Delhi is pretty much the heart of India not just as the national capital, but also as one of the busiest cities in the country, vital to the economy. The residents in Delhi love travelling and look out to explore places in their spare time. It feels great to get away from the hustle and bustle of cities for a few days and land in the lap of nature and great views.
Within a reasonable distance, travellers get access to beautiful monuments, lush hill stations, bird sanctuaries and even great lakes. These destinations are approximately 200 kms away, making it perfect for weekend getaways or a long vacation. Here, we’ll take a look at some of the beautiful destinations providing a scenic route for residents from Delhi.
Mathura
Situated on the banks of the river Yamuna, Mathura is an ancient, religious town and is home to important sites of Hindu culture.
Best Time To Visit
Mathura Vrindavan receives footfalls of travellers and devotees throughout the year, but October to March is probably the best time to visit Mathura. At this time, the weather is pleasant and cool for sightseeing. If you want to experience the city’s culture and indulge in the spirit of Lord Krishna, the best time to visit is around Janmashtami, when the temperatures dips down a little as well.
Devotees flock around Mathura Vrindavan around the year except during sultry summer months, where temperature goes as high as 45 degrees, since the holy city has tropical weather. Winters are the best time for sightseeing the town and witnessing the beauty of the Yamuna river. Apart from winters, monsoons are also a perfect time as the surroundings are serene with petrichor and pleasant weather throughout the day.
Best Routes
Ideally, the best route to reach Mathura is the well-constructed Yamuna Expressway. It is the fastest route because the Delhi to Mathura traffic on this route is regular and you can avoid road closures. The distance between Delhi and Mathura via this route is around 183 km and takes a little over 3 hours to reach. It is advised to look at live maps and instant traffic updates for the latest info on the road conditions from Delhi to Mathura. There are plenty of popular sights and monuments along this route, which engages tourists further.
The road conditions from Delhi to Mathura via Yamuna Expressway are excellent. It is the fastest possible route with light traffic, some tolls on the way, but no road closures. In fact, Yamuna Expressway happens to be one of the best highways in the country.
Places of Interest
Since it’s a scenic route all through, there are plenty of sightseeing spots and monuments that you will encounter during the journey. From the start of the journey, you would first come across the Raj Ghat in Delhi, which is set in lush parkland. This black marble platform marks the spot where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated.
Then, as you move to Faridabad, you would find the ISKON, which is a sprawling centre for the Hare Krishna movement, adorned with flower bedecked idols and a prayer hall. You’ll also find the City Park, which is a great place for a quick stop over. It is peaceful and well-maintained with beautiful green spaces. You can also visit the Panchwati Mandir In Palwal, which is dedicated to the Pandavas. According to legend, the Pandavas spent their exile days here and a temple was built here. At the end, in the village of Akbarpur, you’ll find Ashrafpur Kichhauchha, a shrine of the illustrious 13th century Christi Sufi saint Ashraf Jahangir Semnani.
Jim Corbett National Park
Jim Corbett National Park is situated in the Nainital area of the Uttarakhand state. It comprises a 520 sq.km area of hills, riverine belts, marshy depressions, grasslands and a large lake.
Best Time To Visit
If one is planning for a thrilling vacation amidst the realm of nature, the best time to visit this national park is from the month of November to February. In winter, the beauty of this region is best and all the zones of the national park are open. The park is closed for tourists during the rainy season between July and October due to heavy landslides and risk of landslides.
During the months between November to February, the Dikhala and Birjani zones in the park remain open for the tourists to witness the glory of the Royal Bengal Tiger. Most of the animals come out of their hiding during the monsoon season to avoid the summer sun when they are barely seen in the open. Also, the roads are in great condition during this season, making it a great experience for tourists.
Best Routes
One of the more popular routes, which passes through Moradabad and Ramnagar, is used frequently to reach Jim Corbett National Park from Delhi. The distance between Delhi and the park is approximately 250 km. The road conditions are great and are quite direct and efficient, although tourists should keep a note of traffic and weather conditions before their travel.
The other popular route is the Thakurdwara-Kashipur route which is a slightly longer route to reach Jim Corbett National Park. It is approximately 290 km, but the route is quite scenic, as it takes you through the rural countryside and small towns of western Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Places of Interest
Enroute to Jim Corbett National Park, there are several places to visit along the route. First, you would encounter Moradabad, which is known for its brass handicrafts. It is a popular pit stop for tourists who want to break for lunch or have a cup of chai. Next, you would find Kashipur, which is a historical town located on the banks of the river Ganga. They have several temples and ashrams which are of religious significance.
Finally, located on the banks of the river Kosi, is the serene town of Ramnagar. It is the gateway to Jim Corbett National Park and has a lot of attractions such as the Garjiya Devi Temple and Ramnagar Fort. So, one can plan several stops enroute to the national park if they are willing to explore further. It roughly takes 2-4 days to completely explore Jim Corbett National Park, where you can cover the Corbett Fall, Sitabani, and go on fun wildlife safaris.
Mussoorie
The hill town boasts a postcard-like experience for tourists as it is surrounded by alpine forests, glacial river and a lovely vintage charm that presides in its structures and vibes.
Best Time To Visit
It is pretty far from the busy cities, placed at the foothills of the Garhwal Himalayan Range offering exquisite views and a memorable holiday. Hence, it has classic mountain weather, with the summers being really cool and pleasant making it the best time to visit Mussoorie by car, whereas winters are extremely cold with occasional snowfall. The best time to visit Mussoorie is from the months of April to mid-July, when the weather is optimum and ideal for sightseeing.
So, if you’re more outdoorsy and want to explore the hilltop, then you would be better off visiting in the summer months. But if you want to enjoy the chilly weather and cozy up by a campfire, then winter months would be your better bet.
Best Routes
In order to travel easy and quick to Mussoorie, the easiest way to cover is via the Saharanpur Road. It is also the most recommended route by live maps and is used regularly by locals and tourists. It takes about 6.5 hours to cover about 270 km on this road to reach Mussoorie from Delhi. However, this road has several tolls and the usual traffic.
There is an alternative route to reach Mussoorie from Delhi. The distance through the alternative route is almost the same as the previous route but takes a little longer due to road conditions and heavier highway traffic. Presently, most parts of this road is also blocked due to roadwork. So, you are well off taking the recommended route via Saharanpur road. The road conditions are excellent and the time taken is much less.
Places of Interest
There are quite a few sights and monuments that you will encounter while travelling along this route. Firstly, you come across Shamli, which is a small town in the state of Uttar Pradesh. This location is well-known for sugar and jaggery, and the land is extremely fertile. There are some attractions here, such as the Hanuman Tila, Jain Temple, Gurudwara and Peer Bidouli.
Then, once you reach Dehradun, you would come across Robber’s Cave which is a natural spot and popular destination for short treks and forest hikes. It is known for its unusually cold springs which go underground at some of the places inside the caves. Experiencing the beautiful natural rift or caves with your legs in the freezing water is quite amazing. Then, you would later find the Shikhar Falls, which is a calm natural spot with sparkling waterfalls, perfect for a refreshing break.
Summary
So, we have only taken a look at a handful of destinations around Delhi which are perfect for weekend travels and sightseeing. You can explore far and beyond these destinations, as there are several options when looking for amazing weekend getaways from Delhi. There is a nice variety in terms of landscape, right from mountains and hill stations, outdoor adventure, a weekend of safaris, camping, national parks, cultural visits, monuments and religious sites.
The best part is that these places can easily cater to a multitude of trips – be it with friends or family, solo or for couples. The route is definitely enjoyed a lot more when travelling with people in a car or even solo rides on a bike.
