10 Delhi Destinations You Can Cover In 12-ish Hours on A Bike

Want to visit all the attractions in Delhi but don't have a lot of time to make it possible? You can always catch the HOHO (hop-on, hop-off) bus and go on a rapid tour of all the popular attractions along the way but it comes with the downside of being dependent on a network of buses that are plagued by the terrible city traffic, which means you will hardly touch a few location makers on the map before the sun goes down and you get tired of waiting for the next HOHO bus to come along! Not a solution. Here’s what you can try instead.

1. Red Fort: The iconic epitome of Indian independence and sovereignty: red fort must definitely be on your list of destinations to visit while you are in Delhi. It has been one of the most active political spots in the entire southeast Asian region back from the days of the Mughal empire until later when the British rule was in power for 200 years and even now as the sovereign Indian government addresses the entire nation on the momentous occasions of Independence Day and republic day. The entry fee for an Indian adult is rs56 (inclusive of museum fees) and if you do not want to send in a long line you can easily go to the website of the archaeological survey of India and book your tickets online.
2. Chandni Chowk: While we usually recommend you to stay away from crowded places, Chandni Chowk is an exception because it has been the soul of Delhi. People settled here have a unique history that began with the independence of India. During the partition, thousands of households were driven out of Pakistan and many of them came here to settle down and have stayed there ever since. It is therefore a remarkable reminder of the tough times that the country has been through to be where we are today. Many of the shops and commercial establishments at Chandni Chowk are as old as independent India itself. If you are traveling by motorcycle you might not have to worry a lot about parking your vehicle but if you are in a car make sure that you visit during the early hours of the day because as the day progresses, traffic becomes a horrendous problem that nobody has been able to solve yet.
3. India Gate: Another glorious, yet poignant reminder of India's independence is the india gate that stands proudly at the heart of the city. To get a good feeling of the grandness of the structure the best time to visit India Gate is during early morning when the sun signs and gives it a warm glow befitting the sentiments of 1.3 billion Indians. There are several parking structures which makes it easy for you to put your vehicle away for a couple of hours as you take a walk on the Rajpath (road of the rulers) that runs straight from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate.
4. National Railway Museum: If you love trains, or you have kids travelling along with you, then you must make sure not to miss the railway museum. The foundation of this museum was laid in 1962 under the advice of British train enthusiast Michael stow and completed in 1977. There are some impressive displays of British train technology which laid the foundation of the world's fourth largest rail network which is present in India today.
5. National War Memorial: A must-visit location in Delhi is the national war memorial that is spread across 40 acres and is accessible by the Rajpath. At the innermost location within the memorial is the Amar Chakra (circle of immortality) and the Tyag Chakra (circle of sacrifice) where you can find the names of martyrs etched in golden letters, and it lights up at night. The brightly lit India Gate is clearly visible from the memorial which creates some epic background for a few photographs.
6. Lodhi Gardens: Lodhi gardens was a royal garden of the afghan Lodhi dynasty that ruled Delhi from 1451 to 1526 until it collapsed when the last Lodhi ruler asked Babur (Akbar's grandfather) to invade the country which laid the foundation of the Mughal empire in India. The 90-acre garden was so scenic and beautiful that instead of destroying it, the Mughals added to its beauty. The Athpula (8-pillared) bridge made by Akbar is a key attraction you should not miss.
7. Gurudwara Bangla Sahib: The destinations that came before this are great for visiting during the day, from here on, these destinations are best visited under artificial lighting. Gurudwara Bangla Sahib was a palace in a royal neighborhood that was later demolished to make way for Connaught Place, but the palace stayed. The foundation of the gurudwara was laid in 1783 but was resided by the eight Sikh guru, Guru Har Krishan, in 1664 hence the significance for the Sikh community across the world. At night, the golden dome (Nishan Sahib) and the holy pond (Sarovar) gets beautifully lit up and gives an exceptionally dreamy vibe.
8. Lotus Temple: The Lotus Temple in Delhi is one of the few Baha’i faith temples in the world.  Constructed in 1986 this is among the recent landmarks in Delhi that you should not miss on your trip.  At night the entire temple compound is late with directional lighting which makes the petal shapes of the unique structure of the temple pop out in the dark landscape behind it. There are 9 ponds surrounding the temple and the ground of the temple is laid out in such a way that it makes for a great stroll in the evening. You can either and your day-long trip here at the temple or proceed to the next destination which is equally fascinating and a marvel of religious architecture.
9. Akshardham Temple: Constructed in 2005, the Swaminarayan Akshardham temple is another great example of culture and spirituality represented through architecture. There are over 20,000 statues and 148 life-size elephant structures that weigh a total of three thousand tons inside the temple campus.  The main structure of the temple rises 140 feet into the sky and covers an area of 316 feet across. If you are visiting the temple after sundown makes sure not to miss the musical fountain show for which you will have to pay an additional fee but it is completely worth it.
10. North Campus: Feeling hungry after a long day of riding a motorcycle? Not to worry, we have got you covered. Just an hour away from the lotus temple and 30-minute away from Akshardham is the bustling university locality of north campus. There are a ton of bistros, cafes and restaurants dotting the area where you can get a good dinner before calling it a day. The energy and life in the campus will make you forget your tiredness and the culmination of cuisines in the area will give you a ton of options to choose from.

Bonus tip:  

Delhi is one of the great cities of the world and therefore the traffic here is second to none. Because of an enormous number of vehicles moving across the city, you need to be extra careful about your personal safety. Always make sure to wear a branded motorcycle helmet, motorcycle riding jacket and other safety accessories at all times.  When you are visiting a temple complex, make sure to keep all of your riding accessories locked down in a motorcycle luggage box or place it in a bag and deposit it at the entry gate.

Plan your routes well and make sure that you enjoy the locations instead of just buzzing through them at great speeds to touch all the destinations. Even if you get to cover just 5 spots instead of 10, make sure that it’s worthwhile. Happy riding!