A walk in the past…
Posted by on October 27, 2009
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If the Ladakh trip had me bewitched, it would hardly be a surprise that I so wanted to get close to nature again. But, being a resident of Delhi, I was not too sure of how that could become a reality.
But as they say, “where there is a will…”. Some Googling for opportunities to be with nature within the city gave me the idea of “Heritage walks” conducted by a group, “Delhi Heritage Walks(DHW)” every weekend.
That is how the Saturday morning found me thrilled, half smiling to myself, leaving early to see Delhi in full swing. Even at the early hour, the driving was crazy and honking incessant. Me and my friends, somehow managed to reach on time.
Guided by archaeologists from the DHW, we entered the Mehrauli Archaeological Park. Sprawling over 100 acres of land this is where buildings from all periods of India’s conquer-and-build history stand. Mosques, tombs, guard towers, living quarters, and minarets – stone witnesses to the romance and hatred, bloody wars and progressive, peaceful times, poor servants and beautiful princes. Each seems to whisper to you in their own silence, tell you tales of their proud yesterday and neglected today; beckon you to understand and empathize for their uncertain future.
As we began our walk and the walk leader from DHW explained the monuments and the history behind them, I was ashamed I shunned away from history as a subject in school! Never did I know before that the rich heritage of India can be so alluring. As per one of the archaeologists, it is only here that you have remains from almost every era of Delhi’s history from the early Hindu settlements to the more recent British times.
Among the attractions were the beautiful Jamali Kamali mosque, an adjoining tomb that has beautifully preserved interior with lovely red and blue plaster work on the ceiling, the Balban’s tomb although somewhat dilapidated and a stepwell – “Gandhak-ki-Baoli” – considered to be the oldest in Delhi. As the walk came to conclude, I was left feeling hungry to know more…
So, if you too want a sneak peek into the past, take one of these heritage walks and rest assured it would be a walk to remember. Here’s where you can visit to know how to…
http://www.delhiheritagewalks.com/
OR
http://www.intach.org/pdf/DelhiHeritageWalk.pdf
Sounds nice ! never knew they had this in delhi
. will check it out.
Good one !
Keep it up
Very well said…as if I were there