Agra
One of the best ways to see the City of the Taj is by taking a walk. Sanskriti Vacations conducts a 1.30 hour walk called Agra City Heritage Walk. The walk covers landmarks that will help you trace the city’s history from the time it was the capital of the Mughal Empire till the present times. Apart from the landmark architectures, you will also visit the Spice Market of Rawat Para, Khoya Galli of Chittikhana and Namak ki Mandi (where artisans make edible foils from gold and silver). The Colonial Walks Agra will take you on a different time tour; they cover the colonial history of Agra through tours that are conducted partly by vehicles and partly on foot.

Ahmedabad
The city’s municipal corporation conducts the Heritage Walk of Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad dates back to the early 15th century, when the city was founded on the ancient site of Ashaval and Karnavati. The daily 2.5 hour walk begins at Swaminarayan Temple in Kalupur at 8am and concludes at Manek Chowk Jumma Masjid. In between you will see Hindu and Jain temples, Islamic monuments, the numerous ‘pols’ of the old city, etc.

Amritsar
Gurdwara Saragarhi in Amritsar is dedicated to 21 soldiers of the 36 Sikhs Battalion who lost their lives in a 6-hour battle while defending their posts on September 12, 1897. The battle, fought in the in the North Western Frontier Provinces, is considered by UNESCO as one of the eight most important demonstrations of collective bravery. Know about many such interesting aspects of Amritsar on a 2-hour walk—conducted twice daily—by Punjab Tourism.  The walk covers the city’s numerous katras, akharas, bungas, havelis and hattis. The tour starts from the mid-19th century Town Hall and covers Amritsar’s spiritual quest, its architectural heritage and colonial history. Tickets available at the starting point from the licensed guide.

Bengaluru
To most people today, Bengaluru is the IT hub of India and a city with all the trappings to attract the ultra-modern crowd. But that is only partly true. To get to the hidden city, join an early morning guided walk. Some of the popular walks will take you through the many ‘pete’ (Kannada for markets) in the old city, colonial Bangalore, through nature-friendly Cubbon Park and Lalbagh, etc. Some of the well-known groups holding the walks are Bangalore Walks, Jaunty Roads and Unhurried.

Chennai
Know about the city’s chequered history on a heritage walk. Chennai Magic conducts several walks that allow you to see the city in its entirety. The Mylapore Walk—starting from San Thome Church—covers the religious and cultural epicentre of the Tamil people; the George Town Bazar Walk—starting from the Armenian Church—covers an area inhabited since the late-1600s after the founding of Fort St. George; and the Triplicane Walk—starting from Ice House Police Quarters—covers a neighbourhood that came up around the 8th century temple dedicated to Parthasarathy. The walks are of 2-3 hour duration. You can also download an app, put together by writer and historian Sriram V., which will help you know about the various heritage spots; helpful for those who want to chart their own route in their own time.

Delhi
For a city that traces its root to the epic Mahabharata, and has seen a change of guards—Afghans, Mughals, British, modern India—over centuries, it is not possible to see it at one go. Understandably, there are many private groups conducting walks through the different parts of the city or holding –theme-based tours. Some of the groups are Delhi Heritage Walks, Delhi Walks, Delhi Metro Walks, and Walks to Remember. 

Hyderabad
The city of the Nizams, the Pearl City and now the capital of the new state of Telangana, is over 400 years old. Enjoy the Islamic monuments, the old markets, museums and gardens on the four city walks conducted by Telangana Tourism. Three of the walks start from Char Minar (Walk I ends at Chowmohalla Palace; Walk 2 ends at Badshahi Ashurkhana; Walk 3 ends at Purani Haveli); they are held from 7.30-9am every Sunday; tickets are available at Char Minar. Walk 4 is held on demand and covers the area between City Library and State College.   

Jaipur
The Pink City is a walkers’ delight. Explore its myriad historical forts and other buildings, architecturally interesting havelis, colourful bazars and delicious food through guided walks. Virasat Experiences offers an interesting mix. Tara Niwas, a family-run luxury hotel, conducts city walks too. The Jaipur Heritage Walk by Vedic Walks are held in the morning as well as in the evening.  

Kolkata
There are only two kinds of people when it comes to Kolkata—people who love the city and people who hate it. So before you decide which group you belong to, take a good look around. Some of the popular areas to explore are the historical precincts of Dalhousie Square, the north Kolkata homes of the city’s landlords and rich merchants, the river side, the flower market at the edge of the town, the Chinese quarters of central Kolkata, New Market and other traditional shopping areas, and of course the food trail. Several groups conduct 2-3 hours long walk. Check out the tours offered by Calcutta Walks and Walks of Kolkata. For photo tours, you can contact Calcutta Photo Tours.

Lucknow
Peel off the din and the crowd and discover the historical and culinary delights of this City of the Nawabs. Uttar Pradesh Tourism organises a Lucknow Heritage Walk that covers the old city. The walk starts from Lal Pul and ends at Akbari Darwaja. In between, you will visit Tila Wali Masjid, Bara Imambara, Gol Darwaja, Chowk Bazaar, and Phool Wali Gali. October to March, the walk is usually held from 8-10.30am. With Lucknow Walks, you can explore the city’s various aspects—heritage, history, food and more.

Mumbai
Only on a guided walk that you can discover the many layers of the Maximum City (as author Suketu Mehta calls Mumbai). The heritage precinct of Kala Ghoda, colourful Bandra, the bustling heart of Dadar, the quaint shops of Chor Bazar, the culinary trails that explore the food habits and restaurants of the diverse communities that call Mumbai home are some of the most interesting walks that you can undertake. There are several groups who conduct walking tours—the Bombay Heritage Walks, Beyond Bombay, Mumbai Magic etc.

Patiala
The Patiala Heritage Walk, conducted by Punjab Tourism, throws light on many lesser known historical sites of the city. As you walk from Shahi Samadhi to Quila Mubarak, the guide will tell you anecdotes about this former princely state’s flamboyant kings. Tickets can be purchased from the licensed guide at the starting point.

Information: City walks can be free or paid. Check if the fee includes entry to monuments, camera charges, snacks, etc. Usually, culinary tour prices include snacks/meals at select places. Be at the starting point on time. Good walking shoes, sun-protective gear for day walks, a bottle of drinking water are must for any walk. Wear a dress that will not offend the sensibilities of the local people. Ask for permission before taking pictures of people and religious places.







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