12 Best Weekend Trips from Delhi to Uttarakhand (2026–27)
Uttarakhand is Delhi's favourite weekend escape, and for good reason: within 5–9 hours you can be on a Ganga beach, a pine-forest ridge, a lake in the hills or a jeep in tiger country. This guide lists the 12 best weekend trips from Delhi to Uttarakhand, with distances, travel time, what each place is best for, a ready 2-day plan, costs and tips for beating the traffic.
Quick picks: First trip or a mixed group: Rishikesh. Classic hills: Mussoorie or Nainital. Quiet and close: Lansdowne. Wildlife: Jim Corbett. Snow (Jan–Feb): Dhanaulti, Kanatal. Pilgrimage: Haridwar, Purnagiri.
12 Weekend Trips from Delhi at a Glance
| Destination | From Delhi | Time | Best for | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rishikesh | ~240 km | 6–7 hrs | Rafting, camping, Ganga Aarti, cafés | 2-day itinerary |
| Haridwar | ~220 km | 5–6 hrs | Har Ki Pauri Aarti, temples | Delhi–Rishikesh–Haridwar |
| Mussoorie | ~290 km | 7–8 hrs | Mall Road, viewpoints, winter snow | 2-day plan |
| Dhanaulti | ~320 km | 8 hrs | Deodar forests, snow in winter | snow guide |
| Kanatal | ~330 km | 8–9 hrs | Camps, Surkanda Devi, snow | snow guide |
| Lansdowne | ~250 km | 6–7 hrs | Quiet cantonment town, pine walks | offbeat places |
| Jim Corbett | ~250 km | 6 hrs | Tiger safaris, Kosi river resorts | Corbett guide |
| Nainital | ~310 km | 7–8 hrs | Naini Lake, Snow View, Mall Road | places to visit |
| Bhimtal | ~300 km | 7 hrs | Quieter lake, boating, Sattal nearby | Nainital area |
| Mukteshwar | ~350 km | 8–9 hrs | Orchards, cliffs, Himalayan views | winter guide |
| Chakrata | ~330 km | 8–9 hrs | Tiger Falls, Lokhandi snow, quiet | Lokhandi snow |
| Purnagiri | ~330 km | 7–9 hrs | Shakti Peeth pilgrimage near Tanakpur | yatra guide |
Distances are approximate road distances from central Delhi. Travel time depends heavily on Friday-evening traffic leaving the city.
1. Rishikesh: Adventure and the Ganga
The easiest and most versatile weekend trip. Raft the Ganga, stay at a riverside camp, walk across Laxman Jhula and end the day with the Ganga Aarti. It works in every season except peak monsoon. Plan it with our Rishikesh 2-day itinerary and camping price guide.
2. Haridwar: The Grand Ganga Aarti
The closest option, and easy to combine with Rishikesh, just 25 km away. The evening aarti at Har Ki Pauri is unforgettable. See the Haridwar page and our Delhi to Rishikesh trip guide.
3. Mussoorie: The Classic Hill Station
Mall Road, Gun Hill, Camel's Back Road and Landour's quiet lanes, all within an hour of Dehradun. In January it is the closest hill station to Delhi that gets snow. Use our Mussoorie 2-day plan.
4 & 5. Dhanaulti and Kanatal: Forests and Winter Snow
Higher and quieter than Mussoorie, with deodar forests, camps and the Surkanda Devi temple. They get snow more often than Mussoorie, which makes them the best snow weekend from Delhi. See our Mussoorie, Dhanaulti and Kanatal snowfall guide.
6. Lansdowne: The Quiet One
A small, clean cantonment town with pine forests, colonial churches and almost no traffic. Ideal if you want to switch off. See Lansdowne and more places like it in Uttarakhand offbeat places.
7. Jim Corbett: Tiger Country
India's oldest national park, about six hours away. Book a morning and an afternoon jeep safari and stay in the Kosi river resort belt. Everything you need is in our Jim Corbett guide.
8 & 9. Nainital and Bhimtal: The Lake District
Boating on Naini Lake, the ropeway to Snow View and evenings on Mall Road, or the calmer lakes of Bhimtal and Sattal nearby. Kathgodam station makes it easy by train. See Nainital places to visit.
10. Mukteshwar: Orchards and Himalayan Views
A ridge-top village with apple orchards, the Chauli ki Jali cliffs and wide views of the snow peaks on clear days. A little further, but much quieter than Nainital. See our Kumaon winter guide.
11. Chakrata: Off the Tourist Trail
A cantonment town north of Dehradun with Tiger Falls, forest walks and, higher up at Lokhandi, reliable winter snow. See Chakrata.
12. Purnagiri: A Pilgrimage Weekend
One of Uttarakhand's most revered Shakti shrines, reached from Tanakpur by road and a 3 km walk. Plan it with our Purnagiri temple guide.
Sample 2-Day Weekend Plan
- Friday night: Overnight Volvo from Delhi (Kashmere Gate or Anand Vihar) or a late train.
- Saturday: Arrive early, check in, explore the main sights, catch sunset at a viewpoint or the evening aarti.
- Sunday: Sunrise walk or activity (rafting, safari, trek), checkout by noon, start back by 2 pm to reach Delhi by night.
Weekend Trip Budget (Per Person)
| Item | Budget | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|
| Return travel (bus or train) | ₹1,000 – ₹1,500 | ₹2,000 – ₹3,000 |
| Stay (1 night) | ₹800 – ₹1,500 | ₹2,500 – ₹4,000 |
| Food (2 days) | ₹600 – ₹1,000 | ₹1,200 – ₹2,000 |
| Local transport and activities | ₹500 – ₹1,000 | ₹1,500 – ₹3,000 |
| Total | ₹3,000 – ₹5,000 | ₹7,000 – ₹12,000 |
Tips to Beat the Weekend Rush
- Leave Friday night or before 5 am on Saturday. The exits from Delhi and the roads into Mussoorie and Nainital jam badly by mid-morning.
- Return early on Sunday. The highway back is busiest after 4 pm.
- Avoid long weekends (Diwali, Christmas, New Year, Republic Day, Holi) or book weeks in advance.
- Winter fog: In December and January, avoid driving on the plains late at night or early in the morning.
- Snow weekends: Go the morning after a snow spell, not on the first sunny weekend when everyone else does.
Have More Than a Weekend?
With 4–6 days you can reach the real Himalaya: a Kedarkantha snow trek, Auli, Chopta or Munsiyari. See all the snowfall places in Uttarakhand, and check the best time to visit Uttarakhand for each season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best weekend trip from Delhi to Uttarakhand?
Rishikesh is the easiest and most versatile: about 240 km, with rafting, camping, yoga and the Ganga Aarti. For hills, Mussoorie and Nainital are the classics, Lansdowne is the quietest, and Jim Corbett is best for wildlife.
Which hill station in Uttarakhand is closest to Delhi?
Lansdowne and Mussoorie are among the closest, at roughly 250–290 km, about 6–7 hours by road.
Can I see snow on a weekend trip from Delhi?
Yes, in January and February. Dhanaulti, Kanatal and Mussoorie are reachable in a weekend and get snow after winter spells. Chakrata and Lokhandi are quieter options.
What is the best way to travel from Delhi for a weekend?
An overnight Volvo bus on Friday night gives you two full days. Trains to Dehradun, Haridwar and Kathgodam are faster in fog-free months. Driving yourself gives the most flexibility but expect weekend jams near Mussoorie and Nainital.
How much does a weekend trip to Uttarakhand cost from Delhi?
Roughly ₹5,000–₹8,000 per person for a comfortable 2-day trip with bus travel, a mid-range stay and food, and ₹3,000–₹4,000 on a backpacker budget.
Not sure which one to pick? Tell the AI Trip Planner your dates and budget and it will build the weekend for you.
