Most popular New Year & Christmas getaways around Delhi

Planning a New Year getaway from Delhi - NCR is easy, for there are so many places to choose from. While most of these places are tourists' favourites since ages, they are alluring nevertheless. If you want to have a quick new year trip from Delhi that will take you back to old-school places, here are our favourite picks.

Read more: New Year holiday destinations: India’s most beautiful places

Bhimtal is your quintessential mountain getaway, at around 5.5 hours from Delhi and the NCR region. One can simply drive to Bhimtal from Delhi via Kathgodam or take a train and a short cab ride to reach this lakeside retreat. Some very good cafes, hotels and homestays here make it an easy, fun getaway in the Kumaon hills.

You can reach the Pink City from Delhi in less than 5 hours, and be set for a good new year trip. The forts here are majestic and a must-visit, the food (especially their desserts) are straight out of heaven, and the markets are a shopaholic's dream. A lot of interesting stay options, including treehouses, are in abundance in Jaipur.

An interesting road trip that spans around 600 km or just a 1-hour flight from Delhi - NCR will land you in the paradise that is Jodhpur. If you love bustling markets that sell curios for all kinds, Rajasthani cuisine, and a skyline that is made majestic by the Mehrangarh Fort - Jodhpur has all that it takes for a great new year trip. Heritage and royal stays in Jodhpur are also just the thing if you like luxe vacations.

Kasar Devi in Almora is another getaway from Delhi-NCR if you are game for a long drive. It takes around 8 hours, half of those through dense pine forests, to reach Kasar from Almora. The views of Himalayan peaks, including Nanda Devi, are astounding from Kasar. A couple of homestays and hotels line up one side of this hamlet; considering the fame that this place has, it is best to book your stay in advance if you plan to visit Kasar around the New Year celebrations.

Landour, near Mussoorie, has been a rage with travellers from Delhi-NCR; more so around the new year when there are chances of snowfall as well. You can either stay in Landour or head off to Dhanaulti or Kanatal for a nice, little getaway. The pro-tip for visiting Landour from Delhi is to leave early in the morning (between 4 AM - 5 AM) to beat the traffic on the route.

You can also visit the very popular (but rightly so) Mukteshwar via Bhimtal if you are keen on a longer new year vacation. The place looks over the Himalayan snow-peaks again, and is an easy getaway, just an easy drive away from Delhi. It is also home to some of India's prettiest mountain cabins and private stays.

Nainital is one of the most popular getaways from Delhi for the New Year's eve as this is also the time for snowfall here. The lakeside town is pretty all through the year and all that you need to do is book yourself a nice stay, and hit the roads. It is also well-connected by trains from Delhi-NCR, followed by a short car ride.

Neemrana is a popular resort getaway near Delhi, and is a runaway hit for all the right reasons. If you like a quick, easy getaway that does not need a lot of planning, Neemrana should be your go-to for the new year. It also makes for a great hospitality experience if you choose to stay at the plush heritage hotel here.

Rishikesh in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand is another popular choice for a new year vacation near Delhi and the NCR region. While you might be wary of watersports in the cold here, there's a lot to do here from cafe-hopping to simply watching a sunset by the banks of River Ganga.