LBB's Guide To All The Long Weekends in 2016

The information in this post might be outdated

Ah, the long weekends. Those delicious little spheres of respite in your packed calendar. Nothing is sweeter to us cogs in the workforce machine than a few extra days of time off. With 2016 around the corner, we take a look at some of the potential holiday weekends and days, and what you can do with that free time.

New Years Weekend

nyeImage courtesy: Mark Fischer

Nothing says rest and relaxation like taking some time off, packing your bags and leaving the country. If you've managed to wrangle some  time off from work, but haven't had time to plan a trip or buy a ticket, you can be spontaneous and head to a country that accepts visa on arrival.

When: 1 - 3 January {Friday to Sunday}

Republic Day Weekend

diggiStill not over your New Year's holiday hangover? The real world rushing back too soon? Grab a quick break, and soak in some culture, by catching a few days of the Jaipur Literature Festival. Unsure? Wait till you find out who some of the guests and authors are.

When: 23 - 26 January {Saturday to Tuesday}

Shivratri Weekend

River Rafting down the Grand Canyon, Arizona, USAMarch has just begun, you've somehow scraped together a few thousand rupees, and want to take a break from the city. What are you going to do? You'll be surprised to know there are actually a few decent budget road trip options for under INR 5,000.

When: 5 - 7 March {Saturday to Monday}

Holi/Easter Weekend

jodhpurImage courtesy: Mouthshut

If you're feeling a little tired of having the same kind of Holi celebration every year, March is a beautiful time to visit Jodhpur. The Blue City has a lot to offer to keep travellers satisfied for days on end. In case you are in the city then check out our guide on where to buy Holi colours in the city.

When: 24 - 27 March {Thursday to Saturday}

Gudi Padwa Weekend

IMG_4998April has always been a good month to visit Corbett. Leaving behind the city for a scenic retreat at a national park: Isn't that what holidays are all about? If tigers aren't your thing {who are you?} then there are always other weekend getaways around Delhi.

When: 8 - 10 April {Friday to Sunday}

Ambedkar Jayanti/Ram Navami Weekend

riversideImage courtesy: Aalia Resort on the Ganges

After April the opportunity to really enjoy a holiday dwindles till the winter {unless you're part of the lucky few who actually still get summer holidays}. With that in mind you should make sure to visit some water retreats before the summer ends.

When: 14 - 17 April {Thursday to Sunday}

Independence Day Weekend

offbeatImage courtesy: NutriDude

Tired of the same few staycation options? Did you know there are a series of cosy offbeat weekend getaways just around Delhi? Worth exploring any chance you get.

When: 13 - 15 August {Saturday to Monday}

Janamashthami Weekend

junglegoaHaving a choc-a-bloc full long weekend can be tough. Your heart says yes, but your wallet says no. If you're starting to feel the monetary pinch, and you know you need to start saving for your winter season shenanigans, but you still want to take a little trip then you can always look at economically friendly options like hostels.

When: 25 - 28 August {Thursday to Sunday}

Ganesh Chaturthi Weekend

neemranaImage courtesy: Neemrana Hotels

Supposing you don't have much time off but want to squeeze in as much as possible, then you should always take into account travel times. Luckily for us all Delhi has some easy getaway options you can reach in under five hours.

When: 3 - 5 September {Saturday to Monday}

Bakri Id Weekend

spaImage courtesy: Ananda in the Himalayas

The stress of the year getting to you yet? Then perhaps a spa retreat is just what you need to calm the nerves. If your idea of pampering yourself is putting food in your belly and not on your face pack, then there are also a series of road trips food lovers can take to find the perfect meal.

When: 10 - 12 September {Saturday to Monday}

Dussehra/Durga Puja Weekend

durgaThe Durga Puja celebrations in our city can get pretty immense! If you're planning to hit the streets, and neighbourhoods, this year and have no idea what your stomach is in store for, perhaps check out our beginners guide to Bengali food.

Here are a few things to look out for while you have fun.

When: 8 - 12 October {Saturday to Wednesday}

Diwali Weekend

foodDiwali is a special time in Delhi. You're suddenly attending more parties than meetings, playing cards becomes mandatory, and you attend more melas in one week than you would in the rest of the entire year.

If you're in town for the festival of lights you can throw a last-minute Diwali party, visit one of the city's many Diwali melas or just stuff yourself with delicious festive sweets.

When: 28 - 30 October {Friday to Sunday}

Guru Nanak Jayanti Weekend

destinationImage courtesy: Wildflower Hall

With the year coming to a close, perhaps its time you stopped focusing so much on you and started showering your significant other with some attention. Lucky for you there are enough romantic getaways that are easy to find that you may never have even considered. Honeymooners can enjoy a variety of options as well.

When: 12 - 14 November {Saturday to Monday}

Id-e-Milad Weekend

bikingImage courtesy: Helmet Stories

If you're lucky and have time off in December, you can treat yourself to an end of the year blast by taking an exciting adventure trip around Delhi or joining one of the biking tour companies in India, who curate amazing trips nationally and internationally. If you can only manage the Id-e-Milad weekend then fret not, they offer one day trips as well.

When: 10 - 13 December {Saturday to Tuesday}

Feature image courtesy: Wildflower Hall