As the festive season approaches, you'll have opportunities to escape monotonous life for a new adventure without the heat and dust of the summer or the wetness during the monsoon. A road trip with your partner offers quality time, scenic routes, new experiences, snack stops, and a chance to find quaint souvenir shops. You'll also feel more like a team, solving problems and relying only on each other. Here’s a guide to 5 of the best romantic festive road trips starting from Delhi to Jaipur, Rishikesh, Agra, Lansdowne, and Kasauli. Check out the best sites to see in these places too.
To visit the Pink City, drive on NH 48 to see the open plains for the feeling of freedom. The city is lively with color, from impressive monuments like forts and palaces to bustling bazaars. During festive seasons, dynamic markets and cultural experiences come to life.
Best sites to see: Amber Fort, a hilltop palace complex featuring the amazing Hall of Mirrors. The Palace of Winds, with its iconic honeycomb facade, is beautifully lit up. Markets like Bapu Bazaar or Johari Bazaar let you experience local culture.
For the spiritually minded, take the chance to thrive at the yoga capital. The best route is via the Delhi–Meerut Expressway and NH 334; this smooth highway runs alongside the Ganga near Haridwar and passes forested hills. This festival season offers a chance to see devotional activities.
Best sites to see: Triveni Ghat, where the evening Ganga aarti is a beautiful sight involving priests holding lamps and chanting. Riverside ashrams are great for a break for yoga, meditation or simply enjoying the serene riverside.
On the way to the best romantic monument, the Taj Mahal, take the Yamuna Expressway, considered one of the best in the region. The Taj Mahal is not artificially illuminated for festivals; night viewing is available around the full moon, subject to restrictions.
Best sites to see: Taj Mahal, the ultimate symbol of love. Agra Fort, an impressive red sandstone fortress.
Traverse the plains via Meerut and Kotdwar, moving through the winding ghat roads past forests of sal, oak and pine. Find a small cantonment town for a peaceful lakeside walk, marvel at panoramic views, and enjoy the town’s distinct colonial-era charm. The appeal is the quiet serenity of nature.
Best sites to see: Bhulla Tal, a tranquil artificial lake for paddleboat rides. St. Mary’s Church, a charming old garrison church. Tarkeshwar Mahadev Temple, a peaceful forest temple.
Eager for more road trip ideas, read The Best Road Trips In India For A Couple's Getaway.
Absorb some heritage at this hill station filled with colonial treasures. Drive along NH 44 toward Ambala and Chandigarh, then head up via Kalka and Dharampur to reach the hill station, as you traverse the spiraling mountain roads framed by forests and small villages. During the festive and winter periods, the town is a perfect spot for warm drinks, chats with the locals and nature hikes.
Best sites to see: Monkey Point; Christ Church, one of the oldest churches in the region, famed for its beautiful architecture; and Gilbert Trail.
