7 Awesome Weekend Getaways from Gwalior (2024)
Gwalior, long known for being the home of royalty, is also a great tourist destination. Gwalior is near to cities like Delhi, Mathura, Jaipur, Ranthambore, Alwar, and others, so you can make an incredible itinerary if you travel right here. Image Source
7 Awesome Weekend Getaways from Gwalior
Here is a List of the Top Places for an Excellent Weekend Getaway from Gwalior.
1. National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary
The National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary is home to several rare and about to extinct wildlife. The most popular species here is the Gharial, the fish-eating crocodile. The animal is so popular that the locals regard this wildlife sanctuary as the National Chambal Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary. The Gharial is an endangered species, and so are the red-crowned roof turtle and the Ganges Dolphin.
Since this is a sanctuary, you should be ready to spend time in the natural habitat. There won’t be several shelter areas, and it might even be somewhat of a trek for you. The National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary is about 200 km away from Gwalior, making it a great weekend destination.
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Since this is a tourist area, the accommodation charges here are a bit higher than usual. Hotels like Mela Kothi, Chambal Wildlife Safari Lodge are in the 15 KM vicinity charge anything between 6000 to 10000 for a day’s stay. Some hotels in the 30 KM vicinity offer accommodation at about 2000 rupees. Hotel Amar Ashiyaana, which is 40 km away from the Sanctuary offers accommodation at about 40000.
2. Ranthambore
Another famous wildlife sanctuary is the Ranthambore wildlife sanctuary. Ranthambore is one of the several sanctuaries in India that evolved from the hunting grounds of the kings. In Ranthambore, you will be able to spot the regal tigers and other wildlife like hyenas, sloth bears. A Sanctuary is an ecology system in itself, so you will also be able to spot several other smaller animals, insects, replies, birds, etc. All of these animals make Ranthambore not just a nature lover’s haven, but the perfect location for a photographer as well. The best time to visit any sanctuary is the monsoon season when the flora and fauna are at their peak beauty.
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Ranthambhore is a popular tourist location and an awesome tourist destination from Gwalior, so the prices of accommodations nearby might be a bit pricey. You have Jungle Niwas, which is about 10 KM away from the Ranthambore Sanctuary, the Sher Garh Hotel, which is at an equivalent distance, and the Baagh Ananta Elite. Keep in mind that the farther the hotel is from Ranthambore, the lower the prices will be. So, you can even get accommodation for a thousand rupees, but the driving distance might be more than 50 kilometers. The hotels within 10-12 kilometers of Ranthambore offer accommodation for anything between 3000 to 6000 rupees.
3. Vrindavan
Vrindavan is another popular weekend getaway from Gwalior because of its historical and religious importance. So, several temples are in dedication to Lord Krishna here.
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After the Dwarka area, Vrindavan is the place that finds references in the life and times of Lord Krishna. Experts concede that Lord Krishna had spent a lot of his younger years in Vrindavan. You can visit the Banke Bihari Mandir, the Gopishvar Mahadev temple, the Prem Mandir, the Shahji Temple, the Gokulnanda Temple, and the most popular, ISKCON temple. Vrindavan is about 200 km away from Gwalior. Several hotels exist in the vicinity, and their prices depend on how far they are from the city center and the amenities that are on offer. The OYO Hotel Shree Raghuveer Dham, under a kilometer away offers its rooms under 2000 rupees. The Hotel Dwarka, which is again under 1 KM away from the city center offers accommodation at under 2000 rupees.
4. Mathura
Like Vrindavan, Mathura also finds references in Hindu mythology and history. The city has several temples dedicated to Lord Krishna, as experts concede that this is the birthplace of Lord Krishna, which is just about 10 KM away from Vrindavan. In Mathura, you the Janambhoomi Temple, the Gita Mandir, the Dwarkadheesh Temple, and Vishram Ghat. Dwarka, Mathura, and Vrindavan have a rich legacy of Lord Krishna, and you will see that almost every place here has some connection with the Lord Krishna mythos.
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Though Mathura is a major tourist spot and an excellent choice for a weekend destination near Gwalior, it is still an economic place to visit. The hotels within a kilometer of the city center, like the Centrum Hotel and the Hotel Ojal Residency, offer accommodation between 1000 to 4000 rupees.
5. Deeg
Deeg is famous for several places of religious and tourist interest and a must visit place near Gwalior. According to experts, Deeg was part of the path of Lord Krishna’s parikrama, which began from Gowardhan. Deeg is also famous for the Deeg palace, which has more than 900 fountains. Another must-visit destination here is the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. The Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is now known as the Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary and is home to more than 200 bird species. Deeg is spelled Dig. It is about 180 KM away from Gwalior. In Deeg, you have all kinds of hotels, from the low-priced inns like Shyama Guest House, Maatu Shree Guest House to the more prominent hotels like Hotel Barsana Palace, which is an OYO hotel.
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6. Taj Mahal in Agra
Agra is about 180 km away from Gwalior. It is home to Taj Mahal, the tomb built by Emperor Shah Jahan for his wife, Mumtaz. The ivory-white marble structure is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. The Taj Mahal and Agra are about 180 km away from Gwalior. In Agra, there are several other places of tourist interest like India Gate, Akshardham Temple, Parliament House, Raj Ghat, Lotus Temple, etc. You also have the historic Red Fort and Jantar Mantar and the Qutub Minar. You can easily spend around a day or two in Agra.
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Agra is one of the most popular tourist locations in India, and several hotels offer accommodation here.
7. Jaipur
Then, of course, you have Jaipur, the city that’s a tourist location in itself. Jaipur is famous as the Pink City, and you’d be surprised that even today, many of the houses have a pinkish hue to their outer walls. Jaipur has its share of royal palaces, heritage buildings, and a bustling antique shop scene that everyone and anyone looking to adorn their homes should look at. Jaipur has the Hawa Mahal, the Palace of the Winds too. Jaipur is about 300 km from Gwalior.
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Like Mathura and Vrindavan, Jaipur also has hotels near the city center offering accommodation for prices between 1000 and 2000 rupees like the Nahargarh Haveli, the Vesta International, and the Pearl Palace Heritage.
These are the most visited weekend getaways near Gwalior. All around, you will find several hotels at each of these locations that offer you accommodation at all budgets.
How to Reach Gwalior?
Gwalior connects well with the other cities in India via road, rail and air. Gwalior has an airport that has connecting flights to cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, etc. Gwalior is a railway stop on several rail routes. Gwalior connects to other cities and states by road via the NH 44. Several private buses and State Transport buses ply on these roads.