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Places to Visit Near Lucknow

Naimisharanya sits on the bank of river Gomti, is substantial in Hindu mythology and is regarded as a pilgrimage spot, which makes it a part of the places to visit near Lucknow. It receives thousands of devotees each year, visiting the temples and other equally sacred spots. Some of the more noteworthy temples are Shri Lalita Devi temple, Balaji temple and Hanuman Garhi.

The place has more religious sites to pay a visit, making it a spiritual retreat of sorts.Go to The Chakra Tirth and Dadhichi Kund and take a dip or a bath in the holy water to get rid of your sins. You should also visit the Hanuman Gaddi and Pandav Killa, two crucial sites in the Hindu mythologies Ramayana and Mahabharat.

It is believed that sages '' Sudh'' and ''Ved Vyas'' had been to Naimisharanya, the places of their stay, Suth Gaddi and Vyas Gaddi are two trendy tourist spots. Some other sites worth mentioning are Dashashwamedha Ghat, Hawan Kund, Sita Kund and Swayambhu Manu and Satrupa.

Best Time to Visit: September-November

Distance from Lucknow: 70+ kilometres, will take 2-2.5 hours to get here

Dewa Sharif is a small town in Barabanki district which is one of the most well-known holy tourist places around Lucknow. Dewa or Dewa Sharif is world-renowned for the shrine of Haji Waris Ali Shah, a Sufi saint. The shrine also has a mosque and a khanqah on site, and the preserved tomb of the Sufi saint is within a splendid architectural monument with beautiful interiors. The shrine is a prominent Muslim pilgrimage spot but has people of all religions and beliefs paying visit.

One sight to behold is the ecstatic celebration of the Hindu festival of Holi taking place at the shrine.Another equally intriguing celebration you should come to Dewa Sharif for is the ''Dewa Mela'' that the shrine hosts on the occasion of annual Urs. During that time, a ten-day fair is put up every year in the months of October-November to commemorate the saint. This fair includes an all India Mushaira, Kavi Sammelan, music performances etc. to attend and can get especially crowded.

Best Time to Visit: October- November

Distance from Lucknow: 25 kilometres, will take around 1.5 hours to get here

The Sanctuary is a pleasant tourist attraction, covered in dense trees; the place is home to several species of domestic and migratory birds like the Siberian Crane, Cotton Teal, White-neck Stork, Indian roller etc. When here, you can go on a bird-watching adventure tour and also take a look at the bird interpretation centre to get information about all the birds in the sanctuary.

If you aren't keen about birds, use your time here visiting the deer park to spot different breeds of deers and the Reptile enclosure to check out some slithering creatures. The Sanctuary is located on the Lucknow-Kanpur highway and is a great tourist place around Lucknow to spend your day.

Best Time to Visit: October-March, actually throughout the year

Distance from Lucknow: 45+ kilometres, will take around 1.5 hours to get here

Bithoor, a small township and a place of religious prominence, is situated on the banks of the Ganges. The city of temples, ashrams and hillocks with Hindu mythological significance is one of the places to visit near Lucknow. The town is only a few hours from Lucknow and is a great road-trip getaway.

Here, you can visit the Valmiki Ashram and the Siddhi Dham Ashram to dwell in the stories of the epic Ramayana. You can also visit the temples at Brahmavart ghat and Patthar ghat, along with the ISKCON temple. Dhruv Teela and Deepa Mallika Stambh are spots with an exciting story; you should come here for a stroll and to hear the tales. Apart from these, you should also check out the Bithhor fort and Nana Saheb Rao Park for the history of the town and its importance during the Freedom struggle. There are also a few theme parks and water parks around Bithoor.

Best Time to Visit: October-March

Distance from Lucknow: 90+ kilometres, will take around 2.5 hours to get here

Ayodhya makes for another one of the places to visit near Lucknow. Famously known as "Ram Janm Bhumi" it is a spiritual centre situated in Faizabad district over the banks of river Sarayu. In Ayodhya, you can visit the Ram Janmabhoomi temple, along with Raja Mandir, Knank Bhavan and Hanuman Garhi mandir where you can pray and take part in the arti.

The city is also home to some stunning architectural monuments worth visiting. Walk through the likes of Moti Mahal, Gulab bari and Bahu Begum ka Maqbara to absorb the beauty or go to the Ram Katha museum or Tulsi Smarak Bhavan museum to look at the ancient artefacts. The Hindu festivals of Diwali and Dussehra are celebrated with gandure, which is when you can experience Ayodhaya in full swing.

Best Time to Visit: September-March, actually throughout the year

Distance from Lucknow: 135 kilometres, will take around 2-3 hours to get here

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An ancient city, Shravasti is regarded as an essential place for Buddhism and Jainism. The remains of the old city divided as Sahet-Mahet are still very much a part of Shravasti and its tourism. Sahet, a famous site for the Buddist monastery Jetvahana Vihar and stupas makes for a great visit. On the other hand, Mahet is famous for Kachchi Kuti and Pakki Kuti , having a stupa of Anathapindika and the cave and stupa of Angulimal, respectively.

If peace is what you seek, then you should surely pay a visit to the Ananda Bodhi Tree (Gautam Buddha meditated here), and Vipassana Meditation Centre. Shravasti also has Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary with fantastic flora and fauna. There are stunning Jain temples worth mentioning as well, such as the Shobhnath Jain temple and Shri Shwetambar Jain temple. All this makes Shravasti a part of the places to visit near Lucknow and will take a couple of hours to get here.

Best Time to Visit: September- December

Distance from Lucknow: 150+ kilometres, will take around 3.5-4 hours to get here

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Prayagraj (Allahabad), is on our list of places to visit near Lucknow. The city of the ''Triveni Sangam'', the confluence of rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythological river Saraswati is a sacred spot for Hindus. The Sangam is one of the hosts for the Kumbh Mela, taking place every 12 years which is the largest gathering of humans and is an experience on its own. When here, you should consider taking a dip in the holy waters or going for a boat ride for a surreal feeling.

Prayagraj (Allahabad) has a diverse range of monumental sites like Khusro Bagh, and having the tombs of Mughal rulers is a great place for a stroll. The Chandra Shekhar Azad Park and Allahabad museum are testaments of India's History and Anand Bhawan for the history of the Nehru family. The Patalpuri temple, situated at the Allahabad Fort is another such attraction where you can take a tour of the fort galleries and the Ashoka Pillar while visiting the temple. The All Saints Cathedral, built during the British Raj has spectacular Gothic-style architecture which would leave you amazed.

Best Time to Visit: October- March

Distance from Lucknow: 200km, will take around 4-4.5 hours to get here

Chitrakoot is a small town situated in the Vidhayan range. It is also called ''Hill of many wonders''. The mountain ranges here have places of religious significance having multiple temples one can go to, to get in touch with their spiritual side.

Chitrakoot has the Gupt Godavari caves , an exciting blend of holy and adventurous, having a temple and a stream flowing through the caves. Marpha is another place with fort ruins, a temple and a waterfall making for a great picnic spot. Take a trip to Kalinjar fort, one of the oldest forts in India. Pampapur is nuzzled within the Devangana valley and is famous for its caves. While in Chitrakoot, you should also visit Shabari falls, Valmiki and Sarabhang ashrams for the peaceful experience.

Best Time to Visit: July- March, especially during August (monsoon)

Distance from Lucknow: 225 kilometres by road, 286 kilometres by train, will take around 5-6 hours to get here

Regarded as the spiritual capital of India, Varanasi homes the maximum number of ghats and temples. If you are planning a vacation with your family, then this is one of the best places to go near Lucknow. Tourists from around the globe flock here to seek blessings of Hindu Gods and find their Nirvana.

Distance from Lucknow Bus stand: Approximately 320 km by road.

Best time to visit: March to April.

How to reach: There are connecting buses and trains from Lucknow to Varanasi and one can also book a private taxi.

Attractions to visit: Assi Ghat, Shri Kashi temple, Manikarnika ghat, Dashashwamedh ghat, and various other religious spots.

Activities to do: Witnessing religious ceremonies at the ghats, boat rides at Ganga, savoring lip-smacking delights.

Khajuraho is named a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is a fascinating town and popular tourist spot in Madhya Pradesh. It is famous for its ancient temples that portray some of the most exceptional art globally. These temples have various forms of representations, the likes of which are meditation, spiritual teachings, kinship, wrestling, royalty and most significantly, erotic art.

You can spend your days visiting the splendid temples for their architecture. Khajuraho is also a great exploration site for history buffs with places like the Adivat Tribal and Folk museum, Archaeological museum. While here, attend the ''sound and light'' show at the Western group of temples. Khajuraho also hosts a dance festival worth mentioning. If temples are not your thing, then you should consider going to the Raneh falls, Panna National Park or Ken Gharial Sanctuary to submerge yourself in nature.

Best Time to Visit: October-February

Distance from Lucknow: 300+ kilometres by road, will take around 7-8 hours to get here

Sarnath is located on the confluence of Ganges and Varuna rivers; it is a few kilometres from Varanasi. The town has a heavy influence of Buddhism and has multiple temples and sacred sites with beautiful architecture. The likes of which are Statue of standing Buddha, Buddha Purnima, Tibetian temple and Thai temple and monastery.

There are ruins and places of ancient time, Chaukandi Stupa, Ashoka Pillar ruins, Archeological Museum, Dhamek Stupa and Garden of Spiritual Wisdom are to name a few. There is the yoga education and training society and centre for those who might be interested in the age-old practice. As mentioned, Varanasi is 10 kilometres from Sarnath where you can take a tour of the holy city, attend the puja and arti at the Ganga ghat and explore the rest of Varanasi.

Best Time to Visit: October-March

Distance from Lucknow: 300+ kilometres, will take around 6-7 hours to get here

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Bhimtal, a town in Nainital district was named after Bhima from Mahabharat. Bhimtal attracts a lot of tourism for its famous Bhimtal lake along the littoral island, which has an aquarium. The lake also makes boating and fishing for another fun activity. It is a town situated at high altitude and has adventure sports like paragliding, mountain biking and dirt bike riding; treks and hikes a part of the experience. You can set a camp under a starry sky and gaze at the shimmering night sky.

It is a town with a view since it is surrounded by hills, in the lap of nature. Another thing to look out for is the Harela Mela, a local harvest festival. Some more extraordinary places and things to do in Bhimtal are Hidima Parbat, Victoria dam, Bhimeshwara Mahadev temple and shopping for local goods.

Best Time to Visit: March-June, September-December, actually throughout the year

Distance from Lucknow: 350+ kilometres, will take around 7.5-8 hours to get here 

Whiff in the fresh air and witness the jaw-dropping views of Nainital that is known for its Kumaon region. This is a small Himalayan resort town and is snuggled at an elevation of 2000 m above the ground. Apart from this, it is one of the classic places to visit near Lucknow that can be toured with family.

Distance from Lucknow Bus stand: Approximately 398 km by road.

Best time to visit: March to June

How to reach: There are no direct flights between Lucknow to Nainital. The best way to get there is by train and then book a taxi to the peak.

Attractions to visit: Cave garden, Tiffin Top, Hanuman Garhi, Shri Ma Naina Devi Temple, Snow View Point, G.B. Plant Altitude High Zoo.

Activities to do: Boating, Ropeway, Rock Climbing, Shopping, visiting Tiger reserve in Nainital.

Pithoragarh nuzzled between a valley in the inner Himalayan region is also called ''little Kashmir.'' Parts of the district are consistently covered in snow and is a splendid haven. Pithoragarh has numerous tourist attractions and mind-blowing scenery. There are two famous lakes Jolingkong and Anchherital here. Some famous temples like Haat Kalika temple, Mostamanu temple, Kapileshwar Mahadev and Dhwaj temple are dispersed in and around the town.

For the adventure seekers, you must go for treks and hikes in the Didihat hills, Kafni glacier and Chandak hill, along the way is Maharajke park, a place to get the view of the city. Pithoragarh has a fort which is located on a hill in the outskirts. Askot Sanctuary is yet another attraction to catch a glimpse of snow leopards in particular among other animals and birds,

Best Time to Visit: April-November

Distance from Lucknow: 400+ kilometres, will take around 11-12 hours to get here

Tour the “Pink City” and feast your eyes with the glory of mighty structures. With the exuberant architectural styles of the crazy nightlife here, you can enjoy all of it. This is a locale that puts forward and exceptional combination of royalty and scenic beauty.

Distance from Lucknow Bus stand: Approximately 569 km by road.

Best time to visit: October to March that is winters and July and September for the ones who love monsoons.

How to reach: The most convenient way is by taking a direct flight or train but you can also book a taxi. There are no direct buses from Lucknow to Jaipur.

Attractions to visit: Hawa Mahal, Jal Mandir, Nahargarh Fort, Amer Fort, and a few other masterpieces of the bygone era.

Activities to do: Roaming around the pink city local bazaars, Go Karting, clubbing at the lounge, and various other things.

Still not toured the capital city? Take a tour of Delhi where you can gape at the edifices made in the Mughal era. From old bazaars that serve Mughal delights to the wide range of historical buildings, here you can find everything you can expect on a vacation.

Distance from Lucknow Bus stand: Approximately 559 km by road.

Best time to visit: October to March.

How to reach: The connectivity to Delhi is great and one can opt for any option flight, train, or bus as each one of them is directly available.

Attractions to visit: Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Humayun’s Tomb, India Gate, and Chandani Chowk for shopping.

Activities to do: The capital city has a lot to offer right from adventures like ATV riding, Go Karting, motorized paragliding to historical tour.