OFFBEAT WALKS

9 guided city tours by foot across India.

- Saumya Ancheri

FAITH AMONGST THE ROCKS HYDERABAD

There’s more to Hyderabad than biryani, bangles, and bazaars, as Jayanti Rajagopalan’s multi-city company Detours has been showing travelers for 12 years. Take the city’s granite rocks—some of which prop up Golconda Fort—that predate even the dinosaurs. Detours’ Faith Amongst the Rocks walk explores a hillock near Hitec City, where an ancient Vishnu temple, a shrine to a 12th-century Sufi saint, and a cave where Meher Baba meditated are all located within a hundred meters. High vibrations and great views await.₹ 2,500 per person for a shared walk; detoursindia.com

PEACOCK TRAIL CHENNAI

Storytrails’ founder Vijay Prabhat Kamalakara launched the multi-city tour company 13 years ago to share the stories that lend character to a place. The quiet neighborhood of Mylapore, for example, predates Chennai by 2,000 years and is an ancient port and cultural hub that doesn’t reveal itself easily. Story trails’ Peacock Trail narrates the legend behind Mylapore’s name and notes the peacock motifs hidden in the unlikeliest places. If you want to pick up the pace, join their Stories on the Run, a jog past beautiful British buildings by the beach. ₹ 1,500 per person for a shared walk; storytrails.in

AMER HERITAGE TRAIL JAIPUR