Long Weekends October to December 2026: All 5 Breaks, the Leave You Need and a Rajasthan Trip for Each
The short answer: there are five long weekends from October to December 2026. Gandhi Jayanti (Friday 2 – Sunday 4 October) and Christmas (Friday 25 – Sunday 27 December) need no leave. Dussehra (Saturday 17 – Tuesday 20 October) and Guru Nanak Jayanti (Saturday 21 – Tuesday 24 November) each need one day off, and Diwali (Saturday 7 – Tuesday 10 November) needs two. From Jaipur, the trips that fit a three- or four-day break are Pushkar, Ranthambore, and Udaipur with Mount Abu — go further and the break disappears into driving.
Every year the same thing happens. People notice the long weekend on the Wednesday before it, look at Jaisalmer, discover it is ten hours away, and spend the break at home. This page is the version that is ready a month early: exact dates, exactly which day of leave to apply for, and one trip for each weekend sized to the time you actually have.
The dates below are the central government's gazetted holidays for 2026. State governments, banks and private employers publish their own lists, so check yours before you apply for leave.
All 5 long weekends at a glance
| Long weekend | Dates | Leave needed | Trip that fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gandhi Jayanti | Fri 2 – Sun 4 October | None | Pushkar & Ajmer (3 days) |
| Dussehra | Sat 17 – Tue 20 October | Mon 19 October | Udaipur & Mount Abu (4 days) |
| Diwali | Sat 7 – Tue 10 November | Mon 9 & Tue 10 November | Jaipur lights & Ranthambore (4 days) |
| Guru Nanak Jayanti | Sat 21 – Tue 24 November | Mon 23 November | Pushkar Camel Fair (4 days) |
| Christmas | Fri 25 – Sun 27 December | None | Ranthambore winter safari (3 days) |
The one rule for a short break: keep the drive under four hours
On a three-day weekend, every hour in the car is an hour taken from the trip. Pushkar and Ranthambore are both about three hours from Jaipur, which leaves two full days on the ground. Jaisalmer is 560–615 km away — our guide to Jaipur to Jaisalmer by road explains why it needs five days, not three.
Udaipur is the exception worth making on a four-day weekend, because an overnight train or bus turns a seven-hour journey into a night's sleep. If you are still choosing a season rather than a weekend, our best time to visit Rajasthan guide compares the whole year.
Which long weekend suits you?
• Families with young children: Gandhi Jayanti in Pushkar — a short drive, a quiet town and no leave needed.
• Couples: Dussehra in Udaipur and Mount Abu — the lake city and the hill station in one break.
• Wildlife lovers: Diwali or Christmas in Ranthambore — book the safari seats before anything else.
• Photographers: Guru Nanak Jayanti at the Pushkar Camel Fair — sunrise over the camel camps is the picture of the year.
• Solo travellers: any weekend with a group departure, such as the Jawai Leopard Escape or the Udaipur and Mount Abu trip.
• Coming from outside Rajasthan: Diwali in Jaipur — arrive by air or train, and nothing on the trip is more than three hours away.
Gandhi Jayanti weekend (2–4 October): Pushkar and Ajmer
Early October is Pushkar before the crowds. The monsoon has passed, the lake is usually at its fullest after the rains, and the fair is still six weeks away. It is the calmest version of the town you can get in the travel season.
The plan
• Friday: leave Jaipur by 8am, stop at Ajmer Sharif Dargah and Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra, and reach Pushkar for the sunset aarti at Varaha Ghat.
• Saturday: the Brahma Temple and the ghats in the morning, the bazaar after lunch, and Savitri Temple for sunset.
• Sunday: a last walk at the ghats, then back to Jaipur by mid-afternoon with the evening free.
Gandhi Jayanti is a national dry day, which changes nothing in Pushkar — the town is alcohol-free all year. For what to see and how to avoid the donation pressure at the ghats, read our Pushkar travel guide.
If you would rather see leopards
Jawai's granite hills are at their greenest just after the monsoon. It is a longer journey — about 400 km from Jaipur — so it works best as our Saturday–Sunday group trip with an overnight journey on Thursday or Friday. Our Jawai leopard safari guide covers how the safaris work and the new 2026 rules.
Dussehra weekend (17–20 October): Udaipur and Mount Abu
Take Monday 19 October off and you have four days — enough for Rajasthan's lake city and its only hill station together.
• Friday night: overnight train or bus from Jaipur to Udaipur.
• Saturday: City Palace, Jagdish Temple and a sunset boat on Lake Pichola.
• Sunday: Saheliyon Ki Bari in the morning, then about 165 km (3–3.5 hours) to Mount Abu in time for Sunset Point.
• Monday: Guru Shikhar — at 1,722 m the highest point of the Aravallis — Achalgarh and the marble Dilwara Temples.
• Tuesday (Dussehra): a slow morning, then the train home from Abu Road, about 27 km downhill.
Navratri runs until Dussehra (11–20 October), so trains, hotels and the lakefront all get busier. For the city in more depth, see our Udaipur travel guide. Travelling alone? Our Udaipur and Mount Abu group trip (three nights, four days, from ₹6,399) is built for exactly this kind of weekend.
If you cannot take Monday off
Do Udaipur on its own. Take the overnight train on Friday, spend Saturday and Sunday in the city — City Palace, Lake Pichola, Saheliyon Ki Bari and the Karni Mata ropeway for sunset views — and take the overnight train home on Sunday night. You lose Mount Abu, but you need no leave and still have Tuesday's Dussehra holiday at home.
Diwali long weekend 2026 (7–10 November): Jaipur's lights and Ranthambore
Diwali falls on Sunday 8 November. Take Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 off for four days — or check whether your office gives Govardhan Puja or Bhai Dooj as a holiday, which can shorten the leave you need.
• Saturday: City Palace and Jantar Mantar in the afternoon, then Johari Bazaar, Bapu Bazaar and MI Road after dark, when the old city is lit up.
• Sunday (Diwali): Amer Fort in the morning, puja with family, and the lights and fireworks from a rooftop. Many shops close early on Diwali evening, so shop on Saturday.
• Monday: about 160 km — three hours — to Ranthambore for an afternoon safari.
• Tuesday: a morning safari, then Ranthambore Fort, part of the UNESCO-listed Hill Forts of Rajasthan, and home by evening.
Safari seats are sold on the Rajasthan Forest Department's official portal, fmdss.forest.rajasthan.gov.in, and holiday dates go first — book the safari before the hotel. Our Ranthambore tiger safari guide explains zones and shifts, and our Jaipur travel guide covers the city days.
If you would rather spend all four days in Jaipur
Drop Ranthambore and add the city's quieter corners: Nahargarh Fort for sunset over a lit-up city, the Albert Hall Museum, the Panna Meena Ka Kund stepwell near Amer, and a half-day trip to the Chand Baori stepwell at Abhaneri, about 95 km away. It is the better choice if safari seats have sold out or anyone in your group dislikes early starts.
Guru Nanak Jayanti weekend (21–24 November): the Pushkar Camel Fair
Take Monday 23 November off and you get the last four days of the Pushkar Camel Fair: competitions on the weekend, sunrise at the camel camps on Monday and the Kartik Purnima holy dip on Tuesday 24 November. It is the best-timed long weekend of the year, and the first to book out.
The full day-by-day plan, where to stay and what it costs are in our Pushkar Camel Fair 2026 guide. The short version: book the room first, and do the 145 km from Jaipur by car so you are not queueing for transport on the peak day.
Christmas long weekend 2026 (25–27 December): a winter safari in Ranthambore
Christmas falls on a Friday, so this weekend needs no leave at all. December mornings in an open gypsy are properly cold, but the weather is at its most comfortable for safaris and the forest light is clear.
• Friday: leave Jaipur early, check in near the park, afternoon safari.
• Saturday: morning safari, Ranthambore Fort and the Trinetra Ganesh Temple, then a second safari or a slow afternoon.
• Sunday: an optional early safari, then back to Jaipur by the afternoon.
Christmas to New Year is Ranthambore's peak season. Carry gloves, a cap and layers, and book the safari the day your dates are fixed.
If the safari seats are gone
Christmas week is the hardest time of year to find Ranthambore seats. If they are gone, spend the weekend in Pushkar instead — cool, clear December days suit the ghats and the hill temples, and the town is far calmer than in fair week — or stay in Jaipur and do the Abhaneri stepwell as a day trip.
Planning from Delhi or NCR
Every trip above works from Delhi if you start with a train instead of the car: Ajmer for Pushkar, Sawai Madhopur for Ranthambore, Udaipur for the Dussehra trip. Book on IRCTC as soon as the booking window opens for holiday weekends. If you would rather drive the first leg, our Delhi to Jaipur cab guide covers it.
When to book each long weekend
• Now: Pushkar fair rooms and Christmas safaris — both are limited and fill first.
• Six to eight weeks ahead: Diwali hotels in Jaipur and Ranthambore resorts.
• Four to six weeks ahead: Dussehra trains to Udaipur.
• Two to three weeks ahead: Gandhi Jayanti in Pushkar — early October is the easiest weekend to book.
What to pack for a Rajasthan long weekend
• October: cotton clothes, sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses — afternoons are still hot.
• November: add a light jacket for evenings and early starts.
• December: warm layers, gloves and a cap, especially for open-jeep safaris.
• Every trip: a scarf for temples and dust, comfortable walking shoes, and photo ID for hotel check-in and safari permits.
What a long weekend in Rajasthan costs
• Group trips: Jawai Leopard Escape from ₹2,499 per person; Udaipur and Mount Abu from ₹6,399 per person.
• Private trips: priced by vehicle, hotel category and dates — see our Rajasthan tour packages or ask for a quote.
• Transfers only: fixed fares on our cab routes across Rajasthan.
• Always extra: Ranthambore safari permits, monument tickets, and 5% GST on packages.
Frequently asked questions
How many long weekends are there from October to December 2026?
Five: 2–4 October (Gandhi Jayanti), 17–20 October (Dussehra), 7–10 November (Diwali), 21–24 November (Guru Nanak Jayanti) and 25–27 December (Christmas).
Which long weekends in 2026 need no leave?
Gandhi Jayanti (Friday 2 October) and Christmas (Friday 25 December) both fall on Fridays, so those weekends need no leave.
Is Diwali 2026 on a weekend?
Yes. Diwali falls on Sunday 8 November 2026. Take Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 November off for a four-day break starting Saturday 7 November.
Which long weekend is best for the Pushkar Camel Fair?
21–24 November. Take Monday 23 November off and you get the fair's final four days, including Kartik Purnima on 24 November.
What is the best long weekend trip from Jaipur?
Pushkar and Ajmer or Ranthambore — both about three hours away — or Udaipur and Mount Abu if you have four days and travel overnight.
Can I visit Jaisalmer on a long weekend from Jaipur?
Only on a four-day weekend, and even then it is nine to ten hours of driving each way. Five days makes it a trip rather than a drive.
Are these holiday dates the same for Rajasthan state offices?
Not necessarily. These are the central government's gazetted holidays; Rajasthan's state list, banks and private companies can differ, so check your own before applying for leave.
What is the cheapest long weekend trip from Jaipur?
A group trip — the Jawai Leopard Escape starts from ₹2,499 per person. For a private trip, Pushkar usually costs least because the drive is short and there are no safari permits.
Is it too crowded to travel over Diwali?
The cities are busy and hotels cost more, but it is one of the most beautiful times to see Jaipur. Book six to eight weeks ahead and do your shopping the day before Diwali.
Are group trips good for solo travellers?
Yes. The Jawai Leopard Escape and the Udaipur and Mount Abu trip run on fixed dates, so you can join on your own without planning anything.
Plan your long weekend with Root Indians
Root Indians plans short Rajasthan breaks from Jaipur — the car, the hotel, the safari booking and a plan that respects how little time a long weekend gives you.
Tell us which weekend and how many of you are travelling, and we will send a plan within a day. Call +91 78777 38437 or tell us your dates
