Under an hour
Pinjore Gardens (about 20 km)
Mughal-style terraced gardens in Pinjore, Haryana, lit up in the evenings. Good for a half day.
Morni Hills (about 45 km)
Haryana’s only hill station, with Tikkar Taal lakes, short treks and quiet roads. Good for a day trip.
One to three hours
Kasauli (about 60 km)
A small cantonment town in Himachal with colonial churches, pine walks and sunset points. Busy on weekends.
Barog (about 65 km)
A quiet stop on the Kalka-Shimla road, known for its railway tunnel and pine forests.
Anandpur Sahib (about 85 km)
One of the most important Sikh pilgrimage towns, home to Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib. Hola Mohalla brings huge crowds in spring.
Nahan and Renuka Ji
Nahan is an old hill town in Sirmaur; Renuka Ji lake is further on. Good for a long weekend.
Shimla (about 115 km)
Himachal’s capital. Take the road, or the narrow-gauge Kalka-Shimla toy train from Kalka, a UNESCO World Heritage railway.
Chail
A quieter hill town beyond Kandaghat, with forests and one of the world’s highest cricket grounds.
Bhakra Dam and Nangal
A big day out to one of India’s largest dams. Check visiting rules first, as access is controlled.
Long weekends
- Amritsar for the Golden Temple and the Attari-Wagah border ceremony.
- Rishikesh and Haridwar for the Ganga, yoga and river rafting in season.
- Manali and Dharamshala for the high mountains (long drives; go for three or more days).
Tips
- Leave by 7 am on weekends to beat the traffic at Zirakpur and Parwanoo.
- Hill roads close or slow down after heavy rain in the monsoon. Check road updates before setting off.
- Carry cash for parking and small dhabas.
