I was born & brought up in Ghaziabad, did my graduation from Delhi University & post graduation from Bangalore. No no, I am not asking you for a job. 😀 Just stating some facts here. Even after having lived in Bombay and Bangalore for some time, I still enjoy living in Delhi NCR – where I installed air purifiers in my home as well as in my car eight years back. Yes, the same place where crime against women is high. The same place where people lie to you. The same place where road rage & accidents happen.

Probably because there’s much more to Delhi NCR than what is said or written. You probably don’t know many things about this historic place: this is the same place where you find people from all cultures. The same place with such variety and richness of food that you can try new dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner and still won’t repeat any of your meals for a year. Yes, the same place which turns beautiful during monsoons. The same place where you find puddles for you & your kids to jump in. The same place where the same neighbour who spies on you, stands with you if life gets cruel. The same place that witnesses all seasons: Spring, Summers, Monsoons, Autumn & Winters.

And that’s not it.

Delhi NCR is connected with mountains, rivers, valleys, deserts & forests within a distance of 8-10 hours. Enough for you to plan a weekend getaway with friends, family or yourself. If you are interested in indulging your hippy/ nomadic self, here is a list of 12-weekend destinations, from Delhi NCR, one for each month:

1. The Pink City, Jaipur

Jaipur is my all-time favourite place. I love their forts, museums, bazaars, shops & colours. I love how people are so nice there, and the food is absolutely delicious.

If you are looking for a high dose of culture, good food and spots for excellent photographs, this is the place to be.

Bonus:

On your way back from Jaipur to Delhi, take a halt in this little place called Abhaneri. A beautiful stepped well, Chand Baori, awaits you in Abhaneri. By the way, did you know that parts of ‘Dark Knight Rises’ were shot within this stepped well?

2. Agra, the city of the Taj Mahal

If you live in Delhi NCR or India or on planet Earth, it’s important that once in your lifetime, you witness the magic in marble – the Taj Mahal. It’s said that the Taj looks the best under the full moon. Maybe, ‘best’, ‘beautiful’ or words don’t do justice to how it feels when you look at the Taj for the first time.

Buy some panchi petha, some daal moth and a few souvenirs when you visit Agra.

Bonus:

Just an hour away from Agra, exists this neglected place called Fatehpur Sikri. Once upon a time, this place was the capital of the great emperor Akbar. One could only imagine how splendid and stunning Fatehpur Sikri must have looked back in the day.

3. Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur

Just half an hour away from Fatehpur Sikri, exists Keoladeo National Park or Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. Beautiful but understated, this is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Home to incredible species of birds such as herons, storks, cormorants, warblers, saras crane, babblers, bee-eaters, bulbuls, buntings, Painted francolins, quails, Indian grey hornbill, Marshall’s Iora, osprey, peregrine,  Imperial eagle, spotted eagle and crested serpent eagle, you can easily spend days in exploring this bird sanctuary.

Go with a Binoculars and a quiet mind. And you will be surprised with what you will be able to find.

4. Ranthambore National Park, Sawai Madhopur

Whether you are a fan of wildlife or not, Ranthambore would charm you nonetheless. Huge, luxurious properties and Jungle Safaris – Ranthambore is an experience in itself. Book at least 2-3 safaris when you visit the place. We generally book 6-7 safaris on every trip. And some of our friends go for 10-12 safaris on every trip to Ranthambore. Why? You might wonder. Because the forest is beautiful and the Tigers are stunning. The probability of sighting a Tiger remains always the highest in Ranthambore.

If you like trekking or hiking, do pay a visit to Ranthambore fort and enjoy the altitude.

5. Ambarsar, Amritsar

Amritsar also referred to as Ambarsar is just 8 hours away from Delhi NCR. Perfect place for a long weekend! Bow your head in the Golden temple, dine on amritsari kulcha and daal makhani & buy phulkari, jutis and papad/ achaar for your home. You can also go for the flags ceremony at the Wagah-Attari border for a dose of nationalism.

But if you really want to evoke the ‘nationalist’ in your, pay a visit to Jallianwala bagh and spend some time there remembering the sacrifices our ancestors did so that we can breathe in independent air. Go, pay a visit to the Partition museum and see for yourself, how brutal human beings can be for their own selfish interests.

6. Rishikesh, Uttarakhand

Famous for its Yoga centres and meditation retreats, Rishikesh is the place where you can go for a few days, let your hair down and relax completely. If you are a Yoga enthusiast, you have reached the right place. If you love cute, little cafes with excellent ambience, this is the city for you. If you are someone who likes to do what their mood dictates moment-by-moment, you would find plenty of options from rafting to boat rides to cafe hopping to watching the evening Aarti by the ghats to treks and waterfalls.

7. Jim Corbett National Park

Famous between wildlife lovers and party people alike, Jim Corbett attracts a lot of crowd on weekends: of people who like to book Tiger safaris, of birders, of couples who like to Netflix & chill ;), of youngsters who like to blur the boundaries between water and alcohol & spend their days by the swimming pool.

Jim Corbett accepts everyone and lets people find their own ‘beat’ within all of this.

If you wish to travel & don’t want to plan much, or travel much, this is your place. And if you are looking for a last minute safari booking, don’t worry. We can help you. Leave a comment and we can put you in touch with people who can manage last minute forest safari bookings for you.

So what are your weekend plans?