As the pandemic changed the very idea of travel, enthusiasts restructured their vacation plans. Instead, people began to revisit their city, picnics in public parks, and any excuse to embrace the great outdoors after months of lockdown was welcome.
Pachaiyappa’s School | photo credit: Afreen Fatima
It’s been over a year since Guided Walking City Tours became popular. Now, these group tours that cost ₹150 (per person) are shifting their focus away from the more popular heritage sites to rediscovering places that are often visited but rarely get the respect they deserve Huh. In Chennai, have you noticed that the ceiling of the General Post Office resembles that of the palaces in Kerala? In Hyderabad, people are going beyond the touristy parts of the Golconda Fort, exploring its various gates and moat, which not many locals know about. In Kolkata, a visit can take you to the oldest bookstore in the country or to Kumhar Colony, Kumharuli.
Information on many of these places may not be available in most history books or with tour guides, which makes these walks a great way to learn more about the architecture, culture, and history of the city you’re visiting. call home. Explaining how these walks are very different from the itineraries of orthodox tour guides, Yunus Lasania (@thathyderabadiboy on Instagram) who organizes heritage, food and rock walks in Hyderabad says, “Initially, we were not the usual brochures. Giving-driven information, nor do we do general tourist destinations. I choose places that have interesting names like Parsi Colony or PNT Colony etc. Then continue to dissect the reason for the name and the history behind it.
Afreen Fatima SK, an architecture student from Chennai (visits @98 on Instagram) took her first walk in Royapuram, North Chennai in 2018. She says, “When I say I’m from Royapuram, I get a ‘geto girl’. The cure. So I took my friends to the place; it’s because of the way it’s portrayed in movies.” History is ignored.” Several popular films have portrayed Royapuram as a hotspot for anti-social activities. He decided to share his knowledge of heritage architecture such as the oldest railway station in Chennai, St. Peter’s Church, Parsi Fire Temple, and Kalamandapam in Royapuram. “After visiting Royapuram, their misunderstandings were cleared,” she says.
Purvi Suresh Sonigra shared a picture from a walk led by Afreen on behalf of NVNONK with Madras photo blogger and TTDC (Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation). photo credit: Purvi Suresh Sonigra
Afreen was delighted when attendance for the walk increased, proof that people want to know more about different parts of their city. As lockdown restrictions are eased, locals are being joined on tours by visitors from southern states and occasional tourists from abroad. “Sometimes I also collaborate with Anna Nagar social history group Naam Veedu Naam Oor Naam Kadai for a walk in Chennai, especially when the numbers are huge.”
the town hall
There is a growing interest in cities like Coimbatore to know more about its history and people. “The city is developing into a metropolis,” says city historian Rajesh Govindarajulu, who takes people on a winding walk through the town hall circuit, one of the oldest parts of Coimbatore. The Kongu region had intense trade with the Romans. The name of the Kottaimedu neighborhood comes from the Vijayanagara era fort, which was visited by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. It was finally pulled down in 1973 after the Third Mysore War. Before the Europeans came to power, Coimbatore was directly or indirectly ruled by all the major dynasties of this part of the world, including the Cholas, Cheras, Pandyas, Pallavas and Gangas of Thalakkad in Karnataka, who reported to the Rashtrakutas. Was.
The iconic clock tower AT Tiruvenkataswamy Mudaliar at the Town Hall in Coimbatore has been built in the memory of an eminent philanthropist. photo credit: Shiv Saravanan
Rajesh packs historically documented information as well as anecdotes – Mahatma Gandhi visiting the home of one of the area’s oldest residents, the Korangu Seth family just around the corner, Congress Party G Kuppusamy Naidu’s rice market Used to work with , who founded the textile major, Lakshmi Mills. Walk Includes Revered Attar Jamaat Mosque arena Where wrestlers from the Jatti community trained and once provided security to the city, the historic residence of freedom fighter/advocate Sivakavimani CK Subramaniam Mudaliar (1878–1961), who wrote a treatise on it periyapuram, old convents and churches such as St. Michael. They also stop at Kanthan Pani Puri, one of the city’s oldest chaat outlets run by 75-year-old Vasavi Kanhika Parameshwari Sweet Stall, a push-cart that sells a unique melon seed mysurpa, to Balaji & Co bakers. For coconut buns and rolls, for gulkhand, Durgalal pickle and obtu, adirasamyMini Berries and Crisps Kahwa Fry breakfast from a shop in one of the narrow streets of the Town Hall.
fresh look
Near Khai Gate inside Charminar. Photo Credit: Prabalika M Borah
There are also Food Walks, Photo Walks, Rock Walks and Ghost Walks, which aim to provide participants with a fun element to their travel logs. Most food walks take place at night, unless it is a breakfast walk; City walks are best done in the early morning, when the roads are free of traffic. Since most walks are over two hours long and are run by history and heritage enthusiasts, the information gathered is thorough, not textbook-style.
Charminar Walk with @thathyderabadiboy | photo credit: special arrangement
Gurpreet Singh, a teacher working in Ahmedabad, traveled to Hyderabad in January 2022 for a heritage walk. His idea of setting out to travel after travel restrictions were eased was to explore a city that had much more to offer than malls, brands and high. -Advanced buildings. She says, “When I searched for things to do in Hyderabad, I read about excursions. I had planned my travel dates to coincide with the walk. It was very interesting and a very friendly group to follow along with the stories shared, myths and facts discussed. I would recommend such a walk for those who like to do simple things and still go back enriched with stories and experiences. ,
beyond the obvious
Soham Chakraborty of Calcutta Capsule begins his walk at his parent’s AirBnB introducing guests to his favorite parts of the city. Having been away from Kolkata while pursuing engineering, Soham wanted to share his favorite hangouts and experiences with the visitors. So, after months of planning, he chalked out three different options – Magic Hour, Aleve Food, and Calcutta Contrast. “The Magic Hour Walk focuses on all modes of transport (except air) for exploring the city of Kolkata. The walk starts before sunrise in Old Calcutta and the street lights are turned off in the morning,” he says, adding that “people are looking at the ‘real experience’, not just as tourists.” Rejoices when young travelers choose Satyajit Ray’s themed Calcutta Contrast public sanctuary (1976).
Walk With Calcutta Capsule | photo credit: Soham Chakraborty
Shilpa Allay Nainani, a Hyderabad-based freelance MC who runs with Soham, says she came back with a sense of belonging to the City of Joy. Shilpa says, “Nowadays there are mostly similar lifestyle brands in every city, but I wanted to experience what is unique in Kolkata. I found the activities very leisurely and informative. it gives a own one feeling”
If a trip to Soham is made for ‘experience’, then a visit to Yunus Lasania in Hyderabad is about exploring the unseen corners, forts, gates in Golconda, knowing a little more about the old city and the Charminar before the traffic starts. Have a walk around and know about the Qutb Shahi Tomb close by.
According to Yunus, the lockdown and time at home gave people time to look at the things they had missed; Regular activities like having a cup of tea at a tea stall or a tourist eating local food at non-fancy places. “It is also about taking a leisurely look at everyday buildings and streets. How and why a street is named, or why a particular (eg: pineapple) carving finds a place in a historical monument.
The excursions sometimes end with a hearty Hyderabadi breakfast sourdough And Minceeither Found with four-cornered Osmania Biscuits or Naan with puff or just Irani Chai. Chennai-based Abhinay Sivaganam, who lives in Hyderabad and works with a start-up, says she fell in love with the city’s history after attending Yunus’ outings over several weekends. She says, “I started with one and when the walk was announced I found myself returning. The walk isn’t information-heavy, but not trivial either. What I love the most is meeting like-minded people and seeing and taking pictures of places that no travel guide provides. ,
She says the discussion that happens right after the walk is “really a very informal way of learning.”
Tour of Qutb Shahi Tomb by Yunus Lasania | photo credit: special arrangement
In Jaipur, Puneet Yadav focuses only on less popular spots, combining them with photography walks. As a result, he has young newcomers on hand every time a walk is announced, and sometimes he finds himself designing trails tailor-made for people who want to do something different from the ordinary.
Says Puneet, “It is all about exclusivity. Everyone wants to do and see things that are not usually done, like visiting the popular palaces and temples of Jaipur. When tourists come from Punjab, Agra, Delhi So they have only one demand that ‘ different‘ (Something different). People in the age group of 25-40 years don’t mind spending more to find and experience. So I have an itinerary which includes places like Ghetaur Chhatri, Amer Chhatri and some old temples.”
Such walks and trips should not be confused with educational tours. As Soham says, “It’s about getting to experience the local culture and street life, without being burdened with information.”
(with inputs from K Jeshi)