Home INCREDIBLE INDIADelhi NCR Riding the Delhi Metro Heritage Line

Riding the Delhi Metro Heritage Line

by Ragini Puri
14 comments
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With vintage photos of Old Delhi juxtaposed against swanky steel and granite interiors, the stations on the recently inaugurated Delhi Metro Heritage Line rate high on aesthetics. These stations, all underground, are designed in accordance with the heritage of the area and showcase the surrounding precinct’s striking history.

Stations on the Heritage Line

An extension of the Violet Line (ITO-Escorts Mujeser), the Delhi Metro Heritage Line comprises four stations – Delhi Gate, Jama Masjid, Lal Quila, and Kashmere Gate. The line traverses the breadth of Old Delhi, making it easier to access heritage delights tucked inside the narrow lanes of the densely populated Walled City.

All four metro stations on the heritage line have borrowed accents and design elements from the monuments they are named after. So while Delhi Gate station is adorned with panels that depict the history of Delhi Gate, the interiors of Jama Masjid station is accented with art installations depicting photos of Jama Masjid, Sri Digambar Jain Lal Temple, and St Stephen’s church.

In similar fashion, the facade of Lal Quila station resembles Red Fort and is done up in red sandstone. The interior of the station is decked up with old and new photos of various parts of Red Fort.  Kashmere Gate station offers a rare glimpse into Delhi during and after 1857 as it puts on display some iconic photographs, like the gate being blown down by the British, and the interiors of the St. James church.

These art installations that dot the stations along the Heritage Line have been conceptualised by Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). While some of these installations are pretty striking, there are a few that are mundane and only seem to be covering up wall space.

Dream Gates

The DMRC has installed what it calls ‘Dream Gates’ in two stations of the Heritage Line. Though I did not get to see these gates, I’ve read that these Dream Gates (Automatic Fare Collection gates) installed at Lal Quila and Jama Masjid stations allow commuters to buy tickets via Paytm and scan a QR code to enter and exit the stations. However, wonder how convenient that is going to be during rush hours when there are long queues jostling to enter and exit the stations.

It was quite late in the evening when I took this route a couple of days ago, and relatively less number of commuters at that time of the day (night, rather) gave me the chance to admire the stations’ design concepts at leisure. Here are some photos from the ride –

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‘This is Delhi Gate Station. Doors will open on the right. Please mind the gap.’

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An Old Delhi marketplace framed inside Delhi Gate metro station

Delhi Metro Heritage Line, Heritage Line, DMRC, Heritage Corridor, Delhi Metro, Delhi Gate, Delhi Gate Metro Station, Ragini Puri, Travel Blogger, Travel Writer, Travel Photographer

Photographs set in jali frames – inside Delhi Gate metro station

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Interiors at Delhi Gate metro station

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Interiors at Delhi Gate metro station

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Interiors at Delhi Gate metro station

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Delhi Metro Heritage Line, Heritage Line, DMRC, Heritage Corridor, Delhi Metro, Delhi Gate, Delhi Gate Metro Station, Ragini Puri, Travel Blogger, Travel Writer, Travel Photographer

Another photo panel inside Delhi Gate station

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Sparkling interiors of the Delhi Gate station

Delhi Metro Heritage Line, Heritage Line, DMRC, Heritage Corridor, Delhi Metro, Delhi Gate, Delhi Gate Metro Station, Ragini Puri, Travel Blogger, Travel Writer, Travel Photographer

Delhi Metro Heritage Line, Heritage Line, DMRC, Heritage Corridor, Delhi Metro, Delhi Gate, Delhi Gate Metro Station, Ragini Puri, Travel Blogger, Travel Writer, Travel Photographer

A selfie for posterity

I boarded the heritage line at Mandi House and went all the way to the last station on this line, Kashmere Gate. More photos from the ride will be featured in the next post. Hope you will stay tuned.  In the meanwhile, if you have travelled on the Delhi Metro Heritage line, I would love to hear about your experience. Do share please, thank you.

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14 comments

matheikal June 7, 2017 - 7:11 pm

A wonderful tribute to Delhi Metro. The Metro is a marvel of human achievement.

Reply
Ragini Puri June 10, 2017 - 3:12 pm

Thank you Matheikal sir. Indeed the kind of technical finesse that has gone into setting up the metro network in Old Delhi is mind boggling. The precision with which the tracks have been laid out so near the heritage corridor is awe inspiring.

Reply
Antarik Anwesan June 7, 2017 - 11:50 pm

Looking forward to take the ride on my next Delhi visit 🙂

Reply
Ragini Puri June 10, 2017 - 3:13 pm

Thanks, Antarik. Also, do connect when you are in Delhi next, would love to catch up.

Reply
magiceye June 8, 2017 - 6:44 am

Beautifully captured!

Reply
Ragini Puri June 10, 2017 - 3:13 pm

Thank you, Deepak sir.

Reply
Rajesh June 8, 2017 - 8:39 am

This is definitely drive that is a worth for heritage lovers.

Reply
Mahesh Swmwal June 9, 2017 - 6:01 am

Mandi house to Kashmiri gate started ? I was not aware of it.
Thanks for sharing .

Reply
Saurabh Singh June 9, 2017 - 7:38 pm

Nice clicks and love heritage places

Reply
Saurabh Singh June 9, 2017 - 7:42 pm

Nice pics and I love heritage sites

Reply
In Photos: Delhi Metro Heritage Line - From My Window Seat June 9, 2017 - 9:11 pm

[…] Delhi NCR […]

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Yogi Saraswat June 10, 2017 - 2:48 pm

Your pictures stunned me and will travel tomorrow !! Great clicks Ragini

Reply
Yanika Muscat June 11, 2017 - 2:22 pm

Nice pictures and love places like this with it own creation / cultural / heritage.

Reply
Alex June 12, 2017 - 2:46 am

Thins looks very interesting. Even a metro can be colorful and full of art!

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