#the heritage walk

[anoushka-jain]

Tawaifs and Kothas of Chawri Bazar

Historic walking tours in a city like Delhi are a great initiative to immerse yourself in the stories from the past. The history of Delhi is very fascinating and it is not only just showcased in the monuments and forts, but also in the bustling streets of old Delhi.

It was in 2019, when Enroute Indian History started conducting their flagship heritage walk called ‘Exploring Tawaifs and Kothas of Chawri bazar’. Enroute Indian History is a women-led organization that focuses on the dissemination of historical knowledge and creating awareness about heritage by conducting heritage walking tours in Delhi.

The participants walk through the bustling streets of Chawri bazaar (originally known as Bazar-e-husn) and witness the kothas that once used to serve as the houses of the Tawaifs. Tawaifs were highly skilled performers who were accomplished in singing, dancing and other arts. They were patrons of classical music and dance, and some of them became influential figures in the cultural scene of their time. Get to know about the various powerful Tawaifs, who were the richest and the elitist citizens of their time. Experience the rise and the fall of the Tawaifs, through the stories narrated by the finest and the most passionate individuals of Enroute Indian History. The heritage walk at Chawri bazaar, is a one of a kind experience and a great way to learn about the history of Delhi.

The monument walks or the heritage walks are 1.5 hour guided group walks conducted by Enroute Indian History, every weekend. These group walks are a great way to meet new like minded people. People from all over the country, when visiting Delhi never miss the opportunity to attend our special Tawaifs and Kothas walk as they are not being conducted elsewhere. If you cannot attend the weekend group walks, contact us for special customized heritage walks, tailor made just for you and conducted as per your convenience.

Our walk has been featured by esteemed media houses such as Indian Express and The Print. Check our website to know about the heritage walks www.enrouteindianhistory.com You can also follow us on instagram at enroute_indian_history_ for more history related content.

[somnas-writes]

Azris fic idea

Azriel and Eris are finally at the stage in their new relationship where they’re bold enough to sleep in the same bed.

Azriel doesn’t even touch Eris until he gets impatient and hugs him. Azriel absolutely melts and falls asleep so fast.

They both sleep fantastically that night, but come morning Azriel doesn’t wake up. At first Eris panicked, but upon further inspection he realizes that Azriel is in the deepest sleep ever.

On Az’s end, laying in that bed is the warmest he’s ever been and he hasn’t had a full night sleep in who knows how long— once he closes his eyes, he’s out.

He sleeps nearly three whole days, when he finally wakes up he doesn’t know where he is but he’s never felt more relieved.

[wikitpowers]

i want somebody to threaten kit and for ty (with murder in his eyes) to step in front of him, whip out a seraph blade and say “you lay a finger on him and it will be the last thing you do” with the deepest voice

[sp00pygal]

Phandom: obviously there's child endangerment at the Fenton household, so let's write/draw content about Danny getting X ghostly parent

Me: but uh - hey guys, what about jazz?

Phandom: who?

Me: *long sigh* Danny's older sister

Phandom: oh her! Lol, she's 16, practically an adult! She's fiiiine :)

[koszmarnybudyn]

Hermie creature

[useless-catalanfacts]

HI! Love your blog a lot!!💛❤️

I have a peculiar rant to make!

There are many motorsport events happening in Barcelona during the year, and they are often called "Spanish Grand Prix", and they are portrayed as the "home races" of people usually from other parts of Spain (most times these people are rich blokes from Madrid with links to Vox). I'm not Catalan, but that makes me so mad. It's once again the erasure of an entire history and culture. English-speaking media don't even make an effort to understand where they are, they are just happy to call it Spain and wonder why they're playing two anthems before the actual races.

But anyway, visca Catalunya i bona diada dels Països Catalans!

Thank you very much!

Yes, I completely agree with you that it's annoying. It's a way for the Spanish state (and every other state, because this happens to other occupied nations as well) to use the sports for propaganda and to cement the association "Catalonia=Spain" in the minds of everyone from around the world who's watching.

If I may, I will answer to your rant with another rant of my own. In general, most sports tend to be very state-centered. For example, for most sports you can't be a professional athlete unless you sign up for a specific state to represent it, wear its flag on your clothes while you compete, play their anthem if you win, the teams must be organized according to people who come from the same state, etc. And if you don't have one, then, bad luck, you either do it for the state that occupies your homeland or you don't get to become a professional sportsperson at all. But even if you have your own independent country that you identify with, still... why so much focus on it? Why is where these people come from so important that it becomes even more important that the person? Imagine if people did this with any other aspect of the athlete's background or identities: "Twilight fans won 5 gold medals this year, and Marvel fans went down to only 3". Or imagine if we did it by sexual orientation, conservatives would be so mad saying "why do you have to wave it in everyone's faces!?". All of those would be ridiculous, so why isn't this strong focus on what state they come from also ridiculous? It would seem more logical to focus on person, school/trainer, or teams that they could choose according to how they view the sport or how they think training works better or work better together. But we seem to just accept that the state (not even culture or nation, just a geographical-political administration unit) is the most defining trait.

That's why I personally never liked the Olympic games or world cups, it feels like it's more about nationalism than about sports. I used to follow them when I was young but I always felt like the gymnasts themselves weren't recognized enough because all the media was focused on "how many people from our country won", or "this sport was won by [country]". And Spanish media does this a lot, to the point that I think they are disrespectful to the sportsperson. Why do all Spanish people have to feel proud or like they won the games because someone from their state achieved something, but not when someone from another state did the same, even when someone from a state might be geographically closer to some parts of their neighbour state than other parts of their own? It's not like the random citizen who is supposed to feel like he himself won the games did, maybe he spent the whole competition eating chips at the sofa (that's me btw). It just never made sense to me. And even less for team achievements like F1 or MotoGP, where they play the anthem of the state that the pilot is a citizen of, but so much of that victory is owed to the rest of the team who worked on making and improving the car/motorbike, so it's a team effort but the anthem of the state of only one of them is chosen to be given the victory to. It makes no sense!

And if you're hosting on a city, it's the same. What does a state's anthem even have to do with an F1 racing? Why is it even there? Show the city and the area around it if you must show something, after all that's the people whose taxes are going to pay for that sport and whose lives are going to be inconvenienced by it.

Because that's another thing, events like the F1 race inside Barcelona (not on the actual track, when they made them fake-race on the street Passeig de Gràcia, afaik they were not even actually racing because the velocity limit was too low), the America Cup, etc contribute so much to worsening the worst problems of the city (touristic massification, gentrification, poverty, and pollution). For the America Cup, the neighbours of the Barceloneta quarter have to use cards that identify them as residents to be allowed in their own neighbourhood because that whole neighbourhood has been kidnapped by the America Cup people. And the F1 fake race thing in one of the busiest avenues of the city was very annoying to the citizens, too. It meant cutting a significant amount of the city's traffic, including public buses, and collapsing part of the metro system as a result. Some of my co-workers had difficulties arriving to our workplace that day because of it. Just so that cars can show off inside the city and pollute it, skipping the city's laws that aim to reduce air pollution by banning people whose cars pollute more than a certain amount (which in practise means old cars, the ones that poorer people are more likely to have). We can't use our cars in the city unless we can afford a green model, but they can cut off a whole avenue in the very centre of the city, asphalt it new just for them, and race there when they already have a track made for them to race in.

It's all part of the capitalist obsession with uncontrolled growth, they want everything to happen here for more and more people to come. Not just with sports events, but anything that will be used as an advertising for the city. Like the Louis Vuitton catwalk that was happening this month in Park Güell (a UNESCO World Heritage Site btw) and which damaged part of the architecture. Until now, the hotel lobby was the main promoter of many of these events because they wanted more tourists, but even the hotel owners are now saying that this has gone too far and the tourism monoculture model has become absolutely unsustainable and is ruining the city.

Don't get me wrong, sports are important and we need to support them and promote people practise sports, and it's good for entertainment purposes and we have to support people having fun (that's what life's about!). But the model that professional competitive sports use needs to be completely rethinked. I think every city that has gone through the devastating experience of hosting Olympic Games will agree with this.

Anyway, that's just my opinion and what you pointed out is definitely more offensive, but when I stop to think of it I can't but see how it's all.... not great. Sorry for getting out of topic but I have been personally very annoyed by these sports and fashion events this month.

Thank you for your message and your understanding, I read it on the Sant Joan but I'm answering late. I hope you had a good diada dels Països Catalans and that you're having a great beginning of summer 🌞

[bericas]

no, I am no longer funny, 'cause I miss the way you laugh.

before paige krasikeva, there is marin deaton, always on the cusp of laughing in derek's face or kissing him. when the times comes to choose one, she does neither; she turns away. none of the insults she'd teased him with had ever stung as badly as her soft smile and apologetic eyes. after paige, derek can almost deal with them both, as long as they're coming from marin again. can almost be comforted by them, until she walks away again. after kate argent, he and laura leave town long before he could've found out what marin would've done next.

a few months after derek comes back to beacon hills, marin shows up. morrell, now, but not through marriage. or, at least, not a marriage that lasted. she avoids the question in a way that's familiar and foreign all at once. when she intercepts him at the bank, months later, comfortable in the alphas' den, derek realizes just how much has changed. but not everything is different: derek leaves town again, and when he comes back, she finds him again. tells him about poison for the nogitsune in the body of the teen boy she'd been a guidance counselor to. though she clearly doesn't take joy in it, he doesn't think she's sorry for much anymore... but her eyes still look it. and her smile is still soft.

[lalunahollow]

This is very close to my home, along with many other such sites, but this one of my favourite hiking destinations, as I can walk litterly in a circle and get back to where I started and see at least three burial sites along the way.

This site dates back to the stone age and is absolutely breathtaking, and the clearing itself is extremely calm and serene

[sualne]

modern clothes for fun and some lore under read more! ↓

-Sycamore got a visit from his daemon father when he was a child, it did not go well for him or his mothers. His injured back started rotting away so his mothers went looking for whatever magic would make it stop to save him, in the end they settled on these tattoos. They stops the rot and helps him move.

-He has chronic pain, and if he strain himself too much his open wound starts bleeding again. Until the Rushlight Tournament nobody (except Regongar) knew about his injury.

-Sometimes in Act 4 or 5 he was almost cut in half fighting some giants, he died and the rushed resurrection caused him to need urgent surgery to fix what hadn't been healed properly.

Because his spine was cut he needed to extend his tattoos to be able to move his legs again. It took some time until he was able to walk again, he can't feel anything under that scar so he often doesn't notice injuries on his lower body, he can't move his tail and (unlike in the illustration) its mostly dead weight and messed up his balance for a while.

Some of his organs were also removed as they had started to rot, he has to be careful about his diet among other things.

-(Being vague to avoid spoilers) During the end of the game's story where everyone is weakened by the final boss magic/curse Sycamore's back started rotting again until he managed to get everyone's strength back.

Now, why all this? In the game Sycamore is a 'born out of tragedy' daemon (i think in english they're called grimspawn?), so i wondered for a while what kind of tragedy exactly it could be, i ended up with his mother dying giving birth but there were a lot more tragedies happening even before that.

For his injuries it's because in stories where you can heal everything and even bring people back from the dead i always wonder 'what are the limits to magic and what happens if you mess up?' so this is why.

[mostlyonthefloor]

Listened to quite a few songs from Noah Kahan's Stick Season while on a weekend away with my dad visiting my grandma at his childhood home, a (now disused) farm fully an hour from anywhere and like shit. That was a decision I made and have to deal with whenever I listen to The View Between Villages from now on

[anoushka-jain]

Raat Ke Afsane : Night Walk in Qutub Minar

Walking tours in Delhi, Historic trails in Delhi, the heritage walk, Sightseeing in Delhi, Exploring Delhi History, Monument Walks, Historic Walking Tour, History of Delhi

Night walks in Delhi are a fantastic way for visitors to connect to the history of Delhi, appreciate its cultural richness and create lasting memories of their journey through time and history. The historic walking tours conducted in these monuments allow visitors to explore these iconic sites in a different light, quite literally.

One such experience is the Raat ke Afsane: Historic walking tour segment, conducted by Enroute Indian History in the Qutub Minar. Enroute Indian History, is a women led organization, established in 2019, trying to make Indian heritage accessible and fun through research and heritage walks. 

Qutub Minar is a magnificent historical monument located in Mehrauli, New Delhi. It is one of the most famous and iconic landmarks in the city that holds significant architectural importance. Admire the intricate carvings and inscriptions on the minar and learn about its architectural style, which combines Indo-Islamic influences. Visit the tomb of Iltutmish, walk through the Alai Darwaza and experience one of the earliest and the most significant mosques of India.As the sun sets, the monuments within the Qutub complex are beautifully lit, creating a magical and ethereal ambience.

The heritage walks conducted by Enroute Indian History are led by knowledgeable and passionate professionals who are well-versed in history and the cultural significance of various monuments and landmarks in Delhi. The Raat ke Afsane: Night walk in Qutub complex is a 1.5 hours guided walk that would undoubtedly be a memorable experience, offering a unique perspective on the history of the city.

These walking tours in Delhi are also a great way to meet new like-minded people. If you are someone who enjoys sightseeing in Delhi and exploring heritage but are hesitant to go alone, these monument walks are an easy, affordable and a fun option for you to indulge yourself in the history of Delhi. Check out our website www.enrouteindianhistory.com to register for our signature Raat ke Afsane. Do follow us on instagram @enroute_indian_history_ .

[highqueenofashandstars]

To the stars who listen, and the dreams that are answered. ✨💫

[royllowarch]

Little Venice London (In Explore) by Roy Llowarch Via Flickr: London's Little Venice is a tranquil canal area, home to waterside cafes and pubs. Enjoy a stroll along pretty streets and take a relaxing boat trip to ZSL London Zoo or Camden Town. Little Venice bears no resemblance to Venice in Italy but is a lovely area of London to go walking on a beautiful day. These photos were taken in June 2018 with my Canon DSLR camera and I have downsized them because they were huge.

[mariammagsi]

Preserving the past...

Heritage is a human right. ~ Marvi Mazhar, founder of Heritage Walk Karachi.

Karachi, once known as the City of Lights, harbours a mosaic of historical and cultural heritage within its bustling streets, especially in the Old Town area of Sardar. While visiting family this winter, I had the opportunity to participate in a guided walk organized by Heritage Walk Karachi, an initiative dedicated to unveiling the history and culture embedded in the city's stunning, yet decaying architecture and communal spaces. Last year, I had the privilege of taking this illuminating walk through the heart of Old Karachi alongside Shaheen Nauman, a guardian of the city's heritage and a passionate advocate for its preservation. This year, as we embarked on a similar journey, Shaheen’s forewarning resonated with an eerie prescience: “you will be heartbroken, and sad.” Her words, heavy with the weight of inevitable truth, prepared us for the disheartening changes that lay ahead. As we entered the neglected buildings, the palpable sense of loss and deterioration was overwhelming. The transformation witnessed over merely one year was stark, underscoring the rapid pace at which neglect and decay can erase the physical markers of our shared history. This guided walk showcased the tragically deteriorating architectural marvels and cultural vibrancy of Karachi’s past and highlighted a crucial aspect of our collective human rights – which includes the right to heritage.

The concept of heritage as a human right is anchored in the belief that every individual is entitled to access, engage with, and reflect on our cultural heritage. This access enables us to connect with our identity, history, and the legacies, ways of living and migratory patterns of our ancestors. Unfortunately, as we meandered through the narrow lanes of Old Karachi, the stark contrast between the past's grandeur and the present's neglect was heart-wrenching. The dilapidation of historic buildings, lack of governmental maintenance, rampant, intolerable pollution, and a visible lack of empathy and tolerance for Karachi’s pluralistic past, are not just aesthetic issues but indicative of a deeper, more systemic disregard for our cultural heritage. A few steps into the alleys and we were dodging used diapers, drug paraphernalia, sharp, injurious objects, bodily waste, and large infestations of flies and mosquitos swarming over puddles of filthy, stagnant water.

As someone visiting from the diaspora, the experience of walking through Old Karachi evoked a profound sense of concern and heartache. The neglect, pollution, and apparent lack of governmental maintenance not only tarnish the physical beauty of this historic area but also signify a deeper abandonment of our cultural patrimony. This disrepair is especially disheartening to witness for those of us who, despite having lived away, maintain a deep attachment to our city of birth. The emotional and intellectual dissonance experienced during this visit underscores an urgent need for collective and governmental action toward the preservation of our heritage. Honouring our history and heritage connects us with our past, guiding our future actions, trajectories and policies.

Karachi's rich and pluralistic past is etched into the very fabric of its urban landscape. On the intricate balcony railings of colonial, pre-colonial and pre-partition buildings, one can trace the outlines of a city that once thrived on diversity and multicultural coexistence. These delicate ironworks and carved balustrades serve as silent witnesses to the times when Karachi was a bustling port, welcoming traders from across the globe. As the city expanded, the relentless push of concrete and modern infrastructure has overshadowed these historical markers, yet they persist, stubbornly holding onto the stories of a bygone era. In the soul-filled nooks and crannies of Saddar, layers of history are revealed in the narrow lanes and ancient structures, where every brick and cobblestone has a story to tell, from centuries-old mosques and temples standing shoulder to shoulder, to the faded frescoes that peek out from under layers of paint, hinting at the city’s vibrant past. These remnants of Karachi's pluralistic past continue to offer a glimpse into a time when the city was a melting pot of cultures, religions, and languages.

The guided walk with Heritage Walk Karachi served as an ominous warning, of what is at stake. The architectural decay and environmental neglect witnessed along the way are not isolated issues but are symptomatic of a broader societal malaise – a disconnect from our historical roots and a disregard for the importance of conservation, both environmental and cultural. The degradation of these sites and streets erases the physical structures, as well as the intangible heritage that these buildings and spaces represent – the stories, traditions, and shared memories of a pluralistic community that once comprised of many Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians, Sufis and religious, spiritual and secular people that lived side by side, in harmony. This historical diversity is a cultural treasure that ought to be celebrated, preserved, and passed down to future generations. Yet, the devastating signs of neglect, illegal encroachments and destruction by the city’s intimidating land mafia paint a grim picture of indifference and a loss of communal memory.

The importance of conservation cannot be overstated. Conservation is not merely about preserving bricks and mortar but about maintaining a tangible connection to our past, which in turn informs our present and future. Conservation efforts serve to remind us of the diverse narratives that have shaped our societies and the importance of inclusivity and tolerance in a society that is rapidly falling prey to intolerance, military industrialism, religious extremism, fascism and right-wing ideology.

As residents, whether former or current, of Karachi and stewards of its rich history, we have a collective responsibility to advocate for the preservation of our heritage. It is imperative that we recognize heritage conservation as a matter of cultural pride, and as a fundamental human right. This requires a concerted effort from government bodies, local communities, and civil society organizations to enact policies and initiatives that prioritize heritage preservation. Moreover, fostering a sense of ownership and pride within the community can galvanize grassroots efforts to protect and celebrate our shared history.

The journey with Heritage Walk Karachi is a clarion call to all stakeholders to awaken to the importance of our cultural heritage. In preserving the physical and intangible legacies of our past, we safeguard the essence of our identity and ensure that future generations can enjoy and learn from the richness of our shared heritage. From an intellectual standpoint, the visible deterioration of Old Karachi's heritage sites challenges us to reflect on the broader implications of such neglect. It raises pertinent questions about the values we, as a society, and our governmental bodies prioritize and the legacy we choose to leave for future generations. Heritage is not a relic of the past to be passively observed; it is an active, living testament to our collective history, achievements, and failures. The current state of Old Karachi serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of sidelining cultural heritage in favour of short-term gains.

The ongoing genocide in Palestine, which includes a cultural genocide, and the systematic obliteration of heritage, culture, intellect, and history, serves as a critical warning of the importance of preserving our own heritage and history. Such events underscore the vulnerability of cultural identity in the face of occupation, colonialism and violent erasure and highlight the essential role that heritage plays in the collective memory and identity of a community. In conclusion, as we reflect on the guided walk through Old Town, Karachi, let us not see it merely as a nostalgic tour through a bygone era but as a mission to rekindle our connection with our heritage. Heritage is indeed a human right, one that we must all strive to protect and cherish.

CALLS TO ACTION:

Raise Awareness: Share the rich history and significance of Karachi, through educational campaigns, social media, and community events. Encourage local schools, colleges, and universities to include the study Karachi’s heritage in their curriculum. Organize guided tours and heritage walks like Heritage Walk Karachi, to showcase the cultural and architectural gems of the area.

Advocate for Protection: Petition local authorities and government bodies to enforce strict regulations for the preservation of historical buildings and sites. Collaborate with heritage preservation organizations and activists to lobby for legal protection and funding for restoration projects. Work with city planners and policymakers to integrate heritage conservation into urban development plans.

Community Engagement: Foster a sense of pride and communal ownership among residents by involving them in preservation initiatives. Organize volunteer clean-up drives and maintenance efforts to keep historical sites and streets clean and well-maintained. Establish community forums and workshops to encourage dialogue and participation in decision-making processes related to heritage conservation.

Support Restoration Projects: Partner with private businesses, philanthropists, and cultural institutions to fund restoration efforts for endangered buildings and landmarks. Launch crowdfunding campaigns and seek donations from individuals passionate about preserving Karachi’s heritage. Encourage corporate social responsibility by inviting businesses to sponsor specific restoration projects in exchange for recognition and branding opportunities.

Promote Sustainable Tourism: Develop responsible tourism initiatives that highlight the unique cultural and architectural heritage of Karachi while minimizing negative impacts on the environment and local communities. Create tourism packages that include visits to historical sites, traditional markets, and cultural performances, benefiting local businesses and artisans. Train local guides and hospitality staff to provide informative and respectful experiences for visitors, emphasizing the importance of preserving heritage sites for future generations.

Document and Digitize: Establish archives and digital repositories to document oral histories, photographs, and other ephemera related to Karachi’s heritage. Collaborate with universities and research institutions to conduct studies and publish scholarly works on the history and architecture of the area. Develop virtual tours and interactive exhibits to make Karachi’s heritage accessible to a wider audience, including those unable to visit in person.

By promoting these calls to action, we can work together to safeguard the cultural, historical, and architectural legacy of Old Town, Karachi, for generations to come.

Photos + Text © Mariam Magsi 2024

[throughthemeadowflowers]