Delhi, INDIA
DURATION:
ACTIVITY LEVEL:
PRICE:
In the 17th-century, the fifth Mughal emperor, Shahjahan established a new capital called Shahjahanabad, with a grand imperial fort, Qila-i-Mubarak (exalted fort) at its epicentre. The immaculately planned city was personally supervised by the Emperor, to include gardens with water channels, wide boulevards and a majestic mosque, Jama Masjid, which is India’s largest mosque. Thrive in the chaos of Chandni Chowk (once the commercial centre of Shahjahanabad) and visualise the glory of the Qila-i-Mubarak (now Red Fort) in this enlightening tour of Old Delhi.
Shahjahan’s walled city had a semi-circular design following the ancient principles of Vastu Shastra ("science of architecture”) with 14 gates, of which only five survive today. Two of the main thoroughfares, Chandni Chowk and Faiz Bazar (now Daryaganj) still constitute the essence of Old Delhi. Chandni Chowk, designed by the emperor’s favourite daughter, Jahanara, retains its importance as the heart of the historic city even after centuries. Shahjahanabad thrived as a hub of cultural riches and refinement colouring all aspects of life. Under the patronage of the court, art, craft, poetry, literature, music flourished. Repeated attacks, plunder and loot by invaders including Nadir Shah, the Marathas and finally the British, pushed Shahjahanabad closer to irreversible decline. Today, the walled city is chaotic and crowded, but vintage charm still pervaded through the labyrinth.
Travel back in time to the royal Mughal era at the Red Fort complex, a sprawling spectacle of red sandstone. There are many striking points of interest housed inside, including the Hall of Public Audiences, the white marble Hall of Private Audiences and Royal Baths. Combining Islamic, Timurid, Persian and Hindu elements, the monument is a testament to the architectural finesse of the time and stands proud as the most importance symbol of independent India.
Explore the warren of narrow streets in Shahjahan’s ancient city to find old crumbling mansions, hidden houses of worship and delightful street food. Pique your curiosity in the endless bazaars (markets) dedicated to specific trades like jewellery, spices and paper products. Get a glimpse of the past in the quieter backstreets where families have been living for generations. Stroll along the 120-feet wide, kilometre-long road where royal processions and pigeon-flying were part of routine life. Connect the dots from over the centuries and treat yourself to a refreshing whiff of nostalgia.
Transport: Walking Tour plus public transportation (Rickshaw) 
Activity level: Easy to Moderate
Accessible to wheel chair: Yes 
Kid friendly: Yes 
Languages: English and Local Language 
Inclusions: Private Knowledgeable guide, personalised walk, entrances to Red Fort, rickshaw ride, illustrated notes and all taxes. 
Exclusions: Excludes transport from hotel, tips. Personal Expenses and Souvenir. 
Gratuities: Not included in tour cost;payable at guest's discretion 
Meet up location: Entrance ticket counter at Red Fort 
End of tour location: Exit of Red Fort Duration: 3 - 4 Hours Price: upto 2 adults ₹3600 | Price upto 2 adults | : ₹3,600 |
| Children | : Complimentary for children below 10 years |
25% of the total cost will be charged, if cancelled 15 to 10 days prior to the tour date.
50% of the total cost will be charged, if cancelled 9 to 5 days prior to the tour date.
No refund if cancelled less than 5 days prior to the tour date.
For group size more than 4 adults, write to us at info@footprintholidays.com
We can arrange other language speaking guides based on your request and availability
The tour can be customised to suit your needs like change of time, change of pick-up point, etc. You can write to us to info@footprintholidays.com customise your tour as per your preferences.
I will begin by saying that I had a FANTASTIC time in India. It was one of the best trips I've ever taken and I'm truly looking forward to hopefully having you book other trips for me in India.
I must say everything was planned to perfection. Each guide in every city was knowledgeable; especially the guide you arranged for us in Udaipur. We really enjoyed getting to know our guides Musheer and Kishore. We experienced the real India and appreciated the detailed itinerary your team created for us. The hotels were fantastic! In every hotel, the chef paid us a visit to make sure that we had meals suitable for us. We also enjoyed all the extra shopping excursions that were suggested.
The trip was a mega success and your team did a great job. Thanks to Footprint for everything. The entire family had a great time! The exclusive kalaripayattu demonstration was absolutely engaging and we loved every bit of the special private stand-up by Alex Babu (of Alex in Wonderland fame).
Thank you for a great trip! We especially enjoyed driving through the desertland into Jaisalmer; we also thoroughly enjoyed Bikaner, its Havelis and the Fort. Catching the daily life in Mumbai was a unique and eye-opening experience! All the hotels chosen are excellent with wonderful staff. Thank you!
Thank you for a wonderful trip to Kerala. We loved the village life walk and Fort Cochin walk. The backwater cruise in a traditional country boat was an incredible experience. A meal with the local family, living on an island in the backwaters, offered us an excellent opportunity to interact, learn and share. We loved every minute of our holiday! Thanks!
As a solo traveller, I felt safe and was exceptionally well taken care of. The cooking class in Jaipur was extremely enjoyable. The food, chef, and his wife were all exceptional and made for a lovely evening. Also, our expectations were definitely exceeded at a private residence, spending time with the elephants and lunching. Thanks!!
I loved India and thank you very much for arranging everything. It was a fabulous trip. Big kudos to you and your team. The tour guides and drivers were excellent. I loved the artisan walk, discovering the artistic treasures of Udaipur, meeting local potters and painters.
Thanks for arranging everything to precision – it was super smooth and we had a very good darshan!
Thanks for organising a great trip to Lucknow and Varanasi. The hotels at both the places were excellent; we had a great guide in Varanasi who went beyond the designated tour route and showed us around. The food tour in Lucknow was amazing and re-discovering the Awadhi Cuisine was a great experience – the kebabs were out of the world!
It was a terrific experience to spot the King of the jungle in all their glory at Gir. We had a very good experience overall.
It was a perfect leisure getaway – thanks for organising this! We loved the French Connection Trail; the guide took us through the French quarter sharing some incredible stories from the colonisation. We enjoyed the hotel and the service!