31 Mar 2019
This is a 2 km walk that starts from a SwamiNarayan Temple (HIndu) & ends in Jami Masjid (Muslim). There are so many Hindu & Jain temples and Masjids in this small section of humanity. They all appeared to live together in peace and harmony for hundreds of years. Some of these streets as very narrow. The ancient wood work is remarkable for the Indo-Chinese influence. The British have left their mark too. However, the Muslim & Hindu heritage is quite visible. You will see many ancient "chabutras" or bird feeders.
The walking tour does take you through "Pols" populated with people living contemporary life in ancient architecture and city lay out. You will witness the authenticity of their existence by having cows, dogs, goats & monkeys co-existing with humans in an urban setting. There will be cow dung on the street, dirty water flowing in the street, and even smell of urine. This should not distract you from all the things you will be able to see and learn about on the tour.
This is indeed a wonderful value for money & includes the wonderful mouthwatering snacks at Chandravilas Restaurant ( it is about 120 years old).
Please bring a head gear/hat with you to enter certain religious places. prepare to remove your shoes at many places. Your starting point is different from the ending point so plan accordingly. If you read a bit about this trip beforehand, it will certainly help to get the most out of this trip. The guides give to-the-point information so it is easy on the ears.