The Delhi tourism department has announced the launch of “haunted walks” at the Tughlaq era monument Malcha Mahal in central Delhi’s Chanakyapuri, starting from this weekend. The walks are part of the Delhi government’s heritage walks, and advanced bookings can be made at tourism offices. The cost for one person is INR 800, and bookings will be available online from Monday on the official website or “Dekho Meri Dilli” app.
The walk fee includes a kit containing a jute bag, a torch, a stick, a badge, a water bottle, a seasonal fruit, a juice box, and a muffin. Each walk will have a walk conductor who will accompany a group of no more than 20 visitors, and only one tour will be conducted per day. The visitors will gather at the entry point of Malcha Mahal in Chanakyapuri, and the guided tour will last around an hour and a half.
Malcha Mahal, which dates back to the 14th century, was used as a hunting lodge and is located around 1.5 km away from the main road, nestled inside a forested area. The historical structure is believed to be haunted, and the mysteries surrounding it have captured the imagination of many. For over three decades, Malcha Mahal was inhabited by a self-proclaimed royal family from Oudh and remained out of bounds for the uninvited until the afternoon of September 3, 2017, when the palace’s last resident, Prince Ali Raza, was found dead.
The tourism department plans to start haunted walks at several other locations in Delhi, including Bhuli Bhartihari, Feroz Shah Kotla, and Tughlakabad Fort. Officials said that the demand for haunted walks at Malcha Mahal is very strong and that they started receiving inquiries even before the walks were formally launched.
The haunted walks are expected to boost tourism in Delhi, especially among young people who are keen to explore the city’s history and mystery. The Delhi tourism department has been actively promoting the city’s cultural heritage, and the haunted walks are just one of many initiatives aimed at attracting more visitors to the city.