Love

Since I had read Return of a King: The Battle for Afghanistan before this, I was expecting this book to be a history of Delhi. On the other hand, after reading the Foreword, I started expecting a travelogue. The book turned out to be an amalgam of both.

The author spent a year in Delhi and encountered a variety of traditions, people, and architecture. The author talks about these experiences and gives the historical background of each one of them. The structure becomes predictable towards the end, but it is still enjoyable. The author comes off as a neutral observer and that is a good thing for most of the part, but sometimes, a personal touch would've made this book much better. 4 Stars!

Dalrymple gives an entertaining history of Delhi, India and the mughals who conquered and architected it.

I read this while in Delhi and completely forgot until a few minutes ago. A fabulous read that contextualizes the city for newbies like me who are passing through (or in my case, diving in for a whole summer).

very nice description about the Britisher those who came in Mughol period and left in India after independence. not only historical point of view but also architectural description about each phase of empire has made this book charming to read.

Dalyrymple never disappoints. His journey into the depths of Delhi's history was entertaining, intriguing and educational. Perhaps it is because my own roots lie in Delhi (my birthplace), the city's existence as both a modern and ancient city that is endlessly fascinating, the mysticism that still permeates its veins...or simply due to Dalrymple's exemplary skills as a storyteller -- I couldn't put the book down.