November and December 2026 carry seven gazetted holidays and at least three natural long weekends. Two of those windows stretch to four or five days with just one day of leave. Knowing which holiday falls on which day of the week is the entire difference between a regular weekend and a usable travel window.
This guide maps every holiday against the day of the week, shows the leave strategies that create extended breaks, and suggests destinations based on how many days you have.
November 2026 Long Weekends
Diwali Weekend: November 6 to 11
Diwali falls on Sunday, November 8. Govardhan Puja is Monday, November 9. Bhai Dooj is Wednesday, November 11.
- Without leave: Saturday November 7 to Monday November 9 gives a three-day weekend.
- With one day of leave (Tuesday November 10): Saturday November 7 to Wednesday November 11 gives a five to six-day window covering the entire Diwali cluster through Bhai Dooj.
- Destinations for 3 days: Agra, Jaipur, Rishikesh, Mathura-Vrindavan. All reachable from Delhi within 4 to 6 hours by bus. The Govardhan Hill parikrama near Mathura on November 9 adds a festival element.
- Destinations for 5 to 6 days: Rajasthan circuit (Jaipur to Jodhpur to Udaipur). Goa (season start plus Narkasur tradition). Kerala backwaters (post-monsoon). Kullu Valley (last of autumn colour).
Chhath Puja: November 13 to 16
The four-day Chhath sequence runs Friday (Nahay Khay) to Monday (Usha Arghya). This creates a natural four-day weekend without any leave.
This is mostly relevant for the Bihar and eastern UP diaspora travelling home from Delhi. For everyone else, this is a quiet four-day window when popular destinations see lower crowds.
Guru Nanak Jayanti: November 24
Guru Nanak Jayanti falls on Tuesday, November 24. The same date carries Kartik Purnima and Dev Deepawali in Varanasi.
- With one day of leave (Monday November 23): Saturday November 21 to Tuesday November 24 gives a four-day weekend.
- Destinations for 4 days: Amritsar for Gurpurab at the Golden Temple. Varanasi for Dev Deepawali (11 lakh+ diyas across 84 ghats on Kartik Purnima night). Pushkar for the tail end of the Pushkar Camel Fair (November 17 to 24).
This is the most flexible long weekend in November. Three completely different festival experiences fall on the same date, and each connects to a practical bus route from Delhi.
December 2026 Long Weekends
Christmas: December 25
Christmas falls on Friday, December 25. This gives a natural three-day weekend (Friday to Sunday) without leave.
- Destinations for 3 days: Goa (peak Christmas season, midnight mass at Basilica of Bom Jesus). Pondicherry (French Quarter Christmas). Rishikesh (quiet winter riverside weekend).
- With one day of leave (Monday December 28): Extends to a four-day weekend.
New Year: January 1, 2027
New Year’s Day is Friday, January 1, 2027. Another natural three-day weekend.
- Destinations: Goa (beach parties). Jaisalmer (desert camping under winter skies). Udaipur (lakeside celebrations). Manali (snow season).
Combining Christmas and New Year
Taking December 28, 29 and 30 off (Monday to Wednesday) connects Christmas to New Year: a continuous nine-day break from December 25 to January 1 with only three days of leave.
- Destinations for 9 days: A complete Rajasthan circuit (Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur). A Kerala tour (Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey). A Northeast India trip (Meghalaya, Assam).
Leave Strategy Summary
| Window | Dates | Leave Needed | Total Days |
| Diwali Extended | Nov 7 to Nov 11 | 1 day (Tue Nov 10) | 5 days |
| Chhath Weekend | Nov 13 to Nov 16 | None | 4 days |
| Guru Nanak Jayanti | Nov 21 to Nov 24 | 1 day (Mon Nov 23) | 4 days |
| Christmas | Dec 25 to Dec 27 | None | 3 days |
| Christmas Extended | Dec 25 to Dec 28 | 1 day (Mon Dec 28) | 4 days |
| New Year | Jan 1 to Jan 3 | None | 3 days |
| Christmas to New Year | Dec 25 to Jan 1 | 3 days (Dec 28-30) | 9 days |
How to Book for These Windows
Festival-adjacent dates see fare and accommodation spikes. The Diwali weekend and the Christmas-New Year stretch are the two highest-demand windows of the year for Indian domestic travel.
Book bus tickets two to three weeks before the Diwali window. For Christmas-New Year, book by early December. Accommodation in Goa, Jaipur, Udaipur and Manali during these windows must be secured well in advance.
Check current bus schedules on the Jaipur bus booking page or the Delhi to Agra bus route.
Note: Prices are approximate and may vary based on season, demand, and availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many long weekends are there in November and December 2026?
November has three (Diwali, Chhath, Guru Nanak Jayanti) and December has two (Christmas, New Year).
What is the longest possible break with minimum leave?
The Christmas-to-New-Year window gives nine continuous days from December 25 to January 1 with three days of leave.
Does Diwali 2026 create a long weekend?
Diwali falls on Sunday, November 8. With one day of leave on Tuesday, November 10, you get a five to six-day window.
What day is Guru Nanak Jayanti in 2026?
Tuesday, November 24. Taking Monday, November 23 off gives a four-day weekend.
Is the Chhath Puja weekend good for travel?
The Chhath four-day window from November 13 to 16 is ideal for destinations that are quieter during the festival.
Where should I go for the Christmas 2026 weekend?
Goa for beach Christmas, Pondicherry for French Quarter celebrations, or Rishikesh for a quiet winter riverside weekend.
How early should I book for New Year travel?
Book accommodation and bus tickets by early December. Goa and Rajasthan destinations fill rapidly for the New Year window.
Can I combine Christmas and New Year into one trip?
Taking December 28, 29 and 30 off connects Christmas to New Year into a nine-day break.
What is the best destination for a 4-day Diwali trip from Delhi?
Jaipur, Udaipur and the Mathura-Vrindavan circuit are all reachable by bus and fit a four-day window.
Does November 24 have multiple festivals?
November 24 carries Guru Nanak Jayanti, Kartik Purnima and Dev Deepawali simultaneously, with three distinct travel experiences.
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