1. Renuka Ji Lake
Renuka lake is in Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh and is approximately 300 kms from Delhi. The travel time is close to 7 hours, including break for a meal and photography. The route one can follow is Delhi - Karnal - Shahabad - (right turn) - Saha - Naraingarh - Kala Amb - Nahan - Renuka.

The roads are more or less good with hilly terrain starting a little after Naraingarh I believe. The last stretch from Nahan to Renuka is a single lane road with occassional potholes, but manageable for any car.

Apart from the Renuka Lake, which is covered on all sides by dense green forests, the place has a temple, a zoo and a 3.5 kms track along the lake where on could walk and experience complete desolute.

When we visited Renuka Lake in early 2011, we made it a day trip, but if one intends to stay overnight, there is a wonderful HPTDC property right at the shores of the lake.
The contact numbers are: ADDRESS : Hotel Yamuna, Paonta Sahib (HP) 173025. Tel: 01704-222341, 224161.

Esepcialy during the monsoon, Renuka Lake can be a wonderful destination for people who love to travel with families and spend a relaxing weekend away from the mad city rush.

2. Tirthan Valley

Tirthan Valley lies towards east of the town of Kullu, nestled on the borders of the Great Himlayan National Park and is the perfect place if you want to be in the hills and beat the tourist rush.

Although 3 days ex Delhi isn't enough to explore this marvel of nature, but its a good weekend getaway if you don't mind driving 10-12 hours one way to reach there. The best itinerary you can follow is reach Chandigarh by Thursday night, stay over, start from Chandigarh on Friday morning and start back on Sunday morning.

On the Chandigarh - Manali highway, there lies a famous tunnel called the 'Aut Tunnel'. While coming from Chandigarh, right before the tunnel begins, you leave the National Highway and take the road going towards your right. This point onwards, you are a part of a lush green valley that lies precisely between Kullu on the west and Narkanda on the east.

Nothing beats a stay at the Raju Bharti Guest House (Phone Number: 09418149808, 01903-225008) which is extremely famous with tempting food as per majority of people who stay there. It is surely the best place of stay in Tirthan Valley. Raju is a pioneer in hospitality and once you live there, you cannot live else where ...

However, since being so good and popular the availability at Raju Bharti is an issue and you must book well in advance to live this experience, so better to know another nice property to experience the Tirthan Valley.

About 40 kms on this road and an hour's drive later, you hit the town of Banjar. Now Banjar is not where you are supposed to be. So right before the town begins, look out for a sharp u-turn for a road that goes uphill. Take that u-turn and another 20mins of drive between dense forests later, you are greeted with the Tirthan valley resorts ("TVR").

Weekend Getaways from Delhi to Himachal Pradesh
Shimla - 380 KM
Discovered and established as the Summer Capital by the British to avoid scorching heat of Delhi, Shimla is a breathtaking hill station in Himachal Pradesh and a popular honeymoon destination in India. Smila still retains its colonial charm and is a good place to witness snowfall in India.
Chail - (375 KM)
Located 2,250 meters above the sea level, Chail is nestled amidst Duladhar Range of Himalayas overlooking the valley of Sutlej. Lush environs and pristine hilly terrains make Chail a spectacular attraction to visit.
Kasauli - 298 KM
The snow clad mountains, dense forests and lush foliage attribute to the unspoiled beauty of this hill station. It is quite amazing that this undulating hamlet still retains its colonial heritage and charm in its entirety.
Solan - 303 KM
Temples and Tibetan Monasteries and add to them lush hills and valleys, Solan is an ideal place to unwind in perfect nonchalance away from the busy city life in Delhi.
Shoghi - 343 Kms
Besides temples, trekking and adventure forms the major allure of this small hill town. The trekking trails in Shoghi are very challenging and cool climate in Shoghi also makes it an ideal place for camping. Several bird species could also be spotted here.
Kufri - 400 KM
Kufri is a good getaway to beat Delhi's scorching heat and din of city life. Kufri is best suited to those who seek secluded vacation in a cool and pleasant ambiance, scenic locales and adventurous activities.
Dharamsala - 480 KM
Home to the Tibetan Government in Exile, Dharamsala is a perfect place to learn about Buddhism and the Tibetan struggle for Freedom. More adventurous soul could pick some moderate to tough trekking trails which starts from here in Dauladhar Mountain Range.
Kalsi - 274 KM
This tiny little hamlet is one of the lesser visited destinations in Garhwal region. Traveling to Kalsi, one could see Yamuna in its pure form. Cold gushing and clear stream of Yamuna is an unexpected view compared to the stale and polluted Yamuna River in Delhi. A rock edict from the times of Ashoka is an important monument here.
Fagu, Himachal Pradesh

When it comes to SHIMLA, most of us have been there, done it. But Fagu, though only 45 minutes away, is a whole other story. In this quaint little town that seemingly has nothing, watching the rains engulf the mountains beyond is a scene out of a coffee table book. Interspersed among charming stone houses covered with tiled roofs are lush green farms, whose ingredients make for the most delicious pahari meals. In the surrounding dense oak forests, leopards are believed to be seen more often than in most national parks.
Stay at Northmoon Homestay, an all wooden house with urban comforts, built by a hospitable village family, also INVESTED in rainwater harvesting and organic farming. Their home-cooked pahari meals are finger-licking good!
Take the Shatabdi train from Delhi to Kalka, from where Fagu is a 3 hour drive.

Dhanachuli, Uttarakhand

Another picturesque village in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, Dhanachuli is where I first fell in love with monsoon in the lower Himalayas. Strolling along the winding roads, I watched the locals sit atop the roof of their stone houses, soak in majestic Himalayan sunsets, then gather in their apple orchards as the train trickled down, sweetening the fruits of the season.
Stay at Te Aroha, a summer home lovingly built by Sumant Batra, and later converted into a BOUTIQUE HOTEL. Every room has a theme, and there are little personal touches everywhere. (Read: Te Aroha: Under The Yellow Rooftops). Take part in my travel contest before August 17th, to win a 2 nights stay there!
Take the Shatabdi train from Delhi to Kathgodam, from where Dhanachuli is a 3 hour drive.

Itmenaan Estate – Almora