Most visitors come to Delhi for its monuments, but the city also has a lively contemporary side, and nowhere shows it better than the Lodhi Art District. In this quiet government-built colony of low apartment blocks, a public art project has covered walls, water tanks and gable ends with murals, some of them several storeys high, by Indian and overseas artists. The result is a neighbourhood where you can walk from a pastel portrait to a swirl of folk motifs to a giant abstract in a few minutes, with almost no traffic. This three-hour guided street art tour is rated 4.9 from more than 60 reviews. A local guide explains who painted each work, what the images mean and how the project came about, and adds the stories of the neighbourhood itself. It is a gentle, mostly flat walk, which makes it a good counterpoint to the heat and bustle of the old city, and it is rewarding for photographers and anyone curious about modern India. Lodhi Garden and its fifteenth-century tombs are close by, so the two pair naturally in a single morning.
Getting there
Lodhi Colony is in central south Delhi, a short taxi ride from Connaught Place and Humayun’s Tomb, and within reach of the Jor Bagh metro station. The tour details give the meeting point. Walks like this run in the morning or late afternoon, when the light on the walls is best and the temperature is kinder.
What to expect
The district is residential, so the atmosphere is calm and the pavements are shaded by trees. The murals vary widely in style, from realistic portraits to bold geometric and folk-inspired designs, and the project has been refreshed over time, so the exact works you see change. Stops are short and the pace is easy, with plenty of time for photographs. Wear comfortable shoes, bring water and a hat, and keep your voice down near people’s homes.
Making the most of it
Combine the walk with Lodhi Garden afterwards for the Sayyid and Lodi tombs and a shady lunch, or end the day with the evening light at India Gate. Because the neighbourhood is quiet and walkable, this is also one of the easiest tours to enjoy in the cooler months with children who like colour and drawing.
What to expect
The experience
A guided walk through a residential neighbourhood, stopping at large murals with the story behind each.
Best time
Morning or late afternoon for the best light, in the cooler months from October to March.
How long
About three hours.
Tips
Wear comfortable shoes, bring water and a hat, and check the meeting point in the tour details.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Photographers, art lovers and anyone who wants a break from the monuments.
- Families
- A flat, quiet and colourful walk that older children usually enjoy.
- Couples
- An easygoing, photogenic morning with Lodhi Garden next door.
- Pair with
- Lodhi Garden, a few minutes away, for tombs and a shady stroll.
- Time needed
- A morning.
Good questions
Where is the Lodhi Art District?+
It is in Lodhi Colony in central south Delhi, a short taxi ride from Connaught Place and Humayun’s Tomb, and close to Lodhi Garden.
How long is the tour?+
About three hours, mostly flat walking with short stops at the murals.
Do the murals change?+
Yes. The project is refreshed over time, so the works you see may differ from older photographs.
Is it good for photographers?+
Very. The murals are large, the streets are quiet and trees give shade, so morning and late afternoon light is excellent.
Can I combine it with Lodhi Garden?+
Yes. The garden is close by and free to enter, and many visitors walk there afterwards to see the fifteenth-century tombs.
