Weekend Getaways from Delhi - within 500 km

Ajmer

Ajmer is a Muslim pilgrimage center in Rajasthan and a drive of 400 km from New Delhi. It takes around 7 hours by car to reach this holy town from Delhi. Ajmer-Shatabdi Express is an overnight train that you can avail of from New Delhi. The best time to tour Ajmer is between October-March.

What to see in Ajmer
The Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti is one of the revered pilgrimage shrines of the Muslims and tourists throng the place especially during Urs festival. You can also visit Pushkar that is around 14 km from here. The Akbari Mosque, Shah Jahan's Mosque and Akbar Palace and Museum are other places of interest.

As you have made your weekend travel plans here, get bookings with Indian Holiday at Ajmer hotels such as Roopangarh Fort, Phool Mahal Palace, Amar Bagh Junia, Hotel Embassy and Hotel Khadim.

Dudhwa Tiger Reserve

This national park in Uttar Pradesh comprises Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary, Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary and Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary. It is a conservation center for royal Bengal tigers and acts a habitat for around 400 bird species and other aquatic animals. The tiger reserve remains open from November-June every year. The place is accessible by both road and railways from New Delhi via Moradabad. Dudhwa is the nearest railway station.

What to see in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve
On a safari at the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, you will come across leopards, rhinoceros, hog deer and wild boar other than the special zone for tigers.

Bikaner

The desert city of Bikaner in Rajasthan is located at a distance of around 444 km from New Delhi, a drive of 7 hours and 30 minutes. There are several ways of getting in here from New Delhi. There are regular states buses and Volvo coaches plying between Delhi and Bikaner. Bikaner Mail and Chetak express are two trains that you can board from the capital city. The peak tourist season is from March-October. Summers are very hot and humid and not ideal for weekend visit. Camel safari is an important activity here.

What to see in Bikaner
Prominent tourist attractions here are Junagarh Fort, Laxmi Niwas Palace that now operates as a hotel, Gajner Palace and Karni Mata Temple.

Kausani

A popular hill station in the state of Uttarakhand, Kausani offers stunning views of the Himalayas. It is one of the acclaimed weekend retreats for tourists and locals from Delhi and situated at a distance of 410 km. Kathgodam is the nearest station from where you need to travel for around 5 hours more to reach Kausani. April to June is the peak tourist season.

What to see in Kausani
Apart from the scenic beauty, tourists enjoy visiting the Gandhi Ashram that is located at the lower part of this town. There are also several hotel located around this ashram. The Baijnath Temple is another attraction.

Narkanda

Situated at an elevation of 2708 meters above sea level, Narkanda is a picturesque town in Himachal Pradesh that is surrounded by hills. It is a ski resort that draws mostly the adventure lovers.

What to see in Narkanda
The place offers stunning views of the Shivalik Hills and you can engage in skiing, rock climbing and trekking here.

If you are looking for suitable accommodation, book your rooms at Basant Vihar Palace, Gajner Palace Hotel, Asopa Hotel, Bhairon Vilas Hotel and Bharat Niwas.

Amritsar

Though Amritsar is acclaimed as a pilgrimage center in the state of Punjab, the city has lots to offer to tourists. Amritsar lies at distance of 477 km by road from New Delhi. It takes at least 8 hours by bus and many prefers overnight journey. There are also flights from New Delhi arriving at the Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport.

What to see in Amritsar
On a weekend trip with your family, visit to The Golden Temple is necessary, but you can also plan sightseeing tours to Jalianwala Bagh, Durgiana Mandir, Tarn Taran and the Wagah Border. Many people visit Amritsar during Gurpurab (birth anniversary of Guru Nanak) in the month of November.

Popular hotels in Amritsar are Hotel Grand, Hotel Astoria and Ranjit's Svaasa.

Pushkar

Pushkar is a drive of 411km from New Delhi will take you to a quaint little town of Pushkar, Rajasthan, which is replete with a number of temples and historical sites. Pushkar is easily accessible by train and bus from New Delhi via Ajmer.

What to see in Pushkar

This town has two noted attractions - the Pushkar Lake and the Brahma Temple. A camel fair taking place on the banks of Pushkar Lake is culturally significant to the place. Peak season in Pushkar is October-November, the month of Kartik when the fair takes place.

You can choose to stay at luxury, economy or budget hotels in Pushkar, get bookings at Jagat Palace, Pushkar Palace, Inn Seventh Heaven and Hotel Oasis. You will also find plenty of tent accommodation available during Pushkar Fair such as Royal Camp and Camp Thar.

Ranthambore

Ranthambore is 417 km by road from New Delhi and 11 km from Sawai Madhopur district in Rajasthan. It is an excellent weekend getaway from New Delhi for tourists and couples who are interested in wildlife safari.

What to see at Ranthambore
The Ranthambore National Park is the main attraction here. You can also enjoy a memorable stay at the various jungle resorts and hotels near the sanctuary. Ranthambore Forest Resort, Tiger Den resort and Dev Vilas Resort allow you to enjoy the wilderness.

Binsar

Situated at an altitude of 2,412 meters above sea level, Binsar is an important wildlife destination in Uttarachal. It is accessible by train and roadways from New Delhi and Kathgodam is its nearest railhead from where you need to travel another 100km. Binsar was the erstwhile capital of Chand Raj Kings and presently known for its wildlife sanctuary and the beauty of the Jhandi Dhar Hills. The place also offers stunning views of the Himalayas in winter.

What to see in Binsar
Binsar is an ideal place of visit for nature lovers during the weekends. Besides Jhandi Dhar Hills, you can opt for sightseeing and wildlife safari at the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary. This park features rich alpine flora and is also the trekker's heaven. Other places if interest at Binsar is the Binsar Mahadev Temple, Khali Estate, Pariyadeva-Pashan that is an archeological site and the Binsar Sanctuary Museum.