16 Apr, 2024

6 Best Wildlife & Nature Weekend Destinations from Delhi

In this fast-paced work culture, it can be hard to find ways to relax. Here is when spending some time away from your daily routine can turn out to be most beneficial, where a vacation seems to be the most ideal way to rejuvenate your body, mind, and soul. As such, weekend getaways have become a popular way to spend some time exploring new destinations without compromising on your daily routine, where you can relax and recharge during the weekend and get back to your regular life with the weekday.

When it comes to Delhi though, it is situated at the perfect location to enjoy many such tours that can be fun, fulfilling and can be covered over a weekend easily. Popular weekend getaways from Delhi include a trip among nature and wildlife where you can relax in the serenity and calmness of jungles and mountains, away from the hustle and chaos of the city. Within close proximity to Delhi, you can find many such weekend destinations that even though are short in duration, make up some of the best tourist places to explore.

Here is a list of some of the most enchanting destinations near Delhi that you can explore over your next weekend.

Ranthambore
Rishikesh
Jim Corbett National Park
Nainital
Kausani
Bharatpur

Ranthambore, Rajasthan (Distance from Delhi – 371Km)

Ranthambore- Best Wildlife Weekend Destination from Delhi

Among the top tiger reserves in the country, Rajasthan’s Ranthambore National Park makes for a perfect nature getaway from Delhi. Situated in the forests of Sawai Madhopur, the national park houses an abundant population of the Bengal tigers that can be spotted roaming in their natural habitat. Opting for a jungle safari is the best way to explore the forests and its many wildlife. Apart from the Bengal tigers, Ranthambore also houses various other animals, reptiles, and birds such as leopards, Striped hyenas, Chital, Sambar deer, Nilgai, Macaques, Hanuman langurs, Indian boar, Indian porcupines, Marsh crocodiles, Monitor lizards, along with different species of turtles and venomous and non-venomous snakes.

Situated in Rajasthan, Ranthambore is perfect for a short, weekend trip near Delhi given its distance. Along with a jungle safari, you can also opt for a guided nature walk to explore its jungles at your own pace, or go for a bird watching expedition and spot native and migratory birds in the forests of Ranthambore. What makes this weekend getaway a truly enchanting one is the fact that it is also dotted with many places for tourists to explore. Some of the best places to visit in Ranthambore include the Ranthambore Fort, a world heritage site under UNESCO, the Trinetra Ganesha Temple, Rajbagh Ruins as well as the beautiful lakes such as the Padam Talao, and Malik Talao.

Things to do in Ranthambore:

Go on a jungle safari to spot a tiger.
Take a guided nature walk or go bird watching.
Explore the many structures within the park.

Best time to visit: October to April

Rishikesh, Uttarakhand (Distance from Delhi – 262Km)

Rishikesh- Top Weekend Destination from Delhi

Given its location among the hills of Uttarakhand and the plethora of activities that it offers, Rishikesh makes for one of the best weekend getaways from Delhi. Also, famously referred to as the “Yoga Capital of the World”, Rishikesh is known for being the best place in the world for practicing yoga, and meditation. With an abundance of yoga ashrams, and meditation schools, the town is perfect to explore spirituality.

At Rishikesh, you can spend some time at a yoga ashram and opt for yoga classes that span over multiple days. Get to experience refreshing yoga sessions against the backdrop of the gorgeous River Ganga and the mighty mountains of Uttarakhand, and you will understand why Rishikesh is among the most enchanting weekend destinations to travel to. The soul of Rishikesh, the Ganga River is worshiped daily in the evenings at the Triveni Ghat with the mesmerizing Ganga Aarti. Spend your evenings strolling through Ganga’s ghats or walking along the beautiful, white, sandy river beaches, and discover the different cafes of Rishikesh on a cafe hopping session and indulge in the multitude of cuisines that they offer. Along with these, Rishikesh is known for being a fun, nature getaway for its adventure activities as well. Popular adventure activities offered in Rishikesh include bungee jumping, and white-water rafting along the white rapids of the Ganga River.

Things to do in Rishikesh:

Join a yoga session set against the River Ganga.
Attend the evening Ganga Aarti at the Triveni Ghat.
Try an adventure activity like white water rafting.

Best time to visit: October to March

Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand ( Distance from Delhi – 245Km)

Corbett- Top Wildlife Weekend Getaways from Delhi

Forming one of the best weekend getaways from Delhi, Uttarakhand’s Jim Corbett National Park is a favored destination for a lot of people. The first national park to be established in India, Jim Corbett is among the top tiger reserves in the country and is known for being home to the greatest number of Bengal tigers in India. Perfect for a nature getaway, the national park can be best enjoyed on a short trip from Delhi, which is why it is also one of the most visited national parks in the country.

The best way for tourists to explore the Jim Corbett National Park is by opting for a jungle safari through its jungles in hopes of sighting the big cat. Along with tigers, the national park also houses wildlife such as leopards, elephants, Chital, wild boars, as well as reptiles like the Indian marsh crocodile, and the gharial, among many others. A dense forest cover with a variety of features, the national park is a bird watcher’s paradise, with an abundance of native and migratory bird species. But the fun doesn’t stop here. At Jim Corbett’s National Park, you have the option of spending the night within its forests by staying at the forest rest houses provided in the different zones of the park such as Dhikala, Bijrani, Jhirna, and Sonanadi, making your visit to this weekend wildlife destination unforgettable.

Things to do in Jim Corbett National Park:

Go on a jungle safari and spot the big cat.
Stay at one of the national parks’s forest rest houses.
Explore the local culture on a nature walk with a guide.

Best time to visit: November to February

Nainital, Uttarakhand (Distance from Delhi – 323Km)

Nainital- Top Nature Weekend Getaways from Delhi

A popular hill station of the country, Nainital falls among the short, weekend tours you can take from Delhi. Offering scenic views of the charming vistas of this hill town, Nainital is most known for its high-altitude lakes, and the green, verdant hills that surround its landscape. One of the best nature getaways, Nainital mesmerizes its visitors with natural beauties.

Lying at the heart of the hill town of Nainital is the enchanting Naini Lake, containing within itself its own set of stories and myths. A particularly interesting one would be the one about Goddess Sati, the wife of Lord Shiva, whose eye fell here when she was carried by the lord after her death, forming the lake. Apart from being known for its spiritual importance, Naini Lake also forms one of the best tourist places to explore in Nainital, where boating here is the best way to spend your time. Other popular places in Nainital include the British Era, St. John in the wilderness Church, the perfect picnic spot of Tiffin Top, that provides a panoramic view of the town of Nainital, the hilltop of Snow View Point that offers amazing views of snow-capped mountain peaks of Mount Nanda Devi, and Trishul among others. Among the top places for a weekend getaway near Delhi, the hill station of Nainital has remained a beloved travel destination for decades for many.

Things to do in Nainital:

Go boating on the Naini Lake.
Enjoy a fun picnic at the Tiffin Top.
Take a ropeway to the Snow View Point.

Best time to visit: March to June

Kausani, Uttarakhand (Distance from Delhi – 435Km)

Kausani- Best Hill Station Weekend Getaways from Delhi

Popularly known as the ‘Switzerland of India’, Uttarakhand’s Kausani is a hill station located close to Delhi, making it among the best weekend getaways to spend time amongst the quiet and serenity of nature. Kausani is a small village in Uttarakhand, that is beautified by its surroundings that offer mesmerizing views of the snow-capped mountain peaks of Trishul, Nanda Devi, Nanda Kot and Mount Panchachuli.

Being located at such a high altitude, Kausani’s hill top makes for the perfect place to enjoy a picturesque sunrise and sunset. Set along the dense forests of the Himalayas, Kausani is the best place for a weekend trip near Delhi for a nature getaway. One of the best ways for tourists to relish their time at the village is by exploring its forests with a nature walk as you walk through and witness its beautiful creeks, tall trees, and green hills, captured in a blanket of serenity and calmness. What makes this weekend destination an even more enchanting one is the many birds that reside within its forests. A bird watching paradise, the forests of Kausani house more than 50 species of birds. A quaint little town nestled in the hills of Uttarakhand, Kausani can be enjoyed as a short trip from Delhi where you can spend your time relaxing in the lap of nature, away from the chaos of the loud cities.

Things to do in Kausani:

Explore the forests of Kausani on a nature walk.
Visit the historic Anasakti Ashram.
Go on a bird watching expedition at the Kausani Tea Estate.

Best time to visit: April to June

Bharatpur, Rajasthan (Distance from Delhi – 220 Km)

Bharatpur- Top Birding Weekend Getaways from Delhi

A man-made wetland stretching for kilometers, Bharatpur is known for being among the best bird watching destinations in the world. Situated in close proximity to Delhi, it makes for a perfect nature getaway among the wildlife of Rajasthan. At Bharatpur, the Keoladeo National Park is one of the best places for tourists and bird watchers to explore, who come here from far away destinations to spot the numerous native and migratory bird species.

With more than 350 species of birds having been recorded at the national park, there is no lack of the avian species in Bharatpur. The Keoladeo National Park, which was once a hunting ground for the Maharajas of the region, is today a world heritage site under UNESCO, making it an even more enchanting place to visit during a weekend getaway from Delhi. Apart from the national park, Bharatpur also has the mesmerizing Bharatpur Palace turned Museum that contains within important, historic artifacts displaying the culture of Bharatpur, the beautiful temple of the Ganga Mandir made exquisitely with white marble, and the strong, rugged, and resilient fort of Lohagarh, known to withstand long, and sustained sieges by enemies. A mix of history, nature, and the rich cultural heritage of Rajasthan, Bharatpur is an interesting place to explore on a short weekend trip from Delhi. Enjoy your trip with a visit to the bird sanctuary or go sightseeing the many historic and royal structures of the town because with an abundance of tourist places, Bharatpur is a gift that keeps on giving.

Things to do in Bharatpur:

Go on a bird watching expedition at the Keoladeo National Park.
Explore the mighty and defensive structure of Lohagarh Fort.
Understand the culture of Bharatpur by exploring the Bharatpur Palace and Museum.

Best time to visit: October to March

These weekend destinations are the perfect place to spend your time off from work and explore some of the best tourist places near Delhi, without burning off a chunk of your energy and time. Enjoy your weekend with these popular places preferred by many tourists for their closeness with the natural environment and wildlife. With the perfect places where you can simply close off your mind and relax, these make for the best short trips from Delhi. Even though they lie in close proximity to Delhi, each one of them has something entirely different to offer for its visitors. So, give them a chance by visiting these popular nature and wildlife getaways and witness their beauty by yourself.