
10 easy Independence Day Long Weekend trips from Delhi NCR
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There are several exciting and easy trips near Delhi that one can do over the long weekend. Here are 10 most popular and fuss-free destinations you can check out this long weekend.
Jaipur, Rajasthan
Jaipur is just 280 km (5-6 hours) from Delhi, and is one of the best places to visit near Delhi. The roads are good and are very convenient for a driving holiday. When in Jaipur, visit the famous Amber Fort, and check out the sound-and-light show in the evening.
There are several attractions near the city centre, like the iconic Hawa Mahal, Johari Bazaar, Bapu Bazaar, Albert Hall Museum, and City Palace, that one can explore.
Chokhi Dhani is located just 21 km from Jaipur and makes for a quick cultural getaway. Experience authentic Rajasthani food, folk music, and cultural performances at Chokhi Dhani.
Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
Located approximately 240 km (5-6 hours drive) from Delhi NCR, Rishikesh is a good quick holiday option if you are pressed for time.
The roads are good for road trips. Once in Rishikesh, some quality time exploring the vibrant streets, the shops, the Ganga ghats and ashrams for evening Ganga Aarti. Check monsoon safety advisories for white water rafting.
Neemrana, Rajasthan
Neemrana is located 121 km (2.5-3 hours) from Delhi. Neemrana is perfect for a quick day trips, but if you wish to spend a day or two in Neemrana, that's fine as well. The Neemrana Fort Palace is a good option.
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This heritage hotel is everything luxurious you can imagine near Delhi. The fort is a great place to see the region's art and history, and go for adventure activities like zip lining. Check out the nearby stepwell too.
Agra, Uttar Pradesh
Agra is located approximately 230 km (4-5 hours) from Delhi and can also be covered in a day. For a quick day trip, Agra is a preferred destination. If you are visiting Delhi and have less time, this day trip is a good option.
Visit the stunningly beautiful Taj Mahal (pro tip: if you can make it early in the morning, the Taj Mahal at sunrise is going to be one of the best experiences. Also, check out the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.
When in Agra, do not forget to get yourself some exquisite marble handicrafts.
Lansdowne, Uttarakhand
Approximately 242 km from Delhi is Lansdowne, a quiet and serene destination, perfect for a quiet getaway.
Lansdowne is a cantonment area, and has a comforting stillness about it. There is the Bhulla Lake where one can do paddleboating, Tip N Top Viewpoint for a quick hike and sunset view, and several quiet paths for nature walks.
Nainital, Uttarakhand
Nainital, located approximately 288 km from Delhi can get busy over the long weekend. Nainital is one of the most visited hill stations in Uttarakhand. When in Nainital, go boating on Naini Lake, take a quick ride to the Snow View Point, check out the famous Naina Devi Temple, and explore the Mall Road for its eateries and souvenir shops.
If you are planning for Nainital, book hotels in advance.
Kuchesar, Uttar Pradesh
Located in Uttar Pradesh, Kuchesar is just 80 km (approximately) from Delhi. Kuchesar is an ideal day trip destination, but if you are planning to stay overnight, try the Kuchesar Mud Fort. This heritage property, with a pool and gardens, does not disappoint. Also try the guided village walk if you have the time.
Chakrata, Uttarakhand
If you love the mountains, pick Chakrata, located approximately 320 km (8 hours) from Delhi, is a good mountain getaway.
When in Chakrata, trek to Tiger Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in Uttarakhand, and also the Chilmri Lake for a 360-degree view of the Himalayas. The forest trail of Deoban is great for forest walks, birdwatching and camping. However, it's wise to check the weather forecast, to avoid surprise thunderstorms.
Barog, Himachal Pradesh
Located just 300 km from Delhi, Barog is a charming colonial destination with no dearth of scenic views and great experiences.
Check out the Dolanji Bon Monastery and explore Tibetan Buddhist culture. One can also go for a hike to the nearby Churdhar Peak if the weather allows. It]s a moderate trek for adventure enthusiasts, and may take the whole day. So plan accordingly.
Pangot, Uttarakhand
Located at a distance of approximately 320 km, Pangot is every birdwatcher's dream destination. The Kilbury forest area is great for birdwatching. The forest is home to birds like the monal, koklass pheasants, Himalayan woodpecker and more. Pangot has a number of quaint homestays and cozy lodges, but do book in advance as they tend to fill up quickly.
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India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
10 Breathtaking Places In India To Visit This Independence Day Long Weekend 2025
Independence Day isn't just a date on the calendar. It's a pause.A long weekend in August 2025 is your chance to loosen the grip of routine and step into places where time feels slower, skies feel wider, and your soul feels lighter. While most people crowd into malls, book the nearest hill station, or scroll vacation deals until the last minute, what if we told you — this weekend isn't for the for the those who pack their bags not just for sightseeing, but for breathing deeper. Let's trade traffic for open roads, office chatter for bird calls, and concrete for landscapes that remember what freedom feels like. 1. Rishikesh, Uttarakhand – Where the River Sings of Freedom The Ganga doesn't just flow here — it dances, prays, and whispers to every traveller who rains make the ghats shimmer, the air cooler, and the forests your mornings on yoga mats, your afternoons rafting through playful rapids, and your evenings at the Ganga Aarti, where lamps float like tiny dreams on the water. 2. Puducherry – A French Dream in Indian Rain Yellow walls. Blue shutters. Cobbled streets washed clean by August is a mood, not just a map point. Cycle through quiet lanes, sip filter coffee in seaside cafés, and watch the Bay of Bengal grow restless under grey the monsoon softens the light and slows the steps — perfect for a long weekend escape. 3. Coorg, Karnataka – Coffee Hills in Monsoon Mist When the long weekend meets Coorg's monsoon, the result is pure plantations wear fresh green coats, waterfalls roar louder, and the air smells like roasted beans and Abbey Falls, trek to Tadiandamol Peak, or simply sit on a veranda with a steaming cup and watch the clouds roll in. 4. Jaisalmer, Rajasthan – The Desert After Rain You might think August is too wet for Rajasthan — but that's the desert, lightly kissed by rain, is softer, calmer, and Fort walls glow brighter under monsoon clouds, and sand dunes carry the smell of wet a camel, listen to folk songs under open skies, and feel the desert breathe slower. 5. Shillong, Meghalaya – India's Monsoon Capital The Scotland of the East becomes an orchestra in leaf, stone, and rooftop plays its own rain to Laitlum Canyons for clouds you can touch. Visit Elephant Falls swollen with fresh even umbrellas feel like an accessory, not a necessity. 6. Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra – Strawberry Fields in the Clouds Mist swirls through market streets, and hills hide behind veils of August, Mahabaleshwar's viewpoints — like Arthur's Seat and Wilson Point — are moody paintings that change every hot corn soup, walk through strawberry farms, and let the wind carry away whatever's been weighing you down. 7. Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh – Where History Gets Washed in Rain Varanasi in August is not for tourists — it's for pilgrims of the monsoon Ganga rises, the ghats glisten, and temple bells echo louder through the damp on the steps with chai, watch boats sway gently, and feel centuries of devotion soak into your skin. 8. Alleppey, Kerala – Floating Through Green Dreams This long weekend, let the roads be made of Alleppey's backwaters, August paints every coconut palm brighter and every canal in a houseboat, listen to rain tap the wooden roof, and watch kingfishers dart between ripples. 9. Leh–Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir – Independence in the Air For those who want mountains, not beaches — August 2025 is your high passes are open, the skies clear, and the lakes — like Pangong and Tso Moriri — reflect more than just through Nubra Valley, feel the wind cut clean through you, and know you're standing somewhere that feels like the edge of the earth. 10. Kaziranga, Assam – Wild Hearts in the Rain Yes, it's the land of rhinos. But in August, Kaziranga is a living, breathing grasses sway in the wind, muddy paths glisten, and every sighting — from elephants to storks — feels more alive in the wet freedom had a soundtrack, here it would be the call of a distant hornbill. Why Travel This Independence Day Weekend? Isn't August Too Wet? That's the monsoon isn't just weather — it's a filter that washes away dust, crowds, and leaves everything softer, fresher, and more malls run sales and cities run errands, the road waits with open arms and the scent of petrichor. Here's what August travel gives that summer or winter won't: Fewer tourists, more quiet. Landscapes in their fullest bloom. The rare joy of being somewhere when it's not 'peak season.' Practical Tips: How to Make the Most of Your Independence Day Getaway Travel light but waterproof – Pack rain jackets, quick-dry clothes, and ziplock pouches for electronics. Start early – Roads are prettier and emptier in the morning. Eat local – Whether it's steaming momos in Shillong or fresh fish curry in Alleppey, your tastebuds deserve the trip too. Disconnect to connect – Switch off notifications. Let your only alerts be the sound of rain or wind. Respect the places you visit – Leave no trash, take only memories. The Hidden Economy of Long Weekend Travel Travelling during the Independence Day break isn't just personal joy — it's a ripple cup of chai bought from a roadside vendor, every night in a homestay, every local guide hired — they all carry your journey forward into someone else's don't just see places. You keep them alive. Final Thoughts Don't just celebrate freedom by waving a it by crossing a state border, dipping your toes in a new river, or standing on a hilltop where the wind feels endless. The long weekend of Independence Day 2025 is a can spend it you can step through — into rain, into roads, into a story you'll still be telling next year. Because freedom isn't just a date. It's a the road is waiting.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
FASTag Annual Pass effective from August 15: Check fee, validity, how to apply & other important details here
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Time of India
2 hours ago
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Independence Day Long Weekend Trips: Top getaways near Delhi NCR for a quick escape
This year's Independence Day comes with an extra gift — a long weekend. With the tricolour set to flutter high and monsoon showers painting the landscape fresh, it's the perfect chance to swap traffic jams for open roads and city noise for the sound of rain on leaves. Whether you're in the mood for a lazy staycation, a spiritual retreat, or an adrenaline-filled adventure, there are plenty of escapes just a short drive from Delhi. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program Here's a list of eight spots, starting from the closest to the farthest, to make the most of your rare August freedom. 1. Mathura-Vrindavan: A spiritual retreat (Approx. 3 hours) For those drawn to devotion and culture, the twin towns of Mathura and Vrindavan offer an immersive experience. Explore ancient temples, listen to soul-stirring bhajans, and wander through streets steeped in history. The festive atmosphere intensifies if Independence Day coincides with Janmashtami. Don't miss tasting local sweets like pedas and laddoos for a true taste of tradition. Live Events 2. Agra: Heritage at your tips (Approx. 3-4 hours) A quick trip to Agra is perfect for history buffs. Visit iconic sites like the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri. The Independence Day weekend adds a special charm to revisiting India's Mughal legacy. Street food lovers will enjoy local treats such as spicy bedai and sweet petha, making this a delightful cultural and culinary stop. 3. Neemrana: Staycation with royal vibes (Approx. 2.5-3 hours) Looking for a luxurious getaway close by? Neemrana Fort Palace offers majestic views, cultural performances, and romantic candlelit dinners. Take a dip in the pool overlooking historic fort walls or simply soak in the blend of history and comfort. It's a regal escape perfect for a romantic or relaxed break. 4. Jaipur: The Pink City's charm (Approx. 5-6 hours) Known for its vibrant markets, grand palaces, and rich culture, Jaipur is a fantastic weekend destination. Explore Amer Fort, City Palace, and the iconic Hawa Mahal. Enjoy cultural shows and feast on traditional Rajasthani cuisine. Many hotels offer special Independence Day-themed stays, adding to the festive spirit. 5. Rishikesh: A blend of spirituality & fun (Approx. 6-7 hours) Whether you want to meditate by the holy Ganga or chase thrills like white-water rafting, Rishikesh caters to both calm seekers and adrenaline junkies. Enjoy riverside camping, tranquil cafes, and peaceful aartis, or try bungee jumping and ziplining. Despite the buzz during the long weekend, the town maintains its serene charm. 6. Lansdowne: Off the beaten track (Approx. 6-7 hours) A hidden gem in Uttarakhand, Lansdowne offers pristine air, quiet pine forests, and gentle walking trails. Boating at Bhulla Lake and charming stays make it ideal for travelers looking to escape crowds. Even on holiday weekends, it remains a tranquil sanctuary perfect for relaxing in nature. 7. Jim Corbett National Park: Into the wild (Approx. 6-7 hours) For wildlife lovers, Corbett promises scenic jungle safaris and peaceful riverside resorts. While tiger sightings are rare, the forest experience itself is rejuvenating. Many resorts organize Independence Day celebrations surrounded by nature, with early morning drives and bonfires enhancing the adventure. 8. Nainital: Classic hill station (Approx. 7-8 hours) Known for its serene lake and bustling Mall Road, Nainital is ideal for a longer weekend. Enjoy panoramic views, cable car rides, and lakeside strolls. Tricolour flags decorate the town, adding to the Independence Day celebrations. Nearby villages like Pangot and Bhimtal offer excellent short excursions for nature lovers.