Walking Culture in Delhi: How Community Walks Heal and Connect the Capital
In the heart of India's bustling capital, a powerful and resilient activity has taken root—walking together has become Delhi's distinctive way of healing, connecting, and celebrating community. As varied and evolving as the city itself, these walks embrace multiple forms while steadfastly holding onto the capital's culturally layered character, creating a tapestry of human connection against the urban backdrop.
The Seasonal Rhythm of Delhi's Walking Tradition
Every winter and spring, when the sun casts a softer glow, Delhi residents step out to walk through their city's diverse landscapes. They move through rugged brick-red sandstone ruins—sometimes bathed in golden sunlight, other times draped in morning mist—navigating cluttered lanes and wide boulevards with purposeful steps. This tradition persists not because Delhi is untouched by pain or challenges, but precisely because its residents refuse to let wounds define their relationship with their city.
Even after incidents like the recent bombing near Red Fort in Old Delhi, and despite the persistent AQI menace that blankets the city each winter, people continue to gather at dawn and dusk to move through urban spaces on foot. Walking has become a quiet yet profound act of reclaiming public space, refusing to surrender to fear, and maintaining connection to the stories that survive every change, shock, or challenge the city faces.
A Diverse Platter of Walking Experiences
Variety truly defines Delhi's walking scene, with enthusiasts spoiled for choice across numerous specialized categories. Walking enthusiast Harshit Sharma, 28, who has participated in over 500 walks, observes, "While I have experienced walks in many cities across the country, Delhi has a relatively small window for optimal walking season—typically November through March when the sun isn't oppressive. So despite aggressive pollution levels in winter, I attended a food and culture walk wearing my N95 mask, and other walkers I know did the same."
Manisha Kalra, 30, founder of City Girls Who Walk Delhi (CGWWD), notes that as urban routines continue to evolve, women's collectives are emerging as safe and supportive spaces that help participants navigate both wellness goals and urban loneliness. "I have been hosting free weekend walks since 2023, and women across all age groups genuinely look forward to these gatherings," she explains.
Personal Connections and Community Building
Kalra's initiative offered a new lease on city life for Kolkata-based Joitree, 30, an interior designer living and working in Delhi. "I don't have many friends here; these walks give me a chance to spend quality time with other women. It's low-effort yet pleasant—the weather, the architecture, and the mix of ages make it thoroughly enjoyable. I particularly appreciate that it's a 'no agenda' activity; you simply flow along, and conversations remain open and natural. It also provides a welcome break from social media, and interacting with older women has helped me understand my own mother better," she shares.
Joitree's experience reflects a broader trend: what used to be scattered heritage outings has now blossomed into thoughtfully designed walks catering to remarkably diverse interests. The current walking landscape includes:
- History trails through ancient monuments
- Queer-led heritage walks exploring marginalized narratives
- Yamuna bank morning walks embracing nature
- Art district tours showcasing creative spaces
- Poetry strolls combining literature and landscape
- Photography walks for visual storytellers
- Partition trails examining historical trauma
- Women-only walks ensuring safety and comfort
Instagram pages actively advertise these experiences, and WhatsApp groups often fill within hours of announcement, demonstrating the tremendous demand for curated walking experiences.
Specialized Walking Experiences Gain Popularity
Sohail Hashmi, with his distinctive history professor persona, regularly invites walkers via Instagram to explore forts and heritage sites, narrating stories with exceptional flair and finesse. Meanwhile, mystery lovers who devour subtle spooky details from William Dalrymple's 'City of Djinns' actively seek walks that take them to haunted trails where strangers bond over a compelling mix of history, folklore, and immersive storytelling.
Food enthusiasts find themselves courted by Delhi Food Walks, one of the city's oldest structured walking organizations. Founder Anubhav Sapra, 42, explains that interest in food walking culture has grown significantly in recent years. "I hear about a new walk launching approximately every fifteen days. Back when we started in 2011, there wasn't much variety available. The 'walking platter' we now offer includes nine specialized guides who possess deep knowledge about food and its historical context—narrating engaging stories during Old Delhi breakfast tours, Paharganj street food explorations, Lajpat Nagar's Afghani cuisine walks, central Delhi's Punjabi delicacies tours, and numerous other experiences. These walks attract dedicated food lovers who savor their nihari and parathas while simultaneously learning the rich stories behind these culinary traditions," Sapra elaborates.
Behind the Scenes: Passion Versus Business Models
Behind these meticulously curated walks lies significant organizational effort—researching historical stories, planning safe and engaging routes, securing necessary permissions, managing participant crowds, and ensuring overall safety throughout the experience. Some organizers, like Sachn Bansal, 46, founder of India City Walks (ICW), represent veteran presences in this growing field. Born from genuine love for Delhi's heritage, Bansal's tours now span old Delhi walking tours, forest and ecology walks, rickshaw tours, baoli (stepwell) explorations, and tawaif history walks examining courtesan culture.
"Delhi was overflowing with memory, but no one was stitching it together in a way that respected the city's emotional and human layers. The fundamental idea was to listen deeply to what the city had to say. Today, my tours focus on revival, context, and human belonging," Bansal reflects.
He adds that contemporary walkers increasingly crave authenticity rather than rigid itineraries. "People are walking not merely to 'see' Delhi, but to genuinely understand it. The audience has grown more reflective, curious, and emotionally connected. Earlier, walkers consisted mainly of diplomats, heritage enthusiasts, and academic researchers. Now, participants include everyone from architects studying baolis to students seeking meaning and long-term residents rediscovering their own neighborhoods," Bansal observes.
Non-Business Models Creating Safe Spaces
Kalra's non-business model, by contrast, intentionally gives women a safe space to connect across generations. Harmeet Kaur Sahni, 58, a fitness enthusiast splitting time between Canada and Delhi, shares her experience: "I chanced upon this group on Instagram and noticed a Purana Qila walk scheduled for the very next day. I woke up in the morning, put on my walking shoes, and reached the venue. I loved every single moment. Now it has become a regular part of my life whenever I'm in Delhi."
Walking as Urban Activism and Identity Expression
A distinctive dash of activism defines what Batool Ali, 35, offers through Delhi Queer Heritage Walks. "I started these tours in March 2022 out of frustration at not being visible enough within mainstream heritage narratives. Queer history in South Asia is remarkably rich but consistently overlooked. During walks, I share carefully researched historical anecdotes about queer figures, supported by substantial archive research. Foreign tourists often remark that they're genuinely jealous of India's vast queer history compared to Western contexts," Ali explains.
These queer-framed heritage and food walks remain relatively small but notably active and steadily growing. In 2022, fewer than 500 people participated; by 2025, participation had grown to approximately 2,634 individuals. Ali emphasizes safety as a paramount concern: "Queer and trans people need to feel genuinely safe during these experiences. Many participants join hoping to meet like-minded people. The walks offer pride, connection, and even opportunities to meet potential dating partners within a supportive environment."
The Growing Ecosystem of Delhi Walking Culture
It's particularly interesting to observe how both the number of organizers and participants has expanded substantially, allowing people to rediscover Delhi on their own terms. College students seeking low-key weekend plans, solo women seeking safety in numbers, migrants exploring the city's textures, corporate workers finding comfort among historical monuments, and the queer community connecting with 'their history'—all these diverse groups converge through walking experiences. Most walks conclude with strangers chatting like long-lost friends over chai or coffee, sharing breakfast, exchanging social media reels, comparing photographs, and reminiscing about the city memories they created together during their walk.
Walks have undeniably become a key component of Delhi's cultural ecosystem. Some remain completely free, while others cost approximately ₹700–1,000 for a comprehensive 2-hour tour. Highly specialized, niche walks with extensive curation can reach up to ₹4,000 for immersive 3–4 hour experiences or longer.
As Sachn Bansal poetically concludes, "Delhi people naturally gravitate toward experiences that thoughtfully combine architecture, memory, and continuity. The city ultimately teaches you humility; you do not interpret the city—you allow the city to interpret you."
