Cycling in Delhi

City cycling in Delhi is a great weekend adventure option. You don’t have to go too far away from home, and you’ll see a side of the city you’ve never seen before. When you explore Delhi on cycles, you’ll understand the glorious past and the modern facets of Delhi, with a taste of the fun that makes the capital city of India so special. A heady mix of ancient ruins, royal heritage, cuisines and so much more are just waiting to be explored on your cycling adventure in Delhi.

Explore old Delhi by cycle

Take a cycling trip through time, through the Delhi that belonged to Sufi saints, rebels, English memsahibs, poets and refugees. When cycling in Delhi through this route, you’ll see a Delhi that was ruled by the Sultans, Mughals and British. Starting in the over-700-year-old settlement of Nizamuddin, these 15-km long tours wind their way through the 21st-century concrete jungle and flashy lights of South Delhi to show you a city alive in unimaginable fragments. You'll end the trip with a picnic in the lush green landscape of the iconic Lodhi garden.

Explore the markets of Delhi by cycle

The Mughal emperor Shah Jahan built his capital city, Shahjahanabad over 11 years, and surrounded it with walls. Now, hundreds of years later, the walls have disappeared, and the structures inside are dilapidated. This area is now Chandni Chowk, which is probably one of the busiest markets in the world. You’ll start from Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in the city, to the Red Fort (home to Mughal emperors for 200 years), and through the lanes of the spice markets, including a pit-stop at Parathe Wali Galli or ‘lane of parathas’. The mingling fragrances of roasting parathas, fried potatoes, baking dough, and endless herbs, spices and chutneys will make your mouth water.

Explore modern Delhi by cycle

To understand the journey that the city of Delhi has travelled, these packages for Delhi cycling are ideal. Starting in the labyrinth of narrow back lanes of Old Delhi, passing through quaint old ‘socialist-style’ quarters of government employees and almost magically landing in the midst of a spectacular view of the Presidential Palace and India Gate encircled by spotless clean, tree-lined wide roads, these tours are very stimulating and comprehensive catalogues of the lives of people who make this great capital today.

See royal Delhi by cycle

Explore the palaces and aristocratic abodes of Delhi by cycle. These tours plunge straight into the deep-end of Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad). Three hundred years of decadence, war, re-building and several regime changes later, the much smaller Havelis of today manage to preserve a stunningly placid beauty that echoes haunting reminders of a grander past.

Experience Delhi by cycle

If you really want to explore Delhi by cycle, book an all-round package that combines all the facets. You’ll start cycling in the older parts of Delhi, from Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques built by the Mughal emperor Shahjahan, to the teeming markets of Chandni Chowk. Then you switch to the present and hop off your bikes to catch the uber-efficient Delhi Metro train and take a rickshaw ride. You’ll end at the Tibetan Colony (also known as Little Lhasa), with a delicious breakfast here.

Rivers of Delhi by cycle

Behind every historical capital, there is a great big river. The route is an ode to the Yamuna river that has been a silent witness to Delhi’s historic past. On this route, you will also learn a little about the rising levels of pollution and its impact on the river. These cycling in Delhi tours take you along the lifeline of the city, the Yamuna river, showing you the unique mix of colours, smells, sounds, tastes and unforgettable images of the city. From vibrant markets to small temples, this route gives you a true feeling of Delhi street life. If the weather and the season are ideal, then your package might include a boat ride on the river as well.

Cycling In Delhi Summary

• State: New Delhi
• Nearest city: Delhi
• Total days: 1 days
• Grade:Easy to Challenging
• Max elevation:700 feet
• Max cycling distance: 15 km
• Season: Monsoon and winter
• Avg temperature: 5 to 45 degrees Celsius

Best time to go/Weather

The city of Delhi has brutal summers that last for months. While there are trips to explore Delhi by cycle during these months, they depart early in the morning while the weather is still cool. The monsoon months are fun for cycling. However, if you have the liberty, choose to go on your Delhi cycling adventure in the winter months. In the cold mornings, before the mists have fully cleared, you’ll get to see the best of Delhi.