Delhi was declared the capital of India 114 years ago (Dec 12,1911 - Dec 12,2015)

On this day in the year 1911, Delhi replaced Kolkata as the capital of India.

It was declared by the British King George V.

The capital was inaugurated by Lord Irwin on February 13, 1931 after the construction of the city completed in 1931.

One of the reasons for declaring it the capital was that Delhi was the financial and political centre of many empires that had earlier ruled India.

Here are few more reasons on why Delhi was chosen, what all happened and some facts on the capital city:

• One of the main reasons that were mentioned for the capital shift was the location of Delhi. Calcutta was situated in the eastern coastal part of the country, while Delhi was located in the northern part

• The British government also believed that ruling India from Delhi was easier and more convenient than from Kolkata

• The announcement was followed by the foundation stone for Coronation Park, Kingsway Camp which was also the Viceroy's residence

• The initial planning and architecture for Delhi were done by British architects, Herbert Baker and Edwin Lutyens

• After the plan was authorised, the contract of building the city was endowed on Sobha Singh

• The construction work began after the First World War and continued till 1931

• The capital was inaugurated by the then Viceroy of India, Lord Irwin

• After Delhi became the capital of India, a temporary secretariat building was constructed in North Delhi in 1912

• Many of the important offices were also shifted to Delhi

• The employees were brought from Madras Presidency, Calcutta Presidency, and so on

• It has been well known that between 3000 BC and the 17th century AD, Delhi was supposed to be the site for a total of seven different cities

• In Sanskrit, Delhi was referred to as Hathinapur, which means 'elephant-city'

• There were a total of 14 walled gates that protected the city in the beginning. Five of them. Ajmeri Gate, Lahori Gate, Kashmiri Gate, Delhi Gate, and Turkman Gate are still standing