admin Partying hard on Saturday nights or at any night club is gradually running off the track. Today, we all deserve to earn a tranquil time off after an exhausted week. But, time and again we fall irresolute wasting our hard-earned weekend over travelling long hours. If you are one amongst those Delhiites who are in desperate need of turning their usual weekends into a mini vacation far-off city’s hustle-bustle and dreadful effluence, the city is laid out with galore of adjoining weekend thresholds for you. And the best part of touring these weekend-getaways is that they are nestled at a reasonable distance and holidaying there is quite pocket-friendly also.
Starting from ancient monuments to natural abundance, this post is going to drive you through the top places than can be visited within 300Kms from Delhi.
Let’s explore these weekend destinations near Delhi:
Kuchesar
An Overview: Situated in the Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh, around 102 Kms from Delhi, Kuchesar is a heritage village, which is also famed as the Rao Raj Vilas. Built by the Jat rulers in the 18th Century, Kuchesar is a heritage resort, which is best known for the mud of the fort construction. With an expanse of around 200 acres amidst lush bush, this fort was constructed in order to safeguard the Jats from the British cannon attack. Today, a decent number of travellers flock here from Delhi to spend a soothing weekend.
Places to see and things do: The Mud Fort is the key attraction of touring Kuchesar. A blend of scrumptious food, supreme amenities and immaculate hospitality make this fort a perfect weekend getaway near Delhi. Besides, around 25Kms away from the Kuchesar Fort and on the banks of the holy river Ganga, Brij Ghat is another soothing site that can also be explored in Kuchesar.
Going for a ride on Bullock Cart and roving around the adjoining areas of Kuchesar hamlet offers you an admirable rhythm of rural India. Additionally, the hotel authority also caters you a blend of horse riding, cycling, bonfire (in winter), village hopping, sightseeing, indoor games and swimming activities that will please your stay here manifold. If you are holidaying in Kuchesar with your buddies, walking amidst flourishing woods and venerable trees could be a tranquil experience all together.
Foods: One just cannot miss the classy eatables at Hotel Mud Fort Kuchesar. The mouth-watering food items are served here straight from the royal kitchen with a blend of Indian and Continental cuisines. In addition, the luscious Punjabi and Gujrati dishes will not only fill your stomach, but your soul as well.
Best Time to Visit: Kuchesar Fort is an all season place to visit. However, to reveal the best out of it, winter is the ideal time for expedition in Kuchesar. In addition, holidaying here during the monsoons is also a good idea. The summer on the other hand is quite hot and humid, so it is advisable not to visit Kuchesar during summer days.
How to Reach: Situated around 102Kms away from the capital city Delhi, reaching Kuchesar Fort is quite convenient for travellers. If you are planning to visit Kuchesar Fort by train, Hapur is the nearest railhead within 25Kms reach from the destination. Some of the regular trains from Hapur Railway Station to Kuchesar Road are Hapur Moradabad Passenger Train, Delhi Moradabad Passenger and Moradabad Delhi Passenger. From railway station, you can also hire an auto-rickshaw to travel further. Few other railway stations near to Kuchesar are Ghaziabad (35kms), Pilkhua Railway Station (34Kms) and Meerut (52kms).
Apart from train, bus and car are some other convenient means of commutation to reach Kuchesar. From Delhi, the driving distance to Kuchesar Fort is around 80Kms that can be travelled within two and half hours time. From Noida on the other hand, the driving distance to reach Kuchesar is less than one and half hours. If you are driving your own car, take NH-24 via Hapur from Delhi-Moradabad route and turn right towards the Kuchesar Chowk Chopala. From here, you need to drive further few kilometres to reach your weekend destination.
Mathura and Vrindavan
An Overview: Popular as Braj region in Uttar Pradesh State, Mathura and Vrindavan are reckoned amongst the most religious twin destinations within 164Kms reach from Delhi.
Delving into the history of Vrindavan reveals a wealth of religious stories tied to this mythical heritage site. The name “Vrindavan” is believed to be derived from the groves of Brinda (a cluster of trees), with “van” meaning forest. Therefore, it is also called as Brindavan. On the other hand, birthplace of Lord Krishna, Mathura is eminent for its culture and spiritual heritage. The distance between Mathura and Vrindavan is around 15Kms.
Places to See: Being eminent as the abode of Lord Krishna’s childhood and many other religious tales associated with Lord Krishna and Radha, Mathura and Vrindavan host lot many religious shrines that can be explored. Some of the key attractions here include Govind Dev Temple, Bankey Bihari Temple, Keshi Ghat, ISKCON Temple, Radha Raman Temple, Gokulnanda Temple, Madan Mohan Temple, Jugal Kisore Temple etc.
Foods: Being a religious hub, the eatables in Mathura and Vrindavan perfectly matches the pure vegetarian. There are many hotels in Vrindavan and Mathura where platters are served even without garlic or onion. Some of the commonly preferred foods here include Pakoras, Lassi, Chhole-Poori, Hing ki Kachori and Aloo-Puri. In addition, some other delicacies that one must try here are Chana- Bhatura, Rabri, Jalebi, Kheer, Kalakand, Laddos, Khurchan and Balushai Pedhe.
Best Time to Visit: The best time visit here is during Janmashtami (in the month of August), Holi (in the month of March) and Basant Panchami (in the month of February). All these festivals in Mathura and Vrindavan are celebrated with great devout sentiments and fervour.
How to Reach: Located in the Mathura district of Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, the place has its own railway station called Vrindavan railway station, which is operated by North Central railway. This railway station is in regular touch with most of the key cities like Delhi, Pune, Bangalore, Nagpur, Jaipur and Agra.
The holy land of Vrindavan also has convenient road connectivity between Mathura and other important tourist destinations like Agra, Jaipur, Haridwar and Delhi. Several regular buses are there that travel between Delhi and Mathura.
Once you reach Mathura by bus, deboard at Chatikara Road. From Chatikara Road, get into an auto-rickshaw to travel further till Vrindavan. Visitors can also hire a cab to reach Vrindavan via Taj Express Highway, which will take around two and half hours time. On the other hand, Mathura is easily reachable from Delhi through the shortest possible route Yamuna Expressway.
Places to Stay: Keeping in mind the mounting footfalls of pilgrims, several budget and luxury hotels are set up in the holy city of Vrindavan. Some of the comfy hotels with all the amenities here may cost you around INR 1200 and more. Shubham Hotel and Giriraj Kripa Athithi Bhawan are two great places with quality accommodations and amenities. Some other budget accommodations are also there that can be availed with a price range between INR1000- INR2000.
- Suggested Tour: Same Day Trip to Mathura & Vrindavan
Agra
An Overview: The city of Taj requires no figurative preface to connect with its global audience. Situated around 220Kms from Delhi, Agra is one of the perfect weekend destinations for travellers. Apart from the wondrous Taj, Fatehpur Sikri and Agra Fort are two major attractions here in Agra.
The Mughal City Agra was established ages back in 1475 by Badal Singh. Thus, visiting here gives you a great opportunity to witness the rich history of our country. After exploring the UNESCO World Heritage sites, you can also experience a delightful shopping experience in Agra city.
Places to See: If you chalk out Agra to be your next weekend destination, spend at least two days in the Mughal City. During your voyage to Agral, do not miss the historical tombstones, marble workshops and local markets around this city. Some of the commonly visited sites here are the majestic Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, Itmad-Ud-Daulah, Wildlife SOS and Agra Fort.
Foods: Agra has no shortage of luscious eatables to offer you. One of the most signature food stuff here is Petha. Besides, variety of Chaats, Kachori, Aloo Tikki and Dalmoth are some other popular eatables that you cannot miss in Agra.
Best Time to Visit: Though, Agra is an all season place that you can travel by. However, the best time period is from October to March when the temperature is comparatively pleasant here for visitors. Avoid visiting here during April to July as the temperature is quite scorching that time. If you want to experience the Taj Mahotsav, which is one of the spectacular events in Agra, you must visit here during the last week of February.
How to Reach: The city of Taj, Agra is visited by numerous travellers every weekend. Hence two most commonly preferred modes of commutations from Delhi are by train and by road.
The best part of railway connectivity in Agara is its five accessible railway stations namely; Agra Cantt Station, Idgah Railway Station, Agra City, Raja ki Mandi and Agra Fort Railway Station. Agra Cantt Station is the nearest railway station from where one can easily reach the destination via auto- rickshaw, taxi and cab. If you are travelling from Delhi, there are various trains such as Jammutawi Express, Gondwana Express, Bhopal Shatabdi and Malwa Express that will take you till Agra. Delhi to Agra railway journey takes around 3-4 hours time.
If you are travelling by road, the commonly accessible route to reach Agra is via Taj Express Highway/Yamuna Expy. Through this route the distance can be travelled in 3.5 to 4 hours time.
You can start on early Saturday morning from Delhi so that you reach the destination by first half. On the way you will find many dhabas where you can fill up your hunger. Spend Saturday on exploring the beauty of Taj and other adjoining attractions. If you want to spend the night in Agra, various budget hotels are also there. On Sunday morning again you can start for Delhi.
If you want to commute by bus, there are two major bus terminals in Agra namely; ISBT and Idgah Bus Stand, which are 12Kms and 8Kms away from Taj Mahaal respectively. In addition, regular taxi and deluxe buses are also that you may prefer while returning back.
Places to Stay: A rich blend of historic architecture and cultural diversity pulls many travel freaks to the city of Taj all round the calendar. As a result of this a wide range of budget and premium hotels are established in Agra. If you are on a weekend trip, prefer staying in some budget hotels that will cost you around INR 800 to INR 1500. Hotel Aditya Palace, Treebo White Inn and Mango Hotels Agra are some of the reasonable places to stay in Agra.
- Suggested Tour: Same Day Agra Tour
Bharatpur
An Overview: Situated in the Bharatpur region of Rajasthan, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is famed as the abode of 750 plus species including several endangered mammals, plants and colourful migrated birds. This avifauna sanctuary is now recognised as Keoladeo Ghana National Park. Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is one of the popular weekend getaways under 6 hours from Delhi. The distance between these two places is nearly 190Kms.
Being one of the finest sites for birding, most of the aquatic birds here are migrated from Turkmenistan, Siberia, China and Afghanistan. Every year during winter these birds come to India; and this is the time when Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary turns to an amazing destination for wildlife photographers and travellers. A part from several faunal species, Keoladeo Ghana National Park is also inhabited by Boar, Nilgai, Sambar and Chital.
Places to See and Things to Do: Reckoned as one of the finest avifauna sanctuaries in Asia, every year the Keoladeo National Park experiences around 1,00,000 footfalls including both indigenous as well as foreign tourists. The park has more than 370 species of floras, 360 species of birds and around 30 mammals. The entry fee to this sanctuary is INR 25 per visitor (for Indian). If you are driving your own car, you need to park your car in Shanti Kutir, which is located nearly 2Kms range from the park areas. Parking charges per vehicle is INR 50. The visiting hour to this park in summer is from 6AM to 6PM. On the other hand, during winters the park is open from 6.30AM to 5PM.
Besides, some other attractions in Bharatpur include Meadows of the Tranquil Sanctuary, Palace of Bharatpur, Deeg Palace, Lohagarh Fort etc.
If you are an adventure freak, Bharatpur offers you some thrilling outdoor activities such as Bird Safari, zip-line, rappelling, archery, climbing and Burma Bridge. Rope Castle is the perfect adventure hub for travellers. It is open from 9AM to 7PM and the fee here is INR 900/person that includes food and four different activities.
Foods: You can try here some of the popular Rajasthani and North-Indian platters that include Mawa Kachori, Aloo ki subzi, Pyaaz Kachori etc. If you plan your dinner in any of the restaurants here after 10.30PM, please be informed that most of the restaurants are closed here by 10:30 PM. So, it is advisable to plan your dinner accordingly.
Best Time to Visit: Though, the Keoladeo National Park is an all year place for visitors. However, in order to witness the best showcase of breeding birds, August to November is the perfect time. On the other hand, most of the tourist flock this bird park mostly during winter (October to February) when the National Park gets inhabited by the migratory birds. This is the time when the park area turns to a favourite site for the bird watchers as well as for the wildlife photographers. Rest of the months in this sanctuary are comparatively bird-free and with nothing much to offer.
How to Reach: Located around 6Kms away from the National Park, Bharatpur Junction is the nearest railway station. From Delhi, you can board into Fatehpur Janta Express, which takes around four and half hours to reach Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. This train runs from Delhi at 8AM and 2PM. You will get other trains as well from Nizamuddin railway station. Depending on the train, the distance can be travelled in two and half hours to five hours time.
If you plan to visit Bharatpur by road via NH 2, the route will take you to your destination through Mathura. From Mathura the distance to reach Bharatpur is around 44Kms. From Delhi, you can reach Bharatpur under 5 hours time by bus via Mathura. Many private cars and taxis are there that will take you till Bharatpur quite conveniently.
Places to Stay: Being one of the top places to visit near Delhi, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is frequently visited during weekends. Hence, several comfortable places are established here to accommodate the visitors in Bharatpur. One of the most preferred resorts near the sanctuary is Udai Vilas Palace. In addition, Bharatpur Forest Lodge is also recommended by many visitors for its soothing ambience and wonderful hospitability. This lodge is also famed as Shanti Kutir, which is positioned on a government property operated by the ITDC (The India Tourism Development Corporation). Many nearby circuit houses, havelis, dak bungalows and luxurious hotels are also available where one can stay comfortably. Depending on the type of hotels and amenities you avail the charges may range between INR 1000 to INR 2500 and more.
If you are still baffled selecting your next weekend destination situated nearly 200Kms from Delhi, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is undoubtedly one such weekend getaway option for you.
- Suggested Tour: Same Day Trip to Bharatpur National Park
Rishikesh
An Overview: Rishikesh is a must visit weekend getaway near Delhi. Situated around 232Kms away from the capital, the name of this place has a religious significance, which means ‘Lord of the Senses’. This is one of the sacred tourist hubs in Uttarakhand, which is preached in the base of the lower Himalayan range. Rishikesh offers you ample of holy shrines and adventure activities amidst its picturesque landscapes. Apart from its natural beauty and religious shrines, Rishikesh is also eminent as the “Yoga Capital of the World”.
Places to see and things to do: Being one of the holiest weekend-getaways near Delhi, you can explore some of the sacred attractions here including Neelkantha Mahadeva Temple, The Beatles Ashram, Triveni Ghat, Laxman Jhula, Ganga Aarti, Ram Jhula etc.
Besides, Rishikesh has also been evolved as one of the favourite weekend destinations for adventure freaks. Some of the thrilling experiences that you must rejoice here include mountain biking, trekking, water rafting, camping, flying fox, bungee jumping etc.
Foods: Rishikesh is laid out with diverse blend of delicious North Indian, Italian, Thai, Nepali and South Indian cuisines. In addition, some of the preferred snacks and sweet items that one must try in Rishikesh are Popcorn, Samosas, Imarti and Jalebi. The place is also popular for fresh and seasonal fruits.
Best time to Visit: If you want to experience a blend of bone-chilling weather and bonfire, the best time to visit Rishikesh is from December to February. However, for river rafting the best season is May-June. For any other outdoor activities, you can visit Rishikesh from September to March. However, during monsoon it is advisable not to involve into rafting and trekking activities.
How to Reach: Being located within 300Kms from Delhi, two feasible ways to reach Rishikesh are either by train or by road. The nearest railhead is Haridwar, which situated around 36Kms from the city. This railway station is well-connected to various major destinations in India. Some of the trains that you can prefer while travelling to Rishikesh are Mussoorie Express, Shatabadi Express, Jan Shatabdi etc. Once you reach Haridwar, take a bus or hire a cab or taxi to travel further to your destination. By road, the distance between Haridwar and Rishikesh can be travelled in maximum 45 minutes.
If you are travelling from Delhi by bus, you can take the bus from Kashmere Gate ISBT and Anand Vihar Bus station. Regaular buses are there for Rishikesh that run in the morning and late evening from ISBT. Depending on the traffic, the 232Kms distance can be travelled in 5-7 hours by bus.
Considering the total travel hours, it is advisable to start from Delhi in late Friday evening from ISBT. This will give you enough time to relax on the go and next morning you can start exploring the destination well. After exploring the key attractions, you can start again for Delhi early on Sunday morning and by afternoon you will be at your destination.
By road, Delhi-Rishikesh convenient route will be like Ghaziabad–>Meerut By pass–> Muzaffarnagar –>Roorki –>Haridwar –>Rishikesh.
Places to Stay: There are numbers of reasonable hotels that you can refer for a night stay in Rishikesh. If you are travelling in group, you can get some comfortable accommodations here with the price range from INR 1000 to INR 2300. Some of the hotels such as Hotel Ganges View Rishikesh, Hotel Bhagirathi Palace, Hotel Akash Continental and Rishikesh Sadan can be referred for a comfortable stay here.
Chandigarh
An Overview: One more addition to the list of top weekend getaways near Delhi (around 252Kms) is Chandigarh, the first planned city in India. Being the common capital of Punjab and Haryana, Chandigarh is known for its spectacular natural exquisiteness, vivacious gardens, eye-catching architecture and urbanization. If you are looking for a refreshing weekend destination situated nearly 300Kms from Delhi, Chandigarh is the place that you should visit.
What allure most of the travellers here in Chandigarh are its 47 self-contained sectors designed by the famous architect Le Corbusier. Besides, a bristly skyline of Shivalik knolls and an ancient shrine constructed in reverence of Goddess Chandi make this beautiful city more appealing to visitors.
Places to see: The planned city has numbers of attractions that one must explore. Some of the key places here in Chandigarh include Government Museum and Art Gallery, Rose garden, Pinjore gardens etc. In addition, some other attractions in Chandigarh include Sukhna Lake, Sector-17 Plaza and Shankar’s International Dolls Museum.
Foods: Chandigarh is popular for scrumptious Punjabi cuisines that include Tandoori Chicken, Chana Bhaturas, Kebabs Butter Chicken, Amritsari Kulche, Tandoori fish,Chicken Tikkas and Lachha Parathas. Also, don’t miss some of the luscious sweet platters like Baalushahi, Gulab Jamun and Roh di Kheer in Chandigarh.
Best time to Visit: The best time to explore the planned city is from August to December when the temperature here is quite soothing. April to June is comparatively the hot summer days in Chandigarh and after that with arrival of monsoon the temperature here gradually starts curbing down. If you visit here in the month of November, don’t miss the Chandigarh Carnival.
How to Reach: Being one of the popular destinations near Delhi, Chandigarh can best be visited by train and by road. If you are planning to visit Chandigarh by train, board any of the Chandigarh bound trains from Delhi Cantt. There are several popular trains that run from Delhi to Chandigarh. Some of these include NDLS KLK Shatabdi Express, INDB CDG Express, Shatabdi Express and Janshatabdi. The train journey takes nearly 4 hours 33 minutes to reach Chandigarh from Delhi. Chandigarh Railway is situated mere 8Kms from the main city. After reaching the railway station, you can hire a cab or taxi or take a bus to travel further.
If you are travelling by road, the best way to reach Chandigarh is via NH 1. Depending on the speed and type of vehicles the distance can be reached in 4-5 hours time.
Places to Stay: Ranging from a premium hotel to budget accommodation, Chandigarh has various places to offer you for a comfortable stay. For a weekend trip, it is advisable to get in some reasonable hotels ranging from INR 900 to INR 2000 and more. Some of the hotels that you may refer here are Hotel Surya Palace, Hotel Grand Plaza and Mint Hotel.
Mussoorie
An Overview: Situated around 270Kms from Delhi, Mussoorie is a perfect weekend getaway near Delhi to escape from the scorching summer. In Mussoorie, you can observe a striking blend of animated waterfalls and splendid sceneries. Parched at an elevation of nearly 6000 ft, Mussoorie is also known as the ‘Queen of the Hill Stations’. Apart from soothing climate, Mussoorie is also an absolute delight for adventure lovers. Delimited with lush bush, Mussoorie also houses many endangered flora and faunas.
Places to see and things to do: One of the eminent hill stations in the Dehradun district of Uttarakhand, Mussoorie is a paradise for nature lover and a perfect getaway to perform some thrilling outdoor activities. If you have the zeal to emerge your daring persona amidst wintry knolls, do not skip the Nag Tibba trekking and paragliding at the peak of Mussoorie.
Besides, there are many other appealing tourist spots in Mussoorie that you must include in your travel plan. Some of these attractions are Benog Wildlife Sanctuary, Company Garden, Gun Hill, Camel’s Back Road, The Mall, Jwala Devi Temple, Mussoorie Library, Dhanaulti, Kempty Falls and Cloud’s End.
Foods: Just like its natural splendour, there are various delicious platters that will also add more spice to your weekend trip here in Mussoorie. The mountainous destination is known for its wide variety of Chinese, Thai, Indian, Italian, Tibetan and Moroccan cuisines. Some of the key eatables in Mussoorie are Momos, Kappa, Rus, Aloo ke Gutke and Sisunak Saag.
Best time to Visit: The best time to visit this beautiful hill station is from March to June. Thereafter, monsoon hits the region during July and it lasts here till August. During monsoon, it is advisable not to visit Mussoorie due to intense rainfall. In winter, Mussoorie witnesses a fair volume of snowfall. September to November is also quite pleasant time to visit Mussoorie, as the temperature is not that freezing that time.
How to Reach: Positioned at the base of Garhwal Himlayan, Mussoorie is undoubtedly a much preferred weekend getaway near Delhi. Hence, the grandeur of this captivating hill station is often visited by many travellers from Delhi and other parts of the country. If you are planning to reach Mussoorie by train, Dehradun is the nearest railhead, which is situated around 35Kms from the city centre. From Delhi, there are various trains that will take to till Mussoorie via Haridwar. Some of the major trains to reach your weekend getaway are Jan Shatabdi Express, Mussoorie Express, Nizamuddin AC Special and Shatabdi Express. The travel time by train is approximately 5.5hours.
Apart from train, another convenient way to reach Mussoorie is by road. From Delhi, you will get various private buses and cabs to reach Mussoorie. Depending on the route and type of vehicles, the travel time may vary from 5 to 6 hours. If you are travelling by car via NH58, you need to travel till Roorkee and then follow the NH72-A route. This route will further take you till Dehradun from where you will get the state highway of Uttarakhand to reach Mussoorie.
If you travel from Delhi via Saharanpur, the route will be like Delhi-> Ghaziabad-> Meerut-> Saharanpur-> Mussoorie. This route can be travelled maximum in 6 hours time.
Places to Stay: Considering the mounting footfalls of visitors, various hotels and resorts are designed in this beautiful hill station of Uttarakhand. Depending on the type of hotels and amenities, the charges may range from INR 800 to INR 3000 and more. Few hotels that you may prefer staying in Mussoorie include Hotel Deep, Hotel Devlok Primal, Hotel Himalayan Club, Hotel Mall Palace etc.
