India's capital, Delhi, sits at the crossroads of history, shaped by centuries of empires, cultures and political change.

From the Delhi sultanate and the Mughal empire to British colonial rule — Delhi bears the imprints of each era, making it one of the most historically rich cities in the Indian subcontinent, and one that attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists every year.

No history book covering India would be complete without a chapter on Delhi. But the study of that history does not capture the imagination of many young students in India. This is compounded by the increased politicization of history in recent years, which has opened deep political fissures.

But Delhi's "heritage walks" are attracting more young people to the subject by making learning about the past an immersive experience.

"Many people who attend my walks tell me they were never interested in history during their school years and could not wait for it to get over," Swapna Liddle, a historian and heritage conservationist based in Delhi, told DW.

Liddle, who has been holding heritage walks in Delhi since the late 1990s and has written extensively about Delhi's history, blames the education system for the general disinterest in history among young people.

"The education system, and particularly the exam format, is only interested in whether we can memorize trivia and does not encourage students to be analytical and understand concepts," she said.

Immersion makes history less 'boring'

A 2016 study published in the International Journal of Education & Multidisciplinary Studies found that 62% of students in government schools find history "boring."

However, immersive, experience-based tours that go beyond traditional historical facts offer a more engaging way for the youth to connect with the past.

Heritage walk leader Javeria Tanveer with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage holds a walk almost every weekend during the winter.

"The participation of youth has increased tremendously over the last few years," she told DW. "This was not the trend when I was in college but now more students join the walks."

Harshit Chadha, an engineering student from the city of Jalandhar in Punjab, decided to spend one of his Sunday evenings learning about Mughal architecture at Sunder Nursery during his internship in Delhi.

"During school, we were taught to just remember what someone did instead of why they did it or how they did it, which is why the subject felt so dry to me," said Chadha.

For Chadha, who plans on attending more heritage walks while he is in Delhi, student discounts are a big reason for why he decided to join.

"I feel that younger people are those who are going to shape how things happen in the future. Whether it is about understanding history, or it is about conservation of monuments, urban living, how we develop and what direction our cities grow in," said Liddle, who still holds walks for college students.

What is the origin of heritage walks?

While heritage walks have been around for decades, the experience has significantly changed in recent years.

Moving beyond historical facts, historians and culture enthusiasts in Delhi lead the walks incorporating elements like local culture, food, art, community engagement and modern urban exploration.

Their popularity has also increased among younger people, since many social media-savvy walk leaders started creating content about heritage.

"There is a much greater interest in heritage walks now compared to when I started some 20 years ago. Now, I announce my walks on Instagram," Sohail Hashmi, a writer and oral historian based in Delhi, told DW.

History in India often wrapped in controversy

With the Indian government consistently omitting and editing sections on Mughal history and Muslim rulers from history textbooks over the past few years, and rampant disinformation circulating on social media, history has become a political battleground in India.

"What I do involves navigating sensitive histories," said Shah Umair, a coin collector and heritage storyteller who leads heritage walks across Delhi.

Umair, who is known as Sikkawala on Instagram, focuses on documenting lesser-known monuments and sharing stories that highlight the shared cultural past of the subcontinent.

"History often makes people uncomfortable because it challenges what they already believe," he said.

For 23-year-old history buff, Ishaan, attending heritage walks have become his way of a silent rebellion against the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) approach to politicizing history.

"For me these walks are a way of reversing the radicalization. I am now more interested in Islamic and Mughal architecture and culture," he said.

Walks can help with conservation

Through social media and public walks, Umair regularly posts about forgotten monuments, neglected heritage sites and stories that are at risk of disappearing from public memory.

Over time, increased online hate led him to step away from Elon Musk's X, choosing to prioritize his mental well-being.

Despite the challenges, Umair continues his work driven by a deep love for heritage and conservation.

Last September, he posted with other historians and lawyer Satyajit Sarna, "We Just Saved One of Delhi's Oldest Sufi Shrines!"

The shrine, Aashiq Allah Dargah, built in 1317, was at risk of demolition. Following legal intervention, including efforts led by the heritage enthusiasts, a Supreme Court order helped protect the site.

A 2021 study explored how the increasing demand for heritage walks is being widely regarded as one of the measures contributing to the conservation of urban heritage.

Liddle explained that these walks also make heritage a viable career path for many, which can ultimately help conserve heritage sites.

"More people should be able to make a living out of heritage, whether it is through heritage walks, events or heritage tourism in other ways," she said, adding that until people realize it is commercially sustainable it will remain difficult to conserve heritage.

"Pride will not sustain anything," she said.

Edited by: Wesley Rahn