Besides the reason, Delhi is the capital of India. Delhi is one of the most beautiful places in India to experience the bygone eras and explore the new era. In simplified terms, Delhi is broken into New & Old Delhi. In Old Delhi, you're transported to another timeline in history because of the monuments. It is said that Old Delhi was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in between 1638 – 1648 and it stopped serving as a capital around 1857. New Delhi, is the place where people go to live and experience the modern civilization. Similarly, there are other places within a 300kms radius around Delhi, where food, culture, historical monuments, traditions, locals, etc. makes the perfect whisk for tourist attractions. One can rent a self-driving car in Delhi to travel with ease around these destinations. So, let’s start with our first destination is:
Considered as the birth place of Lord Krishna, Mathura is the holiest city among seven other holy cities. The distance from Delhi to Mathura is 159kms. The golden age of Mathura came to be by the governance of rulers like Kanishka, Huvishka, and Vasishka. This was the time, where economic wealth grew and art & crafts relevant. However, most of its temples were destroyed by Mahmud of Ghazni around 1018 and later again by Sikandar Lodi. Among other known temples, is the most famous Sri Krishna Janma Bhumi. This is where Sri Krishna manifested himself. The Government Museum in Mathura is a famous place for the collection of artifacts from the Gupta and Kushan period (400 BC-1200AD). Apart from these, Mathura's famous festivals are Holi & Janmashtami, which attracts a large crowd from all over the world. At last, there's Vrindavan, a holy city that's sitting in the banks of the Yamuna river that's 13kms away.
The distance from Delhi to Mussoorie is 295 Kms, a road trip to this lush spot is totally worth the time & journey! Hailing from the district of Dehradun, it is one of the best hill stations with a lot of things to offer, including a marvelous view of the Himalayas and is the gateway to the origins of Yamuna and Ganga called Yamunotri & Gangotri. Mussoorie was founded by the British army around the 1820s. The highest region here is called the Lal Tibba, Landour spanning over 2,275 m. Gun Hill is the second highest region there. There's just way too many places here that attract massive tourists. Some of them are Kempty Falls, Kanatal, Mall Road, Childer's Lodge, Bhatta Falls, Dhanaulti, Jharipani Falls and Camel's Back Road. There are other fun things like shopping, trekking, boating, hiking, etc.
Known as the Pink City and the capital of Rajasthan, it is part of the Gold Triangle of tourism, which includes Delhi and Agra. The distance from Delhi to Jaipur is 268kms. The ruler of Amer, Maharaja Jai Singh II, founded this place on 18th November 1727. It is said that the Pink City was the first planned city following the Vastushastra. Jaipur is connected to many significant places by road. Its rich heritage of history attracts tourists from all countries. The place is renowned for artifacts, jewelry, textiles, palaces, vast gardens, etc. Some of the most famous monuments are Amber Fort, Sheesh Mahal, Hawa Mahal, Jal Mahal, Nahargarh, and Fort Ganesh Pol. There are so many ways to spend time here like rock-climbing, hiking, paragliding, hot air balloon rides, camel riding and much more. The city becomes more and more vibrant during the major festivals like Kite Festival, Camel Festival, Teej, Elephant Festival, Gangaur, etc. That's the time where Jaipur has a lot of tourist crowds. This place is ideal for a 2-3 days' duration.
Agra holds one of the Seven Wonders of the World, that's the Taj Mahal. The distance from Delhi to Agra is 230kms. The timeless monument is located near the banks of the Yamuna river. The ivory-white marble mausoleum was commissioned in 1632 by emperor Shah Jahan. It is the tomb of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. This place is home to a lot of heritage, previous era artifacts and is part of the Golden Triangle tourist attractions along with Delhi and Jaipur. Firstly, this place has three major areas, the Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri & Red Fort, which are all considered to be a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Monuments. This itself attracts a lot of tourists in the first place. The place is well connected to other cities by rail, air, and road, etc. Agra was first mentioned in the Epic Mahabharata centuries ago. Taj Mahotsav is a festival organized by The Department of Tourism in every February. This is a celebration of the Mughal's art and culture, which is celebrated through music, dance, food, and crafty melas. This is also a 10-day festival. The perfect time to visit the place is between November to March, where the temperature stays mostly moderate.
The distance from Delhi to Dehradun is 260kms, this places sits at the base of the Himalayas, in between the River Ganges and River Yamuna. Being the capital city of Uttarakhand, this place has been mentioned in the stories of Ramayana & Mahabharata. There are so many ancient temples and smaller monuments that are over 2000 years old. Dehradun is even known for its Basmati rice and famous places like Tapkeshwar Temple, Santala Devi Temple, Tapovan, Malsi Deer Park and Rajaji National Park. There are other notable places nearby that the tourists visit too. Dehradun is known for its school as they're some of the best education institutions in India. Several festivals are held here like the Shaheed Veer Kesari Chandra Fair, Jhanda Fair, Tapkeshwar Fair, Laxman Sidh Fair, Bissu Fair, Mahasu Devta Fair, etc. For the adventurers, this place has a lot to offer in outdoor activities like trekking, mountain climbing, gliding, parachute jumping, and much more. The place offers a great view and a fantastic climate, where it snows in January. The ideal time to visit places in the winter.
The Haridwar is the grail of religious culture and spirituality. The distance from Delhi to Haridwar is 220kms. The name translates to, "Gateway to God" and is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in India. This massive temple is dated back to the 2nd BC century and is referenced throughout scriptures and ancient texts. People take a dip in the Har-ki-Pauri of the holy water of river Ganges to wash off their sins and become pure again, which in a way is asking for forgiveness from God. Vaishno Devi Temple, Bharat Mata Temple, Maya Devi Temple, Bhimgoda, Shanti Kunj, etc., are some of the valuable shrines. The best time to head here is between October and April. Some of the biggest festivals that the whole world is aware of is the Kumbh Mela, which happens once every 12 years. The next one should be happening around 2022. The place also has nearby tourist attractions like the Chila Wildlife Sanctuary. The Haridwar is also swiftly developing into an industrial city as well.
