About us

We think history should find you.

Walking Past (WaPas for short) began with a simple observation: Indian cities are full of remarkable monuments that people walk past every day without knowing their story.

Humayun’s Tomb · Muhammad Mahdi Karim, GFDL 1.2

From walking past to stopping by.

A 500-year-old tomb at the corner of a busy road. A step-well behind a row of shops. A gateway that once welcomed kings and now carries traffic. Heritage in India isn’t kept behind museum glass. It’s part of everyday streets, and most of it has no signboard.

We built Walking Past to change that. Instead of asking people to plan a heritage tour, the app brings the story to them when they happen to be nearby. A short notification, a story you can listen to, and honest safety information turn a missed moment into a discovery.

Every city keeps its history in plain sight. We just help you notice it.

What we value.

Accurate stories: Every monument description is researched and reviewed, and we correct mistakes as soon as they’re reported.
Safety first: We tell you honestly what a place is like, because a good visit starts with feeling safe.
Respect your time: Short notifications, stories you can listen to, and AI answers kept to a few sentences.
Respect your privacy: Location is opt-in, used only to find nearby monuments, and can be turned off whenever you like.

Questions people ask us.

Something else? Ask us directly.

Is Walking Past free?

Yes. You can download it free on Android and iOS and explore every listed monument.

Why does the app ask for background location?

Background location is what lets Walking Past notify you when you’re near a monument, even when the app is closed. We use it only for that. You can turn it off from the home screen, and the rest of the app still works.

Will it drain my battery?

The app uses motion detection to pause location updates while you’re not moving, which keeps battery use low during a normal day.

How close do I need to be to get a notification?

You’ll be notified when you’re within about 150 metres of a listed monument.

How does the “Ask” guide work?

The Ask tab uses an AI model that has the monument’s story and safety details. It answers in a short, conversational way and keeps the conversation focused on heritage. As with any AI, check anything critical, such as opening hours, on the spot.

Where does the safety information come from?

Safety ratings, best times, crowd levels and lighting notes are compiled for each monument by our team. Conditions can change, so always use your own judgement, especially at night.

My city isn’t listed. Can you add it?

Tell us which city you’d like to see, as requests help us decide what comes after.

I found a mistake in a monument’s details.

Thank you! Please let us know through the contact page or the Contact screen in the app, and we’ll fix it.

Get in touch

Tell us what you think.

Questions, corrections, a city you’d like us to cover, or a partnership idea. We read every message.