Delhi, INDIA
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Delhi was a major centre of Sufism during the 13th and 14th centuries and the home of several Sufi saints whose legacy still flourishes in the city through an ardent community. One of the most venerated of these saints Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya has a medieval settlement (Nizamuddin) named after him. The area has historical significance for the shrine and Dargah (tomb) of the spiritual leader and his favourite disciple, poet Amir Khusrau. A vibrant community keeps alive the cultural heritage of Sufi spirituality, through poetry and Qawwali (Muslim devotional music) performances. Seek out the place that historian Rana Safvi describes as the “centre of Delhi’s spiritual existence, and that of pluralistic, syncretic society”.
More than the medieval aura of narrow lanes scattered with tombs, mausoleums and step-wells, Nizamuddin hooks you with its ancient link with spirituality. But more than the monuments, it is the confluence of food, flowers and fakirs in this cramped-up neighbourhood that imparts to it, an eternal appeal.
Expect to see an ensemble of medieval Islamic buildings, but not before navigating congested pathways, enveloped in lively chaos. An appetizing aroma of kebabs (skewered meats) hangs in the air and vibrant flower and chaadar (sheet used as offering) stalls remind of mandatory offerings at the Dargah. Devotees have thronged here for centuries, lured by an age-old Islamic mysticism. Traditionally, Thursday has been the chosen day of the week for mesmerizing Qawwali mehfils (musical evenings), where pilgrims and Sufi fans sway to the powerful devotional music, which preaches love, compassion and inclusion. Amir Khusrau, the inventor of the Qawwali genre lives on through resident Qawwal families. Chaunsath Khamba (64 pillars), the tomb of the Urdu poet Ghalib from the Mughal era is another noteworthy landmark of the area. Jahanara Begum, daughter of Mughal Emperor Shahjahan is also buried here.
The area is also famous as the stage for the annual five-day Urs festival commemorating the death anniversary of great poet and musician, Amir Khusrau.
Transport: Walking Tour 
Activity level: Easy to Moderate
Accessible to wheel chair: Yes 
Kid friendly: Yes 
Languages: English and Local Language 
Inclusions: Private Knowledgeable guide, illustrated notes, personalised tour 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: Nizamuddin Police station 
End of tour location: Nizamuddin Police station Duration: 2 Hours Price: upto 2 adults ₹3000 | Price upto 2 adults | : ₹3,000 |
| 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!