New Delhi Trails

On this extraordinary tour of New Delhi, drive past the imposing India Gate (War Memorial Arch), the Parliament buildings and the Rashtrapati Bhawan (the President's residence). Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, the elegantly proportioned and gracefully preserved Humayun's Tomb was the first garden tomb on the Indian subcontinent, a wonderful example of early Mughal architecture. Fourteen years after his death, Humayun's widow, Hamida Banu Begum, started the construction of the red sandstone tomb in 1569. Meet a volunteer from Aga Khan Trust (working on the conservation of the heritage belt) as you visit the Humayun's Tomb and proceed to Sunder Nursery, a beautifully restored 16th century heritage park complex. Spread over 90 acres, the park was restored by the Aga Khan Foundation and contains fifteen heritage monuments. Next take an experiential tour into the little neighborhood called the Nizamuddin Dargah complex. The bustling medieval settlement feature some of the historic tombs and domes complemented with Sufi music, poetry, pilgrims and some shops selling colorful flowers and other offerings. Winding through the crowded alleys, explore the small yet fascinating monuments associated with famous Sufi saints including Nizamuddin Auliya (after whom the complex was named), Amir Khusrau and Mirza Ghalib - all belonging to the fraternity of Sufi mystics.