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Amidst the fast-paced life, pressure of office work and everyday hustle and bustle, if we get a chance for a long weekend, then the mind automatically gets filled with new freshness. In the year 2026, the festival of Dussehra i.e. Vijayadashami has brought a great opportunity for the people who are fond of travelling. According to the calendar, if you plan just one extra day of Casual Leave (CL) or work-from-home along with the weekend, then a long and comfortable vacation of 4 consecutive days can be easily prepared. The biggest specialty of the month of October is that at this time there is neither scorching heat nor shivering cold. From North India to South India, there is a slight rosy coolness in the weather, which is considered most suitable for road trips, hill station valleys and visits to historical cities. If you also want to make these festival days special with your family, partner or friends, then you can visit these 6 selected places in the country.
If you want to be colored in the true cultural and traditional colors of Dussehra, then there can be no better option than Kullu, situated in the beautiful valley of Himachal Pradesh. While the celebrations end with the burning of Ravana on the day of Vijayadashami across the country, the world famous week-long ‘Kullu Dussehra’ begins grandly at the historic Dhalpur ground in Kullu right from Dussehra itself. During this time, about 250 to 300 palanquins of local deities from the entire valley are decorated and brought to meet Lord Raghunath ji. The entire area blossoms with folk music, traditional Naati dance and the aroma of local Himachali cuisine. To reach Kullu, a wonderful road trip can be enjoyed from Chandigarh or Delhi via Volvo bus or private taxi.
Mysore (Mysuru) is considered to be the most important center in the country to experience the royal heritage of South India and the grandeur of Dussehra. ‘Mysore Dasara’ organized by the Government of Karnataka attracts tourists from within the country and abroad. During this time, the historic Amba Vilas Palace (Mysore Palace) is decorated with about one lakh LED lights, whose night view dazzles the eyes. In the traditional ‘Jumbo Sawari’ taken out on the day of Dussehra, a procession of the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari seated in a 750 kg gold pot takes place on decorated elephants. Located just three hours away from Bengaluru, Mysore is easily accessible by flight, train and expressway.
If you find solace in spirituality, ancient culture and the calm flow of Ganga, then a trip to Kashi i.e. Varanasi on the long weekend of Dussehra will prove to be an unforgettable experience. After Navratri, on the occasion of Dussehra, the grand lighting of lamps on the 84 ghats of Banaras and the Maha Aarti of Dashashwamedh Ghat is mesmerizing. Researchers and tourists from all over the country and the world come to see the traditional Ramlila, which is staged under the open sky without any mike, as per a tradition that is more than 200 years old, in Ramnagar, located near Varanasi. The morning aarti at Assi Ghat, boat ride and darshan of Vishwanath corridor along with the taste of Banarasi chaat, lassi and thandai will make your weekend memorable.
For the youth and tourists who want to enjoy adrenalin rush i.e. exciting sports during holidays, the yoga city of Uttarakhand, Rishikesh is the first choice. In the month of October, the water level of Ganga becomes normal and the water becomes completely clear as glass, due to which the season of white water river rafting remains in full swing. In this 4-day break, you can go camping in river-side luxury tents in Shivpuri, enjoy bonfires and try your hand at adventure sports like bungee jumping, flying fox and cliff jumping. Attending the Ganga Aarti at Triveni Ghat in the evening and spending time in the relaxing cafes around Laxman Jhula calms the mind from within.
Jaipur is a great and accessible drive-in destination for residents of Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. It is very pleasant to see Amer Fort, Jaigarh, Nahargarh, Hawa Mahal and City Palace in the pleasant sunshine of October. The grand Ravana Dahan and cultural fair organized at Vidyadhar Nagar Stadium on the occasion of Dussehra are the main attractions of the city. Apart from this, going to Chokhi Dhani in the evening and tasting traditional Rajasthani thali (Dal-Bati-Churma), watching puppet dance and shopping for Jaipuri quilts, Bandhej sarees and handicrafts from Johri Bazaar and Bapu Bazaar will add charm to your trip.
If you want to spend time away from the noise and crowd of festivals at a quiet, secluded hill station situated in the lap of nature, then Mukteshwar in Nainital district is the perfect destination. Situated at an altitude of 2,171 meters above sea level, Mukteshwar offers a 180-degree panoramic view of the towering snow-capped Himalayan peaks like Nanda Devi, Trishul and Panchachuli. The apple, apricot and peach orchards here, the British era Mukteshwar Dham temple and the deep valleys visible from ‘Chauli ki Jaali’ are heaven for photography and trekking lovers. There is very little commercial traffic in Mukteshwar, so you can spend your holidays peacefully amidst pine and oak forests.
This time between Dussehra and Diwali is considered the ‘peak tourism season’ in India. Since this time it is becoming a long weekend of 4 days, the demand for hotels, resorts and homestays in popular tourist destinations like Kullu, Mysore and Rishikesh is increasing very rapidly. If you book at the last moment, it may be difficult to get flight and train tickets and hotel tariffs may also be 40 to 50 percent more expensive. Therefore, after assessing your budget, family preferences and mode of travel, secure your bookings immediately, so that these festival holidays can be enjoyed without any stress and hassle.