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You want to get out of town this Republic Day long weekend, but flight prices are towering, and you don’t want to come back broke. The good news is that you don’t need luxury resorts or long leaves to travel. With overnight trains, buses, budget stays and local food, there are several destinations where you can travel, eat well and experience something memorable, all under INR 10,000. Here is a list of seven places that are realistic, rewarding, and perfect for a three-to-four-day break.
If you want a trip from Delhi that feels energising without being exhausting, Rishikesh is a safe bet. You arrive to the sound of the Ganga flowing fast and wide, with forested hills rising quietly around it. During the day, you can sign up for river rafting, walk across the Ram Jhula, or simply sit by the water with a book and chai. Evenings are for slow café dinners and the glow of the Ganga aarti, which feels grounding no matter how many times you’ve seen it. Food is affordable, stays range from simple hostels to peaceful ashrams, and most things to do cost very little or nothing at all.
Just a five-hour drive from Delhi, Jaipur gives you that feeling of stepping into history without demanding a royal budget. You can spend your mornings exploring Amer Fort and City Palace, your afternoons wandering through old markets, and your evenings watching the city lights from Nahargarh Fort. Eating here is half the joy, with crisp kachoris, sweet ghewar and local thalis that fill you up without emptying your wallet. Budget hotels and homestays are easy to find near the old city, and local transport makes getting around simple, even if you’re short on time.
Staying in Delhi, if you’ve been craving forests, wildlife, and early mornings filled with birdsong, the Corbett region near Ramnagar is a fantastic option. Staying outside the core zones helps keep costs low while still giving you access to jeep safaris into the forest. You wake up before sunrise, drive through misty sal trees and scan the landscape for elephants, deer and, if luck is on your side, a tiger passing silently through the grass. Days are slow and restful, with simple meals, afternoon naps and riverside walks. It feels like a real break from city noise without the expense usually associated with wildlife travel.
If you're looking for a quick getaway from Kolkata, Varanasi is not just a series of sights to be checked off the list; there is a feeling of rhythm, which has been present for millennia. Your day starts with a boat ride on the river Ganga as dawn breaks over the Ganges and everyday life begins in Varanasi, with the mist floating up into the sky with prayers offered throughout the city. You will spend many hours walking the narrow streets in search of sights, such as temples, abandoned buildings, food vendors selling hot, deep-fried kachoris, and a multitude of other sights and experiences. The evenings are peaceful yet full of energy, with oil lamps floating on the water and chanting from Varanasi ringing throughout the city. Low-budget accommodation close to the ghats allows you to be in the centre of everything, and most activities cost the price of your curiosity and time.
If your idea of a holiday from Bangalore is sand under your feet and nowhere urgent to be, Gokarna delivers beautifully. Life here revolves around beaches like Om and Kudle, where mornings are slow, afternoons are for swimming or doing nothing at all, and sunsets feel almost personal. You eat fresh, simple food at beach shacks, rent a scooter to explore nearby coves and sleep in hostels or huts close to the shore. It’s calmer and cheaper than Goa, making it perfect for travellers who want the coast without the crowds.
If you live in Bangalore, Hampi will make you feel like you have arrived at a timeless place with massive ancient rock ruins embedded between the boulders, small villages, and banana plantations that surround it. Your activities will consist of riding bikes, climbing up rocky hills at dawn and exploring hidden areas where few people have travelled. Hampi offers inexpensive, warm food and a welcoming environment to relax after a long day's journey. Here, time is irrelevant, and returning from Hampi will have you feeling mentally lighter than when you arrived.
From Mumbai, if you want a trip that feels enriching rather than rushed, Ajanta and Ellora are incredibly rewarding for a long weekend. Based around Aurangabad, this journey pulls you out of everyday noise and drops you straight into rock-cut caves that are over a thousand years old. Walking through Ajanta, you move slowly almost instinctively, studying ancient murals that still glow with colour and emotion, telling stories of Buddha’s past lives. Ellora feels grander and more dramatic, especially the Kailasa temple, which doesn’t quite register as human-made until you remind yourself it was carved from a single rock. Your days revolve around exploring the caves, taking breaks under shaded viewpoints and letting the scale of history sink in. Back in Aurangabad, food is simple and satisfying, with local thalis, naan, dal and mildly spiced curries that are easy on the pocket. Budget hotels and lodges are widely available, and shared taxis and buses make getting to the caves affordable. It’s the kind of trip where you return home feeling calmer, slightly awed, and quietly proud that such extraordinary heritage is still accessible without spending much at all.
Are these Republic Day trips really possible under INR 10,000?
Yes. With overnight trains or buses, budget stays, local food and minimal entry fees, these destinations can realistically be done under INR 10,000 for a three-to-four-day trip.
Which destinations are best for a short Republic Day weekend?
Places like Rishikesh, Jaipur, Varanasi and Gokarna are ideal as they offer good connectivity, affordable accommodation and plenty to do without long travel times.
Is January a good time to visit these destinations?
January offers pleasant weather in most of these places, making it suitable for sightseeing, outdoor activities and relaxed travel without extreme heat or monsoon disruptions.
Can solo travellers do these trips on a budget?
Absolutely. All the destinations listed have hostels, budget hotels and public transport options that make them particularly friendly for solo and first-time budget travellers.
How can travellers keep costs low during long weekend trips?
Booking trains early, choosing hostels or homestays, eating local food, walking when possible and limiting paid activities can significantly reduce overall travel expenses.
