Scenic Getaways for Long Weekend Near Delhi

Life in the country's capital, New Delhi, is exciting, lively, and dynamic. However, having said that, there are oft times when the hustle bustle of this metropolitan city life can get to one's nerves. Many Delhiites are skeptical of spending their hard-earned weekends over long travelling hours, and ending up in a crowded tourist destination that quite often turns out to be displeasing. But, thanks to its geographical location, the best part about New Delhi is that one has a bevy of weekend getaways to visit and relax one's mind and body.

Kindly note that this article features places that are not more than 300 kilometers from New Delhi.

Bala Quila (also known as the Alwar Fort) is one the most popular sites in Alwar.

1. Alwar

Alwar is located in Rajasthan, just about 150 kilometers south-west of New Delhi. Alwar has a bunch of historical sites to visit. It attracts tourists visiting India, from all over the world. It has a mix of cultural heritage and adventure sports. Visiting the haunted Bhangarh Fort - one of the most scary places on the planet - and Flying Fox at Neemrana are at the top of the visitors' list of things to do. The Silsera Lake, the Sariska Tiger Reserve, Garbhaji Falls, and Naldeshwar Shrine are also some of the highly ranked tourist attractions in Alwar. There are also quite a few forts and palaces in and around the beautiful town of Alwar. The best time to visit Alwar is from October to March.

A migratory bird flying on a chilly winter morning.

2. Jim Corbett National Park

Jim Corbett National Park is situated approximately 230 kilometers from New Delhi, in the state of Uttarakhand. It is the oldest and arguably the finest national park in the country. It is the home to over 200 Royal Bengal tigers (as of 2017), leopards, barking deer, hundreds of elephants, golden jackals, over 500 species of birds, Himalayan black bears, crocodiles, python, et cetera. Apart from the wildlife safari, the Garjiya Devi Temple, Corbett falls, and a number of adventure activity companies attract the visitors. The best time to visit Jim Corbett National Park is between October and June.

A deer staring back from a hill in Kasauli

3. Kasauli

Kasauli is a small hill station, calmly nestled about 290 kilometers from New Delhi, in Himachal Pradesh. It is an army cantonment. People usually visit its neighbouring city, Shimla, for it is more popular. That, thankfully, has kept the crowd away from Kasauli. It has an old, colonial environment which can be seen in its cobbled roads, gable houses coupled with a lawn or a facade, crafty shops, and tens of orchards and gardens. It offers stunning view of the landscapes surrounding the hill. This gorgeous hill station was once home to the legendary Late Khushwant Singh. Some of the places one should visit in Kasauli are Christ Church, the Manki Point, the Sunset Point, the Monkey Point, Baptist Church, Kasauli Breweries, Kasauli Club, and Kasauli Regency Hotel for its rooftop bar, et cetera. Since it is a hill station, Kasauli can be visited any time of the year.

A view of the famous Lakshman Jhulla with the sun setting in the backdrop.

A bunch of newbies trying River Rafting.

4. Rishikesh

Rishikesh is situated approximately 230 kilometers from New Delhi. It is a town in Uttarakhand where spirituality meets adventure. The evening Aarti at Triveni Ghat by the bank of holy river Ganga is a major attraction among locals and tourists alike. Crossing the river through Ram and Lakshman Jhula is highly sought after. The legendary music group, The Beatles, visited and stayed in Rishikesh to attend an advanced Transcendental Meditation at the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram (what is also referred as The Beatles Ashram). A lot of adventure activities like white river rafting, bungee jumping, flying fox, tubing, et cetera, takes place here. The other major attractions are Neer Garh waterfall, Vashishta Gufa, Geeta Bhavan, and Swarg Ashram. Barely 20 kilometers aways from Rishikesh is Haridwar. The best time to visit Rishikesh is from March to April and from September to November.

Don’t we all just want to live in a treehouse?

5. Achrol

Achrol is a pretty unknown village in the Jaipur district of Rajasthan, located about 220 kilometers from Delhi NCR. If you want to have a relaxing weekend without any hustle bustle, Achrol is the place for you. The Tree House Resort offers a comfortable stay in, yes, a tree house in the woods. There are a variety of activities available, including Quad Biking and camping. On a night with clear sky one can see the Milky Way from Achrol. The best time to visit Achrol is between July and March.

A sandstone monument Kusuma Sarovar bathing ghat in the Goverdhan area in Mathura

6. Mathura

Mathura is situated in Uttar Pradesh, less than 150 kilometers from the country capital. It is the birth town of Lord Krishna, one of the most popular Gods in Hinduism. It is popular Hindu religious people for the number of temples dedicated to Lord Krishna. There is also a big temple dedicated to Radha and Mira Bai, each. The Isckon Temple situated in the neighbouring town of Vrindavan is a must visit. Mathura is also the best place in the world to celebrate the festival of Holi (known as Lath Mar Holi here). One can also visit India's most popular tourist attraction, Taj Mahal, which is hardly 50 kilometers from Mathura. The best time to visit Mathura is from July to March.

7. Naukluchiatal

Naukluchiatal is a serene town located less than 300 kilometers from New Delhi. It is as beautiful as it the district it falls under - Nainital - sans the crowd. It is also known as the 'lake with nine corners'. This place is popular for its lake, the Hanuman temple, bird watching, and adventure activities like kayaking, rowing, and tandem Paragliding. If you want to enjoy serene landscapes and tranquility at the same time, visit Naukluchiatal. The best time to visit this small town is from March to June and from September to November.

Photo: thetajwondertours.com , haridwarrishikeshtourism.com, Astoriajohn, Black Pearl , Amit.pratap1988