Capital of India, the world's largest democracy, Delhi in many ways is the essence of modern India, with its startling paradox of old and new, foreign and familiar. It is one of India's fastest growing cities, spread far beyond the "seven cities", created between the 13th and the 17th centuries. Its fascination lies in its amalgamation of ancient monuments and bustle and clamour of Old Delhi with Lutyens imposing and magnificent New Delhi. Now rushing headlong into the 21st century Delhi is also a cotemporary show case of designer shopping, trendy bars and restaurants. It remains the best starting point for exploring North India, not only because of its excellent transport connections and relatively sophisticated infrastructure, but because its history as one of the oldest cities in the world, is essentially the history of India.