Bharat Gothoskar wades through streets crammed with pedestrians, hawkers, vegetable and fruit sellers, and shops overflowing with utilities as he guides a group of awed sightseers. In a city packed to the brim, and even overflowing with secrets hidden in every alley, Gothoskar pauses every few minutes to re-discover the fascination behind Mumbai – to know what makes it the city with an undying spirit.
It is through Khaki Tours that Gothoskar unearths these secrets. Perhaps, the best way to describe what he does is in his own words: he likes to call himself a heritage evangelist – one who seeks to call people’s attention to heritage extinction and elaborates on the need for heritage conversation of the city. Every week, for an average price of Rs 500, the history buff conducts guided walks in different parts of the city. From the markets of Bhuleshwar and the old city streets lined alongside Metro Cinema to the decades-old reliable shops in Crawford Market and Victorian-era buildings in the Fort area, Gothoskar has a fascinating story to tell at every stop.
(Gothoskar (third from the left) leads participants through Mendham’s Point, a locality near present-day Lion Gate, Colaba)
Started in August 2015 with associates who shared a passion for not just heritage but also history, architecture and even storytelling, the idea behind Khaki Tours was to keep the city’s heritage alive and breathing. By choosing to conduct guided tours in spaces such as Banganga, Lalbaug and Parel, Gothoskar also brings the focus on historical narratives.
However, Gothoskar goes a step further, and also discusses other aspects like food, culture, the everyday lives of the people inhabiting these spaces and more, offering a wider perspective of how life has evolved in these places through the years.
Attendees are not just tourists who are interested in the rich history Mumbai has to offer but also Mumbaikars who want to rediscover their home city through the rose-tinted glasses of a tourist.
Gothoskar only has one suggestion to make though: be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes – it is going to be a long walk
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