The Municipal Corporation of Delhi is planning heritage trails that will connect lesser-known historic sites in neighbourhoods such as Mehrauli, Daryaganj and Old Delhi, using walkable routes, signage and QR codes to bring the city’s hidden history to a wider audience.
The proposed trails will move beyond Delhi’s prominent monuments and heritage buildings to include old alleys, havelis, schools, markets, parks and everyday structures with historical significance. Sites located within the same locality and within walking distance of one another will be grouped into curated circuits covering local history, architecture and cultural legacy.
An MCD official said the civic body already organises heritage walks, particularly during winter, but now wants to create more engaging routes around clusters of nearby sites. Historians would help visitors discover lesser-known facts, anecdotes and stories linked to the locations.
The plan was discussed at a meeting held on Monday with historian Swapna Liddle. According to the MCD official, QR codes could be installed at selected locations so visitors can access information about the history of individual sites, related anecdotes and other nearby destinations. Officials are also examining how pathways, signage and digital information can be used to connect the locations.
Mehrauli is among the areas being considered for an initial trail. The proposed circuit could link Hauz-i-Shamsi, a 13th-century Sultanate-era water body, with Jahaz Mahal, Jharna and older religious structures in the area. The neighbourhood has a dense cluster of monuments set among gardens and parks, providing the basis for a route that links individual sites into a larger heritage experience.
Officials said the MCD would explore including monuments and properties managed by other agencies, including the Archaeological Survey of India. The trails remain at the planning stage, and the process of deciding how sites will be connected and interpreted is still under discussion.
Liddle said heritage protection should be accompanied by efforts to popularise historic places. She also pointed to the importance of intangible assets, including customs and folk songs, as well as buildings with distinctive histories. She said she would support the initiative with her experience and expertise while the MCD heritage cell takes the plan forward.
A possible Daryaganj circuit could include sections of the 17th-century Shahjahanabad city wall, the Darya Ganj fire station, the Darya Ganj police station inaugurated in 1930, heritage-listed private houses, Indian Refrigeration House, Ghata Masjid and schools with long institutional histories. These could include Anglo Sanskrit Victoria Jubilee Senior Secondary School, established in 1869, Happy School, DAV School and other historically significant sites.
Similar circuits are also being planned in Old Delhi. Gali Ballimaran, Ghalib ki Haveli and other nearby historic destinations could be linked to present the history and cultural legacy of the neighbourhood through a single route. The MCD has not yet announced a final launch date for the proposed trails.
