Nothing makes Delhiites happier than an extended weekend and surely 2016 has a lot of them. The cool monsoon breeze and romantic drizzle is urging you to pack your bags and head to a short trip during this long weekend! The biggest advantage of living in the capital is that you get a number of options for a short trip.
Here are some of the best weekend getaways for all the exhausted, tired and bored dil waale of Dilli!
Dalhousie + Khajjiar: Nature at Its Best
If your heart skips a beat at the mention of vast meadows, uninterrupted fresh breeze, unparalleled scenic vistas and lush green settings, then Khajjiar and Dalhousie are the places for you.
Dalhousie is a gorgeous hill station in Chamba district and it is about 550 kms from the capital. Majestic mountains, lush meadows, pleasant climate and negligible human interference make it a perfect weekend getaways for those who wish to sit back and unwind. While there aren’t too many attractions in Dalhousie, people mainly visit the place for its natural beauty and soothing calm.
Khajjiar is blessed with magnificent landscape and it is just 26 km from Dalhousie in Himachal Pradesh. The lush green grounds and exotic views make it one of the 160 locations in the world that bear striking resemblance with Switzerland. Khajjiar has a number of attractions such as Khajji Nag Temple, Khajjiar Lake & Ground, Khajjiar villages, Panch Pandav Tree, Golden Devi temple and Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary.
Duration: 3 days/2 nights
Itinerary: Delhi – Dalhousie – Khajjiar – Dalhousie – Delhi
Attractions: Khajji Nag Temple, Khajjiar Lake & Ground, Khajjiar villages, Panch Pandav Tree, Golden Devi temple and Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary
Activities: Hiking, trekking, horse-riding, Paragliding and Zorbinga
Transportation: The nearest railhead is Pathankot’s Chakki Bank (80 km) and the closest domestic airport is in Pathankot. Buses run from ISBT, Delhi to Chamba and Pathankot.
Udaipur + Mount Abu: A Royal Retreat
Hailed as one of the most beautiful cities of Rajasthan, Udaipur is about 630 kms from Delhi. The city is situated by the Lake Pichola and is aptly called ‘City of Lakes’. For a cultural and historical trip, one must visit Udaipur at least once in a lifetime. City’s many palaces, forts and museums introduce you to the gone regal era with a sense of pride.
Udaipur is also a major favorite destination among honeymooners. It is one romantic destination where both sunrise and sunsets splash some colors in your love story. Some of the best attractions in the lake city are: City Palace, Lake Pitchkola, fateh sagar lake, Lake Palace, Monsoon Palace, Jag Mandir and Gulab Bagh and Zoo. Get ready to experience the splendor of Rajasthan in Udaipur.
Mount Abu is just 164kms from the royal Udaipur city. The only hill station in Rajasthan, Mount Abu is romantic, pleasant and serene. One of the best options for traveling to Mount Abu from Udaipur is by road. The well-maintained roads offer an adventurous trip to the hill station. Some of the attractions are Nakki lake, Dilwara Jain Temples, Honeymoon Point etc.
Duration: 3 days/2 nights
Itinerary: Delhi – Udaipur -Mount Abu – Delhi
Attractions: Nakki lake, Dilwara Jain Temples, City Palace, Lake Pitchkola, fateh sagar lake, Lake Palace, Monsoon Palace, Jag Mandir and Gulab Bagh and Zoo
Activities: Boating, shopping, hiking, bicycle tour
Transportation: There are two direct trains to Udaipur from Delhi and nearest airport in Udaipur is the Maharana Pratap Airport (20kms).
Lucknow + Varanasi: Gods and Ganges
The city of Nawabs Lucknow is most popular for its multiculturalism and manners. Some of the most famous poets, artists and writers happened here and the city has beautiful gardens as well. Just 511 kms from Delhi, the city boasts of famous monuments like Bara Imambara, Chota Imambara, Dilkusha Kothi, Janeshwar Mishra Park, Ambedkar Memorial Park etc. To get a better sense of Indian literature and culture, one must spend a few days in Lucknow.
Read about Varanasi unveiled
Varanasi is about 320 kms from Lucknow and is also known as Banaras or Kashi. Regarded as the spiritual capital of India, Varanasi boasts of its ghats and 2000 temples, including Kashi Vishwanath and others. The narrow lanes and streets of Varanasi made their appearance in some of the blockbusters and moved the nation with their distinct charm. Other major attractions in the city are Ganges river, Ramnagar Fort, Manikarnika Ghat, Sarnath Museum and Dashashwamedh Ghat.
Duration: 4 days/3 nights
Itinerary: Delhi – Lucknow- Varanasi- Delhi
Attractions: Ganges river, Ramnagar Fort, Manikarnika Ghat, Sarnath Museum, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Bara Imambara, Chota Imambara, Dilkusha Kothi, Janeshwar Mishra Park, Ambedkar Memorial Park
Activities: River rafting, boasting.
Transportation: Lucknow airport is located nearly 14 km from the city, direct trains are available to Lucknow from Delhi.
Nainital+Corbett: Peak and Park
One of the most popular hill stations in India, Nainital is located in Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. The town has pleasant weather all round the year and its scenic landscape draws tourists from across the globe. At just 310 kms from Delhi, Nainital is a perfect place to chill and laze around. Some of the major attractions in the town are Naini lake, Naina Peak, Tiffin Top, Land’s End and Eco Cave garden.
Check out this review on Corbett Riverside Resort
Jim Corbett is about 149 kms from Nainital and you can drive from Nainital to the park. Established in 1936, it is the oldest national park in India. A favorite among wildlife lovers, Jim Corbett National Park is rich in flora, fauna and wildlife. Spanning over an extent of 520 square kilometers, the park has varied wildlife including royal Bengal tiger, elephant, four to five species of deer and rich species of birds. The park also offers wildlife safaris and jeep safari.
Duration: 3 days/2 nights
Itinerary: Delhi- Nainital- Jim Corbett- Delhi
Attractions: Naini lake, Naina Peak, Tiffin Top, Land’s End and Eco Cave garden.
Activities: Jeep Safari, wildlife safari, elephant safari, boating, hiking, trekking
Transportation: The nearest railway station is Kathgodham (34kms), Nainital enjoys excellent bus connectivity to Delhi.
These were just a few hand-picked options and the list surely is pretty long. The weekend is almost here, what’s your favorite getaway?
