It would not be an understatement to call Delhi one of the busiest cities in the country. Hectic lives, tight schedules, and overlapping responsibilities leave very little time for Delhiites for enjoyment and recreation. While options for entertainment and amusement are nowhere less in the capital itself, several locations, within the periphery of Delhi offer an incredible alternative.
We list here the mesmerizing attractions of Delhi that have a unique charm with their enchanting draws. Find our Top 17 picnic destinations around Delhi and see which places match your idea of a perfect picnic spot. The list is broad and the options are many:
Kingdom of Dreams
This, one of the most exciting and impressive locations, is India’s first live theater, entertainment, and exotic leisure destination. The place is full liveliest of charms. There are a couple of fascinating theaters, a cultural and cuisine area called the Culture Gully, the IIFA Buzz Lounge, and many other captivating attractions.
The complex was launched in 2010, with an estimated cost of about 2 billion. One can see and admire colorful live performances by various stage as well as popular actors through various programs like Zangoora and Jhumroo. The design and settings of the stage are truly spectacular and seem out of some fantasy.
Prepared by expert architects and planners, the hanging of lights, patterns, and displays is incredibly breathtaking. Kingdom of Dreams is located at a distance of nearly 39 kilometers from Delhi and is an excellent place to revel in numerous vibrant attractions.
Large space auditoriums and expansive dimensions of the place can accommodate many people at the same time. Moreover, many other facilities and resources furnished by the organizers, like the card membership programs let the visitors enjoy great entertainment at their convenience.
Distance from Delhi – 38.8 km
Best Time to Visit – Throughout the year
Located in – Gurgaon, Haryana, India
Damdama Lake
One of the biggest lakes in Haryana, the Damdama Lake is one of the most popular picnic destinations around Delhi, spread over a vast area of 3,000 acres. In addition to being a wonderful break from the noise and chaos of the capital, Damdama Lake is a popular picnic spot for various exciting water sporting activities such as parasailing, motor boats, and paddle as well as row boats.
Moreover, to keep the visitors entertained and engaged other activities like kayaking, angling, cycling, rock climbing, and valley crossing are also available at Damdama. With the backdrop of beautiful Aravalli Hills, the location is a wonderful place to visit to spend some quality time with family and friends. Besides, the region is a natural home to numerous exotic bird species, both resident and migratory.
Although the weather is cool and pleasant, Damdama is a refreshing site to visit, however, the best time to enjoy the lake is during the autumn months, which provide an escape from the searing sun of the summer.
With a varied geography surrounding the environs, the place has some other smaller attractions like the ancient Shiva Temple and several other hot springs which are believed to have antiquated origins.
Distance from Delhi – 63.1 km
Best Time to Visit – October to March
Located in –Gurgaon, Haryana, India
Manesar
One of the fastest-growing industrial centers of Gurgaon, Manesar is a refreshing getaway for Delhiites. From a sleepy village, with only about 1,000 dwellings, Manesar grew up to accommodate some of the stunning modern infrastructure, using cutting-edge technologies to give the visitors, an experience of a mega, modernized city.
Planned with contemporary, new ideas, the city hosts many factories, educational institutions, offices, and hotels, and many sightseeing and leisure options in and around. Manesar has some cool eating options for which many foodies from Delhi come running over to enjoy. Also being located on a crossroads of sorts (on NH 8), the town connects well to Delhi, Rewari, Jaipur, and even Ahmedabad as well as Mumbai.
Distance from Delhi – 45 km
Best Time to Visit – October to March
Located in – Haryana
Chokhi Dhani
Spread in an expansive, open area of 12.5 acres, Chokhi Dhani is an awesome destination for seemingly unlimited fun, food, and frolic. Bringing in the true colors of exquisite Rajasthani heritage, with an assortment of diverse elements of ethnic culture and traditions, the place is a wonderful instance of Rajasthani hospitality. The place is brimming with varied attractions.
There are village bazaars, folk entertainment, acrobats, game zones, open lawns, animal rides for children, a bioscope, astrologers, and village-style photo studios, etc. to let you enjoy every moment of the time you spend here. In addition to this, a wonderful delight of incredible Rajasthani cuisines awaits you for an ultimate royal experience.
Chokhi Dhani is one of the best weekend getaways from Delhi. Its romantic and cultural ambiance makes you visit here again and again. The place is especially alluring for kids and young adults who come here to experience the incredibly exotic entertainment that it offers.
Distance from Delhi – 56.6 km
Best Time to Visit – All round the year
Located in – Sonipat, Haryana
Garhmukteshwar
Garhmukteshwar, located on the banks of the sacred River Ganges, is a holy town and a relaxing escape from Delhi, being only 87 kilometers from it. The town is famous for the great Mukteshwar Mahadev temple which is a temple dedicated to goddess Ganga. Most often, visitors come here to take a dip in the sacred river on the occasion of the Kartik Full Moon. Besides the festival of Dussehra is also celebrated here with much activity and show.
Garhmukteshwar is a place of significant religious importance. The place finds mention in the Mahabharata as well as Bhagavad Purana. It is also believed to be part of the ancient Hastinapur Empire of the Kauravas. The Brij Ghat, one of its most famous Ghats has more than 100 temples. It is nevertheless a great spot to spend some relaxing time.
Distance from Delhi – 87 km
Best Time to Visit – October to March
Located in – Uttar Pradesh, India
Neemrana fort
Although the fort is the primary attraction at Neemrana, the history of the region goes far back in time. Also known as the Ahirwal region, the place was occupied by the Chauhans-who were the direct descendants of the illustrious Prithviraj II as late as 1947, when India attained its independence. Located just a little distance away is the fort of Kesroli, which traces its history back to the legendary Mahabharata times and contains many historical and Buddhist relics.
Nevertheless, the formidable Neemrana fort is the central charm. Built in 1464 AD, it is situated on the high rocks and offers a wonderful view of the surrounding area. The fort was converted into a luxurious heritage hotel in 1986 and since then has been a frequent destination for leisure travelers.
Distance from Delhi – 122 km
Best Time to Visit – July to March
Located in – Delhi-Jaipur Highway, Rajasthan
Alwar
Alwar is most famous for Sariska Tiger Reserve and National Park, which is home to numerous exotic wildlife, the primary of which is the majestic Bengal Tigers. The area is frequented by nature and photography enthusiasts and because of relatively lesser crowd, they have plenty of time to relax and enjoy.
Alwar has a few important gems as tourist attractions. Alwar Fort and Bhangarh are the primary attractions, being the most haunted places in India, drawing thousands of curious travelers to their doors. Neemrana is another fascinating spot, which due to its exquisite interiors is fairly popular with visitors.
Besides, there is Fairy Queen which is the oldest working engine of the world and is quite popular as one of the national treasures of India. Located just 157 kilometers away from Delhi, Alwar is a great place to revel in some exciting sightseeing and experiences.
Distance from Delhi – 157 km
Best Time to Visit – Between September and March
Located in – Rajasthan, India
Mathura
Located on the banks of the sacred Yamuna River, Mathura is one of the holiest places for Hindus. It was here that nearly 5,000 years ago Lord Krishna was born in the cell into which His uncle had put His parents to. That place is still believed to be present here and is a magnet for thousands of devotees every year.
The allure of Mathura is to be seen in the annual festival of Janmashtami which marks the birth of Lord Krishna as well as Holi. The whole town erupts in celebration and joy as rituals and ceremonies are performed invoking the Lord on His birth. The town has now been given the status of a heritage town and forms the nucleus of the Brajbhoomi.
Everything here-the people, the houses, the buildings, and the temples (nearly 5,000)-reflects the divine love for Krishna. Located nearly 162 km from Delhi, it normally takes 4-5 hours by road to reach Mathura. It makes a great spot to lose one’s self in mystical devotion and relax your mind, away from the hustle and bustle of Delhi.
Distance from Delhi – 162 km
Best Time to Visit – November to March
Located in –Uttar Pradesh, India
Vrindavan
Few places can match the charm of Vrindavan for the place truly resonates with ethereal devotion, spirit, and ambiance that can be called nothing less than divine. Vrindavan is the very place where Lord Krishna grew up and performed all His transcendental activities along with His consort and friends. Therefore there is little that you will find in Vrindavan that is in any way not associated with Krishna.
The place is brimming with numerous beautiful temples, ashrams, spiritual sites, sweet shops, and many other small and big impressions of the Lord. The narrow, dusty lanes remind me of the places where Lord Krishna would play pranks with His friends while distributing transcendental bliss to His devotees who offered themselves to Him.
Among the numerous remarkable sites at the place, Prem Mandir, Banke Bihari Temple, ISKCON Temple, Radha Vallabh Temple, Nidhi Vana, and Raman Reti are must-see spots. Vrindavan is a wonderful spiritual getaway for Delhiites that should not be missed.
Distance from Delhi – 164.2 km via Taj Expressway
Best Time to Visit – All the year round.
Located in –Uttar Pradesh, India
Kurukshetra
Although a relatively insignificant town as per modern parameters, Kurukshetra holds a compelling importance to Hindus and is an important pilgrimage site. According to Hindu legends, it was from here that Lord Brahma created the universe. It is also at the same site where the epic Mahabharata war was fought and Lord Krishna delivered His philosophical treatise, the Bhagavad Gita on the battlefield.
Kurukshetra now gets swarmed by pilgrims while a few international tourists can also be spotted. It is nevertheless a place of religious denomination and serves as a sacred escape from Delhi. A few important tanks like the Braham Sarovar, Sannehit Sarovar, and Bhishm Sarovar dot the place where devotees take baths. Besides a few temples like Sthaneshwar Mahadev Mandir, Jyotisar and Birla Mandir are also important.
Named after the great dynasty of Kurus, it is believed that anyone who dies here attains salvation. The best time to visit this small town is towards the end of the year, i.e. from September to March.
Distance from Delhi – 160 km
Best Time to Visit – September to March
Located in – Haryana, India
Bharatpur
Primarily known for its exotic bird sanctuary, Bharatpur is a dusty, noisy town, located in the Brij region of the colorful state of Rajasthan. Besides the sanctuary, however, there are a few buildings of historical importance, that dot different corners of this town. You can visit the Government Museum-housing the wonderful cultural heritage of the city, Lohgarh Fort, the Deeg Palace, and other attractions.
But Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary aka Keoladeo Ghana National Park, is nevertheless the principal attraction. With over 300 species of different birds within 28.73 sq. km, there is a great likelihood of spotting amazing varieties of resident and migratory. Also one can find species of exotic mammals such as striped hyena, Fishing Cat, Golden Jackal, Nilgai, Sambhar, Blackbuck, and Wildboar, etc.
Bharatpur is known to host the incredible Brij Festival, just before Holi, which is a great attraction for national and international tourists. With just nearly 199 km from Delhi, the town is a good option for enjoying a relaxing time in the natural environment and reveling in a picnic with kin and friends.
Distance from Delhi – 199 km
Best Time to Visit – October to March
Located in –Rajasthan, India
Sariska National Park
Nestled in the beautiful Aravalli range, covering approximately 800 square kilometers of vast area, the Sariska National Park is home beautiful floral and faunal wealth of India. The park was initially a royal hunting ground in the early 18th and 19th centuries the ruins found in and around the area date back to the 10th and 11th centuries. However, rapidly declining exotic wildlife species led the government to declare it a wildlife sanctuary and Project Tiger Reserve in 1978.
Nevertheless, Sariska is one of the most frequently visited National Parks in India. Besides wildlife, there are beautiful historical spots such as the antiquated Nilkantha Temple, Kankawadi Fort, and the magnificent Sariska Palace which are fairly popular locations for tourists. However, the biggest attraction is the exhilarating jungle safari that begins from the entrance itself.
In addition to being thoroughly stimulating, it’s a wonderful way to explore the vast territory of the park with its wonderful animal and plant life. Vising Sariska can be incredibly fascinating and can be an excellent picnic destination for the residents of Delhi or the tourists from the capital.
Distance from Delhi – 214.6 km
Best Time to Visit – October to March
Located in – Rajasthan, India
Agra
Agra has long remained as one of the chief weekend getaways for Delhiites due to its proximity to the capital and its exceedingly alluring tourist destinations. However, with the opening of the Taj Expressway, both the distance and time taken to reach Agra from Delhi have been further reduced. Agra, whatever the season, is always high on the charts of both domestic and international tourists.
The world-famous Taj Mahal is an obvious attraction and so is Fatehpur Sikri, the formidable and majestic capital of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. Besides there are numerous small and big attractions that keep Agra busy with travelers throughout the year – Agra Fort, Tomb of Itmad-ud-daulah, Akbar’s Tomb, Mehtab Bagh, Ram Bagh Mankameshwar Temple, etc.
Although full of these incredible locations, Agra experiences extreme temperatures like Delhi. Summers are especially searing hot and monsoons are humid. Thus, the best time to visit Agra is in winter, i.e. from October to March, when the temperatures are suitable for easy and comfortable exploration. Sitting on the large bend of the Yamuna River, the timeless, historical city of Agra has a charm that matches few other cities in India.
Distance from Delhi – 232.8 km
Best Time to Visit – October to March
Located in –Uttar Pradesh, India
Haridwar
Haridwar, or the Gateway to the God in the literal sense provided the link of humans to their ancestors, in this timeless circle of creation, through the channel of the waters of Mother Ganges, whose affection has been flowing in this antiquated city for thousands of years.
One of the holiest cities for Hindus, Haridwar has been visited by numerous devotees continuously for many years. Pilgrims come from far off to take a dip in the sacred Ganges absolve themselves of their sins and bless the dead ones with moksha, or eternal bliss through the holy waters.
Besides the Ganges, there are a few other attractions that draw tourists to this place. Har ki Pauri, the most famous Ghat, is the gateway to the holy dip. The sight of the evening Arti is awesomely majestic when thousands of earthen lamps or diyas cast their reflection on the blessed waters.
Many temples, small and large are scattered all over. The Chandi Devi Temple, The Maya Devi Temple, and Mansa Devi Temple are a few prominent ones. Moreover, The Neel Dhara bird sanctuary is a great place for bird watchers to witness many exotic migrant species. Located 209 kilometers from Delhi, Haridwar is a great place to enjoy your free time.
Distance from Delhi – 209 km
Best Time to Visit – November to March
Located in –Uttarakhand
Achrol
Located nearly 33 km from Rajasthan’s capital Jaipur, Achrol is a relaxing Treehouse resort and an excellent, quiet getaway from Delhi to spend some refreshing moments. The resort has been carefully planned to suitably cater to the needs of the visitors, who usually come from Delhi to spend some easy free time.
Equipped with modern fixtures like a full-service spa, an outdoor pool, an amazing multi-cuisine restaurant, a 24-hour fitness center, a bar/lounge, and a snack bar. To let the visitors revel in exquisite comforts, all the rooms are affixed with private yards, DVD players, Plasma TVs with satellite channels, and bathrooms equipped with modern amenities.
In addition to this exquisite resort, Achrol has a wonderful fort, built as a strategic fort by the Achrol Thikana Family and dates back to the mid-16th century. Enjoy this attractive place to unwind and calm down in the soothing atmosphere and recharge your batteries with the salubrious surroundings.
Distance from Delhi – 254.8 km
Best Time to Visit – November to March
Located in – Rajasthan, India
Rishikesh
Rishikesh has always been perceived as the close cousin of its equally spiritual location Haridwar. Now widely recognized as the “Yoga Capital of the World”, Rishikesh dots with diverse ashrams, tranquilizing hermitages, and peaceful locations that countless spiritual seekers, from around the world, come looking for.
The town remains busy all the time with travelers, holy men, explorers, and students, while adventurers have their reason to visit Rishikesh, for it’s one of the most exciting places in India for river rafting. Rishikesh is also one of the most important pilgrimage centers for Hindus. Numerous Ghats enhance its beauty which looks all the more surreal during the vibrant Evening Arti.
Watching the Ganges gush through at majestic speeds with the sounds of temple bells, prayers and the noise of the city is truly amazing, while walking over the two hugely popular suspension bridges, the Ram Jhula and the Laxman Jhula is an experience to be taken. Rishikesh is an amazing spot to revel in the wonderfully spiritual and peaceful ambiance of the place can be a very good choice to savor your free time away from Delhi.
Distance from Delhi –240.7 km
Best Time to Visit – All throughout the year
Located in –Uttarakhand, India
Jaipur
If moving and exploring through exotic palaces, histories, legends, sites, and structures is your forte, then Jaipur is one of the best destinations, where you can be. The colorful city, with its thousands of charms, dusty lanes, imposing forts and mesmerizing palaces, fragrances, costumes, and much more casts such as spells that it’s difficult to resist.
Adoringly called “Pink City”, there is nothing in Jaipur that will not draw your senses. The captivating sights of Aravallis surrounding this hub of India’s royalty with its fine structures take the imagination back to the time when the city was at its imperial peak. The charm of the city’s colorful markets, busy streets, noisy traffic, and numerous shops, selling all kinds of stuff, is unique.
Besides there are great opportunities to enjoy hot air ballooning, camel rides, and delectable food items, the most famous of which are Dal Bati Churma, Pyaaz Kachauri, Paneer Ghevar, and Meetha Paan, etc. Being the capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur can be hot in summer, thus, the best time to visit this amazing place is in the winter months when brings out an exclusive charm in the city.
Distance from Delhi – 268 km
Best Time to Visit – October to March
Located in –Rajasthan, India
Indian Holiday
Indian Holiday Pvt. Ltd. (IHPL) is a 2 time National Tourism Award winning destination management company based in Delhi. This travel blog is an initiative to inform the visitors about all aspects of India that include her history, heritage, culture and tourist attractions and destinations.
I like damdama lake too much because you can feel peace of mind there definatly