Mughal India continues to fascinate the culture buff for its rich and enduring history, art and architecture and cultural splendour. Nowhere is this more evident than in Delhi, which replaced Agra as the bastion of this mighty kingdom by Shah Jahan in the year 1638. Though the second Mughal king, Humayun, built the city of Dinpanah on the banks of the Jamuna in Delhi in 1533, it was Agra which served as the capital of Akbar and Jehangir. It was Shahjehan who moved the Mughal court to Delhi by raising the fantastic city of Shahjahanabad which reflected the epitome of glamour, elegance and grace of the Persian capital of Ishfahan.
As you travel around the Old Quarter you can still enjoy the splendour of its architectural marvels such as the Jama Masjid, and the splendid Red Fort as well as its cultural leanings which still survive in its crumbling havelis amidst the warren of lanes and alleys.
The Mughal court, the world of political intrigue and secrecy, the pomp and ceremony, the havelis and the shrines, the bazaars and the eateries, the arts and crafts, the Sufi khaneqahs, the learning and the literature, the leisure sports and mushairas— this beautiful tour led by a historian, opens up the many aspects of Mughal rule in Delhi in the most enticing way.
From the majestic Red Fort to the line-up of silver and gold jewellery shops of Dariba Kalan, this tour allows you to savour the riches of a 350-year-old culture up-close. Led by a historian, the unravelling of the many aspects of this Mughal City puts the spotlight on the heyday of the elegant lifestyle that flourished in the royal palaces and havelis, enriched by the merchants, priests, artists, and poets who lived in the Walled City during the Mughal period. Our walk brings us to iconic spots such as the garden palaces and halls of the Mughal citadel of Lal Qila (Red Fort), the Jama Masjid – or the grand Friday Mosque, the Kinari Bazaar, or tinsel street, that caters to the wedding business and Dariba Kalan the Jewellers Lane.