Beautiful places around Delhi to celebrate Holi

If you are a person who likes to travel and witness how Holi is celebrated in India, it’s time to plan your Holi travel itinerary. Different places in India celebrate the festival of colour in their unique way. With the Holi weekend around, it's time to plan a quick trip; here are our favourite picks.

To witness Holi celebrations in royal style, you should definitely visit Udaipur. The festival is an imperial affair here and involves participation of the royal family too. The celebrations commence with Holika Dahan, when the local Maharaja in the royal palace’s courtyard, lights the ceremonial bonfire, which is followed by a royal procession from Shambhu Niwas Palace to Manek Chowk royal residence. The celebration concludes with amazing fireworks.

If you are visiting this place for the Holi weekend, you can also visit City Palace, Lake Pichola, and Jag Mandir.

Holi festival is celebrated with much zeal and enthusiasm, and brings forth all the colourful opportunities for visitors to indulge in. People gather together to celebrate this occasion, gulp down glasses of bhang, dance, party, savour sweets, and such other fares. When here, you can also witness colourful parades with folk songs highlighting the Holi celebrations in Agra.

If you are in Agra during the Holi weekend, after the celebrations, you can visit Agra Fort, Mehtab Bagh and, of course, Taj Mahal.

During Holi, the Pink City of Jaipur transforms into a rainbow, with colours everywhere. The highlights of this occasion are the gala celebrations that take place in the palace, hosted by the royal family. Programs that are hosted here include customary Rajasthani folk music and dance, which is followed with gulal play. Visitors can also visit the Govind Dev ji Temple, and witness the devotional atmosphere, where idols of Radha and Krishna are decorated and offered marigold flowers.

If you are visiting this place during the Holi weekend, after the celebrations, you can visit City Palace, Hawa Mahal, Jal Mahal, and Nahargarh Fort.

Holi celebrations are vital in Mathura and Vrindavan as Lord Krishna grew up and spent most of his early life here. Holi celebration in Vrindavan is an occasion that attracts a huge influx of Vaishnavas. While the Holi celebrations at the renowned Banke-Bihari Temple makes for a spectacular watch, the merriment here continues for a week that starts with Phoolon ki Holi or flower splashes, and concludes with a riot of colours, it’s just a surreal sight to see thousands of people uniting to play with colours on one particular day.

After the celebrations, you can visit Prem Mandir, Kesi Ghat, Nidhivan, and Givid Deo Temple.

You should definitely be part of Holi celebrations in Mathura for more than one reason. Known for being the birthplace of Lord Krishna, it’s a most sought-after destination, especially during Holi. During this time, temples in Mathura host elaborate events to celebrate the festival, while some are known to be India's most grandest. To be a part of these festivities is a lifetime experience.

If you are visiting this place during the Holi weekend, after the celebrations, you can visit Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple, Shree Dwarkadhish Temple, and the Government Museum.

Pushkar celebrates the occasion of Holi with much enthusiasm and vigour. Holi celebrations begin here on the eve of Holi with the traditional Holi bonfire. Visitors can also witness Holika Dahan when here and be a part of it. After the fire extinguishes, people take the embers to their homes. Then after, the ambience of the next morning changes into peppy play of colours, turning the town into a colourful paradise

If you are here for the Holi weekend, you can visit Pushkar Lake, Brahma Temple, and Mahadeva Temple.

Home to Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, West Bengal celebrates this festival in a colourful and unique way. Tagore was the one who first started the celebration of Holi in Shantiniketan as Basanta Utsav (Spring Festival), inspired by spring and the colours of Holi. Over the years, Basanta Utsav has become a cherished part of Bengali history and culture, and lures visitors from far and near.

If you are visiting this place during the Holi weekend, after the celebrations, you can visit Victoria Memorial, Park Street, Sundarbans National Park, Howrah Bridge, and Dakshineswar Temple.