DMRC heritage walks to help people explore Walled Delhi

New Delhi: Delhiites can now explore the historical gems of the capital in a more interesting way, with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) initiating “Heritage Walks” in collaboration with an agency called Delhi Walks.

Taking off from the recently laid Metro heritage line that includes stops like Delhi Gate, Jama Masjid and Red Fort, the newly created heritage walks initiative has been launched with an aim to attract people to explore the areas of the Walled City.

Chandni Chowk, Dariba Kalan, Sisganj Gurdwara, Digambar Jain Lal mandir will be at the itinerary of the walks. Visitors will be charged  Rs 500, which will be payable to the private agency.

“This is an excellent opportunity for people to know about the rich cultural heritage of Delhi. These walks enable you to come to the oldest part of the city, where access by car and other modes of transport is difficult,” DMRC Spokesperson  Mr Anuj Dayal said. On Friday, during the hour-long walk, visitors were led by a trained guide, who seemingly subconsciously repeated, “Don’t get lost through the trail”.

Come Dariba Kalan (market famous for jewelry) and Kinari Bazaar, one realises why. Each lane gets narrower and busier.

“Shah Jahan built this city because he wanted a bigger and better place than Agra, where he built the famous Taj Mahal. But, then it was inhabited by people from Agra, who came here and started living in the same way they used to!” said the ‘Delhi Walks’ explorer.

But, before getting into the nooks and corners of the streets, is the Bhai Mati Das chowk, named after a Sikh martyr. A look around the place is symbolic of India’s secular nature, where temples, church, gurdwara and a mosque stand tall in harmony. The DMRC has planned eight walks in August over the weekends for all heritage lovers.