We at DelhiByFoot (DBF) conduct the most popular and essential walking tours in Delhi – India’s Historical, Political & Cultural capital. Whether you are a first-time international visitor, a seasoned inter-state Indian traveller or a local Delhite, your thirst for knowledge and authentic experiences of our beloved and ancient city of Delhi, has brought you to the most enjoyable and insightful Delhi tour experiences our city has to offer….
With nearly a decade of walking experiences within Delhi, we at DBF, have developed a deep understanding of how the city works as a system and discovered that each of its fragments can reveal many underlying realities. These have developed into interesting learnings and experiential walk modules that help individuals find the connection between the self and the society.
We take you on a guided tour, but you end up discovering much more…..
We take you to one monument, but you end up learning about multiple cities of Delhi…..
We narrate facts from the pages of history, but you hear myths & legends…..
We spend few hours with you, but you travel through centuries…..
We walk DelhiByFoot, but you end up covering miles across the pages of time…..
LIST OF OUR WALKS
We have any one of the following walks scheduled every weekend running on a monthly calendar. These are of fixed duration, with fixed starting and ending points. To know the upcoming weekend walk see here OR here
1. Oldest Bazaars, Streets and Shrine of Delhi
Take a walk through one of the most ancient streets of the world that have continued to thrive for more than 1000 years. ‘Mehrauli’, true to its ancient lineage as Delhi’s oldest extant settlement keeps interesting company, sitting atop the tip of Aravallis – one of the oldest mountain chains in the world!
A 13th century water tank built by a Sultan, summer palaces, shrine of a Sufi saint highly revered across the world, summer resorts of nobles and a mosque palace of an unfortunate Mughal Emperor beckon to you across a 900-yr old gap of time. Read More….
2. Delhi Sultanate – A Journey Begins in 1206AD
Thousands of people visit Qutub Minar complex every year, but few go beyond the obvious touristy explorations of the area. Our 2nd exploration of Mehrauli, the oldest continuous settlement of Delhi will take us through the beginnings of the Islamic Sultanate’s journey in India.
DBF shares stories of Slaves who became Sultans (Kings), Saints and Poets and the importance of the place as a summer resort for Mughals and British alike. We will explore some hidden Baolis (Water Step-wells), beautiful mosques and mausoleums. Read More….
3. The Cursed Fort of Delhi – Tughlaqabad & Adilabad
The 3rd city of Delhi, Tughlaqabad was designed on a very grand scale and the fort city set amidst large lakes was truly a sight to behold! But history is witness that within a decade of its being built this massive fort complex was abandoned. Some say it was due to a saint’s curse, others say it was a wrong location…
Whichever the case may be, a visit to these less-explored twin forts which sit as silent sentinels on both sides of the busy Mehrauli-Badarpur Rd, in south Delhi, seemingly guarding the entry to our city from Agra, is an unique experience for people of all age groups. Read More….
4. Jahanpanah – Refuge of the World
The Tughlaq Sultans of Delhi Sultanate were prolific builders having given Delhi three out of its seven extant city settlements. A unique set of mosques, including roofed mosques, city infrastructure, palaces (like Palace of the Thousand Pillars) and forts/fortified walls.
Those were the times when the people of Delhi had to undergo many hardships, frequent attacks from invaders and the harsh rule of sultans who are best remembered for their eccentricities, rather than their administrative skills. The only ray of hope and succour were the Sufi masters like Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya and his spiritual successor Hazrat Chirag-e-Dehlvi. Read More….
5. An Evening with Djinns of Delhi – Ferozshah Kotla Fort
Do you remember the opening lines of William Dalrymple’s book ‘City of Djinns’, “It was in the citadel of Feroz Shah Kotla that I met my first Sufi Pir…”
Islamic traditions talk of spirits who have a supernatural influence, both good or bad on people and who can assume the form of humans or animals. These are known in folklore as Djinns and majority of the Djinns of Delhi are said to reside in the 5th city of Delhi, Ferozabad. And it is the Fakirs, devotees and the Djinns who now live in this sprawling fort complex. Read More….
6. Mughal Saga Begins in India – Purana Quilla & Humayun’s Tomb
One of India’s golden periods in history has been the Mughal reign which at the height of its territorial power over the Indian sub-continent, ruled from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and Bengal to Baluchistan!
An exploration of the Old Fort is an important step to understand how the Mughals laid the foundations of the soon-to-be mighty Mughal empire in early 16th Century. Learn how the Purana Quilla was witness to the fierce ‘tug-of-war’ between the fledgling Mughal dynasty and the Afghani Pashtun Sur tribes and their supporters, who had almost succeeded in erasing all signs of the Mughals in India but for an accident that changed the course of India’s history. Read More….
7. Mughal Delhi – Glory and Decline of Shahjahanabad (1640-1857AD)
The mighty forts of Red Fort and its adjacent Salimgarh Fort have seen the best and the worst of the Mughal Dynasty. From being the city that was the grandest in the Islamic world, to a city that was almost razed down by the British in the aftermath of the Mutiny of 1857, Shahjahanabad ( meaning Abode of Shahjahan) or Old Delhi as we call it today has seen it all!
Step into the world of the Mughals and explore their forts, monuments, museums, markets and places of worship and hear of tales of the times when, India was refered as the ‘jewel’ of the English ‘crown’. Read More….
8. Revolt of 1857 – 1st Indian War of Independence & Siege of Delhi
May 1857. ‘Dilli Chalo’ was the battle cry of thousands of Indian soldiers of the British East India Company who rebelled against their English masters. India had been simmering for years and in that fateful month of May, the Indian soldiers vented their anger against their English masters and a soldier’s fight became a popular uprising of the common man in the North and Central parts of India.
But what role did Delhi have to play in this war? How did the Revolt affect the people of Shahjahanabad and how the character of the city changed after the Mutiny was quelled by the English. Read More….
9. Nature and Eco-Heritage Trails of Delhi
Delhi has the highest amount of Tree cover amongst all cities of India and we at DBF have curated a special mix of Nature and Heritage Trails across Delhi with an objective to make somebody feel one with nature and experience the pure bliss of the diverse ‘Flora and Fauna’ that Delhi and surrounding areas of Arvallis has to offer. The Aravallis, also known as the Delhi ‘Ridge’ is called the ‘Lung’ of the city due to the extensive greens that exist on the narrow ridge.
With the help of renowned Expert Naturalists/Nature Specialists/Bird-watchers/Animal experts we bring to you a series of walks that help you appreciate the beauty of Mother Nature and also sensitise you on the ever-increasing need for preservation of our fragile city ecosystem. Read More….
10. On the trail of Sufi Masters of Delhi – Nizamuddin Basti (Village)
Kings have come and gone; Empires rose and fell; Dynasties grew from dust and were buried in dust. But what has always endeared are the centuries-old traditions of Sufi mysticism, teachings and music. No visit to Delhi is complete without a journey to the house of the patron saint of Delhi, Hazrat Khwaja Nizamuddin Aulia and listening to his teachings of Love, Kindness and Humanity as musical offerings of Sufi Qawwali renditions and ‘Samaa’.
Join DBF for a walk steeped in spirituality and musical heritage. Read More….
11. Khana Khazana – Food Traditions of Delhi
Modern day lexicon is an accommodating one; even including charitable words for those of us who are engaged in what can only be termed as ‘worship’ of food. So, a ‘Foodie’ is defined as: “A person who has an ardent or refined interest in food; a gourmet”; “Further, a foodie seeks new food experiences as a hobby rather than simply eating out for convenience or hunger.”
12. Cultural Journeys Through Delhi
The local lifestyle and culture seen in Delhi today is an exciting melting pot of influences from all over the world. Be it religious festivals, musical concerts, art exhibitions, handicrafts, hi-fashion and lifestyle Delhi is the hotbed for a healthy mix of such events. Chaotic streets reveal specialised markets and shopping precincts while processions and grand parades wind through labyrinthine backstreets, leading to mega-carnival grounds. Music, fireworks, food, people and clothes present a swirling mass of color. Read More….