The magic of Delhi by dawn

Discover the magic of Delhi at dawn on this one-of-a-kind walking tour with a local. I grew up in Delhi and believe that the city is a great example of Indian culture, which is a mixture of different faiths and communities woven together through history. We start at 6am in the most ancient precinct, which dates back to the Mahabharata era. You’ll see worshippers at the ghats by the Yamuna River, perhaps an aarti in session with Hindu chanting – it’s a beautiful, meditative start to the tour. Delhi is a city of contrasts, which you’ll discover as we move on from this peaceful place towards the hustle of Old Delhi.

Our next stop is at the oldest wrestling school (akhara) in India, where you’ll learn all about the sport. Recently, it has become really famous thanks to the blockbuster film Dangal. Here, you might get to meet the wrestlers who’ve inherited the sport from their ancestors. Witness a different side of Delhi culture at a nearby gaushala, a cow shed, where we have an interesting conversation about the veneration of cows in India and what shape that’s taking today. There’s even a connection to British rule, as cows were imported to provide milk for soldiers.

Moving on to Old Delhi’s markets and bustle, we get a chance to sample a typical breakfast dish, Nihari. Food is a huge part of the city and you can see all of Delhi’s communities represented in its various cuisines. Nihari is basically a meat dish cooked overnight that was originally served to soldiers building the Red Fort – Nihar means morning. After a photo stop at India Gate we visit the iconic Humayun’s Tomb, which is absolutely stunning in the morning and free from crowds. Built by Humayun’s wife to honour India’s second Mughal ruler, it’s a blueprint for tombs in India and a perfect end to the tour.