Want to see a side of Delhi most visitors miss? Join a local-led walk through Sanjay Colony Slum — a lively neighbourhood full of energy, hard work, and stories. Learn about local livelihoods like recycling and the clothing industry, discover everyday community life, and hear real experiences directly from someone who calls this place home.
Learning by Locals is a local NGO
We will see the public school from outside and learn about the education system.
Wonderful experience with Delhi by locals. The guides were so nice and good at their jobs. They showed us the local lives of the population of Delhi, taj mahal at Agra and the ganges river in Varanasi.
We visited India through our education (Group of 55) and we we’re lucky to get Pradeep as our guide. 10/10 experience, where Pradeep and the others did a flawless job of guiding us through India, which without them would be total chaos 10/10! Can’t recommend enough
I met resilient people who know how to invest in the education of young people.
Pradeep knows his knowledge of the area and community. As a solo female traveler, he made sure I was always comfortable and even dropped me off at another place I was visiting. He connected me with a personal driver who I used throughout my trip. But the best part was getting to sit in on a classroom and engage with the children. As someone who works with children back home in Chicago, this was a life changing experience and re-learned that learning is essential and money doesn't buy happiness. Just book the experience now.
A wonderfull experience with amazing people that are doing an excellent job in helping the children of the community. Fantastic work they are doing. Delhi by Locals was the best and most rewarding trip I made in Deli. It made my heart full in helping others.
I really enjoyed the trip. First of all, I learned a lot about recycling fabric scraps. I also gained a much better understanding of what the word “slum” means in India. Furthermore, I was impressed by the strong social support within the community and by the warmth and kindness they showed towards us foreigners. I would definitely recommend this tour. My personal highlight was visiting the school and meeting such ambitious and motivated students. I wish you all the best of luck in your future career!
I loved the tour. I was in India many times but it's my first time to visit slums. Was very surprised to find nice and clean place, smiling and sincere people and sweet and lovely kids all around. The program of Studying with Locals is very inspiring and important. Will surely come again with my friends
I chose this tour based on the glowing online reviews, and I can fully confirm everything: it was a wonderful trip, organized down to the smallest detail. From the exceptionally punctual hotel pick-up to the organizer Pradeep—who was attentive to my need—and the guide Salman, who captivated me with his engaging explanations. A key highlight was visiting the NGO Learning by Locals, where I watched a fantastic performance by the local youth for Indian Independence Day. It was an authentic and moving experience that leaves you reflecting, yet filled with the warm optimism of looking toward the future.
I wanted to do this tour to see the reality of life in the slums. I had a certain amount of trepidation thinking it might be depressing, would smell or I would be hassled by beggars. OMG I couldnt have been more wrong. The people were happy and vibrant and although they had very little they still wanted to give everything they had. Badal was an excellent guide and very proud of his colony, I can’t recommend this tour highly enough.
We had a 10 hour layover in Delhi before we flew home and I was looking for a tour that did more than cover the usual Delhi tourist highlights, which we had already seen. I found the perfect answer: Tour with Locals. I emailed with the owner, Pradeep to set our tour. He was very responsive and set up the exact experience I wanted. We combined the Slum Tour with some specific shopping locations I wanted to visit. We were picked up at the airport from our domestic flight in a very nice air conditioned car and visited various sites until it was time for us to be dropped off at the airport again. We left our luggage in the car. The afternoon we spent with Salman and Pradeep was uplifting and inspiring. Not at all the reaction I was expecting from a slum tour. I was hesitant to book this tour because I was afraid it would be like doing a disaster tour where everything was sad and depressing. It was just the opposite. We spent some time touring the neighborhood and then the school. After that we did visited the Lotus Center, did a quick tea tasting and did a little shopping. Prandeep can create whatever experience you desire. Our guide Salman answered all our questions honestly and gave us insightful answers. No questions were off limit. Half of the tour fee is reinvested back into the school. Most important, we got to know a part of Delhi that we would never have seen on our own, met the amazing staff at Tour With Locals, spent some time with the children at the school and came away with a better understanding of India. Pradeep is an amazing leader who is inspiring the youth of Delhi. Neither my husband or I expected to be so affected by this experience. If you are considering this type of experience I would urge you to go ahead and book it. You will not regret it.
We loved our tour hosted by Badal in the Sanjay colony slum tour. Please do not hesitate to do this eye opening tour. The locals here support themselves have pride in themselves and are extremely hardworking. No offense is taken to the word slum here. Our guide answered any and all questions we had about the way of life here we went to the local school which was one of the highlights of the trip. The students were kind and curious , friendly and lovely as were all of the teachers we met. Most of them attended the school themselves including our guide who was clearly beloved by all the people there. There is no pressure to buy anything and there is no begging. It is a beautiful family community with curious kids playing hide and seek and welcoming tourists. Please note half of the profit received from this tour goes back to the local school. This tour makes a real difference to this community of people. We loved it!
Pradeep and Badal are super human beings, selfless, informative, kind hearted; they welcomed us into their community and home, explaining about life in Sanjay and the school they support. The children in the school were happy to show us around, performed a dance they had prepared and we even experienced a birthday celebration for one of the teachers. This was both very humbling and heart warming. A truly memorable time.
Do not hesitate to book this tour. It was truly an eye opening experience for us and one of our favorite tours we took while traveling through India. Our guide Badal lives here with his family so he was able to explain any and all questions in great detail. We talked about everything from attending school, the rent, utilities, hospitals and family. Any and all of our questions were answered without hesitation. We felt very safe at all times. There was no begging and no pressure to buy anything. The local kids were friendly and curious. We also had a chance to visit the local school and interact with both students and teachers. This tour is a short walk from the metro and close to the Lotus Temple. It was amazing!!!
It was great experience to see how the people live, what are their life conditions, but most important how they work to improve the possibilities for young generation in their community centre, our guide was very professional,kind and gave us a whole picture about the situation in colony. We can warmly recommend this tour!
Very good and lovely! Namaste
Would not hesitate to recommend this tour should you ever visit Delhi l. An experience that included a metro travel transfer to the outskirts if Delhi
It was a wonderful time, with amazing guides. They gave detailed insight about all the places we visited, and it was an all around great time. We were with Them for several days, and we could not have asked for better guides.
This tour was one of the highlights in our short stay in Delhi. Our tour guide, Badal, was wonderful. He is a great ambassador for Learning by Locals and his community. He is an inspiring young person and excellent guide and went way way way above and beyond in the time he spent with us. Learning by Locals is a fabulous initiative and I would recommend a tour with Delhi by Locals. I wish we had longer in Delhi as we would definitely have done other tours with them. If you are in Delhi you MUST do a tour with Delhi by Locals, I cannot recommend them highly enough. Pradeep, the founder of the company and the young people he helps and then works with will make your heart sing!
20 year-old Badal was an excellent tour guide. His English was very good. He grew up in and continues to reside in the Colony. After explaining how the fabric scrap recycling business worked and showing us various locations involved in it, he took us to see his father's shop (though we weren't encouraged to buy anything, nor did we). The most interesting part of the tour was visiting Learning By Locals, the NGO affiliated with and supported by Delhi By Locals, which provides education and training in English, computers, etc., to young people in the Colony. We interacted with several classes of children and young adults. While the physical appearance of the Colony can be grim, the smiling, playful, and curious young children who said hello to us and the determined students we spoke with impressed us and gave us hope. A most worthwhile afternoon and one of our highlights in Delhi!
It was a great experience to get to see the colony! Our guide Badal was very nice and knowledgeable and we loved learning about the projects they are developing in the community and meeting the students. I highly recommend this experience.
We hesitated to take this tour for fear of being disrespectful to the residents. In fact, it was handled very respectfully and is the single most memorable experience of our trip to India. We arrived at the neighborhood on the outskirts of New Delhi by metro train, a relatively new addition to Delhi and a first-class metro system. We then strolled with our guide through the streets of the neighborhood learning about the economy and everyday lives of the creative and hard working folk who live there. We enjoyed a rest and a cup of delicious, fresh, hot chai tea in a small street shop, and greeting the dozens of beautiful, happy children along the narrow streets with a fist bump and a 'hello'. The highlight was a visit to a neighborhood school that provides lessons, activities, and safe spaces that supplement the free government-provided education. We saw children in a dance class, a computer lab, and in the quiet setting of a library where they can read or discuss life. We met the amazing teaching staff of Learning By Locals, the non-profit that runs the school, many of whom live there and attended the school as children. Our guide -- Salman -- was deeply knowledgeable and personable, and because of his perfect English we were able to have fascinating nuanced conversations about slum life and Indian culture. We learned the term "slum" is not what we assumed it meant. Our only regret is that we did not allow more time for the tour before we had to leave for home.
Inspirational. This tour was insightful, respectful and informative. Got time to spend with the children and youth being supported the Learning by Locals NGO established by Pradeep (owner of Delhi by Locals tour group that puts 50% of their profit back into the NGO). Pradeep and Sangeeta were my tour guides and they were amazing. This was a humbling and inspiring tour and I recommend anyone visiting Delhi take this tour - it busts many of the myths we have about slums and it showcases the resilience and creativity of the families who live and work in slum communities. Thank you 💖
Inspirational. I have been in India only 4 days but I don’t think anywhere else I visit while I’m here could leave me feeling as heartened and humbled by the youth education and empowerment work that Learning by Locals is doing at Sanjay (which you will hear about first hand from young people on this tour). This tour is managed in such a respectful and caring way which I was so impressed by. This was amazing - I would recommend that EVERYONE who visits Delhi takes this tour!
Inspirational. I have been in India only 4 days but I don’t think anywhere else I visit while I’m here could leave me feeling as heartened and humbled by the youth education and empowerment work that Learning by Locals is doing at Sanjay (which you will hear about first hand from young people on this tour). This tour is managed in such a respectful and caring way which I was so impressed by. This was amazing - I would recommend that EVERYONE who visits Delhi takes this tour!
This tour was very informative and respectful. I came away with a better understanding of what a slum is and how this one operates. It is truly a marvelous mini city in a city! At the end, we stopped into their school, and I got the chance to speak with and be inspired by the girls they given new opportunities and responsibilities to. If you are interested (or even not at all!), I would definitely recommend you take a walk through the slum with tour. Your proceeds also go to support the school itself.
This tour was very informative and professionally conducted. It was very interesting and I thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon, especially meeting so many lovely people. I learnt so much about the area and people. I would highly recommend this tour.
We booked the Sanjay colony slum tour at short notice and we not disappointed with our guides Badal and Praful , both were very open to answer the numerous questions we had and spending time with the children who are supported with education and development from this project . The travel on the underground to reach our starting point was also very enjoyable . I would thoroughly recommend this tour .
My mother and I spent a week and a half traveling through India before ending in New Delhi. This tour was one of the best parts of our time there. I'd gotten sick the day before, and our tour guide called an extra guide to walk with me while my mother walked ahead. I progressively felt better throughout the tour, which was so insightful and so amazing. There are so many parts of New Delhi that visitors don't think about seeing, and this one is definitely underrated. We walked through the markets and the school, where we were greeted so warmly by all the students and instructors. For anyone interested in children, education, and opportunity, this tour is a must see. I cannot recommend it enough. Every single person we met was so kind and genteel and wonderful in every way. My mother and I loved our time immensely and wish all the best to the guides and the school.
What an amazing tour. From start to finish it was fascinating and informative our tour guide Badal (Cloud ) was professional full of knowledge and answered all our questions.My sister and i have been in India for 18 days and today was the highlight to our wonderful holiday. What Pardepp is doing for his community is truly amazing so blessed to have met you all 🙏
Unfortunately was cancelled being on holi festival day Option given for another day but we left India the next day, hopefully we will do this trip on a next visit as we are really interested in how these people cope
The tour guide was very knowledgeable and excellent ambassador for the slum tour. He knew the people inside and the were very welcoming.
If u are looking for that oh my god moment on ur trip to India .. THIS IS THE TOUR FOR YOU. PLAIN AND SIMPLE THIS IS INCREDIBLE !! Without a doublet the best tour in India. And one of the best tours i have ever experience. This is a must in India. Don’t be put off by the 25 bux to do the tour.. this tour is worth 150 bux. DONT THINK ABOUT IT JUST BOOK IT - YOU WILL TAHNK ME LATER. Note. I have done over 50 tours worldwide.
I was in Delhi in December 2024. I was referred to Delhi by Locals by a friend. Pradeep, Badal and the team went above and beyond to make sure I had a magnificent time. I went to many different places including the old Delhi, New Delhi, Sanjay Slum Colony. Where I met the students. They were amazing. The team is knowledgeable, professional, friendly and caring. They made me feel as if I was a family member visiting their country. I made friends for life. I will have Delhi by locals in my heart forever. Thank you so much for an unforgettable experience. I will recommend you to everyone.
What an eye opener. Really enjoyed the experience. Very well organised. Everyone is so welcoming. Time went so fast.
We highly recommend this tour! Badal and Sukhmani were absolutley fantastic tour guides, showing us the reality of life and providing an unforgettable experience. This was one of our favourite tours whilst in India . The work of Leanring by Locals is truly inspiring. We will definitely be back to visit the school kids in the future.
We went with Badal and Krushbo which are local guide, they were grew up there and could tell us alot about the area. It was very interesting to hear about the life and the ways to raise locals to another future
I highly recommend this tour, this would be one of the best choices to know real life in Delhi. For us, especially for my teenage boys, this tour was great learning opportunity. We saw a truth that every kid can dream if they have understanding and support. I do appreciate the founder of this tour Pradeep and our marvelous guide Sangeeta, Badal and Sukhmani💓 to show us a hope. This experience changed my boys in good way! Thank you, we’ll definitely visit again!!
My husband and I grew up in New Delhi and currently live in Los Angeles with our two kids! We go to Delhi every year but this year our friends from LA who have never been to India came with us! I was looking for an amazing guide/tour company and a friend in Delhi recommended Delhi by Locals. After researching them thoroughly and looking at all the reviews in detail, we decided to do our Delhi and Agra tours with Delhi by Locals. I truly have no words to describe how unbelievable the experience was from my planning with Pradeep while in LA to the flawless execution of all logistics in Delhi and Agra (including organizing impeccable transportation). In Delhi we did Waking up with New Delhi, Old Delhi and the Sanjay Colony tours and in Agra we did the Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal. Pradeep and his amazing guides- Salman, Tarun, Sangeeta, stole our hearts with their warmth, incredible knowledge of Delhi and Agra and truly made us fall in love with Delhi, Agra and India! Our mothers who live in Delhi joined us for the Old Delhi tour and were blown away by how magical Pradeep and Salman were! Our kids were inspired by the Sanjay Colony tour and meeting the amazing kids at Learning By Locals. I highly recommend Delhi By Locals and will be recommending them to everyone I know who heads to India. We left with our hearts full and will always remember how well we were taken care of by Pradeep and his team! Their knowledge of and love of all things Delhi and Agra will remain in our hearts for a long time! Thank you Pradeep and Delhi by Locals!
I had the best time witnessing the reality of life in Delhi. Pradeep and the team were so kind and insightful. Powerful work. Thank you so much to Pradeep and the team.
Had an incredible evening exploring the heart of Delhi with an Educational Tour, thanks to the amazing team at Delhi by Locals. 🌆💖 Wandering through the narrow alleys, I was touched by the strong sense of community and the resilience of the families living there. It’s a powerful reminder to stay humbled and appreciate the values of humility and mutual respect 🚶♂️👨👩👧👦 The highlight was meeting the young individuals of the area, whose dreams and aspirations are reinforcing the crucial role of education in paving brighter paths for future generations. 📚✨ A huge Thank You to Pradeep and Sangeeta for being such fantastic hosts - your warmth and hospitality made the experience unforgettable. Looking forward to keeping in touch and hopefully crossing paths again.
Great insight into daily life of Delhi. Respectful guides and one of the highlights of my time in India. Highly recommended.
We had a wonderful time in India with Delhi by Locals. In my opinion, Pradeep and Salman are the best guide you can find in India. Unlike other guides, Pradeep and Salman are passionate about their work. They love their job and they went above and beyond to guide us in the tour. They are extremely Professional. We had New Delhi tour, the Old Delhi Tour and the Slump Tour. All of them we enjoyed. We meet them as a guide and we said goodbye to them as friends. If you ever need a guide for Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, Delhi by Locals are the one you should use.
For those of us fortunate enough to travel extensively, there usually comes a point when you realize you’ve seen a lot of cities and met many residents but you don’t really KNOW anything about them. You have email addresses and photos but don’t feel a genuine connection with anyone you’ve met or anyplace you’ve seen. My tour of the Sanjay Colony slum with Pradeep of Delhi by Locals was the first time I felt that connection. I’ll only take off-the-beaten-path tours in the future and hope to make that meaningful connection again. Thank you, Pradeep and Delhi by Locals.
As tourists we often stay in the areas with the general tourist attractions, but I highly recommend the Real Life in a Delhi Slum tour. Try branching out, because I think it will enhance your expeirence in Delhi and India.
If you are looking for an unforgettable experience in India, look for Delhi by Locals. The whole team works tirelessly for your experience and getting along with them is so natural as they are great people and speak excellent English (Pradeep, Gaurav, Surej, Karan and Samran are just a few that made my trip incredibly fun). The slum tour was one of the highlights of my trip to Delhi, it was confronting and not at all what I envisaged. Of course the living conditions invoked a sense of guilt and sadness, but at the same time we were able to see the community thrive in their given conditions and lead fulfilling lives that revolved around their family, especially the education for their children. Delhi by Local guides were sensitive and aware of how we felt about the tour and shared with us relevant information while not overwhelming us. I believe it is of paramount importance to have guides who are extremely aware of Delhi's cultural/social norms as the city is fast-paced and there are many little nuances to be aware of. Thank you to Pradeep for managing such a great experience for us. I will definitely be back~!
This was an outstanding tour and well worth the time. You will never find anything like this anywhere else! It’s both eye opening and captivating.
Best tour ever done! So much valuable insight, honest discussions and endless smart conversation. Visiting the after school was touching and eye-opening. Would recommend this tour over and over for anyone who would like to understand more about Delhi and its differences.
I’ve been to old Delhi before and seen it before but never like this. The tour guide new the area very well. Everything from great food spots to and very cool markets and stores. If you ever want to see old Delhi I would definitely recommend that this is the best way to see old Delhi
We did the local Delhi tour and slum tour. This is the best tour by far. Salmon and Guaruv took us to Old Delhi via metro line. They met us at hotel and walked with us to metro. This tour was extremely detailed and showed us a part of Delhi we would never have seen on our own. We did the Red Fort, Old Delhi markets, spice, wedding and rode an electric rickshaw. We also did the slum tour a few days later. Pradeep is extremely knowledgeable in the ins and outs of slum. Our perception of the slums was quashed and we were very surprised. Pradeep also reinvests into the slums through education. If there is 1 tour this must be it. Highly recommended
Visiting Sanjay Colony was extremely insightful to learn about the reality of slum life. We walked through the paths that the residents use, visited the site where cloth scraps are sorted and tin nameplates are produced, visited a market, met a family and witnessed how they live, and visited the NGO Learning by Locals. All in all, a very valuable experience for anyone. Pradeep was also an outstanding guide -- knowledgeable, patient, and committed to helping us understand this aspect of life in Delhi. Thank you, Delhi by Locals!
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