Weekend getaways
Two- and three-night trips that fit around a working week.
Weekend getaways at a glance
- Itineraries56
- In India52 itineraries
- Abroad4 itineraries
- Destinations8 places
- Trip lengths2 to 4 days
- Trip stylePrivate, customisable
- Best suited toWorking couples
- Also suitsFriends with limited leave
A good weekend trip needs a short journey, one base and no more than two big activities. Anything longer than four or five hours each way usually eats into the fun.
From Chennai by road or rail
Puducherry and Mahabalipuram along the East Coast Road, Yercaud via Salem, and Tirupati for a pilgrimage weekend.
A short flight away
North Goa, Coorg (via Mangaluru or Kannur), Kochi and Alleppey, and Hyderabad for a food weekend.
International weekends
With a Friday evening flight, Colombo, Singapore and Dubai all work for a long weekend from Chennai, as long as your visa and entry paperwork are ready in advance.
Weekend getaways in Tamil Nadu
3D / 2NYercaudYercaud Weekend from Chennai
A quick escape to the Shevaroy Hills by overnight train to Salem: coffee estates, Lady's Seat views and boating on Yercaud Lake.
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3D / 2NChennaiChennai City & Culture Short Break
Two days of Chennai at its best: Mylapore's temple streets, Fort St George, the Chola bronzes at Egmore, filter coffee and the beach at sunset.
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3D / 2NNagoreNagore Dargah Ziyarat
Two nights at Nagore for ziyarat at the dargah of Hazrat Syed Shahul Hameed, with time for the Kandoori festival when it falls during your stay.
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3D / 2NVelankanniVelankanni Pilgrimage
Two nights at Velankanni for Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health, Our Lady's Tank and Morning Star Church, with an evening by the sea.
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3D / 2NTiruvannamalaiTiruvannamalai Girivalam
Two nights at Tiruvannamalai for darshan at Arunachaleswarar, the full-moon Girivalam around Arunachala hill and quiet time at the Ramana Maharshi ashram.
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3D / 2NTiruchirappalli (Srirangam)Srirangam & Trichy Temples
The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam, Jambukeswarar at Thiruvanaikaval, the Rockfort Ucchi Pillayar temple and Samayapuram Mariamman.
View itinerary →Weekend getaways: 56 itineraries
3D / 2NYercaudYercaud Weekend from Chennai
A quick escape to the Shevaroy Hills by overnight train to Salem: coffee estates, Lady's Seat views and boating on Yercaud Lake.
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3D / 2NChennaiChennai City & Culture Short Break
Two days of Chennai at its best: Mylapore's temple streets, Fort St George, the Chola bronzes at Egmore, filter coffee and the beach at sunset.
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3D / 2NPuducherryPondicherry & Auroville Weekend
Cafés, colonial lanes, the Promenade and a morning at Auroville: a two-night French Quarter break that is easy to reach from Chennai and Bengaluru.
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3D / 2NKumarakom · AlleppeyAlleppey Houseboat & Kumarakom Weekend
A two-night backwater taster: a lakeside resort evening in Kumarakom and an overnight kettuvallam cruise through Alleppey's canals.
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3D / 2NThekkadyThekkady Spice & Wildlife Short Break
Two nights at the edge of Periyar Tiger Reserve: an early lake safari, a spice plantation walk and a kalaripayattu show.
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3D / 2NKochi · AlleppeyKochi & Alleppey Short Break
A two-night introduction to Kerala: Fort Kochi's nets and heritage streets, then a shikara or houseboat on the Alleppey backwaters.
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3D / 2NKabiniKabini Wildlife Weekend
Two nights on the Kabini riverbank with jeep and boat safaris into Nagarhole, home of large elephant herds and the elusive black panther.
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3D / 2NHampiHampi Short Break
Two days in the ruined capital: Virupaksha, Vittala's stone chariot, a coracle ride and sunrise from Matanga Hill.
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3D / 2NBengaluruBengaluru City Weekend
Lalbagh, Tipu's summer palace, VV Puram's food street, a microbrewery evening and sunrise at Nandi Hills.
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3D / 2NTirupatiTirupati Balaji Darshan Tour
Two nights for darshan at Tirumala, the Padmavathi temple at Tiruchanur and Sri Kalahasti, with darshan slots booked as soon as they open.
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3D / 2NAraku ValleyAraku Valley Rail & Coffee Trip
The Kirandul line's tunnels and viaducts, two nights in Araku's cool hills, a tribal museum and coffee tasting.
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3D / 2NHyderabadHyderabad Family Fun Break
A family weekend: Ramoji Film City, the Salar Jung Museum, Hussain Sagar and the Golconda sound-and-light show.
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3D / 2NNorth GoaGoa Weekend Escape
Two nights of sun, seafood and Fontainhas' painted streets, with a Mandovi river cruise on the last evening.
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3D / 2NMumbaiMumbai City Break
Two days of Mumbai: the Gateway of India, CSMT, the Elephanta Caves, Marine Drive at sunset and a street-food trail.
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3D / 2NAurangabad (Ajanta & Ellora)Ajanta & Ellora Caves Tour
Two full days for the painted caves of Ajanta and the Kailasa temple at Ellora, planned around the Monday and Tuesday closures.
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3D / 2NShirdiShirdi & Nashik Pilgrimage
Darshan at the Sai Baba Samadhi Mandir with aarti passes, plus Shani Shingnapur and Trimbakeshwar near Nashik.
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3D / 2NLonavalaLonavala Monsoon Weekend
Waterfalls, misty viewpoints and an easy fort hike at Lohagad during Lonavala's green monsoon season.
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3D / 2NAhmedabad · Statue of Unity (Ekta Nagar)Statue of Unity & Ahmedabad
Sabarmati Ashram and the old city of Ahmedabad, then the world's tallest statue, the Narmada dam and the evening laser show.
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3D / 2NAhmedabadAhmedabad Heritage Weekend
The dawn heritage walk through the pols, Adalaj step well, Sidi Saiyyed's jali and Manek Chowk's night food market.
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3D / 2NJaipurJaipur Weekend
Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, City Palace and Jantar Mantar, with time to shop for block prints and gems and watch sunset from Nahargarh.
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3D / 2NDelhiDelhi City Break
Old Delhi by cycle-rickshaw and food walk, Humayun's Tomb, Qutub Minar, India Gate and Akshardham's evening show.
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3D / 2NVaranasiVaranasi Spiritual Retreat
Dawn on the ghats by boat, Kashi Vishwanath, the evening Ganga aarti and Sarnath, where the Buddha first taught.
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3D / 2NAgra · Mathura & VrindavanAgra Taj Mahal Short Break
Sunrise at the Taj, Agra Fort and sunset from Mehtab Bagh, with Krishna's Mathura and Vrindavan on the way back to Delhi.
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3D / 2NLucknowLucknow Nawabi Food Trail
Galouti kebabs, Awadhi biryani and chikankari shopping, plus the Bara Imambara's labyrinth and the 1857 Residency.
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3D / 2NLucknow · AyodhyaAyodhya Darshan Short Trip
Fly to Lucknow, drive to Ayodhya for the Ram Mandir, Hanuman Garhi and the evening aarti at Ram ki Paidi.
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3D / 2NShimlaShimla Weekend
The Kalka–Shimla toy train, the Ridge and Mall Road, Jakhoo Temple and a day out to Kufri or Chail.
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3D / 2NJim Corbett National ParkJim Corbett Safari Weekend
Two nights at a jungle resort with jeep safaris in the Bijrani or Jhirna zones and an evening at Garjia Devi.
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3D / 2NAmritsarAmritsar Golden Temple Weekend
The Golden Temple by day and night, the langar, Jallianwala Bagh, the Partition Museum and the Attari border ceremony.
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3D / 2NKatra (Vaishno Devi)Vaishno Devi Yatra
Two nights in Katra for the climb to the Bhawan with RFID registration, helicopter and battery-car options and the Bhairon ropeway.
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3D / 2NUjjainUjjain & Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga Yatra
The Mahakaleshwar Bhasma Aarti, the Mahakal Lok corridor and a day trip to the island jyotirlinga at Omkareshwar.
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3D / 2NPachmarhiPachmarhi Hill Weekend
Bee Falls, Jata Shankar caves and sunset at Dhoopgarh in Madhya Pradesh's only hill station.
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3D / 2NKolkataKolkata Heritage & Food
Victoria Memorial, a heritage tram, Kumartuli's idol makers, College Street and a sweet-shop trail.
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4D / 3NNashik · ShirdiNashik Vineyards & Shirdi
Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga, Panchavati and a vineyard tasting in Nashik, then darshan at Shirdi Sai Baba temple.
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3D / 2NKasauliKasauli Weekend Getaway
Two nights in Kasauli's colonial cantonment: Christ Church, the Gilbert Trail, Monkey Point and quiet evenings at Sunset Point.
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3D / 2NLansdowneLansdowne Forest Retreat
Two unhurried nights in Garhwal's oak forests: the Garhwal Rifles museum, Bhulla Tal, sunrise at Tip-in-Top and the Tarkeshwar Mahadev temple.
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2D / 1NNeemranaNeemrana Fort Weekend
A night in a 15th-century fort-palace two hours from Delhi, with the zip-line over the ramparts and the old stepwell nearby.
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3D / 2NGayaGaya Pind Daan Yatra
Two nights in Gaya for pind daan on the Phalgu ghats, the Vishnupad Temple and the Akshayavat with a family panda, plus the Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya.
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2D / 1NKolkataKolkata: Mother Teresa's City
The Mother House of the Missionaries of Charity and Mother Teresa's tomb, Nirmal Hriday at Kalighat, St Paul's Cathedral and the Armenian Church.
View itinerary →3D / 2NNagoreNagore Dargah Ziyarat
Two nights at Nagore for ziyarat at the dargah of Hazrat Syed Shahul Hameed, with time for the Kandoori festival when it falls during your stay.
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3D / 2NKochi · KodungallurKochi & Cheraman Juma Masjid
Fort Kochi's spice-trade quarter and Mattancherry, then Kodungallur's Cheraman Juma Masjid, traditionally held to be India's first mosque, and the Muziris heritage sites.
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3D / 2NSrinagarHazratbal & Kashmir Sufi Shrines
The Hazratbal shrine on Dal Lake, Jamia Masjid, Khanqah-e-Moula and Makhdoom Sahib in Srinagar, with a day trip to Charar-e-Sharif, the shrine of Sheikh Noor-ud-din Wali.
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3D / 2NNanded (Hazur Sahib)Hazur Sahib Nanded Yatra
Two nights at Nanded for darshan and langar at Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib, with the riverside gurdwaras of Nagina Ghat and Langar Sahib.
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3D / 2NMathura & VrindavanBraj Darshan: Mathura, Vrindavan & Govardhan
Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura, the Banke Bihari and ISKCON temples of Vrindavan and the Govardhan parikrama, at a gentle pace.
View itinerary →3D / 2NVelankanniVelankanni Pilgrimage
Two nights at Velankanni for Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health, Our Lady's Tank and Morning Star Church, with an evening by the sea.
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3D / 2NSabarimalaSabarimala Ayyappa Darshan
Two nights for the Sabarimala pilgrimage: Virtual-Q booking, the drive to Nilakkal, a dip in the Pamba, the climb to the Sannidhanam and darshan up the eighteen holy steps, with vehicles arranged for whole groups.
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3D / 2NAjmer · PushkarAjmer Sharif & Pushkar
Ziyarat and qawwali at the Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer, then Pushkar's lake, ghats and Brahma temple over the hill.
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3D / 2NPalitanaPalitana Shatrunjaya Yatra
Two nights at Palitana for the pre-dawn climb of Shatrunjaya Hill to its 800 Jain temples, with a doli arranged for those who cannot climb.
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3D / 2NMysuru · ShravanabelagolaShravanabelagola & Mysuru
Mysuru's palace and Chamundi Hill, then the barefoot climb to the great Gommateshwara statue and the basadis of Chandragiri.
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3D / 2NGuwahatiKamakhya Devi Darshan
Darshan at the Kamakhya Temple, one of the most important Shakti Peethas, with Umananda on its Brahmaputra island and an evening river cruise.
View itinerary →3D / 2NTiruvannamalaiTiruvannamalai Girivalam
Two nights at Tiruvannamalai for darshan at Arunachaleswarar, the full-moon Girivalam around Arunachala hill and quiet time at the Ramana Maharshi ashram.
View itinerary →3D / 2NTiruchirappalli (Srirangam)Srirangam & Trichy Temples
The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam, Jambukeswarar at Thiruvanaikaval, the Rockfort Ucchi Pillayar temple and Samayapuram Mariamman.
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3D / 2NChidambaramChidambaram Nataraja & Pichavaram
Darshan at the Thillai Nataraja Temple, the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple and a rowing boat through the Pichavaram mangroves, timed for Natyanjali on request.
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3D / 2NPenangPenang Food Weekend
Hawker centres, Nasi kandar, George Town's murals and Penang Hill in two nights.
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3D / 2NMacauMacau Weekend
Senado Square, the Ruins of St Paul's, Macau Tower and a show at the Cotai resorts.
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3D / 2NColomboColombo Weekend
A quick trip from Chennai for Gangaramaya, Galle Face Green, Pettah market and seafood dinners.
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3D / 2NDubaiDubai Group Tour
A quick group trip with a desert safari, a dhow cruise and the Burj Khalifa.
View itinerary →56 itineraries
Destinations for weekend getaways
South IndiaPuducherry
Puducherry (Pondicherry) is a former French enclave three hours south of Chennai.
Tamil NaduMahabalipuram
Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) is a seaside town of seventh- and eighth-century Pallava stone carvings, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Tamil NaduYercaud
Yercaud is a small coffee-country hill station in the Shevaroy Hills above Salem, often called the jewel of the south.
Tamil NaduKodaikanal
Kodaikanal, the princess of hill stations, sits on a plateau in the Palani Hills around a star-shaped lake.
KarnatakaCoorg
Coorg (Kodagu) is Karnataka's coffee country, a district of misty hills, estates shaded by silver oak and waterfalls in the forest.
GoaNorth Goa
North Goa is the lively side of the state: Baga, Calangute and Anjuna beaches, flea markets, beach shacks and clubs, with quieter coves like Morjim and Ashwem further north.
Sri LankaColombo
Colombo is Sri Lanka's commercial capital, a coastal city of colonial buildings, temples, seaside promenades and good shopping.
Southeast AsiaSingapore
Singapore is a compact, spotless city-state and the easiest international family holiday from India.
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