After spending the entire week grinding through traffic, stress and anxiety from everyday work life, the weekend is a time to relax and unwind. Fortunately Delhi and its neighboring places have lot to offer to make your weekends memorable from hill stations to religious sites to wildlife to adventure spots. And the best part is that you don’t require tedious travel and too much of expense on every trip.
Here is a list of weekend gateways from Delhi considering a perfect mini weekend vacation must be one that is not more than 300 kilometres away.
Places to visit near Delhi within 300 km
Mathura and Vrindavan
Mathura and Vrindavan (holy sites) are twin cities located around 160 kilometres away from Delhi .Mathura and Vrindavan hold prominent place in Indian mythological history as Krishna’s birthplace and abode. Thousands of tourists gather every year seeking the grace of this divine land. You have tons of temples in both cities to see most important being Dwaraksdheesh temple at Mathura and Mathura archaeological museum that has ancient sculptures from the Mathura School of Art on display. Once in a while its good to indulge yourself in quiet contemplation to reconnect with your spiritual side over a weekend. Go ahead.
Bharatpur
Bharatpur was once a glorious kingdom of the Jats and is today a splendid vacation destination located about 182 kilometres away from Delhi. Bharatpur has amazing wildlife, bird watching sites, forts and natural abundance to revel in. The Bharatpur sanctuary is a man-made sanctuary that is home to many exotic bird species. The Lohagarh fort of the Jat kingdom at Bharatpur is said to be the strongest fort to ever be built. Besides there are some popular temples namely, Banke Bihari, The Ganga Maharani temple and Laxman Temple.
Dalhousie
Dalhousie, surrounded by the frost-covered Himalayan mountain peaks makes for the perfect quiet, serene getaway for Delhiites who want to run away from places teeming with tourists. I would call Dalhousie a place with amazing weather, majestic pine trees, pretty little winding lanes, cosy cafes, ancient churches and street markets that literally snake through the city. Besides, if you love
Besides, it has Dain kund if you like trekking, Kalatop wildlife sanctuary if you would like to see black bears, St Francis church if you are interested in architecture and Khajjiar for all those who love Hindi movies, Switzerland and romance in deeps woods, green pastures and heavenly settings. Plan your weekend at Dalhousie, you won’t be disappointed.
Jim Corbett National Park
The Jim Corbett National Park is India’s oldest and most prestigious national park. Nature and wildlife lovers will find this place apt for a very exciting weekend getaway. The Corbett Reserve has a variety of exotic animals like Himalayan Gorals, Pangolins, Yellow-throated martens etc. But Tigers and Elephants are in abundance here and they essentially rule the area. You will also find exquisite trees and shrubs that further enhance the beauty of the place. The Safari experience is a must at the Corbett National Park. Other attractions here include the Corbett museum, Dhikala (must stay here in thr forest), trekking around the buffer area, Kalagarh dam and Corbett falls. Jim Corbett National Park is known as ‘Tigers’ paradise’ and is said to be the progenitor of Project Tiger.
Neemrana/Alwar
Alwar has Neemrana fort , Sariska Tiger reserve and the infamous Bhangarh fort . The Neemrana fort Palace is widely popular for its architectural grandeur. It was recently converted into a luxury heritage hotel, but you can still go and gape at the intricate carvings and the beautiful art work. Baori at Neemrana is an ancient massive stone structure with 170 steps that best represents the marvels of ancient architecture. The most striking feature of this edifice is that as you move downwards, it appears to grow smaller and smaller. So, over one weekend you can experience grand architecture at Neemrana, Wildlife at Sariska and seek some haunting adventure at Bhangarh..What say?
Agra
Agra is a captivating holiday destination from people all over the world. Agra has immense historical and cultural significance and the Taj Mahal acts as the beacon of India’s enriching historical relevance in the eyes of the world. Agra is 200 kilometres away from New Delhi and is the ideal vacation spot for long weekenders. Agra has a large number of tombs and monuments from the Mughal era and has inspired quite a number of poets and authors to describe its beauty in a very subtle manner. Places to see in Agra are the Taj Mahal of course, The Agra Fort, Jama Masjid, Tomb of Akbar the Great, Mehtab Bagh, Taj Museum, Chini Ka Rauza etc.
Rishikesh
Rishikesh is divinity, adventure and natural affluence combined. Important religious centres in and around Rishikesh are the holiest Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. Adventure-seekers will find Rishikesh an ideal spot for treks on rugged terrains, irresistible climbs to intimidating peaks and for exploring dense forests. Rishikesh is home to the mighty Ganga river and since it is located at the very base of the Himalayas, it is blessed with nature’s most alluring river. The distance between Delhi and Rishikesh is 228 kilometres. Thrilling adventure sports you can try at Rishikesh include River Rafting, Bungee Jumping, Camping, Rappelling, Rock Climbing and Trekking. Famous temples are the Gita Bhawan, Laxman Jhula, Bharat Mandir, Neelkanth Mahadev, Swarga Ashram and Triveni Ghat.
Barog
Barog is a scenic place near Delhi with panoramic views of the hills and valleys that surround it. It is a small hill station situated at the Solan district of Himachal Pradesh. Barog has majestic mountains and lush green surroundings that beckons travellers to spend their weekends in serenity amidst the peaceful hillside. Shimla is just 65 kilometres away from Barog. Barog was named after an Engineer who was responsible for the construction of a railway tunnel that unfortunately did not meet its other end. He was fined by the British government, the humiliation of which caused him to take his own life. Colonel Barog was buried beside the unfinished tunnel and the area has become a popular historical attraction for tourists. Other places of attraction at Barog are the Yungdrung Bon Monastery and the Choor Chandini Peak.
Mussoorie
35kms from Dehradun, Mussoorie is a hill station in the Garhwal Himalayan range. Main Attractions include mall road, Lal Tibba (highest peak in the region), Kempty falls, happy valley and camel’s back road. I specifically remember two things, the hot jalebis in milk that we had had while walking on the mall road during winters and reading Ruskin bond’s ghost stories during the evenings before saying goodnight. Hill stations are not about sightseeing only, but our small experiences and associations, Mussoorie that way has lots on its plate.
Jaipur
Jaipur, a stately member of the golden triangle of India is a very fascinating city brimming with the royalty and grandeur of the kings and kingdoms of Rajasthan. Aptly called the Pink City, Jaipur is the perfect weekend getaway for you and your family since it is just 268 kilometres away. Shopping and sight-seeing are the two best things to do at Jaipur. The Hawa Mahal is an absolute delight to look at and it feels great to know that this Pink wonder influenced the design of the Grand Budapest Hotel. Jaipur, though immersed in historical and cultural richness, is also a bustling modern city. You can’t possibly see everything Jaipur has to offer in a day, but you can definitely reserve two or three palaces and museums for a comfortable weekend.
