With the Holi long weekend approaching this year, have you found yourself with no travel arrangements but a strong urge to go away for the short weekend? Some of us can't travel home for Holi. So, in that case, we have chosen some gorgeous places for you this weekend. We are going to make your tiny Holi holiday memorable with this list of the best Holi weekend getaways near Delhi. Here are some of the best places to visit during Holi weekend near Delhi:
Vrindavan is a temple town, about 180 km from Delhi, that holds a special significance for Hindus as it is believed to be the place where Lord Krishna spent his childhood days. It is famous for its Holi celebrations that last for more than a week, starting with the Phoolon wali Holi, where devotees play Holi throwing flowers at one another, to the Lathmar Holi, where women playfully hit men with sticks.
Vrindavan is also home to many temples dedicated to Krishna and Radha, such as the Banke Bihari Temple, the Prem Mandir, and the Radha Raman Temple. You can also enjoy a boat ride on the Yamuna River, visit the nearby Mathura, the birthplace of Krishna, or explore the local markets and cuisine, with all the street foods and sweets you can imagine.
Jaipur is about 270 km from Delhi and is known as the Pink City for its distinctive architecture. Jaipur is a royal and cultural hub where you will find the Hawa Mahal, the City Palace, the Amber Fort, the Jantar Mantar, and the Albert Hall Museum. The city celebrates Holi with great enthusiasm and splendour, with events such as the Elephant Festival, where elephants are decorated and paraded; the Holika Dahan, where bonfires are lit to symbolise the burning of evil, and the Dhulandi Festival, where people smear each other with colours and water.
You will also get to see the traditional folk dances and music, taste the delicious Rajasthani cuisine, and shop for handicrafts and jewellery when in the city.
Pushkar is a holy town, about 415 km from Delhi, situated on the banks of the Pushkar Lake. It is one of the oldest and most sacred places in India, where Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe, is said to have performed a sacrifice. It has hundreds of temples, the most famous being the Brahma Temple, the only one of its kind in the world. Pushkar is also known for its annual camel fair, which attracts thousands of tourists and traders.
The city celebrates Holi with a lot of fun and fervour, with events such as the Kapda Phaad Holi, where people tear each other’s clothes, the Gulaal Holi, where people throw coloured powder and water, and the Bhang Holi, where people drink bhang, a cannabis-infused drink. You can also enjoy a camel safari, a hot air balloon ride, or a visit to the nearby Ajmer, the shrine of the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.
Udaipur, the city of lakes and palaces, is about 660 km from Delhi and is one of the most romantic and scenic destinations in India. It is the former capital of the Mewar kingdom and has an interesting history. The city has many attractions, such as the Lake Palace, the City Palace, the Jagmandir, the Jagdish Temple, and the Monsoon Palace.
It celebrates Holi with a royal touch, with events such as the Holika Dahan, where the royal family and the public light a bonfire at the City Palace, the Udaipur Holi Festival, where artists and musicians perform at the Gangaur Ghat, and the Dhulandi Holi, where people play with colours and water at various locations. You can also enjoy a boat ride on Lake Pichola, a cable car ride to the Karni Mata Temple, or a day trip to the Kumbhalgarh Fort and the Ranakpur Jain Temple.
Varanasi, also known as Kashi, is a city on the Ganges river, about 800 km from Delhi, that is considered to be one of the oldest and holiest cities in the world. Varanasi is also a centre of spirituality, learning, and culture, where Hindus believe that dying and being cremated here liberates one from the cycle of rebirth. It has many temples, ghats, and ashrams, such as the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, the Manikarnika Ghat, the Sarnath, and the Ramnagar Fort.
The city celebrates Holi with a lot of devotion and joy, with events such as the Ganga Aarti, where priests perform a ritual with fire and chants at the Dashashwamedh Ghat, the Rangbhari Ekadashi, where idols of Shiva and Parvati are taken out in a procession and smeared with colours, and the Holi Milan, where people play with colours and water at various places. You can also enjoy a boat ride on the Ganges, a walk through the narrow lanes, or a taste of the famous Banarasi paan.