Gain access to secret buildings in Kala Ghoda; learn about rehabilitation of heritage spaces as you stroll through the Hermes store; and taste Kyani’s famous brun spread with maska and history – all of this for free!

These gratis going-ons come courtesy Heritage Week 2011 that starts today, featuring a series of talks and city walks led by a bunch of cool heritage hawks. Organised by the Alliance Francaise de Bombay and modelled after France’s successful Open Doors Day, the idea of the festival is to open up heritage buildings usually closed to the public, and also to get you in touch with Mumbai’s roots, for free. Shall we call it the Inheritance of No Loss?

Root Maps

If you could pick just one event out of the line-up, Ariane Tricaud, cultural coordinator at Alliance Francaise de Bombay recommends the Irani Cafe Tour. A culinary cliché we know, but it should be fun following writer-researcher Rafique Baghdadi around, his gyaan served up with grub including Kyani’s brun-maska, berry pulav at Britannia and kheema at Café Military. On the following day you can catch the screening of The last Irani Chai documentary by Khalid Mohamed.

If the way to your heart is not through your stomach, Heritage Week also targets other parts of your whole. Feet, get in line for a Kala Ghoda-Horniman Circle guided walk to visit buildings “you never knew existed”, visit the lush, green Kanheri caves or tap your feet to a Quartet Diotima concert at NCPA. Good listeners can sign up for social activist Anita Garware’s A History of Mumbai tour or zoom into author, film historian and curator Amrit Gangar take on the journey of movies.

Go on, get to know your city. We’re sure she’ll be glad to meet you.

Getting there: Heritage Week 2011 from September 22 to 29, see schedule here, call 22035993 to pre-register for all events (first come, first serve), free entry.