Offbeat Hill-Station Road Trips from Delhi: 7 Weekend Drives — my honest, slightly chaotic, super fun guide#

I’m that person who keeps an overnight bag in the boot, fuel almost full, and playlists ready. Delhi heat gets into your bones you know, and sometimes you just need to bail to the hills. Over the past few years I’ve done a bunch of weekend drives to offbeat hill stations around Delhi — a few mis-turns, a couple chai-addas that slapped, some epic views, and a handful of “wow, didn’t expect that” moments. This list isn’t the usual Manali–Shimla–Nainital circuit. It’s the quieter, slightly lesser-known side. Trust me, that 5 am roll-out from NCR, headlight beams cutting through fog near Murthal or Bijnor, dhaba parathas you burn your tongue on, the whole thing feels like mini therapy. And yes, it’s 100% doable with a regular hatchback or compact SUV.¶

Quick reality check before you romanticise too hard. Highways out of Delhi are in decent shape but monsoon landslides are still a thing in Uttarakhand and Himachal, especially July to mid September. FASTag is mandatory at tolls. Speed cameras on Delhi–Meerut expressway and NH44 are no joke. Winter black ice can make you skid if you’re not careful around Chakrata and Kanatal. Phone signal drops in forested sections like Pangot–Kilbury and parts of Khirsu. Book stays in advance on long weekends because everyone from Gurgaon to Noida gets the same idea. Keep cash for the odd local shop that acts allergic to QR codes, even though UPI works almost everywhere now. Basic stuff, but it saves headaches.¶

How I pick and prep weekend drives from Delhi#

My easy rule: 6–8 hours one-way is proper weekend material, 9–12 is long weekend only. Leave at dawn, breakfast on the highway, reach hills by lunch so you don’t tackle the final climb in the dark. If you hate driving, do the half–half trick: bus or train till a base town, then hire a local taxi for the last 40–60 km. Works like a charm. Railheads you can target: Kotdwar for Lansdowne and Khirsu, Dehradun for Chakrata and Dhanaulti, Kathgodam for Pangot, Kalka for Chail, Pathankot for Bir. HRTC/UTC Volvos from Kashmere Gate are steady. Stay budgets feel reasonable right now: homestays 1200–2500 a night, boutique 3000–6000, glamping and view-heavy resorts 4500–9000. I book at least the first night, keep the second flexible in case I find a better vibe on arrival.¶

Drive 1: Lansdowne, Uttarakhand — cedar scent, cantonment calm, squeaky-clean vibes#

Distance from Delhi roughly 270–300 km. Route I like: Delhi–Meerut Expressway–Bijnor–Najibabad–Kotdwar–Lansdowne. It’s a Garhwal cantonment, so it’s tidy, low-key, and honestly kinda cute. The Top Point (Tip-in-Top) for sunrise, Bhulla Tal for paddle boats and just sitting, a simple St. Mary’s Church visit, and a day trip to Tarkeshwar Mahadev in the deodar forest if you want the real hush-hush vibe. Food is straightforward pahadi fare: aloo gutke, mandua rotis, kafuli if you get lucky at a homestay, plus the usual Maggi stands. Stays range 1500–5000 depending on view and season. Best months: Oct–Nov and Mar–June. Summer evenings are breezy, winter gets chilly. Signal is fine near town but dips on the way to Tarkeshwar. Watch for bad patches between Najibabad and Kotdwar after heavy rain.¶

Drive 2: Chakrata — deodar tunnels, Tiger Falls thundering, and a cave that feels like a secret#

About 320 km from Delhi if you go via Dehradun. I usually do Delhi–Meerut–Muzaffarnagar–Dehradun–Chakrata, though some folks swear by the Paonta Sahib side for fewer city jams. Chakrata is quiet because it’s a cantonment too. Devban (Deoban) is the forest I keep going back to — mist funnels through tall trees, birdcalls echo, you’ll forget emails exist. Tiger Falls is a steep walk down and up, but worth the sweaty forehead. Budher caves are raw, no touristy nonsense, take a guide if you’re not used to cave systems. Homestays 1200–2500, basic lodges 1500–3500, a couple boutique options 4000–6000. Winter brings snow, which sounds romantic till you meet black ice. Roads are narrow. Drive slow, don’t cut corners blind. Monsoon landslides do happen, local admin posts updates on closures. Keep a flashlight for power cuts.¶

Drive 3: Kanatal & Dhanaulti — glamping near Tehri Lake, piney walks, and the Surkanda climb#

This one’s roughly 300–320 km from Delhi. Two routes: Delhi–Dehradun–Mussoorie–Dhanaulti–Kanatal or Delhi–Rishikesh–Chamba–Kanatal if you want to dodge Mussoorie’s weekend chaos. The Surkanda Devi trek is short but it punches your lungs, the views on a clear day make you forget that burn. Tehri Lake has water sports in season — kayaking, speedboats — check operators for safety gear, they’re getting stricter now which is good. Dhanaulti’s Eco Park is nice for a post-lunch laze, lots of families though. Kanatal has this whole glamping thing going on, tents with proper beds and fairy lights, 5000–9000 in peak season. Homestays 1500–3000. Evenings become sweater weather real fast. Best time: Mar–June and Oct. Roads post monsoon can have surprise potholes near Chamba. Do not litter in the forest, locals will stare you down. And rightly so.¶

Drive 4: Pangot, near Nainital — birding heaven and those Kilbury curves#

Pangot sits above Nainital, about 330 km from Delhi if you roll via Hapur–Moradabad–Rampur–Haldwani–Nainital and then swing left towards Pangot. Or take the Kaladhungi side for a greener entry. It’s famous in the birding crowd — if you show up with binoculars and a bit of patience, you’ll actually see things beyond crows and pigeons. Kilbury Bird Sanctuary feels like a movie set early morning, sun slicing through pine, that crisp smell, you’ll stop the car just to breathe. Stays are mostly lodges and homestays that know birders, 2000–6000 depending on rooms and meals. Best months are Oct–Nov and late Feb–April. Winter gets bone cold, carry layers. Drive slow, the road is narrow in patches. For food, dip to Nainital for coffee and momos, and don’t miss Bal Mithai from the old shops. Signal can be patchy in Pangot proper.¶

Drive 5: Chail, Himachal — palace nostalgia, highest cricket ground, and pine-sweet air#

Around 340–360 km from Delhi. I usually go Delhi–Ambala–Kalka–Kandaghat–Chail, skipping Shimla traffic. Chail Palace is vintage, perfect for a slow walk and a tea with mountain views. The highest cricket ground is literally a ground in the forest but yes, cool claim to fame. Kali Ka Tibba temple sits on a ridge with 360 degree views, straightforward walk and big payoff at sunset. Food is classic Himachali dhaba style, with rajma-chawal and siddu if you find the right kitchen. HP Tourism properties are solid value, 2500–5000, homestays 1500–3000, boutique stays can go 5000–8000 with fancy glass-deck views. Winter snow happens, roads get slippery around Junga–Chail bends. Himachal’s single-use plastic rules are stricter now, carry a bottle, refill at your stay. Also, wildlife sanctuary nearby, don’t blare speakers when you drive. It’s not cool.¶

Drive 6: Khirsu, Garhwal — village lanes, apple orchards, and insane Himalayan views if you’re lucky#

Khirsu sits about 360–380 km from Delhi via Kotdwar–Pauri. It’s not Instagram famous yet which is honestly the point. Mornings can come with views of Chaukhamba and Trishul that make you shut up for a minute. I did lazy walks through deodars, watched school kids rush home, and ate simple roti–dal with fresh ghee at a homestay that felt like visiting a cousin. GMVN Khirsu is a steady, old-school option. Homestays 1200–3000, small resorts 3500–6000. Best time is March–June and October. July–August is green heaven but landslides around Pauri happen. Phone signal dips. Last stretch road is narrow and steep in places, honk on bends like your dad taught you. Evenings get chilly, and shops shut early, so buy snacks and meds in Pauri itself. Sunrises, if clouds behave, are ridiculous.¶

Drive 7: Bir Billing, Kangra — paragliding, monastery walks, and too many good cafes for one weekend#

This is my long-weekend pick, around 500–520 km, roughly 10–12 hours depending on the day. Route: Delhi–Ambala–Chandigarh–Una–Kangra–Baijnath–Bir. Billing is the take-off point, Bir is the landing site, and tandem paragliding here is India’s classic big first flight. As of 2025, operators are more regulated, rates hover around 3000–4000 per person, with proper helmets and harness checks, and weather calls by local admin are strict. Monsoon often shuts flying in July–Aug, winds matter a lot, so don’t argue if they say no. Cafes serve wood-fired pizzas one day and thukpa the next, and the monasteries like Chokling in Bir or Sherabling near Bhattu are good for slow walks. Stays range 1500–5000, plus boutique 6000–9000. If you don’t want to drive, take a Volvo to Baijnath and taxi the last bit. Sunset at Billing on a clear day is a mood.¶

What’s current, safe, and honestly useful right now#

Travel updates are simple but important. FASTag only at tolls, keep some extra balance. UPI works in most hill towns, but carry cash for forest checkpoints or tiny tea stalls. July to mid September is landslide season in both Uttarakhand and Himachal. Keep an eye on district admin handles for real-time road updates, they actually post closures and diversions now. Winter Jan–Feb brings snow to Chakrata, Kanatal, even Chail, which sounds dreamy but also means potential road blockages. Check your tyres, wipers, and keep a basic kit: torch, power bank, chocolate, ORS, triangle reflector, tow rope if you have it, and a small first aid pouch you will thank yourself for later. Hotels are mostly back in full swing, prices spike on long weekends, so book early. And yeah, please don’t do loud music in forests. Locals hate it, wildlife definitely hates it.¶

Food, tiny detours, and stuff I’d tell a friend without being annoying#

Food wise, I keep it simple. Chai every 100 km is not excessive, it is strategy. Dhaba parathas near Bijnor, excellent. In Pangot, you’ll eat a lot at your lodge, which usually slaps, and when you dip to Nainital get Bal Mithai and singori, thank me later. Chakrata homestays make aloo gutke that’ll ruin you for city potatoes. In Chail, ask about siddu or babru, not everywhere but worth chasing. Tehri side has trout sometimes, feel lucky if you find a good one. Bir has cafe menus the size of small books, so stick to one-two places. Detours I loved: Tarkeshwar from Lansdowne, Devban from Chakrata, Surkanda near Kanatal, Kilbury loop in Pangot, Kali Ka Tibba near Chail, village rambles around Khirsu, tea gardens around Palampur when you’re in Bir.¶

Transport options if you don’t want to drive all the way#

Hate long drives or you have a hatchback that wheezes uphill like an asthmatic cat. Fair. Do rails or Volvos for the base, then hire a taxi. Trains work nicely: Kotdwar for Lansdowne or Khirsu, Dehradun for Chakrata and Dhanaulti, Kathgodam for Pangot, Kalka for Chail, Pathankot for Bir. Buses from Kashmere Gate are consistent now, UTC to Kotdwar and Dehradun, HRTC to Kangra–Baijnath. Local taxis are easy to find at stations, just fix the price before the climb and ask about return. I’ve also done a mixed plan: overnight Volvo to Dehradun, rent a self-drive at dawn, and straight to Dhanaulti–Kanatal. It’s not perfect but I like breaking the trip if I’m solo and sleep-deprived. Works for Bir too — Volvo till Baijnath, taxi up.¶

Budgeting and stay trends that actually help#

Stay prices bounce with demand. A clean homestay in Lansdowne, Chakrata, or Khirsu can be 1200–2500 in shoulder months, goes up 500–1000 on long weekends. Pangot’s bird lodges are 2500–6000 depending on season and meals. Kanatal glamping is the fancy kid right now, think 5000–9000. Chail boutique stays can also touch 8000 if you want that glass balcony into pine forest drama. Bir is a proper range — hostels 600–1000 per bed, rooms 1500–5000, boutique 6000–9000. Ask about inclusions, sometimes your dinner and breakfast are included and you overpay for lunches outside anyway. I book flexible rates when possible, and I prefer places that manage waste and water decently. Himachal’s plastic rules are tight, Uttarakhand pushing too. Carry your bottle, refill, don’t be that person leaving wrappers in a rhododendron bush.¶

Best seasons, by feel, not by brochure#

Oct–Nov is my favorite. Skies are clean, evenings are crisp, mornings make you wake up early for once in your life. Mar–June works if you want spring greens and family-friendly weather, though June gets busy. Winter Dec–Feb has snow potential in Chakrata, Kanatal, Chail — makes for romantic reels but also tricky roads and long heater bills. Monsoon is lush, especially around Khirsu and Kanatal, just know landslides are real and views often hide behind clouds. Pangot is magic late winter and early spring for birding, though you’ll freeze at sunrise. Bir flying seasons vary with wind, but roughly Mar–June and Oct–Nov are the sweet windows. Weekdays beat weekends, always. If you can sneak out Friday morning and return Sunday night, you dodge half the crowds. It’s like a cheat code.¶

Driving notes and tiny hacks I keep forgetting then re-learning#

Start at 5 am, reach by lunchtime, nap, then do your evening walk. Keep your speed chill as soon as the mountains start, people come around blind turns, goats too. Fuel up in plains where stations are 24x7 and UPI works without drama. Tolls with FASTag feel smoother but factor in 400–900 each way depending on route. Carry one spare car key, not kidding, I’ve locked mine inside once at a tea stop, me and him went totally blank. Download offline maps before the last stretch. Keep a paper copy of your stay address. Check your tyres right before the climb. Park facing outward on slopes. If you hear a weird sound, stop and check rather than pretend it’s fine and then regret it later. And eat light before twisty sections, puking is not a personality trait.¶

What to pack without going full expedition mode#

Layers. A windcheater. A light fleece even in summer because hill evenings do mood swings. Solid shoes that can walk mud. Reusable water bottle, small thermos if you’re a chai person. Binoculars if you’re doing Pangot, totally worth it. Torch, power bank, a few bandaids. Sunglasses, cap, sunscreen, that lip balm you always forget. Cash. Healthy snacks you’ll ignore and then be thankful for when the dhaba you were banking on is randomly shut. If you camp or glamp at Kanatal, a small headlamp makes life easier. For Bir, shoes that grip because Billing has gravel. And yes, please pack empathy, you’re visiting someone’s home and mountains are not your personal photoshoot. If you hear a “sir, thoda dheere”, listen. Locals know.¶

A mini itinerary sketch for each, if you’re the planning type#

Lansdowne: Friday drive, sunset at Tip-in-Top, Saturday Tarkeshwar, Sunday Bhulla plus slow brunch. Chakrata: Friday Deoban, Saturday Tiger Falls and Budher, Sunday stroll through village lanes. Kanatal–Dhanaulti: Friday check-in and pine walk, Saturday Surkanda with Tehri Lake after, Sunday Eco Park and long coffee. Pangot: Friday Kilbury drive, Saturday early birding and Cafe run in Nainital, Sunday Cheena Peak or slow walk. Chail: Friday Palace and tea, Saturday Kali Ka Tibba and highest cricket ground, Sunday lazy pine time. Khirsu: Friday sunset deck, Saturday village amble and apple orchards, Sunday Pauri stopover and back. Bir: Friday cafes and monastery, Saturday flight and Billing sunset, Sunday tea gardens and stroll. Tweak it as per weather. If it rains, nap guilt-free.¶

Lesser-known bits and quick cultural notes that make it feel more local#

In Garhwal, greeting with a soft namaste or “jai badri” can get you smiles, people appreciate sincere not loud. Buy local honey and pickles at small shops in Khirsu, they taste like somebody’s grandma made them. In Pangot, guides are often community folks trained in birding. Pay fair, it helps more than you think. Chail’s palace staff have crazy stories if you ask nicely, old anecdotes that don’t show up on Google. In Bir, chopsticks at cafes might be for show, but try local siddu or thukpa without acting like a food critic. Respect monastery spaces — silence means silence. Back in Chakrata, cantonment rules exist, don’t fly drones unless you want polite but firm conversations. Occassionally roads shut for tree falls, be patient. Your Instagram can wait.¶

Safety, permits, and random admin stuff that we forget#

No e-pass needed nowadays for Himachal or Uttarakhand for these routes, just carry your ID, car RC, PUC, and insurance. For paragliding in Bir, book with licensed operators only, you’ll see boards, and most places now share correct weight limits and timing. Tehri Lake water sports are operated by multiple vendors, ask for life jackets and basic briefing. Forest areas like Devban sometimes have entry fees, keep small cash. Himachal property taxes drove some cafe changes in Bir, new ones keep popping up, not a problem, but double-check locations on maps so you don’t reach an old pin. Network is mostly Airtel and Jio, BSNL in deeper pockets. 5G in towns, but in forests you might get nothing, so let folks at home know before you vanish. And drive sober. Really shouldn’t have to say it, but ya.¶

Final thoughts from a Delhi kid who just wants cleaner air on weekends#

Look, you don’t need to conquer every viewpoint or collect badges for number of hill stations. If you hit Lansdowne and do nothing but sip chai and stare, that counts. If Chakrata gives you rain all weekend and you just read and nap, it’s still a win. Kanatal glamping might feel overpriced but waking up under pine with a cup of coffee in your hand, phew. Pangot will quietly turn you into a bird nerd. Chail will make you nostalgic even if you’ve never lived a palace day in your life. Khirsu will slow you down. Bir will scare you a little, then make you grin like a kid. Go, drive safe, be kind, tip well, pack out your trash, and if you want more solid travel stories and no-BS guides, I keep finding good stuff on AllBlogs.in. Not perfect, but helpful, like a friend’s text at 1 am.¶