Hello, members. I am Harshi from Haryana. I will be visiting Delhi and Agra with my family and the whole trip for Delhi and Agra would not take more than three days. We would like more options for places to visit near Delhi. We would like some help in knowing what tourist places near Delhi within 300 km's are considered to be good to go to. We are aware of some hill stations, but there are quite a lot and need to know which ones we should consider. Is Jaipur a good option or not?
Hello, @Harshi, welcome to the forum! (Images from India, Travel Escape and Jim Corbett National Park) Overview Why limit yourself to the city life when there are tons of great getaways from Delhi? After exploring much of the city's heritage sites and modern attractions, venture further into the nearby tourist destinations to Delhi. You have plenty of options, ranging from historical cities, hill stations and more. All these destinations can be easily reached from Delhi too, you won't be driving for more than 8 hours at the most. You can also just use public transportation like trains or buses if you're quite low on budget. Are you ready? Below, we would list down the best tourist places near Delhi that are within 300 kilometres away from it. Tourist Places Near Delhi (Within 300 Kilometres) Back into the past... 1. Alwar - The Gateway to Rajasthan, Alwar, is merely 166 kilometres away from Delhi. Thus, it is only about 3 hours and 30 minutes of driving away from the city, at the most. Alwar is an interesting old city, it has an assortment of historical sites to keep tourists busy. It is a fairly underdeveloped city yet though, a bit on the quieter side, without any big shopping centres or entertainment centres. However, the surrounding view of the Aravalli hills can certainly calm your spirits. The pristine beauty of Siliserh Lake would also mesmerise you, indulge in a boat ride here with your loved ones. The main attraction of Alwar, the Bala Quila, also known as Alwar Fort, is also worth a visit. Although the fort isn't as well maintained, the rugged structure adds to the authenticity of the attraction. It requires a bit of a steep climb to reach but the view from the fort is worth it. Known as the scariest place in India, the Bhangarh Fort, is the perfect attraction for thrill seekers. Many legends surround the fort's history giving it its creepy background. Don't venture into the fort during night time though unless you're up for a scary experience. Finally, the City Palace of Alwar is also worth visiting. It is mainly a government office now but there are some parts open to the public like the water reservoir and the museum. The museum is particularly interesting as it showcases displays of various old paintings, weaponries and artefacts from the royal family of the city. Why choose Alwar? Well, when you're tired of the crowds and the busy streets of popular tourist destinations in the country, Alwar can be a breath of fresh air for you. Must visit attractions - Siliserh Lake, Bala Quila, Bhangarh Fort and City Palace of Alwar. Related thread - Places to Visit Near Delhi in December Bala Quila in Alwar 2. Jaipur - The Pink City of Rajasthan, Jaipur, is about 273 kilometres away from Delhi or about 5 to 6 hours of driving away. The city is the capital of Rajasthan but still has that moderate pace in progression. Yes, it is largely developed but it is nowhere as chaotic as other metro cities. No, it isn't as rural that you won't find shopping centres or other modern tourist infrastructures here. Lesser traffic, lesser pollution and lesser crowds, make Jaipur a different world in itself from Delhi. Standing as one of its main attractions is the City Palace of Jaipur. Unlike the former mentioned city palace, the City Palace of Jaipur remains mainly a tourist attraction. It has a mixture of different architectural styles, Rajput, Mughal and even European owing to the different rulers who built their palaces within the complex. Also located in the city centre is the man-made Man Sagar Lake, where the beautiful Jal Mahal is located within an island at its centre. When lit during night time, the palace sparkles as if it's a star in the middle of the lake. Also adding to the list is the Hawa Mahal, also known as the Palace of Winds, which is breathtaking even from the outside facade. Made to resemble the crown of Lord Krishna, it has over 900 small windows from which the royal women once looked out in to view the outside festivities from. Finally, a few kilometres away from Jaipur is the Amer Fort and Palace, which tourists reach by riding an elephant from the foothills up to the peak where the fort and palace are located. The beautiful Maota Lake can be seen from the fort and palace too, which reflects the structure during day time. Out of all the structures within the fort, the Sheesh Mahal is regarded as the most beautiful, as the collection of mirrors reflect against each other and catch light. Must visit attractions - City Palace of Jaipur, Man Sagar Lake, Jal Mahal, Hawa Mahal and Amer Fort & Palace. Related thread - Jaipur Travel Guide Peaceful hill stations... 3. Nainital - About 297 kilometres away from Delhi is the hill station of Nainital. Known as the City of Lakes, Nainital is a favourite tourist destination amongst local and foreign tourists. The pleasant climate coupled with the natural sceneries can make for a great getaway from Delhi. Of course, the primary attraction of the hill station is the Naini Tal or Naini Lake, wherein boating facilities are available. Or if you really want to enjoy the views, pick a hotel which offers a view of the lake right from your room. The Goddess Naina Devi Temple is located just close to the lake too, the local deity of Nainital. The temple is considered as 1 of the Shakti Peetha temples in India too. If you enjoy photography, do visit the view points in the hill station like the Naina Peak, Tiffin Top or Snow View Point, where you can get clear views of the distant mountains. An attraction that children would enjoy is the Nainital High Altitude Zoo, where there's a possibility of spotting the elusive snow leopard. You can opt to trek the reach the zoo or alternatively, bring your vehicle up to its entrance. The Eco Cave Gardens is another good attraction to explore if you have younger ones with you. It mainly mimics the natural look of caves but isn't as challenging as real caves. Must visit attractions - Naini Tal, Goddess Naina Devi Temple, Naina Peak, Tiffin Top, Snow View Point, Nainital High Altitude Zoo and Eco Cave Gardens. Related thread - Places to Visit in Nainital 4. Mussoorie - Mussoorie is one of the most popular hill stations in Uttarakhand. It was once a summer capital of the British dynasty during their stay in the country. As such, you can find attractions like The Mall Road and the Library Bazaar in here. In such places, you can find plenty of restaurants, shops, old colonial houses and hotels which give a colonial charm to the region. The Mussoorie Lake is a favourite picnic spot by locals and tourists too. There are also some boating facilities here that you can try out with your family. A few natural attractions, a bit out of the centre of Mussoorie, can also be visited. The Kempty Waterfalls is the main natural attraction of the hill station. The waterfalls is very picturesque as it falls from a great height and divides into smaller streams at its bottom. The Jharipani Waterfalls requires some trekking to reach but very much worth it since it isn't as frequented by many tourists. Scenic view points such as Gun Hill, Lal Tibba and Cloud's End are perfect for photography enthusiasts. Last but not the least is the Happy Valley, home to a community of over 5,000 Tibetan monks. It's almost like a community where shops, restaurants and homes can be found. Must visit attractions - Mall Road, Library Bazaar, Mussoorie Lake, Kempty Waterfalls, Jharipani Waterfalls, Gun Hill, Lal Tibba, Cloud's End and Happy Valley. Related thread - Mussoorie Kempty Waterfalls in Mussoorie (Image from Expedia) Enrich your religious side... 5. Mathura - The birthplace of Lord Krishna, Mathura, is just 183 kilometres away from Delhi. It is also just 73 kilometres away from Agra so you can combine these two destinations within one trip. The city is very small as compared to Delhi but it is regarded holy by many Hindus. The main temple that attracts lots of devotees is the Sri Krishna Janmasthan, the exact place where Lord Krishna was born. The underground prison here is believed to be the place where the Lord Krishna was born. The newer temple within the premises, built under the Birla Group, is also worth a visit and depicts the life of Lord Krishna in statues. Also another temple worth visiting is the Dwarkadhish Temple, located across the Yamuna river. It is also dedicated to Lord Krishna and is one of the oldest temples in the city. Another site dedicated to Lord Krishna is Govardhan Hill, where you need to do parikrama to reach the peak of the hill. It is a challenging trek done on bare foot but a must do for devotees of the Lord Krishna. Finally, visit the Radha Kund and is a must visit after doing the parikrama in the former attraction. Just sprinkle a few drops of water from the kund to complete your pilgrimage in Mathura. Must visit attractions - Sri Krishna Janmasthan, Dwarkadhish Temple, Govardhan Hill and Radha Kund. Related thread - Places to Visit Near Agra 6. Kurukshetra - This city is a pilgrimage site in the state of Haryana, just about 154 kilometres away from Delhi. The city has a number of important religious attractions for the devout Hindus. The region has also been mentioned in the Vamana Pura and Mahabharata, both are important texts for the Hindus. First is the Brahma Sarovar, known as the cradle of civilisation, as this is where the Lord Brahma created the universe from. Despite being a popular pilgrimage site, the lake remains fairly clean and serene. Equally important is the Jyotisar, where the Lord Krishna first preached the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna. There's an ancient tree here, supposed to be the exact place where the preaching happened. Finally, the Sri Krishna Museum, one of a few of its kinds in the country, can also be explored. It is here that the history and various forms of Lord Krishna are highlighted, in accordance with the epic of the Mahabharata. It is spread over three floors so you can easily spend a few hours here just getting back at your religious roots. Must visit attractions - Brahma Sarovar, Jyotisar and Sri Krishna Museum. Related thread - Places that Should Not be Missed in India Brahma Sarovar in Kurukshetra (Image from Temples of India) Wildlife spotting... 7. Sultanpur National Park - At just 45 kilometres away from Delhi, in the city of Gurgaon, is the Sultanpur National Park. Its proximity to Delhi makes it an ideal weekend getaway, when you just don't have much time to venture too far out from the capital. The national park is best visited during the winter season, when migratory birds start flocking into the premises. There are also over 200 resident birds in the park that you can easily spot like little cormorants, great egrets, laughing doves, red-collared doves, spotted owlets and rock pigeons. During winter, you can spot migratory birds such as greater flamingos, yellow wagtails, white wagtails, common teals and blue-throated pipits. There are several watchtowers within the national park so you can have clearer views of the birds. Do hire a local guide, one that is experienced with bird watching, so that he can help you to easily spot the various bird species in the national park. Outside food isn't allowed to be brought inside the park so keep your tummies filled before exploring the park itself. Finally, the national park is closed every Mondays to make sure you plan accordingly. Animals to spot - Resident bird species like little cormorants, great egrets, laughing doves, red-collared doves, spotted owlets & rock pigeons and migratory bird species like greater flamingos, yellow wagtails, white wagtails, common teals & blue-throated pipits. Related thread - Weekend Getaways from Delhi Sultanpur National Park (Image from Gurgaon Hotels) 8. Corbett National Park - About 259 kilometres away from Delhi, in Ramnagar in Uttarakhand, is the Corbett National Park. You cannot miss visiting the oldest national park in the country, established in the middle of the 19th century. It is located quite close to Nainital so you can combine them in one trip as well. It has one of the highest tiger densities out of all the national parks in the country, with over 215 royal Bengal tigers in its premises. The best time to visit the park for spotting tigers though or even other animals is during the summer season. If you plan to visit the park in other seasons, spotting wildlife might be a bit challenging. Animals like elephants, sambars, chitals, langurs and wild boars might be more commonly spotted than the elusive tigers. There are six safari zones within the national park but the top-rated one is the Dhikala zone. You do need to rent a forest lodge here in order to have permission for a wildlife safari in the section. Animals to spot - Royal Bengal tigers, elephants, sambars, chitals, langurs and wild boars. Related thread - Tigers in Corbett Take the lesser known path... 9. Rupnagar - In the state of Punjab lies one of the oldest cities in the country, Rupnagar. It is believed to have existed since the Indus Valley civilisation. The city is just 276 kilometres away from Delhi or merely 5 hours of driving away. Fast forward to the present time, Rupnagar has various religious and historical sites that one can explore. The Sri Takht Keshgarh Sahib has a striking pure white facade and it looks quite huge from the outside. It is revered as one of the holiest gurdwaras of the Sikh religion as it is the birthplace of the Khalsa. The Virasat E Khalsa is located a few kilometres away from the former religious site. From its outer facade, the museum would draw you in because of its stunning architectural design. The museum showcases the rich history of the state along with the history of the Sikh religion. And lastly, if you have the time and permit, it's also a must ti visit the largest gravity dam in the world, the Bhakra Dam. You need to obtain the permit prior to entering the dam but it's all worth it as the serenity in the attraction is priceless. Must visit attractions - Sri Takht Keshgarh Sahib, Virasat E Khalsa and Bhakra Dam. Related thread - n/a Sri Takht Keshgarh Sahib in Rupnagar (Image from Discover Sikhism) 10. Dundlod - Dundlod is a small town in the Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan, about 237 kilometres away from Delhi. If you want some place different from the usual crowded sites in the state, Dundlod is a good choice. Its main attraction is the Dundlod Fort, quite different from other forts as it has been preserved into a heritage property. You can stay in this fort as there is a hotel within its premises, maintained by a descendant of the former royal family of the region. Originally built in the 17th century, the fort and its inner structures have been renovated to keep up with the modern times, yet still hold that bygone era charm. Outside the fort, you can also visit some havelis, reminiscent of the ancient era of the Goenkas in the region. The Bhagirath Mal Goenka Haveli is one of the most stunning havelis in the region. The walls are designed with frescoes, the doors are intricately carved and the courtyard has a number of ancient utensils in display. Also worth visiting is the Chhatri of Ram Dutt Goenka, quite stunning as well as the dome of the cenotaph is filled with numerous paintings depicting scenes from Hindu mythology. Make your way out of the ordinary and venture into an offbeat place like Dundlod. Away from the crowds yet closer to history still. Must visit attractions - Dundlod Fort, Bhagirath Mal Goenka Haveli and Chhatri of Ram Dutt Goenka. Related thread - n/a Conclusion After exploring much of Delhi, or even Agra, there are other places that you can cover still. With such diversity in the types of destinations, your trip to India would be very well rounded. Even children and the elderly people can enjoy these places around Delhi. Good luck and enjoy your excursions out of Delhi!
