10 Road And Day Trips You Can Take Under INR 5,000

At a distance of only 200 kms from the capital, Bharatpur is a mere 3-4 hour drive away. It attracts birdwatchers from across the country, with the Keoladeo National Park, a world heritage site. Bharatpur plays home to a bunch of migrating birds in winter. Time your trip just before Holi if you want to catch the colourful Brij Festival. With the petrol costs split evenly among all of you and the INR 101 entry to the national park, it won’t even set you back 5K.

Driving Time: 4-5 hours (approx.)

How does 300 kms of pure panorama sound? Plan a road trip to Binsar, just 380 kms from Delhi, in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, and the view will be all yours. The town has also been made famous by the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, which was declared an important bird region. If you’re lucky enough, you can also spot a leopard or a barking deer. The tickets will set you back INR 40 per person and an additional INR 50 has to be paid per car.

Driving Time: 8 hours (approx.)

13 kms from Nainital and 305 kms from Delhi, the picture-perfect hill station is also a popular site for birdwatching. Snow View Point and Kilbury are the most frequented spots for birdwatching. There are many streams around Pangot, so put sightseeing on your schedule for sure. Staying over? A night at the Jungle Lore Birding Lodge will have you shelling out around INR 3,000. Split that, along with the fuel, with your buddies and you have yourself a nice little budgeted holiday.

Driving Time: 6-7 hours (approx.)

Only 50 kms from Delhi lies the Tarudhan Valley Golf Resort, in the Dadu Village of Haryana. The resort is a haven for both the avid golfer, as well as the noob. Surrounded by the Aravalli hills, Tarudhan boasts of a beautiful golf course, as well as a spa and wellness centre. A night at the premises costs about INR 5,000 but they have constant deals and discounts, so do call up in advance and inquire.

Driving Time: 1.5 hours (approx.)

Situated in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan, Mandawa is best suited for those excited by haveli explorations. The Mandawa fort, the Chokhani and Ladia Havelis, and the street with Saraf Havelis are the popular attractions here. Drive the 268 kms when you’re in the mood for some practical history lessons. Stay over at the Hotel Heritage Mandawa (about INR 2,600 per night) and drive back home the next day after your fab mini vacation.

Driving Time: 5-6 hours (approx.)

313 kms from Delhi, Ramgarh is an ideal destination for the more adventurous – the vast forest makes it an exciting place to go exploring, and the mountainous terrain provides many sites for rock climbing. On the other hand, Ramgarh is also home to numerous temples such as Sati Mandir, Hanuman Mandir, and Kalika Mandir, for those looking for a religious/historical escape. Stay at the Ramgarh Bungalows for approx. INR 4,000 per night or if you want to really budget, the Camp Club Tarzan nearby in Mukteshwar is a great option.

Driving Time: 7-8 hours (approx.)

Courtesy the Delhi-Agra Expressway, you can make the drive in under four hours. Hotels start at as cheap as INR 1,000 for the night, and 5-star properties start at as low as INR 2,000 (at the Radisson Hotel) and that rate will stay the same provided you eat all your meals outside. As for the attractions, you have many historic monuments including the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort.

Driving Time: 3-4 hours (approx.)

PS- You could even just make this a day trip so you end up saving even more. 

At a driving distance from the capital, Sariska is the perfect spot to drive down to with a bunch of friends in Alwar, Rajasthan. Far from paw marks, and one too many deer, we hear people have been successful in spotting the striped animal. If you split fuel, and pay the entry fee of INR 25 per person, with an added cost of INR 150 per person for a guided jeep tour, you’re still way in the range of the aforementioned budget. As for places to stay, there’s enough to choose from around the park; split room charges and drive back the next day.

Driving Time: 4-5 hours (approx.)

For all you spirituality seekers, or anyone looking for a good photo-op, this holy city definitely warrants a visit. Dotted with temples (both old and new), if praying, pilgrimage and rituals don’t catch your fancy, Vrindavan makes for a fascinating place to just observe. Since it is designed for pilgrims, hotels start at as low as INR 600 for a night, if you are looking to make it an overnight stay. A slightly fancier option we like is the MVT Guesthouse that's around INR 2,000 a night. We recommend the Pagal Baba Temple (10-storey temple complete with animated puppets, depicting the life of Lord Krishna and Rama), the Cave Passageway and the Nidhivan Temple.

Driving Time: 3-4 hours (approx.)

At Neemrana, zip lining can be a budget activity. Expect a gorgeous aerial view of the historic fort and surrounding rural India. If you’re looking at staying within the budget, we recommend you make it a day trip, since rooms only start at INR 4,000 to 5,000 in the fort but if you split it up equally, you shouldn't be pushing your budget too much. As for the activity, we recommend you book online in advance.

If budget is no bar and you're looking for a weekend getaway with bae, check out these romantic resorts near Delhi. And if she loves heritage as much as she loves you, surprise her with a visit to these heritage resorts less than 10 hours away from Delhi.