Foraging for Food in the Shadow of History

Highlights

From £38 pp
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What you'll do

Wander through the magnificent Lodhi Garden, led by a local expert dedicated to helping you forage for exotic herbs and vegetables. Then, see the fruits of your labour transformed into traditional, authentic family meals by an unbelievably skilled resident chef.

Lodhi Gardens is a stunning oasis of tranquility and green, nestled in the very heart of the manically bustling metropolis that is New Delhi. A local expert will guide you through this paradise, helping you forage and hand-pick native wild herbs and other edible delicacies that grow in here.

We meet at 9am in the gardens and begin a two-part walk, where you will be led by the highly trained eye of a fauna and ecology fanatic. They help you identify and learn about different plants in this area, and their overall connection with the growth of Delhi itself.

You will gain a full understanding of the ‘garden-to-table’ concept that encapsulates the ethos of Delhi cooking and the way it has shaped the society you are immersed in. After gathering an array of fragrant herbs and exotic vegetables, tended to by dedicated and vastly experienced gardeners, we lead you to a nearby wine bar – Perch Kahn Market – for a lunch with a difference.

Here, your own ingredients will be lovingly prepared by a professional chef, so that you can enjoy a truly fresh, truly authentic meal typical of the region – an experience you simply can’t replicate in other restaurants in the area. We finish lunch at around 13:00, and are happy to give recommendations as to how to spend your afternoon.

What's included

Included

  • A welcome drink - made using foraged herbs
  • An authentic, delicious meal & dessert
  • A cutting tool & storage boxes
  • A macro phone lens, books & field guides.
Your local host

Shailendra Singh

I’ve been in the travel industry for 18 years, and although I’m an economics graduate I was bitten by the travel bug and have led tour groups in many different parts of the world, from many different nationalities.

I’ve led tours across India and many different parts of the subcontinent, and in doing so have learned so much about India as a country and a destination. It also taught me a huge amount about how other nationalities feel about other countries, and all of this together has helped me in my current role in curating experiences that are truly memorable.

What inspired you to work in the travel industry?

My family used to take us on big vacations, exploring new areas almost every month and thi... Read All

I’ve been in the travel industry for 18 years, and although I’m an economics graduate I was bitten by the travel bug and have led tour groups in many different parts of the world, from many different nationalities.

I’ve led tours across India and many different parts of the subcontinent, and in doing so have learned so much about India as a country and a destination. It also taught me a huge amount about how other nationalities feel about other countries, and all of this together has helped me in my current role in curating experiences that are truly memorable.

What inspired you to work in the travel industry?

My family used to take us on big vacations, exploring new areas almost every month and this is what really got me bitten by the bug.

When seeing India you realise the diversity in culture, in cuisine and in people is just so huge, and the people are still very emotive and really value human emotions and human connections. It is this sense we endeavour to get across in our tours.

If you had to choose one, what would be your favourite place in India?

Of all the places I have been to if I had to choose a favourite place it would be Uttarakhand. A hill state in the Himalayas, there aren’t too many tourists and it has such a well-preserved culture, it is a piece of real India. Of course in the Himalayas, there are so many hikes and the scenery is so beautiful.

What makes HI Tours different?

Our tours are made different by the very fact that we have a real emphasis on experiencing a destination, rather than just seeing it, to the extent that we actually have a separate experience division.

We are very keen on sustainability and all our experiences have a focus on the right practices and social sustainability. Our ticket sizes aren’t huge, we’re more about bringing value to customers and communities rather than just about making money.

All our experiences are more about people rather than places, as this helps customers really connect and understand the place they’re visiting.

All this is reflected in Hi Tours as a company. We are medium-sized and family-run, and we focus on giving our business to smaller places, which not only gives our customers more authentic experiences but helps to give back to communities.

What do you love most about Delhi?

Delhi is a place with an amazing history, it’s the only city that has been established and raised to the ground seven times, so the version of Delhi you see today is actually in its 8th state! It is the gateway to all cultures in India, Hinduism, Islam, and this results in amazing vibrancy and amazing stories.

In many ways, it is a ‘mini-India’. It keeps evolving, it keeps bouncing back, it’s chaotic, but makes it through everything and just seems to work.

What are the ‘must-sees’? Where would you take a first-time visitor?

You have to see the obvious places, the Taj Mahal, Parliament Street, but the best ways to introduce a newcomer to India is by taking them on an experience where they really learn about the people and the culture of Delhi.

Having someone that can connect what you are seeing to the history of Delhi and how it has come about is so important. Seeing the other side to what normal tourists see really helps you get an idea of what a place its really like.

When you cycle round the back of the Taj, you see the people who live there and what they experience day-to-day. The inside view is so important to really experience a place.

What makes sustainable travel important to you?

It’s high time we make travel more sustainable. If people are going to travel, it has to be as sustainable as possible now. The idea of sustainable travel is not only for ecology but for communities also. Money can seep down to the lowest level, it’s a cycle and tourism can be used as a great tool for getting benefits to the poorest communities.

It’s also an opportunity for us as a business. We have been working with our partners for more than two decades now, so there is an understanding of mutual trust between us and the communities. People recognise the efforts we make to give back to the community, and that has helped us carve out a niche in Delhi of really authentic experiences.

Location

Pick-up and drop-off will occur at a pre-arranged point in Lodhi Garden.

FAQs

Can we join as a private group?

Discounts are available to groups of more than 8 people, and are organised on a case-by-case basis.

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