhi's rapid rate of economic development and population growth has resulted in an increasing demand for transport, creating excessive pressure on the city's transport infrastructure. To meet the transport demand, the State and Union government constructed a mass rapid transit system, including the Delhi Metro.[167] Delhi Bus Rapid Transit System runs between Ambedkar Nagar and Delhi Gate.Personal vehicles especially cars also form a major chunk of vehicles plying on Delhi roads. As of 2007, private vehicles account for 30% of the total demand for transport.[167] Delhi has the highest number of registered cars compared to any other metropolitan city in India.[168] Taxis, auto rickshaws, and cycle rickshaws also ply on Delhi roads in large numbers. As of 2008, the number of vehicles in the metropolitan region, Delhi NCR, was 11.2 million (11.2 million).[169] In 2008, there were 85 cars in Delhi for every 1,000 of its residents.[170] In 2017, the number of vehicles in Delhi city alone crossed the ten million mark with the transport department of Delhi Government putting the total number of registered vehicles at 10,567,712 until 25 May of the year.[171]Important Roads in DelhiSome roads and expressways serve as important pillars of Delhi's road infrastructure:The Inner Ring Road is one of the most important "state highways" in Delhi. It is a 51 km long circular road which connects important areas in Delhi. Owing to more than 2 dozen grade-separators/flyovers, the road is almost signal-free.The Outer Ring Road is another major artery in Delhi that links far-flung areas of Delhi.The Delhi Noida Direct Flyway or DND Flyway is an eight-laned access controlled tolled expressway which connects Delhi to Noida (an important satellite city of Uttar Pradesh).[172][173]The Delhi Gurgaon Expressway is a 28 km (17 mi) expressway connecting Delhi to Gurgaon, an important satellite city of Haryana.The Delhi Faridabad Skyway is controlled tolled expressway which connects Delhi to Faridabad, an important satellite city of Haryana.National Highways Passing Through DelhiDelhi is connected by road to various parts of the country through several National Highways: It is connected to other parts of India by five National Highways:NH 1 connects Amritsar in Punjab to New Delhi.NH 2 commonly referred as Delhi-Kolkata Road that runs through the states of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.NH 8, now known as National Highway 48 connects the Indian capital city of New Delhi with the Indian financial capital city of Mumbai via Jaipur and terminates at Chennai.NH 10, connects Fazilka in Punjab, India to Delhi.NH 24 connects the National capital Delhi to Uttar Pradesh state capital Lucknow running 438 kilometres (272 miles) in length.RailwayDelhi is a major junction in the Indian railway network and is the headquarters of the Northern Railway. The main railway stations are New Delhi, Old Delhi, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Anand Vihar, Delhi Sarai Rohilla and Delhi Cantt.[167] The Delhi Metro, a mass rapid transit system built and operated by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), serves many parts of Delhi and the neighbouring cities Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gurgaon and Noida.[174] As of August 2018, the metro consists of eight operational lines with a total length of 296 km (184 mi) and 214 stations, and several other lines are under construction.[175] The Phase-I was built at a cost of US$2.3 billion and the Phase-II was expected to cost an additional ₹216 billion (US$3.0 billion).[176] Phase-II has a total length of 128 km and was completed by 2010.[177] Delhi Metro completed 10 years of operation on 25 December 2012. It carries millions of passengers every day.[178] In addition to the Delhi Metro, a suburban railway, the Delhi Suburban Railway existsThe Delhi Metro is a rapid transit system serving Delhi, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gurgaon and Noida in the National Capital Region of India. Delhi Metro is the world's tenth-largest metro system in terms of length. Delhi Metro was India's second modern public transportation system, which has revolutionised travel by providing a fast, reliable, safe, and comfortable means of transport. The network consists of eleven lines with a total length of 311 kilometres (193 miles) with 214 stations, which are a mix of underground, at-grade and elevated stations. All stations have escalators, lifts, and tactile tiles to guide the visually impaired from station entrances to trains. There are 18 designated parking sites at Metro stations to further encourage the use of the system. In March 2010, DMRC partnered with Google India (through Google Transit) to provide train schedule and route information to mobile devices with Google Maps. It has a combination of elevated, at-grade, and underground lines, and uses both broad gauge and standard gauge rolling stock. Four types of rolling stock are used: Mitsubishi–ROTEM Broad gauge, Bombardier MOVIA, Mitsubishi–ROTEM Standard gauge, and CAF Beasain Standard gauge. The Phase-I of Delhi Metro was built at a cost of US$2.3 billion and the Phase-II was expected to cost an additional ₹216 billion (US$3.0 billion).[176] Phase-II has a total length of 128 km and was completed by 2010.[177] Delhi Metro completed 10 years of operation on 25 December 2012. It carries millions of passengers every day.[178]Delhi Metro is being built and operated by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited (DMRC), a state-owned company with equal equity participation from Government of India and Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi. However, the organisation is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India. Besides construction and operation of Delhi Metro, DMRC is also involved in the planning and implementation of metro rail, monorail, and high-speed rail projects in India and providing consultancy services to other metro projects in the country as well as abroad. The Delhi Metro project was spearheaded by Padma Vibhushan E. Sreedharan, the managing director of DMRC and popularly known as the "Metro Man" of India. He famously resigned from DMRC taking moral responsibility for a metro bridge collapse, which took five lives. Sreedharan was awarded the prestigious Legion of Honour by the French Government for his contribution to Delhi Metro.[180]Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS)The 08 RRTS Corridors have been proposed by the National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) to facilitate the people travelling from nearby cities in NCR to Delhi.[181] The three main corridors in the first phase are as follows:[182]Delhi – Alwar via Gurugram – 180.50 kmDelhi – Panipat via Sonipat – 111 kmDelhi – Meerut via Ghaziabad – 92.05 kmRemaining five corridors are also approved by National Capital Region Planning Board but are planned in the second phase.[182]DemographicsAccording to the 2011 census of India, the population of NCT of Delhi is 16,753,235.[183] The corresponding population density was 11,297 persons per km2 with a sex ratio of 866 women per 1000 men, and a literacy rate of 86.34%. In 2004, the birth rate, death rate and infant mortality rate per 1000 population were 20.03, 5.59 and 13.08, respectively.[184] In 2001, the population of Delhi increased by 285,000 as a result of migration and by 215,000 as a result of natural population growth,[184] which made Delhi one of the fastest growing cities in the world. Dwarka Sub City, Asia's largest planned residential area, is located within the National Capital Territory of Delhi.[185] Urban expansion has resulted in Delhi's urban area now being considered as extending beyond the NCT boundaries to incorporate the towns and cities of neighbouring states including Faridabad and Gurgaon of Haryana, and Ghaziabad and Noida of Uttar Pradesh, the total population of which is estimated by the United Nations at over 26 million. According to the UN this makes Delhi urban area the world's second-largest, after Tokyo,[7] although Demographia declares the Jakarta urban area to be the second-largest.[186] The 2011 census provided two figures for urban area population: 16,314,838 within the NCT boundary,[187] and 21,753,486 for the Extended Urban Area.[188] The 2021 regional plan released by the Government of India renamed the Extended Urban Area from Delhi Metropolitan Area (DMA) as defined by the 2001 plan[189] to Central National Capital Region (CNCR).[189][190]Major social groups of Delhi include Brahmins, Jats, Punjabis, Purvanchalis, Vaishyas, Gujjars, Sikhs, Muslims, Uttarakhandis, Bengalis, etc.[191][192][193][194][183]ReligionA complete view of Akshardham temple with people entering the temple.Swaminarayan Akshardham in Delhi is the largest Hindu temple complex in the National Capital Territory. Hinduism is the predominant faith in Delhi.[195]Lal Mandir is a historic Jain temple in Old Delhi.Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is one of the most prominent Sikh Gurdwara in Delhi, and known for its association with the eighth Sikh Guru, Guru Har Krishan.Islamic Jama Masjid.Cathedral Church of the Redemption, belonging to the Church of North India.Religion in NCT of Delhi (2011)[196]Hinduism (81.68%)Islam (12.86%)Sikhism (3.40%)Jainism (0.99%)Christianity (0.87%)Buddhism (0.11%)Other or Not stated (0.09%)Hinduism is Delhi's predominant religious faith, with 81.68% of Delhi's population, followed by Islam (12.86%), Sikhism (3.40%), Jainism (0.99%), Christianity (0.87%), and Buddhism (0.11%).[197] Other minority religions include Zoroastrianism, Baha'ism and Judaism.[198]LanguagesLanguages in Delhi (2011)[199]Hindi (81.26%)Punjabi (5.2%)Urdu (5.17%)Bhojpuri (1.35%)Bengali (1.28%)Others (5.74%)According to the 50th report of the commissioner for linguistic minorities in India, which was submitted in 2014, Hindi is Delhi's most spoken language, with 80.94% speakers, followed by Punjabi (7.14%), Urdu (6.31%) and Bengali (1.50%). 4.11% of the Delhites speak other languages.[200] Hindi is also the official language of Delhi while Urdu and Punjabi have been declared as additional official languages.[200]According to the Directorate of Education, GNCTD the following languages are taught in schools in Delhi under the three-language formula:[201]First LanguageHindiUrduEnglishSecond LanguageEnglishThird languageUrduPunjabiBengaliSindhiTamilTeluguMalayalamKannadaGujaratiMarathiArabicPersianSanskritSlumsAround 49% of the population of Delhi lives in slums and unauthorised colonies without any civic amenities.[202] The majority of the slums have inadequate provisions to the basic facilities and according to a DUSIB report, almost 22% of the people do open defecation.[203]CultureSee also: Culture of IndiaAn image showing a number of pots which are made traditionally, black coloured with red and green work on it.Traditional pottery on display in Dilli HaatDelhi's culture has been influenced by its lengthy history and historic association as the capital of India, Although a strong Punjabi Influence can be seen in language, Dress and Cuisine brought by the large number of refugees who came following the partition in 1947 the recent migration from other parts of India has made it a melting pot. This is exemplified by many significant monuments in the city. Delhi is also identified as the location of Indraprastha, the ancient capital of the Pandavas. The Archaeological Survey of India recognises 1,200 heritage buildings[204] and 175 monuments as national heritage sites.[205]In the Old City, the Mughals and the Turkic rulers constructed several architecturally significant buildings, such as the Jama Masjid—India's largest mosque[206] built in 1656[207] and the Red Fort. Three World Heritage Sites—the Red Fort, Qutub Minar and Humayun's Tomb—are located in Delhi.[208] Other monuments include the India Gate, the Jantar Mantar—an 18th-century astronomical observatory—and the Purana Qila—a 16th-century fortress. The Laxminarayan Temple, Akshardham temple, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, the Bahá'í Lotus Temple and the ISKCON temple are examples of modern architecture. Raj Ghat and associated memorials houses memorials of Mahatma Gandhi and other notable personalities. New Delhi houses several government buildings and official residences reminiscent of British colonial architecture, including the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Secretariat, Rajpath, the Parliament of India and Vijay Chowk. Safdarjung's Tomb is an example of the Mughal gardens style. Some regal havelis (palatial residences) are in the Old City.[209]Lotus Temple is a Bahá'í House of Worship completed in 1986. Notable for its flowerlike shape, it serves as the Mother Temple of the Indian subcontinent and has become a prominent attraction in the city. The Lotus Temple has won numerous architectural awards and been featured in hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles. Like all other Bahá'í Houses of Worship, is open to all regardless of religion, or any other distinction, as emphasised in Bahá'í texts. The Bahá'í laws emphasise that the spirit of the House of Worship be that it is a gathering place where people of all religions may worship God without denominational restrictions.[210] The Bahá'í laws also stipulate that only the holy scriptures of the Bahá'í Faith and other religions can be read or chanted inside in any language; while readings and prayers can be set to music by choirs, no musical instruments can be played inside. Furthermore, no sermons can be delivered, and there can be no ritualistic ceremonies practised.[210]The National Museum and National Gallery of Modern Art are some of the largest museums in the country. Other museums in Delhi include the National Museum of Natural History, National Rail Museum and National Philatelic Museum.Chandni Chowk, a 17th-century market, is one of the most popular shopping areas in Delhi for jewellery and Zari saris.[211] Delhi's arts and crafts include, Zardozi[212]—an embroidery done with gold thread—[213] and Meenakari[214]—the art of enamelling.FestivalsRashtrapati Bhavan lit up for Republic Day of IndiaDelhi's association and geographic proximity to the capital, New Delhi, has amplified the importance of national events and holidays like Republic Day, Independence Day (15 August) and Gandhi Jayanti. On Independence Day, the Prime Minister addresses the nation from the Red Fort. Most Delhiites celebrate the day by flying kites, which are considered a symbol of freedom.[215] The Republic Day Parade is a large cultural and military parade showcasing India's cultural diversity and military strength.[216][217] Over the centuries, Delhi has become known for its composite culture, and a festival that symbolises this is the Phool Walon Ki Sair, which takes place in September. Flowers and pankhe—fans embroidered with flowers—are offered to the shrine of the 13th-century Sufi saint Khwaja Bakhtiyar Kaki and the Yogmaya Temple, both situated in Mehrauli.[218]A view of Pragati Maidan from insideThe Pragati Maidan in Delhi hosts the World Book Fair bienniallyReligious festivals include Diwali (the festival of lights), Mahavir Jayanti, Guru Nanak's Birthday, Raksha Bandhan, Durga Puja, Holi, Lohri, Chauth, Krishna Janmastami, Maha Shivratri, Eid ul-Fitr, Moharram and Buddha Jayanti.[217] The Qutub Festival is a cultural event during which performances of musicians and dancers from all over India are showcased at night, with the Qutub Minar as a backdrop.[219] Other events such as Kite Flying Festival, International Mango Festival and Vasant Panchami (the Spring Festival) are held every year in Delhi. The Auto Expo, Asia's largest auto show,[220] is held in Delhi biennially. The New Delhi World Book Fair, held biennially at the Pragati Maidan, is the second-largest exhibition of books in the world.[221] Delhi is often regarded as the "Book Capital" of India because of high readership.[222] India International Trade Fair (IITF), organised by ITPO is the biggest cultural and shopping fair of Delhi which takes place in November each year and is visited by more than 1.5 million people.[223]CuisineMain article: Indian cuisineDaulat Chaat is made using a complicated technique of condensing milk foam on a cold night, this dish is only available during winters.Daulat Chaat is made using a complicated technique of condensing milk foam on a cold night, this dish is only available during winters.[224]As India's national capital and centuries old Mughal capital, Delhi influenced the food habits of its residents and is where Mughlai cuisine originated. Along with Indian cuisine, a variety of international cuisines are popular among the residents.[225] The dearth of food habits among the city's residents created a unique style of cooking which became popular throughout the world, with dishes such as Kebab, biryani, tandoori. The city's classic dishes include butter chicken, dal makhani, shahi paneer, aloo chaat, chaat, dahi bhalla, kachori, gol gappe, samosa, chole bhature, chole kulche, gulab jamun, jalebi and lassi.[225][226]:40–50, 189–196The fast living habits of Delhi's people has motivated the growth of street food outlets.[226]:41 A trend of dining at local dhabas is popular among the residents. High-profile restaurants have gained popularity in recent years, among the popular restaurants are the Karim Hotel, the Punjab Grill and Bukhara.[227] The Gali Paranthe Wali (the street of fried bread) is a street in Chandni Chowk particularly for food eateries since the 1870s. Almost the entire street is occupied by fast food stalls or street vendors. It has nearly become a tradition that almost every prime minister of India has visited the street to eat paratha at least once. Other Indian cuisines are also available in this area even though the street specialises in north Indian food.[226]:40–50[228]TourismMain article: List of tourist attractions in DelhiSee also: Shopping in DelhiJantar MantarAccording to Euromonitor International, Delhi ranked as 28th-most visited city in the world and first in India by foreign visitors in 2015.[229] There are numerous tourist attractions in Delhi, both historic and modern. The three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Delhi, Qutb Complex, Red Fort and Humayun's Tomb are among the finest examples of Indo-Islamic architecture.[230] Another prominent landmark of Delhi is India Gate, a 1931 built war memorial to soldiers of British Indian Army who died during First World War.[231] Delhi has several famous places of worship of various religions. One of the largest Hindu temple complexes in the world,[232] Akshardham is a major tourist attraction in the city. Other famous religious sites include Lal Mandir, Laxminarayan Temple, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Lotus Temple, Jama Masjid and ISKCON Temple.Delhi is also a hub for shopping of all kinds. Connaught Place, Chandni Chowk, Sarojini Nagar, Khan Market and Dilli Haat are some of the major retail markets in Delhi.[233] Major shopping malls include Select Citywalk, Pacific Mall, DLF Promenade, DLF Emporio, Metro Walk and Ansal Plaza.[234]EducationMain article: Education in DelhiAll India Institute of Medical SciencesIndian Institute of Technology, DelhiNational Law University, DelhiUniversity of DelhiPrivate schools in Delhi—which use either English or Hindi as the language of instruction—are affiliated to one of three administering bodies, the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE)[235] or the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). In 2004–05, approximately 1,529,000 students were enrolled in primary schools, 822,000 in middle schools and 669,000 in secondary schools across Delhi.[236] Female students represented 49% of the total enrolment. The same year, the Delhi government spent between 1.58% and 1.95% of its gross state domestic product on education.[236]Schools and higher educational institutions in Delhi are administered either by the Directorate of Education, the NCT government or private organisations. In 2006, Delhi had 165 colleges, five medical colleges and eight engineering colleges,[236] seven major universities and nine deemed universities.[236]The premier management colleges of Delhi such as Faculty of Management Studies (Delhi) and Indian Institute of Foreign Trade rank the best in India. All India Institute of Medical Sciences Delhi is a premier medical school for treatment and research. National Law University, Delhi is a prominent law school and is affiliated to the Bar Council of India. The Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi situated in Hauz Khas is a premier engineering college of India and ranks as one of the top institutes in South Asia.[citation needed]Delhi Technological University (formerly Delhi College of Engineering), Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University and National Law University, Delhi are the only state universities.[237] University of Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Jamia Millia Islamia are the central universities, and Indira Gandhi National Open University is for distance education.[238] As of 2008, about 16% of all Delhi residents possessed at least a college graduate degree.[239]MediaSee also: Media of IndiaPitampura TV Tower with background of blue skyPitampura TV Tower broadcasts programming to DelhiAs the capital of India, Delhi is the focus of political reportage, including regular television broadcasts of Parliament sessions. Many national media agencies, including the state-owned Press Trust of India, Media Trust of India and Doordarshan, is based in the city. Television programming includes two free terrestrial television channels offered by Doordarshan, and several Hindi, English, and regional-language cable channels offered by multi system operators. Satellite television has yet to gain a large quantity of subscribers in the city.[240]Print journalism remains a popular news medium in Delhi. The city's Hindi newspapers include Navbharat Times, Hindustan Dainik, Punjab Kesari, Pavitra Bharat, Dainik Jagran, Dainik Bhaskar, Dainik Prayukti, Amar Ujala and Dainik Desbandhu. Amongst the English language newspapers, The Hindustan Times, with a daily circulation of over a million copies, is the single largest daily.[241] Other major English newspapers include The Times of India, The Hindu, Indian Express, Business Standard, The Pioneer, The Statesman, and The Asian Age. Regional language newspapers include the Malayalam daily Malayala Manorama and the Tamil dailies Dinamalar and Dinakaran.Radio is a less popular mass medium in Delhi, although FM radio has gained popularity[242] since the inauguration of several new stations in 2006.[243] A number of state-owned and private radio stations broadcast from Delhi.[244][245]SportsMain article: Sports in DelhiDelhi has hosted many major international sporting events, including the inaugural 1951 Asian Games, 1982 Asian Games, 1989 Asian Athletic Championships, 2010 Hockey World Cup, 2010 Commonwealth Games and 2011 Cricket World Cup.Indian athletes marching into the National Stadium during the opening ceremony of the 1951 Asian Games.1951 Asian GamesMain article: 1951 Asian GamesDelhi hosted the first Asian Games in 1951 from 4 to 11 March. A total of 489 athletes representing 11 Asian National Olympic Committees participated in 57 events from eight sports and discipline. The Games was the successor of the Far Eastern Games and the revival of the Western Asiatic Games. On 13 February 1949, the Asian Games Federation was formally established in Delhi, with Delhi unanimously announced as the first host city of the Asian Games. National Stadium was the venue for all events.[246] Over 40,000 spectators watched the opening ceremony of the Games in National Stadium.[247]1982 Asian GamesMain article: 1982 Asian GamesDelhi hosted the ninth Asian Games for the second time in 1982 from 19 November to 4 December. This was the second time the city has hosted the Asian Games and was also the first Asian Games to be held under the aegis of the Olympic Council of Asia. A total of 3,411 athletes from 33 National Olympic Committees participated in these games, competing in 196 events in 21 sports and 23 disciplines. The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, which was built purposely for the event, hosted its opening ceremony.[248]The 2010 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.2010 Commonwealth GamesMain article: 2010 Commonwealth GamesDelhi hosted the nineteenth Commonwealth Games in 2010, which ran from 3 to 14 October and was the largest sporting event held in India.[249][250] The opening ceremony of the 2010 Commonwealth Games was held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the main stadium of the event, in New Delhi at 7:00 pm Indian Standard Time on 3 October 2010.[251] The ceremony featured over 8,000 performers and lasted for two and a half hours.[252] It is estimated that ₹3.5 billion (US$49 million) were spent to produce the ceremony.[253] Events took place at 12 competition venues. 20 training venues were used in the Games, including seven venues within Delhi University.[254] The rugby stadium in Delhi University North Campus hosted rugby games for Commonwealth Games.[254]Other sportsJawaharlal Nehru Stadium.Cricket and football are the most popular sports in Delhi.[255] There are several cricket grounds, or maidans, located across the city. The Arun Jaitley Stadium (known commonly as the Kotla) is one of the oldest cricket grounds in India and is a venue for international cricket matches. It is the home ground of the Delhi cricket team, which represents the city in the Ranji Trophy, the premier Indian domestic first-class cricket championship.[256] The Delhi cricket team has produced several world-class international cricketers such as Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli,[257] Gautam Gambhir, Madan Lal, Chetan Chauhan, Shikhar Dhawan, Ishant Sharma, Manoj Prabhakar and Bishan Singh Bedi to name a few. The Railways and Services cricket teams in the Ranji Trophy also play their home matches in Delhi, in the Karnail Singh Stadium and the Harbax Singh Stadium, respectively. The city is also home to the Indian Premier League team Delhi Capitals, who play their home matches at the Kotla.Ambedkar Stadium, a football stadium in Delhi which holds 21,000 people, was the venue for the Indian football team's World Cup qualifier against UAE on 28 July 2012.[258] Delhi hosted the Nehru Cup in 2007[259] and 2009, in both of which India defeated Syria 1–0.[260] In the Elite Football League of India, Delhi's first professional American football franchise, the Delhi Defenders played its first season in Pune.[261] Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida, a suburb of Delhi, formerly hosted the Formula 1 Indian Grand Prix.[262] The Indira Gandhi Arena is also in Delhi.Delhi is a member of the Asian Network of Major Cities 21.Current Regional and Professional Sports Teams from DelhiTeam/Club Tournament/League Sport Venue EstablishedDelhi cricket team Ranji TrophyVijay Hazare Trophy Syed Mushtaq Ali TrophyCricket Arun Jaitley Stadium 1934Delhi football team Santosh Trophy Football Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium 1941Delhi Capitals Indian Premier League Cricket Arun Jaitley Stadium 2008Delhi Waveriders Hockey India League Field hockey Shivaji Stadium 2012Dabang Delhi Pro Kabaddi League Kabaddi Thyagaraj Sports Complex 2014Delhi Dreams Champions Tennis League Tennis R.K. Khanna Tennis Complex 2014Indian Aces International Premier Tennis League Tennis Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium 2014Delhi Hurricanes RFC All India & South Asia Rugby Tournament Rugby union B-7 Vasant Kunj 110070 Delhi 2004Delhi Defenders Elite Football League of India American football – 2012Delhi Wizards World Series Hockey Field hockey Dhyan Chand National Stadium 2011Delhi Capitals UBA Pro Basketball League Basketball – 2015Former Regional and Professional Sports Teams from DelhiTeam/Club Tournament/League Sport Venue Established CeasedDelhi Giants Indian Cricket League Cricket N/A 2007 2009Delhi Dynamos Indian Super League Football Kalinga Stadium 2014 2019Notable peopleMain article: List of people from DelhiInternational relationsMain article: List of twin towns and sister cities in IndiaSister cities[263]China Beijing, ChinaUnited States Chicago, United StatesJapan Fukuoka, JapanEngland London, England, United KingdomPartnerships[263]Australia Melbourne, AustraliaRussia Moscow, RussiaSouth Korea Seoul, South KoreaMongolia Ulaanbaatar, MongoliaArmenia Yerevan, Armeniasome famous places to visit in India like DelhiChennai districtDelhi metropolitan areaKolkata districtList of twin towns and sister cities in IndiaMumbai City district

Top 10 Economics sitesEconomist MagazineI have made this the number 1 website because it contains so much useful information. This includes Special Reports, Daily News, Finance and Economics and Business. The best bit of the site for newcomers to economics is the Economics A-Z. You will see simple definitions of key economics terms. This is a great site.BBCIf you go to the news section and then head for the business news you will get instant access to all the latest economics stories. It provides a perfect overview written in a very accessible style. The BBC also has a good reputation for breaking key stories first.EconomicsUK.comThis is a superb economics web-based resource from David Smith, the economics editor of the Sunday Times. You will find great discussions in the forums as well as topical economics stories.Federal ReserveEuropean Central BankBank of EnglandI have grouped these three websites together as they represent three of the main central banks. You will find a vast range of informative economics content at these sites. This includes the latest schedule and details of the meetings of each bank.FT.comAs the advert once said “No FT No comment”.This site has a fantastic range of current economic news and data. You should focus on the Markets and Markets Data sections in particular.BloombergSome of my very keen and able students introduced me to this site. It is a superb source for news and comment on the world of economics and financial markets.GuardianThis is the homepage for the Guardian newspaper. If you follow the link to Business you will find a good range of current economics stories being analysed.Bureau of Labor StatisticsThis is the site for the US bureau of labor statistics. You will be able to access the latest data on US inflation and prices, unemployment and employment. This all has a huge impact on financial market movements worldwide.Money WeekThis is a useful website for the Money Week Magazine. You will find a fantastic range of economics articles on the US, UK, Europe, Japan and Asia.UK Statistics AuthorityThis is the website that provides detailed economics data for the UK economy. From inflation to trade figures it is all here.The 7 best sites for learning economics for free1) EconomicsNo surprise here, wikipedia tops our list of useful free sites to learn economics. While they do not do a good job of going through examples, or showing the application of the concepts, you can find almost anything related to economics at their site. Another good thing about wikipedia is that the majority of their content has references, so if needed you can look directly at the source.2) Economics Basics: Introduction | InvestopediaInvestopedia.com has a huge amount of topics including most of the basics, and they take a very textbook styled approach, and you can find almost any topic covered here. They are also a good source because of their sample quizzes that you can take to see if you have mastered the material. Also, if you are a business student, investopedia has other articles on investing and business related topics that you may find useful.3) http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/Coming in at number 3 on our best sites for learning economics post is the economics section of tutor2u | Economics | Business Studies | Politics | Sociology | History | Law | Marketing | Accounting | Business Strategy. While this site is difficult to navigate, or find what you need, they have almost everything covered because they have been around so long. There site is formatted similar to this site, in that topics and questions take the form of posts, and are then categorized. This site is especially useful for students in the United Kingdom because the majority of their posts use the UK in their examples and analysis. While the posts are free to peruse, I think they do charge for some of their products.4) Welcome to Economics Help.org - Economics HelpThis site is very similar to number 3. Welcome to Economics Help.org - Economics Help has a small section of basic economic principles, and then a very large blog where the author of the site answers questions by the readers, or discusses economic topics of interest. While the brief section on economic principles and the blog posts are free, you are also able to purchase advanced study materials from the site. Again, this site focuses on UK driven economics, so may not be as relevant to those studying in other countries, but still a good source.5) Your Guide to Economics at About.comComing in at number 5 on our best sites for learning economics for free is the economics section ofabout.com. While this site is hard to navigate or find what you are looking for, if you do find it you can be confident that it is well written and representative. And as always, everything on the about.com site is free.6) http://www.basiceconomics.info/Next we have Basic Economics. This site is very straight forward, easy to navigate, and could potentially solve your needs. They do not go over many examples or applications, but have a very brief summary of most basic economic concepts. If you need to find something fast, this site may be your best bet.7) http://www.sparknotes.com/economics/ Finally I include the economics section of sparknotes.com. Everything here is free and laid out pretty well and they even include a references section. I rate it last because the topics could be better organized and their site is incredibly clustered with advertisements and other items unrelated to studying economics. If you need to kill some time (think facebook), then the off topic items on sparknotes won't bother you, and you should still be to learn what you need to.100 Top Environment SitesScorecard xScorecard combines data from over 200 different state and federal databases to profile local environmental problems and the health effects of toxic chemicals.Greenpeace International xAn independent campaigning organization which uses non-violent, creative confrontation to expose global environmental problems, and to force the solutions which are essential to a green and peaceful future.Sierra Club xLearn about the Sierra Club's campaign to reverse one of the largest experiments in history--global warming.Environmental News Network xENN covers breaking environmental news, including pollution issues.Environmental Defense xA not-for-profit environmental advocacy group with four main goals: stabilizing the Earth's climate, safeguarding the world's oceans, protecting human health, and defending and restoring biodiversity.World Wide Fund International xThe world's largest and most experienced independent conservation organization, with around 5 million supporters and a global network of 27 national organizations, 5 associates, and 21 program offices.Climate Ark xPerforms full text searches of educational and activist Web sites. Also includes an archive of "popular media and environmental group information" on climate change and other environmental topics.United Nations Environment Programme xInformation on the environmental initiatives undertaken by the UN.Conservation International xCI focuses on trying to preserve and promote awareness about the world's most endangered biodiversity through scientific programs, local awareness campaigns, and economic initiatives.National Audubon Society xThe mission of the National Audubon Society is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds and other wildlife for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity.Earth Day Network xCoordinating worldwide events for Earth Day and beyond. Features environmental tips, clean energy campaigns, activist networks, an eco-store and Grist Magazine.The Nature Conservancy x"Saving the Last Great Places."Earth's 911 xA public and private sector partnership to empower the public with community-specific resources to improve quality of life.Friends of the Earth xThis nonprofit organization focuses on the economics of sustainable growth.Clean Up Australia xA very successful Australian organization that works to clean up environmental pollution and to teach citizens how to lead greener lives.Earth Times xCovers news and issues affecting: the environment, education, society, business, culture, media, nature, politics, and population.Alliance to Save Energy xA coalition of prominent business, government, environmental and consumer leaders.National Wildlife Federation - NWF xNWF focuses its efforts on five core issue areas: Endangered Habitat, Water Quality, Land Stewardship, Wetlands, and Sustainable Communities.Nature.com x"The world's best science and medicine on your desktop"Union of Concerned Scientists xThe Union of Concerned Scientists works to ensure that all people have clean air and energy, as well as safe and sufficient food.American Rivers xNorth America's leading national river-conservation organization.Office of Wetlands, Oceans, & Watersheds xThe OWOW provides information to raise public awareness and encourage involvement in water quality issues.Rainforest Action Network xWorking to protect tropical rainforests and the human rights of those living in and around those forests.OneWorld xPromotes human rights and sustainable development. Site includes news, current projects, features and more.Audubon Institute xThe Audubon Institute's goal is to foster appreciation and, ultimately, conservation of these ecosystems, which are showcased in an outstanding collection of ten museums and parks dedicated to nature.EarthVision xProvides daily environmental news, industry links, job listings and more.Earthwatch Institute xA non-profit environmental and wildlife organization.World Watch Institute xWorldwatch is dedicated to fostering the evolution of a society in which human needs are met in ways that do not threaten the health of the natural environment.Solstice xThe Internet information service of the Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology (CREST). An excellent source for the latest in SED info.EcologyFund xHelp protect rainforests, wildlife and parks by donating land.The Rainforest Site xVisitors to The Rainforest Site can save a free area of rainforest with the "click of a button."CNN: Sci-Tech xCNN's nature and science news section.Climate Institute xThe Climate Institute works to protect the balance between climate and life on earth by facilitating the dialogue among scientists, policy makers, business executives and citizens.TreeHugger x"Fast-growing web magazine, dedicated to everything that has a modern aesthetic yet is environmentally responsible."Save Our Environment xOverall goal is to increase public awareness of environmental issues. Press releases, reports, and fact sheets exposing environmental issues.Council on Environmental Quality xLearn about the White House initiative to cut paperwork and develop new partnerships with industry, landowners and the states to provide more flexibility for the regulated community in return for better environmental results.Urban Land Institute xThe ULI tackles such issues as traffic and land use, parking, transit villages and other transportation issues both public and private.Wildlife Conservation Society xUtilizes the resources of wildlife parks with worldwide field projects to inspire care for nature and provide leadership in environmental education.Resources for the Future xA nonprofit and nonpartisan think tank that conducts independent research rooted primarily in economics and other social sciences on environmental and natural resource issues.The Wilderness Society xWorks to protect America's wilderness and to develop a nation-wide network of wild lands through public education, scientific analysis and advocacy.Environment News Service xLatest environmental news headlines, message board, links and more.Earth Site xThe official site of International Earth Day.Sustainable Communities Network xLinking citizens to resources and to one another to create healthy, vital, sustainable communities.WWF Canada xWWF Canada pursues a mission to save life on Earth through four conservation programs: Endangered Species, Endangered Spaces and Wildlife Toxicology in Canada and an International program in Latin America.Weathervane x"A digital forum on global climate policy."BBC-Science & Nature xColorful news site with an abundance of information on space, animals, special environmental topics, and much more.*faircompanies x*Faircompanies is the major meeting point for people and organizations in search of useful, free, and independent information regarding fair trade, corporate social responsibility, responsible consumption, ethical investment, alternative energies and related topics. .Alternative Fuels Data Center xThis Office of Transportation Technologies site has information on the latest advances in alternative fuels, vehicles, refueling sites, and more.The Earth Charter Initiative xA statement of ethical principles that will guide the conduct of people and nations towards each other and the Earth to ensure peace, equity and a sustainable future.GEM xAn on-line, searchable database of more than 2500 energy efficiency and renewable energy annotated Web links.Earth Trends: Environmental Information x"A free online database that focuses on issues of sustainable development and the environment. This site draws statistical, graphic, and analytical information from over 40 internationally recognized data sources."Carfree.com xSolutions to the problem of the urban automobile.American Wind Energy Association xAWEA advocates the development of wind energy as a reliable, environmentally superior energy alternative in the United States and around the world.Envirosense xA group of companies who collectively offer solutions and strategies to address indoor air quality and related environmental issues.The Cousteau Society xProvides information and insight on environmental issues to inspire better protection of Earth.David Suzuki Foundation xA Canadian environmental research and education organization.Rainforestweb xComprehensive gateway to Rainforest information and resources.E xAn environmental magazine celebrating over 10 years in print.Environmental Law Programme xThe World Conservation Union is the world�s largest conservation network. Mission: "influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable."National Council for Science and the Environment xNCSE (formally the Committee for the National Institute for the Environment) works to improve the scientific basis of environmental decision making. Site includes research publications on a number of environmental issues.Ocean Planet x"This exhibition reminds us that in ways we may never have even considered, we're all seafarers, and it offers us ways to become more seaworthy--to think about what everyone can do to conserve the Ocean Planet."Amazon Watch x"Amazon Watch works to defend the environment and rights of the indigenous peoples of the Amazon basin."U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service xThe mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish and wildlife and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.America's Wetlands xThis site will give you a better understanding of the rich variety of wetlands, their importance, how they are threatened, and what can be done to conserve them for future generations.Argus Clearinghouse: Sustainable Development xDirectory of sustainable development web sites.Animal Diversity Web x"Includes information about the structure and classification of animals, basic concepts of ecology and evolutionary biology, brief reports on dozens of animals, and lots of pictures."Alternative Technology Association xA non-profit community group that aims to use and promote environmentally friendly technology, including renewable energy sources such as the sun, wind and water; building with natural materials and conserving energy.Recycler's World xA world wide trading site for information related to secondary or recyclable commodities, by-products, used and surplus items or materials.Energy and Environmental Research Center xThe philosophy of the EERC is to improve global quality of life by providing leadership in visionary multidisciplinary research and development leading to demonstration and commercialization of innovative, clean, efficient energy technologies.Recycle.com xThe place to turn for recycling and composting expertise.Global Forest Watch xGlobal Forest Watch seeks to catalyze changes in forest use to meet human needs and better protect forest ecosystems.The World's Shortest Comprehensive Recycling Guide xGreat list of basic recycling tips and categories.National Resources Defense Council xNRDC is a not-for-profit environmental advocacy group that uses law, science, and the support of our 400,000+ members to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all living things.WWF: Climate Change Campaign xMission: "By 2001 we aim to ensure that industrialized nations set in motion a permanent downward trend in their domestic emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) - the leading global warming gas - as a first step towards substantial reductions in emissions by 2010."Center for Clean Air Policy xSeeks to promote and implement innovative solutions to major environmental and energy problems which balance both environmental and economic interests.EcoWorld xEcoWorld provides internet users comprehensive information on the state of planetary ecosystems and projects underway, everywhere, to preserve and restore species and ecosystems.The International Carnivorous Plant Society xICPS is an organization of horticulturists, conservationists, scientists, and educators all interested in sharing knowledge and news of carnivorous plants.Environmental Support Center x"Supporting the environmental movement from the grassroots up."EPA Global Warming Site xLearn about the global warming problem and what is and can be done to reverse its effects.The American Solar Energy Society xASES is a national organization dedicated to advancing the use of solar energy for the benefit of U.S. citizens and the global environment.National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration xNOAA guides our use and protection of ocean and coastal resources and conducts research to improve our understanding and stewardship of the environment which sustains us all.Conservation Technology Information Center xPromotes environmentally and economically beneficial natural resource systems.Competitive Enterprise Institute xNon-profit public policy organization regulating environmental policy among others.Our Planet Magazine x"The United Nations Environment Programme's flagship magazine for environmentally sustainable development."Planet first 2000 xAim is to provide helpful information and resources to individuals so they may easily and positively take actions in their own way in their own homes, local community or broader communities to assist the environment.EcoWise xThe Non-Toxic, sustainable, educational store....naturally.The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands xTrack the progress of the 1971 intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.Pollution Prevention Institute xThe Pollution Prevention Institute (PPI) assists small businesses to efficiently and economically reduce and control their wastes.United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO) xWorld Meteorological Organization coordinates global scientific activity in several areas, including: air pollution research, climate change and ozone depletion studies.Ecobeetle xAn informative environmental website for eco-living and conservation.Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center x"For the past 16 years, CSERC has effectively served as the foremost defender of more than 2,000,000 acres of forests, rivers, lakes, wetlands, roadless areas, old growth groves, scenic oak woodlands, and other precious areas within the central region of the Sierra Nevada."Environmental Concern, Inc. xA non-profit organization dedicated to wetland restoration, research, and education since 1972.Earthhope Action Network xResource for environmental activism and information. Updated daily.SaveRainforest.net xClick on the "Save Rainforest" button to help preserve the rainforest.Wetlands Regulation Center xActs as a service to all persons interested in the laws, policies and regulations concerning activities regulated under Sections 401 and 404 of the Clean Water Act in waters of the United States, including wetlands.Karma Vision TV xDiscover thousands of charitable organizations. Karma Vision's mission is to foster social responsibility by stimulating action on crucial public issues.Wilderness Committee xCanadian citizen-funded wilderness preservation organization.Farmland Information Center x"The FIC is a clearinghouse for information about farmland protection and stewardship. It is a partnership between the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and American Farmland Trust."The Scientific Alliance xA new organization which offers a rational, scientific approach to the environmental debate.Environmental Leadership Program xNon-profit organization working to create a new generation of environmental leaders.For GLOBAL health blogs and websitesBest general global health blogs:1. Center for Global Development Global Health Policy Blog: Nandini Oomman (@NandiniOomman), Mead Over, Nancy Birdsall (@nancymbirdsall), Christina Droggitis, Bill Savedoff and a few others contribute to this great policy blog. It provides excellent coverage of topics that are related to the focus areas of the Center for Global Development’s Global Health team, including HIV/AIDS, maternal health, health systems, aid effectiveness, and other important topics. Also see the related CGD blogs which also provide coverage of related development policy issues.2. The Wherever-Alanna-is-Writing-Now Blog: Alanna Shaikh (@alanna_shaikh) has been blogging about global health and other development issues for a while now on her Blood and Milkblog, the UN Dispatch health blog, and as a guest blogger elsewhere. Never one to hold back, Alanna is a great person to read about controversial topics in global health.3. globalhealthpolicy.net: Devi Sridhar (@devisridhar), a post-doctoral fellow at All Souls College at Oxford and a colleague officially launched her own global health blog a few weeks back. Devi is an expert on Global Health Governance and she talks a great deal about related issues on her blog. She is also one of the authors of one of the books I have recommended on my “Best Readings in Global Health” list.4. Humanosphere: Tom Paulson (@tompaulson) is a Seattle-based reporter and has recently launched a great global health blog covering a wide range of topics and news items, with a focus on what is going on in the Seattle area – what he describes as the ” the epicenter of a global effort to beat back poverty and illness in the poorest corners of the world”. Perhaps. Regardless, his blog is always informative and usually a lot of fun. I’ve really enjoyed reading this over the past few months.5. Sarah Boseley’s (@sarahboseley) Global Health Blog: the health editor of the Guardian in the UK, Sarah provides great coverage of current newsworthy global health items. She is always very good at raising some very important questions.Specialized global health blogs:1. End the Neglect: If the Neglected Tropical Diseases are still not receiving as much attention from the global health community than they deserve, it is not because this blog is not trying hard to raise their profile. Instead of having one central blogger, this blog has been working hard to solicit NTD related blog posts from other bloggers and contributors. It works.2. Topnamen: What this blog lacks in quantity, it certainly makes up for it in quality. This blog is written by Naman Shah, and MD/PhD student at the University of North Carolina and is self described as a blog about “miscellaneous malaria news and discussion” it is actually a really well researched and informative blog about what is important in the malaria world. I’ve learned a lot by reading this blog.3. Maternal Health Taskforce’s blog: This blog is an excellent source of information on things maternal health. They keep me up to date on new publications, upcoming events, and research opportunities.4. Malaria Matters: Bill Brieger (@bbbrieger) is Professor in the Health Systems Program of the Department of International Health at Johns Hopkins University as well as the Senior Malaria Adviser for JHPIEGO. Bill provides excellent coverage of issues related to malaria and health systems. His blog played a big part in inspiring me to start my own blog.5. Tropika.net’s Blog: If there is a new scientific discovery that has changed the way in which the scientific community thinks about global health, you’ll hear about it here first. Paul Chinnock and the rest of the editorial team here spend hundreds of hours scouring the medical and biomedical journals so you don’t have to!Web-based global health resources:1. Kaiser Family Foundation Global Health Policy: keeping with the tradition of being the go to place for information for domestic health policy, the Global Health Team (see @J_Schiff) KFF has done a darn good job at pulling together all the best news items in global health on a daily basis. It also provides great coverage of upcoming global health events, in particular those in DC.2. Global Health Council: the Global Health Council’s website has lots of information for those interested in global health, including a great global health career site, and information on upcoming events.3. The Global Health Hub: This is a new site but so far what I see I really like. This site, which is edited by Sarah Arnquist (@sarnquist) uses nifty software to automatically pull in global health content from across the web on global health. Material is organized by disease/topical area and also includes information on things like careers.4. RSS subscription to major journals including Lancet, BMJ, the PLoS journals, and others: If you want to keep up to date with your favorite journals, why not add the TOC feeds to your RSS reader?Thanks for A2A.source: http://www.freeeconhelp.com/source: Karen Grepin's Global Health Blog