Top five weekend getaways from Delhi NCR Nainital Shimla Rishikesh Dhanaulti Manali

Nothing refreshes your batteries more than travelling. And after slogging it out in the office, everyone needs a much a needed break. And just in case you live in Delhi/NCR, you have a plethora of options when it comes to weekend getaways. There are many tourist destinations around Delhi/NCR region which are easily accessible and offer you an excuse to let your spirit free. So before the year ends, you need to make most of the extended weekend and get some respite from the daily mundane life. We are here to tell you about the top five popular weekend getaways around Delhi/NCR region. To make things easier for you, we will also provide you crucial information about the places.

Nainital, one of the popular hill stations is known as the lake district of India. The picturesque hill station is bound to mesmerise you with its tranquil surroundings. Not many know that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg himself visited Nainital. Distance from Delhi- 303.5 km Travel time- around 7 hours Accommodation- Several hotels are available starting from Rs. 1000 Tip- The best time to visit is April to June and October to February Places to visit- Naini Lake, Snow View Point, Tiffin Top, Naina Devi Temple

Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh is one of the most popular weekend getaways because of its captivating landscape. Tourists from all the over the country flock to the hill station to enjoy the nature and cool weather. This is not all, in case you are a adventure lover, then Shimla can turn out to be heaven for you. The popular hill station is perfect for trekking, paragliding and rappelling. Distance from Delhi- 340 km Travel time- around 8-10 hours Accommodation- Several hotels are available starting from Rs. 1200 Tip- The best time to visit is March to June. In case, you want to enjoy the snowfall, then December to February would be perfect. Places to visit- Mall Road, Kufri, Jakhoo temple, Institute of Advanced Studies,

Manali perched at an altitude of 6726 ft is a popular weekend getaway. All the nature lovers out there, you can have a clear view of the Himalayan range all covered in snow by visiting the hill station. If you love playing in the snow, you need to visit Manali and go to Rohtang pass. The required clothes and boots are available on rent so you can have a gala time without much trouble. The adventure freak in you will love Manali as the place offers trekking, paragliding and rock-climbing. Distance from Delhi- 536 km Travel time- around 12-13 hours Accommodation- Several budget hotels are available starting from Rs. 1000, the average tariff rate is around 1500-2000 and can shoot up during peak season Tip- March to June and December to January (if you want to savor yourself in snow) Places to visit- Hadimba Temple, Nehru kund, Rohtang pass, Solang valley

There is one small hill station near Mussoorie- the 'Queen of hills' which has turned out to be quite popular weekend getaway. We are talking about Dhanaulti. The scenic mountain ranges and the beautiful forest trees will soak you to calmness. The place takes you to closer to nature offering you peace and solitude. In case, you want a weekend of privacy, you need to head towards the hill station. Distance from Delhi- 293 km Travel time- around 8-9 hours Accommodation- The hill station doesn't have many hotels, although small guest houses and lodges are available. Tariff starts from 700 depending on the availability of rooms. Tip- Best time to visit is March to June Places to visit- Eco Park, Potato farms, Surkanda Devi Temple

For all those who don't have much time in hand but want to have a small trip, then Rishikesh can turn out to be the best place to visit. The city provides you enough options in the form of water rafting, hiking and camping. The best part about Rishikesh is that the place can be visited even when you are on a tight budget.