13 Best Weekend Getaways from Lucknow

Lucknow… a famed destination in India needs no introduction when it comes to travel extravaganza. It is one of the best places to visit and witness grand mausoleums, age-old buildings adorned in British architecture, superb gardens and outsized monuments. In short, it is a place filled with grandiosity. In Lucknow, people come in queues from all directions to savour its ‘lajawab Khana’ and simply merry to the fact that you are here.

…but…

Even the lucknowites need a little break, a vacation from all the series of episodes where tourists visit attractions, buy souvenirs and take photographs. We know, it can get pretty monotonous, so why not you be a tourist for a weekend. Keeping that thought in mind, we have 13 places for you that can make great weekend getaways from Lucknow.

Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh (136 km)

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You get that sacred feeling as soon as you step into this ancient city, Ayodhya, where a series of temples, ghats, and mahals stand along the side of River Sarayu. It is reputed to be one of the best places to visit in India, especially for the devotees of the Lord Rama. Every year, many pilgrims visit Ayodhya of its famous temples such as Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, Hanuman Garhi, Treta Ke Thakur and Kanak Bhawan. However, Ayodhya is not confined to Hindu pilgrimage only, there are also Buddhist and Jain shrines as well as a museum.

How to Reach:

Ayodhya has no commercial airport, however it has a railway station and is connected by Lucknow and other places around India. By road, you can opt for state bus service that ply on a regular basis or if you plan to take your private car, stick to national highway 27, you are likely to arrive your destination in approximately 3 hours.

Where to Stay:

You can find comfortable rooms at the cost of your choice in Ayodhya. This place has accommodations that range from budget to moderate.

Chitrakoot, Madhya Pradesh (230 km)

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Madhya Pradesh has just so much potential to win the hearts of travellers visiting Chitrakoot and the reason why is because, this destination has a mix variety of tourist attractions. Its sacred temples, lush green forests, mighty waterfall and yoga centres are all that attracts the explorers. A stay over a weekend is good enough to witness all the places in Chitrakoot like Sati Ansuya Ashram, Hanuman Dhara, Bharat Milap Mandir, Gupt Godavari, Ramghat, Janaki Kund, Bharat Koop, Jagdal Waterfall as well as Ayurvedic and yoga centres.

How to Reach:

Chitrakoot has no commercial airport as well as railway stations, however, it is well connected by road. National highway 30 is the best way to reach Chitrakoot from Lucknow, where it will take approximately 5 ½ hours. You may also find private buses plying to and fro Lucknow to Chitrakoot.

Where to Stay:

Chitrakoot has a number of accommodation options that provide comfortable services and necessity amenities, it has tourist bungalows, guest houses and budget friendly hotels.

Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh (310 km)

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Its century old temples and fort are endowed with architectural elegance and without a doubt, you will spend hours admiring such detailed work of art in their structures. Khajuraho is a pilgrimage city that invites many people from various places to embark on holy temple tour. It also is an ideal destination for nature lovers, the mountain range of Vindhya offers a breathtaking backdrop with Panna National Park surrounded by thick forest safeguarding the various animals. While in this wonderful city, you can visit temples like Lakshmana Temple, Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, Chaturbhuj Temple as well as other attractions such as Ajaigarh Fort, Raneh Falls, Archaeological Museum, and Jain Museum.

How to Reach:

Khajuraho has an airport known as Civil Aerodrome Khajuraho and a railway station that is well connected from Lucknow. If you stick to national highway 34 you are likely to arrive at your destination in around 7 hours by road.

Where to Stay:

In Khajuraho, you can find many places to stay ranging from luxury hotels to moderate with services that will make your stay comfortable. You can also find many hostels, guest houses and ashrams in Khajuraho.

Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (309 km)

Say hello to the spiritual part of your life while on a trip to Varanasi. This simple hub is a blissful as it is surrounded by ghats, temples and forts. A place where many lost souls engage in spiritual conversation and witness the hair-raising aartis in the ghats. With mighty Ganges flowing with elegance, you can take a boat tour to see the lighted candles floating on the river and get a panoramic view of the Ganga Aarti. Varanasi has many ghats to keep one occupied like Assi Ghat, Man Mandir Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Tulsi Ghat, Bhonsale Ghat. Apart from that, Ramnagar Fort and Chunar Fort are also a must visit attractions in Varanasi.

How to Reach:

Varanasi has an international airport and a railway junction that is well connected from Lucknow. If you plan to take a road trip to Varanasi, stick to national highway 31, you may reach your destination in 6 ½ hours. You can also opt for state bus services that ply daily from Lucknow to Varanasi.

Where to Stay:

Varanasi has all sorts of staying options, you will not need to hassle, however, it depends upon how comfortable you are. You get 5-star hotels to budget and even ashrams and hostels for backpackers.

Orchha, Madhya Pradesh (322 km)

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Visiting the capital of Bundela Rajput Kings, you will feel that Orchha has a historical aura that will take you down the road of the rich past. Its monuments surrounded by lush greenery make it a perfect getaway for nature lovers and history buffs. This beautiful ancient kingdom of Madhya Pradesh is blessed with a few interesting attractions that must be visited like the Orchha Fort, Jhansi Fort, Dinman Hardaul Palace and the Chhatris. Laxminarayan Temple is also a popular attraction as well as Orchha Wildlife Sanctuary.

How to Reach:

The closest airport and railway station to Orchha is in Jhansi located at a distance of 30 and 18 km respectively. You can hire a cab or local transport, which may take around ½ hours to reach Orchha via national highway Orchha-Jhansi road.

Where to Stay:

For luxury hotel seekers, Orchha has heritage hotels that provide luxe services, you may feel like a ‘Maharaja’ staying in one of the palaces turned hotels. However, there are also guest houses and budget hotels for shoestring travellers.

Agra, Uttar Pradesh (335 km)

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Leave aside the chaotic part of the city and be a part of the magical impact this famous destination offers. Agra, widely known for the iconic Taj Mahal, is a place of tourist interest. It can be conveniently accessed, thanks to the Yamuna Express Highway. It’s mega forts, iconic sites, delicious food, colourful shops are always radiant and beautiful. Often we keep our visits limited to Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, but this city offers much more. Visit some beautiful and historical attractions in Agra like Fatehpur Sikri, Itmad-Ud-Daulah, Wildlife SOS, Jama Masjid, Akbar’s Tomb and Mehtab Bagh (this site is amazing to photograph Taj Mahal without any interruption).

How to Reach:

Agra is conveniently connected via the Yamuna Expressway, you will reach Agra in 4 hours from Lucknow. However, there is also an airport and railway station in Agra that is well connected to Lucknow.

Where to Stay:

Agra has many hostels for backpackers, and there are guesthouses as well. You can spend a budget friendly holiday in these places. For those who want to have a comfortable stay in Agra, there are lavish hotels offering luxe services.

Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh (341 km)

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Gwalior is a fascinating city to visit in India; it is home to an imposing fort that houses a series of palaces and temples of the bygone days making it an interesting place to visit for history lovers. A visit here may make you see the charm Gwalior and how strong and brave the kingdom once was. The many attractions around Gwalior displays an artistic work of art, thus it also proves the kingdom to have an interest in architecture and design. However, while here, the places you must visit are Gwalior Fort (of course), Sun Temple, Jai Vilas Palace Museum, Tigra Dam (despite 23 km from the city, it is worth a visit) and Memorial Of Tansen.

How to Reach:

Gwalior has a commercial airport and a railway junction that has regular services from Lucknow. You can also opt for state and private buses that ply from Lucknow or if you plan to drive, you can stick to national highway 234 – 719, you may reach within 6 hours or earlier.

Where to Stay:

There are heritage hotels in Gwalior with the architecture of that of modern and traditional decor. You can also find many moderate hotels with comfort to the wallet prices and well-maintained services.

Nainital, Uttarakhand (416 km)

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You can’t help but notice a change of heart as soon as you arrive to this humble abode called Nainital. Adorned with lush green hills with spiked pine trees everywhere and that shimmering Naini Lake… we bet, you will never feel like leaving from this popular weekend holiday destination. Nainital’s charm is such that, you will feel the need to re-visit, and why is that? Well, because its old temples, heritage buildings, narrow lanes, roadside shops and boating experience are so inviting and rejuvenating. In Nainital, you have to visit awe-inspiring sites like Snow-View Point, Tiffin Top, Mall Road, Nainital Zoo, Raj Bhawan, Eco Cave Gardens and also Bhimtal Lake (although it is a few kilometres, it is worth a visit).

How to Reach:

Nainital does not have an airport, however, the closest railway station is in Kathgodam/Haldwani, you can either hire cabs or take buses from these two places. You can also visit Nainital by road from Lucknow via national highway, it may take approximately 8 hours or less.

Where to Stay:

Nainital has a few hostels located on the outskirts of the city, but there are also guest houses and reasonable hotels in the city. Luxury hotels and cottages are also available in Nainital.

Ranikhet, Uttarakhand (468 km)

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A place rightly given the title ‘Queen’s Meadow’ is one of the best hill stations to visit in Uttarakhand and it possesses something that can be certainly termed as paradise on earth. Ranikhet is a cantonment town located approximately about 1869 meters and it receives snowfall during winters, however, it is pleasantly cool during summers. Here, the attractions to visit are Mankameshwar Temple, Jhula Devi Temple, Haidakhan Babaji Temple, Chaubatia Orchard and Upat Kalika, then again, Ranikhet is the best place to simply meander and admire the beauty of nature by going on a trekking expedition.

How to Reach:

Kathgodam is the only railway station to reach Ranikhet, which is around 75 km, you can find local cabs and buses that services in these destinations on a regular basis.

Where to Stay:

Guest houses are available all over Ranikhet offering well-maintained services and amenities, luxury resorts and hotels are also made available for certain travellers.

Alwar, Rajasthan (503 km)

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Visit Alwar for a long weekend holiday and witness the remnants of the Rajputs that are still displayed in great splendor. This city Alwar is a gateway to Rajasthan and it revolves around myths and legends, for instance, the Bhangarh Fort, known as one of the most haunted places in the world is located 90 kilometres from the main city of Alwar. Besides that, the oldest locomotive engine and scenic forts and holy temples also reside in Alwar. Some Must visit places in Alwar are Moosi Maharani ki Chhatri, Bala Quila, Jagannath Temple, Fairy Queen, and also Sariska Tiger Reserve.

How to Reach:

The nearest airport to Alwar is in Jaipur located 162 km, however, Alwar has a railway station that is connected to Lucknow. You can also take a road trip from Lucknow to Alwar that may take close to 8 hours.

Where to Stay:

This city has heritage boutique hotels and other posh staying options and resorts that offer pampering services and facilities. There are also plenty of budget friendly accommodations around Alwar.

Rishikesh, Uttarakhand (556 km)

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Similar to Alwar, Rishikesh too is recognised as the ‘gateway’ to the Garhwal Himalayas and the 7th largest city in Uttarakhand. This spiritual destination is filled with ashrams, you could as well pack a yoga mat with you (as you never know when and where you get the urge to stretch). Here, you can make an interesting weekend by visiting the didgeridoo man who is famous around the neighbourhood for making a unique instrument ‘the didgeridoo’ (duh!), you can also take a class or two from him. Here, apart from partaking in adrenaline activities like river rafting and bungee jumping, you can also rent a two wheeler and visit nearby places like, Haridwar, the Beatles Ashram, Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Swarg Ashram, Rajaji National Park and the famous duo Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula.

How to Reach:

The closest airport to Rishikesh is in Dehradun, many taxis and buses ply from here to Rishikesh. Although, Rishikesh has a railway station, there are no direct trains. You can come till Haridwar railway station and connect with local taxis or buses going towards Rishikesh.

Where to Stay:

Rishikesh has many hostels for shoestring travelers, offering comfortable services and facilities. Also, you can find luxury hotels and resorts and also charming cottages on the outskirts of the city.

Gaya, Bihar (573 km)

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To see some of the best works that showcase the architecture and belief of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism, Gaya is a perfect place to visit. Bodh Gaya in Bihar may be located quite at a distance, but it houses ancient temples and famous attractions that ooze the brilliance of the bygone era. Here, some of the epic legends took place, the Ramayana and the enlightenment of Buddha. Some of the important places you must visit in Gaya are Mahabodhi Temple, Vishnupad Temple, Dungeshwari Cave Temples, Thai Temple And Monastery, Bodhgaya Archaeological Museum, Chinese Temple And Monastery, and many more, you can spend hours or days sightseeing around Gaya.

How to Reach:

Gaya has an airport and a railway station that is well connected to Lucknow.

Where to Stay:

This historical place has many hotels ranging from moderate to expensive, here, you may also find Homestays offering a homely ambience.

Jaipur, Rajasthan (574 km)

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Craving to tour Rajasthan’s best treasures like palaces, forts and lakes? If it is so, then Jaipur is the answer. One of the most visited tourist friendly places in India, Jaipur invites many travellers year round. Here, you are to be dazzled by its marvelous architecture, palaces turned heritage hotels and Mughal gardens. A place that is blessed with the modern and the old world, Jaipur can be toured comfortably in a few days and the places you ought to visit are Jal Mahal, Albert Hall Museum, Galtaji, City Palace, Hawa Mahal and forts like Amber, Nahargarh and Jaigarh. You can also visit one of the most spectacular attractions near Jaipur – Abhaneri’s Chand Baori step well.

How to Reach:

Jaipur has a well connected airport and railway station that receives travelers from all major destinations. There are to and fro trains and flights from Lucknow.

Where to Stay:

Jaipur has a melange of accommodations, from heritage hotels to luxury resorts and even guest houses and hostels for backpackers. You can find unlimited options to stay while you visit the pink city, Jaipur.

Got hold of any of the above mentioned places to visit from Lucknow yet? Well, if your favorites are not mentioned in the list, you can write to us in the comment section below, so we can give you a heads up about the destination. And for those who are getting a little crease on their forehead planning a trip, call us at +91-9212553106 or mail us at info@tourmyindia.com and we will hand you the best travel packages, all in the comfort of your pocket…

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