Hachette India

Once Upon a Time in Delhi: Discovering the Secrets of Its Many Cities

Nita Berry

The adventurous, the ambitious and the brave coveted its throne.

One invader after another crossed the mighty Himalayas to seek a fortune here.

A pivot of power down the ages, it fascinated both settlers and rulers, to become the capital of mighty empires.

Across centuries, the 'Delhi Triangle' of about 200 square kilometres became the base of many a powerful monarch, with a different name and location every time: Dillika, Siri, Tughlakabad, Jahanpanah, Firozabad, Purana Qila and Shahjahanabad. These seven cities gave the historic hub its grand, varied and colourful heritage.

A centre of learning and culture, art and architecture, and trade and commerce, it was a megalopolis like no other. In time, New Delhi emerged from the light and shadows of its past to become the eighth city – modern India's seat of government!

Among the oldest capital cities in the world, Delhi is a storehouse of legends and lore, history and mysteries, secrets and stories. Every nook and corner, pathway and rock here hides a tale – of triumph and defeat, riches and ruin; of builders, sculptors and artists, royalty and rebels; of saints and common folk, poets, writers and thinkers – waiting to be uncovered.

Are you ready to embark on an exciting journey of discovery?

Nita Berry

Author, editor and freelance journalist, Nita Berry has written short stories, picture and activity books, historical biographies, fiction and non-fiction for children of all ages, winning many awards for her writing, including the Shankar's Medal for Excellence in Writing. She was also part of NCERT's textbook development team that produced English readers for primary classes besides supplementary reading material.

Always fond of spinning a tale, Nita enjoyed writing from her earliest years in school and later at college. Living on a ship in the middle of nowhere as the wife of a master mariner, she wrote regularly for newspapers and magazines (including the iconic children's magazine Target), and created picture books for little readers. Nita also ran a children's centrespread in a weekly magazine and a bimonthly magazine for mariners' families. Currently, she looks after the publications of the Association of Writers and Illustrators for Children in New Delhi, and has represented India at several international conferences and workshops.

A homegrown Delhiwallah, she now lives with her family in Gurugram, but has not cut the cord with the eternal city. She believes that its chequered heritage will always belong to us all.