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In a time when cities are changing in the blink of an eye; where buildings are constantly repainted, redeveloped, and redone, everyone seems to be craving a piece of nostalgia. Away from the gentrification, the noise, the dust, and the cement, guided walks are emerging as an antidote to the glossy monotony of modern urban life.
The appeal of these walks lies not only in nostalgia but also in a deep curiosity to understand how cities once existed — before urbanisation, before every corner was ‘rebranded’. As gentrification continues to blur the lines between cities, these walks offer something increasingly rare: authenticity. They tap into the pulse of a place, guiding you to corners that have quietly resisted change, where time seems to stand still.
Unfortunately, most of our cities aren’t pedestrian-friendly. Between potholes, half-built footpaths, and fallen electric poles tangled in wires, walking often feels like an afterthought. These walks, however, lead you to parts of the city where the roads may be narrower but the traffic is lighter, and where, under the afternoon sun and the shade of trees (those that haven’t been cut down for another building or a wider road), offer a quiet, fleeting peace.
Here are six walks that trace the soul of six different cities, offering unique ways to experience each of them.
Take a detour from the never-ending metro construction (the one they promised would be done three years ago) and wander through old Bangalore instead. Bangalore Local Walks offers not just walking tours but also bicycle rides that take you to corners of the city where the air smells of fresh flowers and streets brim with local produce. From the charm of Malleshwaram to the lush beauty of Lal Bagh, each route is a reminder of the city’s quieter, more soulful side.
You can follow them here.
I used to be one of those people who thought Pune (my city) didn’t have much to offer — until I joined a food walk through Camp with Western Routes. Stopping at iconic spots like Garden Vada Pav, Marzorin, and Dorabjee’s felt like strolling through Pune’s culinary history. Western Routes curates a range of experiences across the city, including the Pune Old City Heritage Walk, held every Sunday at 9 a.m., which takes you through the charming by-lanes of the Peshwai city.
New Delhi is a city steeped in history — the country’s personal journal, with every neighbourhood capturing a different chapter of India’s story. INTACH Heritage Walks brings this journal to life through thoughtfully curated journeys, each built around a distinct theme. One of their upcoming walks, “Mutineers, Engineers and Parsi Beers – A Walk on 1857 & the Northern Ridge,” sounds almost like a secret code exchanged between soldiers during wartime. These walks are crafted not just to teach you about Delhi’s past, but to make you fall in love with the city all over again.
You can follow them here.
Chennai, as a city, seems so graceful to me with a perpetual salt in the air and the kind of history it holds. Madras Inherited captures this essence through its carefully curated heritage walks that uncover the city’s layered past. Whether it’s exploring the quiet charm of Mylapore’s agraharams, finding the stories behind Chetpet, or understanding how old Madras shaped modern Chennai, each walk feels like leafing through a living history book.
Mumbai — perhaps the most romanticised and aspired-to city in India — has long been a muse for dreamers, and Photowalks Mumbai captures exactly that spirit. Their guided tours take you through the city’s hidden nooks and charming corners — from the winding lanes of Matharpacady, steeped in Portuguese and East Indian heritage, to a spooky midnight walk through Bandra on Halloween. Each experience offers participants a chance to see Mumbai anew — not just as a city that never sleeps, but as one that constantly reveals itself through a fresh lens.
You can follow them here.
