Are you keen to explore some best places around Delhi? Join hands with me to explore some places to visit around Delhi. I am here to share with you the 9 most recommended destinations ideal to visit around Delhi based on my experiences. These recommendations are a mix bag of destinations across various neighboring states of Delhi. Also, the vibe offered by these are also different.
While exploring these weekend getaways destinations, it’s imperative to have the right travel accessories. These accessories will ensure that you can enjoy your travel with convenience. One of the most important travel accessories would be your backpack. You should select a travel backpack depending on the nature of your trip. E.g., if you are picking up a backpack for a trek, you can consider one with broad straps or bright colors. Broad straps, so that you can carry your stuff without straining your shoulders and bright colors so you can be spotted by your trek mates if you get away from the group. Source the right gear from Wild craft, known for providing sturdy backpacks, rucksacks and more. To make things simpler, they’ve curated an array of Weekend Getaway essentials here: https://wildcraft.com/weekend-getaway-essentials
So here are my most recommended destinations around Delhi. Let me know in comments which destination would you visit first.
Neemrana
Neemrana is not too big in size. However, for a quick weekend trip from Delhi, this ancient historic town turns to be the best place to visit. Of course, the town in Alwar does not have too many attractions for tourists. However, a few places are worth exploring. Neemrana Fort is the main attraction in this town. It is better to make sure that you visit the fort at any time between 9 am and 3 pm. To stay in Neemrana, you can choose a room in the Neemrana Fort Palace. The Fort Palace in this town will help you explore and experience royalty. Also, there are other worthy places to visit in this town or nearby. They are:
- Ancient Vrindavan Palace
- Siliserh Lake
- City Palace or Vinay Vilas Mahal
- Alwar Fort or Bala Quila
- Baori
- Sariksha National Park
Each of these places has its own significance. You might feel that most of them are palaces and forts. Yes, but you will get to explore the royal lifestyle of ancient periods by visiting these forts. Even, you will get to see the ruins of the past life in these palaces. You can travel from New Delhi to Neemrana by car and it will take around three hours to reach. Even, it will be possible to travel by train from Delhi to Alwar. From Alwar, you can travel by car to reach Neemrana in around an hour’s time.
Learn more about historical monuments in Delhi here.
Kanatal:
You can plan a weekend trip from Delhi to Kanatal. It will take around 8 to 9 hours to reach Kanatal by road from Delhi. Kanatal is a hill station known to provide visitors with a lot of opportunities to engage in adventurous activities. Many people visit this place again and again for its pristine beauty. This hill station is standing tall in the Indian state of Uttrakhand. The town is standing at a height of 8500 feet above sea level. So, it is without any doubt a paradise for nature loves and photographers.
You can get a lot of sightseeing opportunities. Particularly religious spots like Surkanda Devi Temple is a must-visit tourist attraction. The temple has a great story of Lord Shiva and Goddess Sati. If you love trekking, you should remember that Kanatal is a trekkers’ paradise. The Eco Park, the Kodia Forest and Tehri Lake are other points of attraction. Even, you can plan a camping weekend in Kanatal if you visit during the summer. In winters, Kanatal can get really cold so do ensure you are carrying proper & warm clothing.
Amritsar:
Amritsar is the largest urban area in Punjab. If you are a person more into spirituality, you will love this place for sure. You can reach Amritsar either by road or even flights operate between these two cities. Of course, you will plan your visit to the Golden Temple in Amritsar that is world popular. But, what more Amritsar houses? The Wagah Border Ceremony celebrated in Amritsar is yet another popular thing in Amritsar. Never forget to plan your visit to the Partition Museum. This is the only museum in the world dedicated to partition. This museum has everything that will take you to history. Here, you will learn the exact source of rivalry between India and Pakistan.
Are you a foodie? You will be impressed with the foods served in the Punjabi restaurants in Amritsar. The other places of interest in this city are Shri Durgiana Mandir, Gobindgarh Fort, Ram Bagh Gardens, Baba Atal Tower, Jallianwala Bagh and Mandir Mata Lal Devi. Also, the other places of interest include a visit to the Ram Tirath Road, Central Sikh Museum, Sadda Pind and Akal Takht. It will take around 8 hours of time to reach by road from Delhi to Amritsar.
Ranthambore:
Ranthambore is popular for the Ranthambore National Park. You will get to explore the ancient ruins in the Ranthambore Fort. Further, you can also embark on an unforgettable tiger safari in this national park. Not just tiger safari, this national park also houses an ideal site for bird watching. Further, this park has the ancient banyan tree and very good vegetation. Even, the park houses the best resort for Wildlife Holiday. Also, in the national park area, you will explore temples, markets and tranquil lakes.
Not just for sightseeing, you should visit Ranthambore for other reasons as well. Yes, you can indulge in a lot of adventure activities in this town. If you love to come across lots of thrill on your trip, you will get to explore many things like Raj Bagh Ruins and Jogi Mahal to name a few.
It will take at least 7 hours of journey to reach Ranthambore from Delhi by road. Do you feel whether it is worth visiting Ranthambore? If so, the answer depends on your desire for exploring the wild. But, it would be better to make sure that you stay longer than 2 nights in Ranthambore. The reason is that the more safaris you go on, the higher will be the chances that you will spot a tiger.
Dalhousie:
Dalhousie is a hill station and it has plenty of things to do. Be it couples, solo travelers or even those traveling with kids, everyone will find Dalhousie impressive. If you are into sightseeing, you can visit Dainkund, which is the highest peak in the hill station. This highest peak also houses a temple dedicated to Pholani Devi. The breathtaking views of the valley below will take your senses to a new level.
Other places that you should visit in Dalhousie are the mall roads and the three popular malls. You will get to explore a lot of restaurants and shops in these malls. Also, the mall road hosts many cultural activities. When talking about Dalhousie, Subhash Baoli is an attraction that you should never miss out on exploring. You will be surprised to know that the national leader of India Subhash Chandra Bose’s tuberculosis was cured after he drank water from a spring here. He stayed in this place for about 7 months. Not only Ranthambore but this city also houses a wildlife reserve. It is the Kalatop Wildlife Reserve with a lot of flora and fauna. If you love trekking, you will love this place as it offers many trekking routes. Even, you can engage in other adventure activities like paragliding, horse riding and boating in Dalhousie.
Rishikesh:
When talking about Rishikesh, most of us believe that this is a temple destination. Of course, you are right. But, it is a place that is blessed by nature surrounded by the giant Himalayas. You will get the chance to experience gastronomic delight in Rishikesh if you are a foodie. The restaurants will bring the best delight to your taste buds with the best delicacies.
Do you know that Rishikesh is the home to secret beaches? Obviously, the city is not home to vast beaches. But, she houses the best River Ganga. Similar to the quality time you spend with your family on the beach floor, you can spend time on the floors of the mighty Ganges. Otherwise, sit in silence and listen to the water flowing. When you sit with your eyes closed in the banks of the Ganga, you will feel yourself in a different world. When you start seeing Ganga as Mother Ganga, she will help you feel her flow and blessings.
Finally, do not forget to participate in the Ganga Harathi conducted every evening to honor the mother. Also, Rishikesh houses a spot for bungee jumping, river rafting and a lot more.
Bir Billing:
At a distance of about 490 km from Delhi, Bir will invite you with her cool weather. No direct flight operates from Delhi to Bir. You can reach Bir from Delhi either by road or by rail. When you travel by train, you will have to reach Ahju Railway Station. Bir is at a distance of just three km from this railway station. The best option available is to reach Bir by taking overnight buses from Delhi. You will reach in the morning so that you can take a rest for some time and can start exploring attractions in Bir.
You might be wondering why visiting Bir is a good idea. Bir is the place to visit if you like paragliding. Yes, Bir is perched at an elevation of around 5000 feet. So, paragliding will bring you a wonderful experience for sure. There is no surprise that Bir has won a place in the heart of adventure lovers.
Due to the wide range of opportunities that Bir offers for paragliders, it is referred to as a “Paragliding Capital of India”. Also, this hill station is known for meditation, spiritual studies and ecotourism. Further, it is the home for a large stupa, different Buddhist monasteries and Tibetan refugee settlements. Billing is the take-off site for paragliding and Bir Village is the landing spot. So, together, the place is referred to as Bir Billing.
Mcleodganj:
If you love hill stations that will take you close to spirituality, you will like Mcleodganj for sure. From Delhi, it will take around 9 hours to reach Mcleodganj by road. This hill station is popular for different kinds of attractions. Examples include like lakes, waterfalls, temples, museums and monasteries. As you plan for a trip to this hill station, you can visit different places. The places include Tibetan Museums, Bhagsunath Temple, Bhagsu Falls, the residence of Dalai Lama called Tsuglagkhang and Namgyal Monastery.
This hill station is popular for its culture. So, individuals interested in exploring different cultures from different world destinations throng this hill station. Further, the breathtaking mountain views in this hill station make it worth visiting undoubtedly. Do you feel that this hill station is popular only for monasteries and culture? No, she has more to offer you. Visitors can get the best shopping experience and events that take place in this hill station are worth participating in.
Even, you can visit places that will help you experience the sunset in this hill station. Above all, do not forget to engage in a short meditation that will take you to new heights in life. Also, Bhagsu Falls is one of the key attractions in Mcleodganj.
Kasauli:
Kasauli is not to be confused with Kasol, which is further up and ahead in the mountains if going from Delhi. Comparatively Kasuali is easier to reach and close by. Due to this proximity from Delhi, Kasauli becomes a good destination for pet friendly tips as well. The hiking experience in this town is highly popular among hiking enthusiasts from around the world. The good thing about this place is that Kasauli is protected by law against indiscriminate real estate development. It means that it is never a crowded tourist attraction. You can be yourself and spend some valuable time with your family.
In addition to hiking spots, Kasauli houses a lot of temples and even an age-old Church named Christ Church. Kasauli is also the home of the popular Gurkha fort that attracts tourists. The museum turned jail is another attraction that you should never miss out on in Kausali. A toy train ride in Kausali is worth to take and if you plan to visit with your partner, you can visit Lover’s Lane. A few key sites in Kasauli would be Gilbert’s trail, manki point and Narinder sweets on mall road to enjoy Bun Samosa.
One key recommendation around Kasauli would be visiting the Timber trails resort which can offer you an enchanting cable car ride and bountiful views.
You might find my post on How to spend 72 hours in Kasauli useful.
Conclusion:
So, visiting multiple places around Delhi is highly possible. If you are a Delhiwala, you can plan your weekend trips to these places around Delhi. Remember that Delhi has a very hot summer. The winters are also very cold. So, based on the season you choose to visit, take the appropriate clothing and accessories to manage the climate rightly.