Himachal September 29, 2026 8 min

Gandhi Jayanti Long Weekend 2026: Where to Go From Delhi

Gandhi Jayanti falls on Friday 2 October 2026, making 2–4 October a long weekend. IMD Shimla forecasts dry weather across Himachal from 30 September to 5 October, Manali’s peaks have fresh snow, and most travellers are booking just two to four days ahead. Here is where to go from Delhi and Chandigarh.

Suzu Travels

Travel Expert at Suzu Travels

Update, 5 October 2026: this long weekend (2–4 October) is over. The monsoon has since withdrawn from Himachal, and IMD Shimla now forecasts rain and snow at a few places from 6 to 9 October (6–10 October forecast). The next breaks worth planning around are Kullu Dussehra, 21–27 October and Diwali on 8 November. For later in the season, see Manali in November and our Himachal snowfall guide for winter 2026-27. The report below is kept as published.

Gandhi Jayanti falls on Friday, 2 October 2026, which turns Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October into the first long weekend of the post-monsoon season — and the weather has lined up for it. As of the India Meteorological Department’s Shimla bulletin issued at 12:30 IST on 29 September 2026, the whole of Himachal Pradesh is forecast to stay dry from 30 September through 5 October, with no weather warnings for any district. Fresh snow dusted Manali’s high peaks on 29 September, and the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand resumed on 28 September after a two-day weather halt. If you want a short hill break from Delhi or Chandigarh this weekend, the window is open — but so is everyone else’s diary, and most people are booking only two to four days out.

What changed this week (28–30 September 2026)

The rain has cleared out of Himachal. IMD’s Meteorological Centre Shimla (Bulletin No. 272, 29 September 2026) forecasts light rain or snow at isolated places on 29 September only, then “mainly dry weather” for the rest of the week. Its seven-day table shows DRY for low hills, mid hills and high hills on every day from 30 September to 5 October, and NIL warnings statewide.
The monsoon is leaving the north. The same bulletin places the southwest monsoon’s withdrawal line through Gurdaspur, Chandigarh, Muzaffarnagar and Aligarh — so the plains you drive out of are drying up too.
Snow on the peaks around Manali. ANI reported on 29 September 2026 that a fresh spell of snowfall had covered the higher reaches around Manali, followed by clear skies. This follows the season’s first snow in Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti over 26–27 September, which we covered in our Himachal first-snowfall report.
Char Dham is running again. All India Radio reported on 28 September 2026 that the Char Dham Yatra resumed after being suspended from the afternoon of 26 September until 27 September, with the Garhwal Commissioner directing district magistrates accordingly.
Demand is spiking — late. Business Standard reported on 29 September 2026, citing Cleartrip and Scapia data, that most holidaymakers are booking the Gandhi Jayanti weekend just two to four days in advance, that bus bookings are up 59% year-on-year, and that 1 October is emerging as one of the busiest domestic departure days of the year as people leave early to stretch the break.

The weather for 2–4 October, zone by zone

This is the official state forecast as issued on 29 September 2026. Mountain forecasts are revised daily, so re-check the Meteorological Centre Shimla page the evening before you drive.

Zone (IMD Shimla)	30 Sep – 5 Oct forecast	Observed temperatures, 29 Sep
Low hills / plains (Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur)	Dry, no warnings	Max 22–31°C, min 15–20°C
Mid hills (Shimla, Solan, Kasauli, Dharamshala belt)	Dry, no warnings	Max 17–26°C, min 11–17°C
High hills (Kullu-Manali upper reaches, Lahaul, Kinnaur, Spiti)	Dry, no warnings	Max 12–15°C, min 4–10°C (Keylong 4.1°C)

IMD also expects minimum temperatures to rise 2–3°C over the next 48 hours and daytime maximums to recover by 2–6°C, after the rain pushed them 3–11°C below normal. In plain terms: sunny, crisp days and cold nights — proper early-October mountain weather.

Where to go from Delhi and Chandigarh this long weekend

Three days is short. The single biggest mistake we see on long weekends is trying to fit Shimla and Manali into Friday-to-Sunday, which means most of the holiday is spent in the car. Pick one base (our Shimla vs Manali guide helps you choose) and see it properly.

Shimla, Kufri, Chail or Kasauli — if you are leaving on Friday morning

These are the closest Himachal hill stations to Delhi and Chandigarh, and with the mid hills forecast dry all weekend, this is the lowest-risk choice for a three-day break. It fits the pattern Business Standard reported, where driving destinations within a five- to six-hour radius of the metros are seeing the most traction. Our Shimla guide covers what is worth your time once you are there. Expect traffic around Parwanoo and on the approach to Shimla on Friday morning and Sunday afternoon (update, 4 October 2026: it was heavy, with about 16,000 vehicles through Shimla on Friday; see our Manali and Shimla traffic jam report for return timings and the next rush dates).

Manali — only if you can leave on Thursday night

The fresh snow on the peaks makes Manali the most photogenic option this weekend, and the clear skies forecast from 30 September mean you should actually see it. But Manali is a much longer drive, so it only works as a long-weekend trip if you travel overnight on Thursday 1 October and come back on Sunday night. If you are planning to go beyond Manali towards the Atal Tunnel, Sissu or Rohtang, check the latest position on our Rohtang pass and road status page and with the Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti district administrations before you set off — early-season snow can change access at short notice.

Rishikesh and Haridwar — the pilgrimage option

Business Standard reports that the long weekend coincides with Pitru Paksha, and pilgrimage destinations including Haridwar and Rishikesh are gaining traction. With the Char Dham Yatra back on since 28 September, some travellers are also asking whether they can fit in a dham. Realistically, not in three days — a full Char Dham circuit is a much longer trip. If that is on your list for October, look at our Char Dham Yatra package and our Char Dham status update instead.

Goa and the big national picture

Nationally, Goa leads leisure demand across flights, buses and hotels for this weekend, followed by Udaipur, Jaipur and Mussoorie, according to the Scapia data cited by Business Standard. Varanasi’s share of hotel bookings has grown fivefold. If you are flying anywhere, the takeaway is the same as for the hills: this weekend is being booked at the last minute, so what is left will not get cheaper by Thursday.

What this means for your trip

Leave early or leave late — not on Thursday evening peak. With 1 October flagged as one of the year’s busiest departure days, either leave on Thursday night after the evening rush or very early on Friday 2 October.
Book your stay before you book the car. Hill-station hotels fill first on long weekends. Once rooms are confirmed, a cab is easier to arrange — our Himachal cab service can arrange the car and driver from Delhi or Chandigarh.
Pack for cold nights. High-hill minimums were 4–10°C on 29 September. Even in Shimla, evenings in the low teens call for a proper jacket, not just a hoodie.
Keep Sunday afternoon free. The return traffic on the last day of a long weekend is the part everyone forgets. Build in buffer so you are not driving mountain roads after dark.
Check road status the night before, not a blog. For current road conditions use the district administration, HP Police and BRO/PWD updates and the Meteorological Centre Shimla — the forecast above is as issued on 29 September and can change.
Want it planned for you? For a longer trip after the holiday, see every Himachal tour package from Delhi. For a ready-made itinerary, our Shimla Manali tour package can be shortened, or browse all Himachal tour packages. For a same-week trip, call or WhatsApp us on 70874 88961 — last-minute availability changes by the hour on a weekend like this.

The next break worth planning around

If this weekend is already too tight, the next big Himachal event is Kullu Dussehra 2026, from 21 to 27 October at Dhalpur Maidan in Kullu. Stays around Kullu and Manali book up early for festival week.

FAQ: Gandhi Jayanti long weekend 2026

Is 2 October 2026 a long weekend?

Yes. Gandhi Jayanti, a national holiday, falls on Friday 2 October 2026, so for most offices the weekend runs from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October. Taking Thursday 1 October off turns it into four days.

Will it rain in Himachal on the 2–4 October weekend?

As of IMD Shimla’s bulletin issued on 29 September 2026, no. The forecast is dry for all of Himachal from 30 September to 5 October, with no warnings in any district. Check again the evening before you travel, as mountain forecasts are updated daily.

Is there snow in Manali right now?

There is fresh snow on the high peaks around Manali, reported on 29 September 2026 — you will see it from town, but it is on the higher reaches, not in Manali itself. Snow in the valley and at the popular snow points usually comes much later in the season.

Is Shimla or Manali better for a 3-day long weekend from Delhi?

For a Friday-to-Sunday trip, Shimla (or Kasauli, Chail, Kufri) is the more relaxed choice because the drive is much shorter. Manali is worth it only if you can leave on Thursday night. Our 3-day Himachal trip guide lays out both options.

Is the Char Dham Yatra open for the long weekend?

The yatra resumed on 28 September 2026 after a two-day suspension, according to All India Radio. District magistrates can still pause it locally if weather turns, so check the Uttarakhand government’s official updates before you travel.

How late can I book a long-weekend trip?

Travel-platform data reported on 29 September shows most people are booking this weekend just two to four days ahead. You can still find options, but choice narrows quickly — rooms go first, then cars.