If I could pick one month for weekends out of Delhi, it would be November. The monsoon has gone, the mountains are sharp on the horizon, most hill towns see one to three rainy days in the whole month, and Delhi's November air is a good reason to leave in itself.
Here are seven places I'd send you to, with the numbers from our climate data so you can choose for yourself.
Nainital: the clearest views
- November: 6–15°C, about 1 rainy day.
- Getting there: the Ranikhet Express from Old Delhi at 10:05 pm, Kathgodam at 5:05 am, daily.
November has more clear days than any other month here, which is what you want for the Himalayan view from the Snow View ropeway. I've written a full Nainital weekend plan.
Mussoorie: walks in crisp air
- November: 7–15°C, about 3 rainy days.
- Getting there: the Mussoorie Express from Old Delhi at 10:25 pm, Dehradun at 9:05 am, daily.
The Landour loop under deodars on a cold, clear morning is November at its best. Here's how I'd plan it.
Rishikesh: the river, warm days
- November: 12–25°C, about 1 rainy day.
- Getting there: buses from ₹290, about 5 h 30 min on a typical service.
Rafting is back after the monsoon, and the Ganga aarti on a cool evening is unforgettable. The two-day plan.
Jaipur: sightseeing weather at last
- November: 15–28°C, about 1 rainy day.
- Getting there: buses from ₹275, about 6 hours on a typical service.
This is when Jaipur becomes walkable again after the heat. Start at Amber Fort by 8. Jaipur in a weekend.
Shimla: the Ridge without the summer crowds
- November: 2–14°C, about 2 rainy days.
- Getting there: the Kalka Shatabdi from New Delhi at 7:40 am to Kalka, then the toy train or road.
Quieter than in summer and much drier than in July. Shimla or Manali?
Narkanda: the first cold
- November: 2–11°C, about 3 rainy days, the odd early snowfall (about 0.4 snow days).
Past Shimla, and noticeably colder. Apple season in Kotgarh is ending, and the ski slopes are waiting for snow. Narkanda in winter.
Tirthan Valley: the quiet one
- November: 6–18°C, about 4 rainy days.
The river is clear, the homestays are quiet, and Jalori Pass is usually still open before the winter snow. Tirthan Valley from Delhi.
One thing to watch: the holiday weekends
November has Diwali and Guru Nanak Jayanti, and those weekends fill trains and hotels weeks ahead. Hotels often charge more on those dates, too. If your dates touch either, book as early as you can, or pick the weekend before or after.
Questions people ask
Which hill station near Delhi is best in November?
Nainital and Mussoorie are the safest bets: dry (about 1 and 3 rainy days in November in our climate data), 6–15°C, and both reachable on an overnight train from Old Delhi.
Will there be snow anywhere near Delhi in November?
Rarely. Narkanda has about 0.4 snow days in November in our data. For real odds of snow, go in January or February.
Is November too cold for the hills?
Not if you pack for it. Days are around 11–18°C in most hill towns and nights drop to 2–7°C, so bring a proper jacket for the evenings.
Plan Nainital for your dates
Your weekend and your group: the train or bus, where you'd stay, every day planned and one all-in price per person. We book all of it and confirm it before you pay.
Written by
Dhruv Shah
Founder, Tavora and RailRoute
I build Tavora and RailRoute. RailRoute started with Indian Railways data: which trains run on time, which routes actually work. Tavora uses it to plan weekends out of Delhi end to end. Here I write about leaving on a Friday night and being back for Monday.
More from Dhruv →
