Delhi by Metro - An offbeat look at New Delhi and Old Delhi

Delhi by Metro – An offbeat look at New Delhi and Old Delhi

What this tour is about: This is an off-beat tour of Delhi by students from Manzil, an NGO that works in youth empowerment and learning. The tour uses the Delhi Metro, as well as two additional forms of 'green' transport that are popular with the common man in Delhi - the battery-powered e-rickshaw, and the cycle-rickshaw. The tour provides income for the student-guides, and also helps to finance some programmes at Manzil.

Places we will visit: The tour covers both New Delhi and Old Delhi. It starts at Connaught Place, with an introduction to the history of Delhi, and a geographical orientation of the city. From Connaught Place, we take you on an exploration of 'Lutyens Delhi' - the city of grand public spaces designed by the British, which is now called New Delhi. We drive through the Central Business District, seeing the markets and businesses there. We go to the Lutyens Bungalow Zone, Janpath, Rajpath, and visit the President's House, Parliament House, Secretariat and India Gate.

After this, we board the Metro to go to Old Delhi, where we experience the bustle of the bazaars both on foot, and using rickshaws. We will visit Dariba Kalan (the silver market), Kinari Bazaar (wedding market) and Paranthewali Galli (Lane of Parathas). We will go past the famous Jama Masjid (the largest mosque in India). We'll visit Gurdwara Sees Ganj Sahib, a Sikh temple, where you can volunteer in the langar (community kitchen) if you would like to. We will also see Hindu temples, Jain derasars and churches, all standing cheek-by-jowl.

The final stop is at the legendary Haldiram's for snacks (try Delhi’s popular chaats!) and a cold drink. After that, we clamber on to the Delhi Metro again, to end the tour at Connaught Place.

Costs and Booking: The tour costs INR 2500 per person. The price includes all local transport during the tour, trained student guide, snacks/drinks/meal at Haldirams and all taxes. Please note that this tour runs only in English. Prior reservation is mandatory.

Total Time: 3-4 hours depending on your interest

When: Mornings at 9:00 a.m. or afternoons at 3:00 p.m. Not offered on Sundays.

Group Size: Designed for individuals / couples / families. Maximum 8 people. Write to us if you are travelling in a group, for a modified version of this itinerary.

What to wear: Please dress modestly and ensure you have adequate sun protection. Some religious monuments require both men and women to cover the head with a scarf or a large handkerchief. If you forget to bring these, they will lend you something, but it is better to bring your own. You have to take off your shoes at places of worship. Leather articles such as belts and handbags are not permitted in the Jain derasar.

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