Takht aur Ishq ki Sultanat | Heritage walk at Humayun's tomb by Tales of City

Join us on a memorable monsoon walk-bethak about Dara Shukoh, remarkable Mughal prince & beloved heir to Shahjahan, in the beautiful Humayun’s Tomb, with his mysterious mausoleum. 

Dara was celebrated for his dedication to secularism, betrayal experiences, and pursuit of spiritual unity. Walking through the beautiful green sawan ambience_of Humayun’s Tomb, this walk-bethak will guide you through the less-told tales of the strong Mughal-Rajput friendships, of spies and sadhus, the tender love of fathers, the envy of Dara’s brother Aurangzeb and sister Raushanara, and the unconditional love of his Sufi sister, Jahanara Begum. Dara Shukoh's attempts to bridge Hinduism and Islam by translating the Upanishads into Persian are legendary. His dream of Hindustan was just like Akbar, his legendary great-grandFather. But it was tragically destroyed by his assassination, ordered by Aurangzeb & turned him into a martyr. 

And became one of the biggest “What ifs..” questions of Indian history. 

Together, we will explore the mystic beauty of Humayun Tomb - and why could Dara not accomplish what Akbar did. 

We will explore his recently discovered mausoleum - hidden for centuries by Aurangzeb’s orders. Let us delve into the enigmas of a Prince devoted to blending diverging paths, even at the cost of his own life. A Prince who could have changed India forever.

Highlights of the Walk

• Special viewing of Dara Shukoh's newly discovered mausoleum.
• Engaging stories about Dara Shukoh's life, his translations of the Upanishads, and his secular ideologies.
• A journey through the lanes that resonate with tales of love, betrayal, and the quest for spiritual truth.

Qissa Go:

Lehar is an Epidemiologist and freelance journalist, with MS and MPH graduate degrees, educated and based in the USA and Delhi. She has written for the Indian Express, Columbia University's 'Story South Asia', Stanford Arts Review, and the Hindustan Times among others. She was the finalist for the Jaipur Literature Festival Writing Competition 2020, for her articles on global geopolitics and the relevance of 'Akbar and Dara Shukoh’. She was born and brought up in Delhi in H. Nizamuddin, close to Humayun’s tomb, and is the founder of the heritage cultural group "Sanjhi Virasat". Her interests include Delhi’s syncretic heritage, human rights, Hindustani literature and the environment.

Practical Information

• Maximum Number of Participants: 30
• Student Passes: 10
• Contact Information of Walk Curator: +91 88820 98891
• Duration and Distance of the Walk: 2-2.5 hours, 1 km
• Language of the Walk: English/ Hindi

Recommendations and Instructions for Participants

• Participants will receive detailed information about the walk via email one day before the event.
• Additional Tickets for the monument, an ASI ticketed site requiring government ID, must be purchased through the ASI website. ( https://asi.payumoney.com/ )​
• Comfortable walking shoes and attire suited to the weather are advised.
• It is recommended to bring a water bottle to ensure hydration during the walk.
• Carrying an umbrella, a hat, or sunglasses is suggested for protection against weather conditions.
• Please arrive at the starting point 15 minutes before the scheduled start time.