MUMBAI:
In an attempt to uncover Mumbai’s hidden treasures, Sahapedia’s India Heritage Walk Festival (IHWF) 2019, in partnership with UNESCO, will be exploring Mumbai’s most iconic neighbourhood on a walking tour that unearths its lesser known histories, including stories that lie within the city’s buildings, streets and spaces.
Alisha Sadikot, consultant for museums and heritage learning, will be leading the walk through the area’s earliest history as an island acquired by East India Co. traders. The participants will then follow the island’s journey from a struggling fortified town into a crowded, cosmopolitan trading centre, that transformed Bombay into British India’s ‘first city’.The walk (on February 17) will end with the area’s unique post-independence challenges and changes in identity.
Highlighting the most interesting aspects of the heritage walk, Sadikot said: “On the way, we will meet diarists, novelists and poets as they share their experiences of the city. From Rudyard Kipling to Salman Rushdie, Kala Ghoda’s triangle to the Bombay crow, Bombay then to Mumbai now, the walk will read between and demystify the many words written about the city.” The free guided tour will begin at 8 am. All bookings for the festival are powered by Odigos, a product by the Bird Group, is an online marketplace that connects tourists to certified guides in India. Odigos app provides a seamless way for travellers and locals alike to understand and explore the iconic sites of our country.
On February 17, Mumbai-based history lecturer Sneha Nagarkar will be leading a walk at the Kanheri Buddhist Caves, which are nestled in the verdant and peaceful environs of Sanjay Gandhi National Park.
Considered a treasure trove of history,Kanheri is one of the largest cave complexes in India with more than 100 caves. The walk will cover some of the major caves in the complex that are significant from historical and architectural points of view. The free guided tour will begin at 9:30 am.
The IHWF, which received the prestigious PATA Gold Award 2018 for its maiden edition organised last year, is a one-of-its-kind month-long festival covering 37 cities, with over 110 heritage walks and outreach events. The February 02-28 festival is being supported by NMDC, a state-run mineral producer and explorer. The events’ bookings are facilitated by Odigos, an app that makes travel and discovery easier in India.
Vaibhav Chauhan, Festival Director (IHWF) and Secretary, Sahapedia, said: “We want to democratise access to local history and culture. One might be living in the same neighbourhood for years, but there is a big chance that an important landmark, tucked away in a back alley, has been missed and forgotten. The IHWF is that opportunity to discover the hidden gems linked to the history of a place, town or city.”
Junhi Han, Head and Programme Specialist for Culture, UNESCO New Delhi office, said, “The IHWF programme addresses knowledge of local architectural heritage, sustainable tourism, with a special focus on gender-related issues and accessibility in cultural heritage facilitating more inclusive and better outreach. The festival is expected to involve, engage and sensitize more people, in particular the youth, about their cultural heritage.”
Details about the walks, registration and other programmes of IHWF 2019 are available on https://www.odigosguides.com/India-heritage-walk-festival
