A decade of leading heritage walks

In 2009, the Department of Tourism was mulling over the idea of staring heritage walks and was looking out for a suitable person and zeroed down on Madhu Vottery who by then had made a name as a researcher on the architecture and monuments in Hyderabad. She was given the task of charting a route covering 12 historic sites.

The walks that started in the month of July in 2009 have since been a regular feature, save for just a couple of times when they had to be cancelled due to unrest in the Old City.

A walk and breakfast for Rs 50

"It is the cheapest heritage walk that one can look forward to," says Madhu. She further adds, "We conducted walks even if we had two persons to 200. The idea is to sensitise people on the rich heritage of Hyderabad and round it off with a typical Hyderabadi breakfast, all for just Rs 50. " In the last few years, there have been many heritage walks conducted by different organisations but Madhu feels there could be an issue of distorting facts.

Hyderabad calling

Was it by chance or a conscious decision to settle in Hyderabad, we ask. "It was definitely a conscious decision as I read so much about the Deccan region and Hyderabad city in particular," says the author of 'A Guide to the Heritage of Hyderabad: The Natural and the Built.'

Hyderabad and Lucknow have a lot in common in terms of culture and monuments, Madhu has spent a considerable time in Lucknow. "Hyderabad attracted me a great deal as the architecture is so unique and diverse," says Madhu who has a Master's degree in Architectural Conservation from SPA, Delhi.