Seven Cities
Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT IS SEVEN CITIES?
Seven Cities is a program for newcomers to discover and share Delhi’s history with each other. It is a series of 8 tours led by the participants themselves. New seasons start each Spring and Fall.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
32 participants are split into small groups of 4. Each group is assigned a mentor, a historical era, and a tour date. The group must research and present a tour for all participants. They also select a restaurant and menu for the lunch that follows.
WHEN DOES IT TAKE PLACE?
Each season is approximately 12 weeks long. New seasons start in January and August. Each season has 2 introductory/information meetings, 8 tours, and a final celebration.
Tours and lunch run approximately 9:00am - 2:00pm each Wednesday. Tours are scheduled to ensure parents can drop their children at TBS/AES at 8:30am and return to school by 2:30pm.
See the upcoming season’s schedule here.
WHAT IS THE TIME COMMITMENT?
Participants sign up for the whole season and commit to attending at least 6 (out of 8) tours. They must also attend the two introductory/information meetings.
Each small group also meets to design their tours. These meetings take place on weekdays for site visits, etc., in addition to the Wednesday tours.
Note: Those with full-time jobs or childcare duties may find the time commitment difficult. If this applies to you, please speak with a coordinator before signing up.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Costs are kept to a minimum. The registration fee is set each season on actual costs, currently 5,000 INR.
Additionally, each participant pays:
Entrance fees to historical sites
Approximately 1,000 - 1,500 INR for lunch
Costs for the tour you host (handouts, costumes, site visits, etc.)
WHO RUNS SEVEN CITIES?
Seven Cities was created by friends more than thirty years ago. It is run entirely by volunteers who have also participated. The “team” includes administrative coordinators and group mentors.
WHY IS IT CALLED SEVEN CITIES?
Truthfully, no one is entirely sure how the group originally got its name. But Delhi has long been described as a “city of cities,” with generations of rulers building new capitals atop the remains of older ones. Historians often refer to the “Seven Cities of Delhi,” though the exact count is still debated since many of the cities overlapped, expanded into one another, or were never fully abandoned.
Whatever the original reason, the name Seven Cities endured and remains a fitting tribute to Delhi’s many layers of history, culture, and reinvention that we explore together!
WHAT ABOUT MY CHILD(REN)?
Seven Cities is adults only for the safety and enjoyment of all.
Tours start with time to arrive from The British School and American Embassy School drop-off. Lunch finishes with plenty of time to pick up from TBS/AES.
IS ENGLISH NECESSARY?
Programming is entirely in English. A basic level of reading, writing, and speaking is necessary. With that, most participants are not native English speakers and have a wonderful experience.
CAN I BRING MY FRIEND(S)?
Participants are invited to bring out-of-town guests visiting Delhi for an additional fee under limited circumstances. We also encourage participants to bring friends to the tour they run to share the fun of Seven Cities with their partners and friends. The full guest policy is explained at the mandatory Introductory Meeting.