Delhi's history goes back to prehistoric times. Old Delhi is one of the several cities that were established in the vast spread of present Delhi. Its original name is Shahjahanabad, after the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, who built it in the 17th century.
Today, Shahjahanabad contains two of Delhi's most celebrated monuments: the Red Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the Jama Masjid, the imperial congregational mosque. But the real atmosphere of Old Delhi lies in its fascinating maze of streets, lanes and bylanes, packed with bazaars, homes, shrines, eateries, and, of course, people. This is an exciting world of colour and smells, sounds and quietness, light and darkness, and vibrant life and activity.
1. This sojourn traverses the southern section of the old city. It includes the shrine of a 13th-century saint, a colonial church, facades of 19th-century mansions, a 600-year-old mosque, and the historic Anglo-Arabic College, a stone's thrown from Delhi's red-light district. Contact us for more information
2. The spine of this saunter is Chandni Chowk, once the elegant shopping district of the Mughal elite, now a crowded street buzzing with generations-old businesses.
We pass by historic Sikh, Hindu, Jain, Muslim and Christian places of worship, and pick our way through specialised bazaars in winding lanes off the main boulevard. We wander into mysterious alleyways and open courtyards, climb up narrow steps and visit a home, shop for knick-knacks and sample traditional Indian food at old eateries. Some part of this tour is done by cycle-rickshaw and local bus (optional). Contact us for more information
The British held sway in India for 200 years. They came as traders and became rulers of a land that they came to consider as the 'Jewel in the Crown of the British Empire'.
We track the history of the British in Delhi, through a variety of monuments and personalities. We drive to North Delhi, enroute noting the well-known landmarks of New Delhi, the capital of British India from 1911. Passing through Old Delhi, we stop for a few moments at the oldest Christian cemetery in the city, now dilapidated and overgrown.
Subsequent halts are made at the old magazine, St James' Church, Kashmere Gate, breached by the British during their counter attack, and the peaceful Nicholson's cemetery. We walk up to the Revolt Memorial, and explore the forested ridge where British forces regrouped and entrenched themselves. The tour ends with refreshments at the 100-year-old Maidens Hotel. Contact us for more information
The chaar bagh (four-garden plan) is originally a Persian concept that was prevalent in Mughal mausoleum landscaping from the 16th century onwards. New Delhi was built by the British. Besides constructing great buildings, they planted grand trees and laid sprawling gardens.
We drive through leafy boulevards lined with colonial bungalows to the Lodi Gardens. This rolling landscape of vegetation was established by the British viceroy's wife in the 1930s around the medieval monuments of Delhi's sultans. We walk through the pleasant 'gardens', exploring royal tombs and mosques, and getting acquainted with some trees, plants and common bird life of North India. Contact us for more information
The second leg of the tour takes us to the remarkable tomb of an 18th century Mughal noble, in the neighborhood. The tour ends with a meal at the Gymkhana Club, one of Delhi's most exclusive clubs, dating from the British Raj. Contact us for more information
Sufism is the mystical form of Islam. It emphasises tolerance, compassion and love. Sufis believe in direct communion with God through meditation, prayer, music and other means. Sufism originated in Iraq, in the eighth century and entered India in the wake of Muslim invaders in the 12th century. Delhi is littered with hundreds of Sufi tomb-shrines, dating back many centuries, the legacy of mystics who took up residence, and were eventually buried at those spots.
We visit the environs of two to three shrines of varying scale, each with their own story and atmosphere. The tour climaxes with an evening of live qawwali, a rendition of Sufi devotional song and music, followed by a meal at one Delhi's famous restaurants serving Muslim food. Contact us for more information
The great religions of the world have established themselves in Delhi through millennia. Places where they have taken residence have, through the centuries, developed into sites of worship and reverence. Many are not well known.
We visit curious, small shrines of Hinduism, Jainism, Islam, Sikhism, and Christianity. Some of these sites are associated with cult-like offshoots of the main religion. Missing the attentions of the thronging crowds prevalent at well-known establishments, they reveal interesting facets of belief and history. Contact us for more information
Delhi's origins lie in prehistory. Since then it has been settled and deserted, conquered and reconquered, built and destroyed many a time. At least seven cities have been identified, the earliest going back 3000 years to the times of the Hindu epic The Mahabharata.
We take you to ruined forts and monuments built by bygone emperors, as projections of imperial authority and expressions of their whims and passions. Amongst these are Tughlaqabad, Kotla and the Purana Qila. Contact us for more information
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