On one of the walls in the Diwan-e-Khaas (The Hall of Private Audience) in the Red Fort at Delhi is inscribed a Persian couplet:

Agar Firdaus bar rue zamin ast,
Hamin ast o hamin ast o hamin ast

Which, translated, means `If there is a paradise on Earth, it is here'. Although the poet, Amir Khusro, wrote the couplet in praise of India, a lot of people fondly interpret the paradise on Earth to refer to Delhi itself. I'm not as besotted, but yes, I have to agree: I do like Delhi.

I've lived in Delhi for the past 22 years, and almost everyday, I'm discovering new things about this city. The other day, for instance, a friend told me that after Nairobi, Delhi is the city with the most diverse (and abundant) bird life. For someone like me, who's nuts about wildlife including birds that's another reason to love Delhi. And here are some more.

1. The History
Delhi's history is pretty mind-boggling. This area has been inhabited for the past 30 centuries, and by various dynasties, many of which built their own cities, palaces and fortresses here. As a result, Delhi today is home to over 2,000 historical monuments, ranging from the imposing bulk of citadels like Tuglaqabad and Purana Qila, to intricately carved mosques and tombs like the17th century Jama Masjid, the Tomb of the Mughal emperor Humayun, and the little-known but superbly painted Tomb of Jamali Kamali. There are three UNESCO World Heritage sites the Tomb of Humayun, the Qutub Minar, and the Red Fort and plenty of fascinating old stories that live on, seemingly caught in a time warp. For instance, Delhi still has a neighbourhood called Temurnagar after Timur (`Tamurlane', who invaded in the 14th century and pitched his camp where Temurnagar stands). Delightful!

2. The Greenery
Okay, I have to concede that Delhi ranks as one of the most polluted cities on Earth, but it's better than it was when I first came to live here. And the greenery makes up for it! Interestingly enough, Delhi sits on the edge of the arid desert zone of Western India and much of the city, till about 150 years ago, was scrub. Today's parks, gardens and stretches of wooded land are relatively new. The Delhi Ridge is the most obvious stretch of greenery, but the parks and many of the roads (which are lined with trees) show off local flora. Spring and summer, in particular, are a great time to feast your eyes on some of Delhi's most flamboyant flowering trees: purple jacaranda; flaming orange royal poinciana; pastel-pink,

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