Weekend getaways from Delhi

Home of the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri - the classic Delhi weekend, about 3 hours down the Yamuna Expressway or 100 minutes on the Gatimaan Express.

Best time: October to March

Rajasthan's Pink City - Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, City Palace bazaars and rooftop cafes, about 4 hours from Delhi by expressway or train.

Best time: October to March

Yoga capital on the Ganges - river rafting, cliffside cafes, the Beatles Ashram and the evening Ganga aarti at Triveni Ghat. Rafting pauses in the monsoon.

Best time: September to June

A 15th-century hill fort turned heritage hotel on the Delhi-Jaipur highway - ramparts, infinity views and one of India's oldest ziplines, 2 hours from the city.

Best time: October to March

Krishna's birthplace and playground - temple-hopping between Banke Bihari, Prem Mandir and the Yamuna ghats, under 3 hours via the expressway. Spectacular at Holi.

Best time: Year-round

India's oldest national park - tiger safaris, elephant herds and riverside resorts in the Himalayan foothills. Core safari zones close in the monsoon.

Best time: November to June

A tiger reserve in the Aravalli hills with jeep safaris, the hilltop Kankwari Fort and Siliserh Lake nearby - a quieter alternative to Corbett.

Best time: October to June

Fort-studded gateway to rural Rajasthan - Bala Qila ramparts, the City Palace, Siliserh Lake and heritage stays like the 14th-century Hill Fort Kesroli.

Best time: October to March

Doon valley base camp - Robber's Cave, Sahastradhara springs, colonial-era bakeries and forest walks, with Mussoorie an hour further up.

Best time: Year-round

An 18th-century mud fort turned heritage stay amid mango orchards and sugarcane fields - Delhi's quickest rural reset, 90 minutes away.

Best time: September to March