I want to get away from Delhi to go to some peaceful and pollution free place, and need some suggestions to which place to choose. The holiday would be a four day trip from Delhi, and I want to go to a place which would not be much of a driving distance as I would save the driving time to be spent at the destination I am going to. A place with a pool, some good views would be perfect.
Hello there, welcome to the forum! There are many destinations around Delhi that you can visit. But since you have some requirements, I'll try to list some places to visit near Delhi with good views and swimming areas. So here they are: 1. Alwar - The distance between Delhi and Alwar is about 166 kilometres. It can take you around 3 hours to reach the city from Delhi. Alwar is known as the Gateway to Rajasthan as it is the first city you enter to reach other cities in the state. Although a fairly small city, it offers quite a lot when it comes to attractions. The spooky Bhangarh Fort is located here, which is considered as the most haunted place in the country. The government has even banned entry to the fort after sunset as there were cases of people disappearing after going to the fort at night. You can still visit this fort though during day time. Yet another must visit attraction here is the Bala Quila, built around the 10th century. Although the fort is mostly in ruins now, its location on top of a hillock, provides one with great views of the surrounding greenery of Alwar. For serenity and enjoying the views, there's also the Siliserh Lake where you can indulge in boating. Lastly, there's the Sariska Tiger Reserve, where you can enjoy the rich flora and fauna of the region. Some of the animals you might be able to spot here are leopards, striped hyenas, sambars, chinkaras and wild boars. You can also visit the Kankarwadi Fort and the Pandupole Temple inside the tiger reserve. When it comes to swimming pools, there are the hotels of Neemrana Fort Palace, Alwar Bagh Sariska and Hotel Aravali that you can stay in. All of them have swimming pools within their premises. Surrounded by lush greenery but quite lacking in modernities, a visit to Alwar would definitely take you back to simpler times. Must visit places - Bhangarh Fort, Bala Quila, Siliserh Lake, Sariska Tiger Reserve (Kankarwadi Fort & Pandupole Temple) and City Palace. Related thread - Places Near Delhi to Visit 2. Bharatpur - This city is about 223 kilometres away from Delhi. Driving that distance can take around 4 to 5 hours, which isn't too bad. The Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, also known as the Keoladeo Ghana National Park, is one of the best bird watching places in the country. Aside from the numerous bird species, the place is also teeming with greenery and beauty. The best time to visit the bird sanctuary is during winter, when birds from other countries migrate here. Some of the commonly spotted bird species here are the lesser-whistling duck, Indian peafowl, chestnut-bellied sandgrouse and Asian palm swift. If you're lucky, you might be able to spot some of the endangered bird species here like the white-headed duck, baer's pochard and lesser florican. Another attraction that you can visit here is the Deeg Palace, home to the Jat rulers during the 17th century. Located on both sides of the palace are water reservoirs that add to the serenity of the place. Another must visit place here is the Lohagarh Fort, which was one of the strongest forts in the country, being able to withstand attacks from the Mughals and the British. Some of the resorts here that have swimming pools are the Laxmi Vilas Palace Hotel, Bagh Resort and Kadamb Kunj Resort. Must visit places - Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, Deeg Palace and Lohagarh Fort. Related thread - Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary 3. Morni Hills - This is about 255 kilometres away from Delhi. This hill station is located in the district of Panchkula in Haryana. Relatively unknown and unexplored, you can enjoy the pristine beauty of this place along with the surrounding mountain and lake views. There's not much that you can do in Morni Hills apart from a boat ride in the Tikkar Lake. But the whole place is teeming with wildlife and natural attractions. It's not rare to find bird species like grey wagtails, crested buntings, wall creepers and blue-throated flycatchers here. There are also other animals here like the rhesus macaques, grey langurs, barking deers and nilgais. The surrounding forests are also quite abundant in different species. Thus, Morni Hills is the perfect offbeat destination for someone who enjoys nature and pristine environments. You can also enjoy camping here to truly experience the wildlife. For hotels or resorts with swimming pool though, you have to go to Chandigarh, about 45 kilometres away from Morni Hills. Must visit places - Tikkar Lake. Related thread - Best Hill Stations in India 4. Dehradun - This is about 264 kilometres away from Delhi. You can reach it in about 5 to 6 hours of driving. Although mainly a progressive city, you can go to excursions out of the city and explore the natural attractions around. For instance, there's the Robber's Cave, which according to legends, was once a place where the robbers would hide their loots in. Now, it's a popular tourist attraction where you can trek with knee deep water or higher. At the end of your journey, you can enjoy a hot maggi with the river water flowing under your feet. Another must visit attraction here is the Bhatta Waterfalls, which you can only reach after a challenging trek. But you won't need to go to a swimming pool when you're here as you can swim in the cool and clean water of the falls. There are also some temples that you can visit around Dehradun like the Tapkeshwar Temple, Sai Darbar Temple and Lakha Mandal Temple. Being a progressive city, there are lots of hotels around Dehradun that you can stay in as well. Must visit places - Robber's Cave, Bhatta Waterfalls, Tapkeshwar Temple, Sai Darbar Temple, Lakha Mandala Temple and many more. Related thread - Nainital Versus Dehradun 5. Nahan - This is about 250 kilometres away from Delhi, so about 4 to 5 hours of driving away. This is a hill station in Himachal Pradesh which is also the nearest one to Delhi. It's one of the best getaways from Delhi as it provides picturesque views of the Himalayan mountains. The town is very small and can be easily explored in a day or two. Its pleasant climate all-year round makes it a great destination, whether you're visiting in the summer or winter. Boating around the Renuka Wildlife Sanctuary is a must to explore the natural habitats and wildlife in the area. You can also visit the Pakka Talab, a small yet beautiful pond in the town. For trekking, there's the Choordhar Peak and Jaitak Fort. For swimming pool, there's the Grand View Resort which is the only proper resort in the town. There are numerous guest houses and home stays here though that can fit a traveller in a budget. Must visit places - Renuka Wildlife Sanctuary, Pakka Talab, Choordhar Peak and Jaitak Fort. Related thread - Hill Stations Around Delhi 6. Kasauli - This is about 304 kilometres away from Delhi. It can take you around 6 to 7 hours to reach it. A place for solitude and quietness, that is Kasauli. Sure you won't be able to find many adventure activities here but for a short weekend getaway, Kasauli is at the top of the list of most travellers. Most hill stations, especially the commercialised ones, are crowded and quite commercialised. Kasauli is nothing like that and you can enjoy the abundance of natural sceneries around the hill station. The different view points here, Sunset Point and Monkey Point, provide you with a commanding view of the valleys and mountains. You can also visit religious attractions like the Christ Church, Baptist Church and Shirdi Sai Baba Mandir. You can also indulge in some trekking around the hill station. There are numerous resorts here but they don't have swimming pools, unfortunately. Must visit places - Sunset Point, Monkey Point, Christ Church, Baptist Church and Shirdi Sai Baba Mandir. Related thread - Weekend Getaways from Delhi There you go, I hope this helps you and that these places fit your requirements at least! Good luck and enjoy your short getaway.
