Tours of the City
Walking Tours
Nigel Hankin, an Englishman who has lived in Delhi for many years, runs walking tours of Old Delhi. Places on his tours may be booked at the lodge at the Mughal Gate of the British High Commission, Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri (tel: (011) 2687 2161). Other than that, self-guided walking tours of a number of areas are possible. Starting at the Jain Temple at the eastern end of Chandni Chowk, by the Red Fort, a walk through this area weaves through the alleyways and takes in the area’s best temples and most colourful markets. Meanwhile, it takes about an hour and a half to tour the main mosques and mansions of Old Delhi, which covers the stretch from Jama Masjid to Ajmeri Gate.
Bus Tours
Delhi Tourism Development Corporation (tel: (011) 2336 5358; website: http://delhitourism.nic.in) operates sightseeing tours in coaches, covering New and Old Delhi. Between October and April, the tours are in non air-conditioned coaches, between May and September in air-conditioned ones. The New Delhi tour takes in Jantar Mantar, Birla Mandir, Qutb Minar, the Baha’i Temple and Safdarjung’s Tomb. The Old Delhi tour stops at Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Raj Ghat and Humayun’s Tomb. The four-hour ‘Delhi by Evening Tour’ includes Birla Mandir, the son et lumiere show at Purana Qila and a drive past the Parliament House and India Gate. All tickets must be purchased in advance at the booking office at N-36, Connaught Place.
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