Wander through the poetic stillness of Lodhi Gardens, where the tombs of Sayyid and Lodi rulers rise beneath flowering canopies. This heritage walk uncovers stories of dynasties, domes, and Delhi’s quiet transformation, from imperial resting grounds to a lush urban haven.
About the event
Walk Led By: Shreya Sahay & Karan Tekwani
Location: Lodhi Garden
Date: Sunday, 8th June 2025
Time: 8:30 AM
Meeting Point: Lodhi Garden, Gate No. 1 (Ashoka Gate) Opposite Mausam Bhavan
Nearest Metro: Jor Bagh
About the Walk:
Step into Lodhi Gardens, where history breathes through stone and blossoms under ancient trees. This walk traces the rise and rest of the Sayyid and Lodi dynasties, whose tombs and mosques now sit gracefully amidst a British-era garden—an oasis where Mughal architecture meets English landscape design.
We’ll explore iconic landmarks like the Bara Gumbad complex, the atmospheric mosque ruins, and the striking tomb of Sikandar Lodi, while walking under canopies of jamun, gulmohar, and bottle palms. Along the way, we’ll decode lotus-crowned domes, crumbling chhatris, red sandstone carvings, and the quiet symbolism of garden layout and placement.
But this isn’t just a tour—it’s an invitation to see, sense, and slow down. Lodhi Gardens is a rare Delhi space where power softened into poetry, and where every turn of the path holds a new layer of memory.
To enrich your exploration, each participant will receive a specially designed Heritage Bingo card featuring key sights, natural elements, and architectural details to spot during the walk—a light, playful way to engage with your surroundings. You'll also take home a thoughtfully illustrated Lodhi Garden map, marked with historical highlights and walking trails, as a keepsake of your journey through Delhi’s living past.
About Qissa Gos:
Shreya Sahay is a researcher with a postgraduate degree in History from the University of Delhi, where she specialised in Modern Indian History. Her work lies at the intersection of law, education, culture, and society-she's especially fascinated by how legal systems shape, and are shaped by, the rhythms of everyday life. A passionate advocate for heritage and museum education, Shreya believes that history doesn't have to be heavy-it can be sharp, accessible, and even fun. Whether tracing the colonial afterlives of institutions or rethinking how the past is told, she brings both rigor and imagination to the task of making history meaningful in the present.
Karan Tekwani studied literature at St. Stephen’s College and aesthetics in Mumbai, and now writes about food histories for various publications. His walks are a mix of storytelling, visual observation, and tasty tidbits—think of them as three-course meals for the curious mind. Karan is fascinated by the everyday: that chipped wall, a passing phrase, or a forgotten snack stall—mundane things that quietly carry centuries of stories. He loves exploring how people make sense of daily life, often uncovering unexpected meaning in the most ordinary moments.
Pre-Walk Knowledge Nuggets
Lodhi Garden: Before It Was a Garden
Originally a necropolis of Sayyid and Lodi rulers in the 15th century.
Renamed “Lady Willingdon Park” during the British Raj when the tomb complex was landscaped into a garden.
Post-Independence, it became Lodhi Garden, a space that blends Sultanate history with colonial landscaping.
What Makes It Special:
The only site in Delhi where Indo-Islamic tomb architecture exists within a planned English-style garden.
Features lotus domes, true arches, and 15th-century inscriptions.
A rare synthesis of power, poetry, and nature in urban Delhi.
For those who want to read further before (or after) the walk:
Lodi Gardens – Buildings, Trees (Set of Two Heritage Maps), INTACH Delhi Chapter & Heritage and Communication Service
Lal Kot to Lodi Gardens, Ranjit Sinha, Rupa & Co., 1996
History of the Lodi Sultans of Delhi and Agra, Abdul Halim, 1974
Recommendations and Instructions for Participants.
Wear comfortable clothes and shoes suitable for walking.
Bring water to stay hydrated during the walk.
Arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled start time for check-in.
Bring a notebook if you'd like to jot down your thoughts or reflections throughout the walk.
Also check out other Arts events in New Delhi, Literary Art events in New Delhi, Workshops in New Delhi.
