India, Sept. 30 -- Today, Delhi is synonymous with political power in India. Parliament, the President's residence and the Union government's headquarters are all located in the city. However, more than a century ago, the seat of British power was elsewhere.

Until 1911, Calcutta was the capital of British India. That changed on December 12, when King George V announced at the Delhi Durbar that the seat of government would be transferred to Delhi. The decision also marked the beginning of the construction of an entirely new imperial city, which would come to be known as New Delhi.

One of the main reasons for choosing Delhi was its long history as a seat of power. Before British rule, Delhi had been the centre of several kingdoms and, mos...