Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November, so the festival lands on a day you already had off. There's no automatic Diwali 2026 long weekend this year, and by the second box of kaju katli most of us are already wishing for a few more days.
The days around Diwali help. Govardhan Puja falls on Monday, 9 November and Bhai Dooj on Wednesday, 11 November, and many offices give at least one of them off. Place one to five leaves well and that single Sunday becomes a 3, 5 or 9-day break.
Start with the festival dates, pick the leave plan that fits your office calendar, then choose from eight trips that still work at short notice (plus a bonus from Gujarat). The booking tips in the middle will help you avoid the worst of the festive fares.
Quick answer: Diwali 2026 is on Sunday, 8 November, so it isn't a long weekend on its own. Take Monday, 9 November off for a 3-day break (7 to 9 November). For five days (7 to 11 November), take Monday and Tuesday off if Bhai Dooj on 11 November is a holiday at your office, or Monday to Wednesday if it isn't. Take 9 to 13 November off for a 9-day holiday.
Diwali 2026 dates at a glance
- Dhanteras: Friday, 6 November. A working day for most offices.
- Choti Diwali / Narak Chaturdashi: Saturday, 7 November. Weekend.
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja): Sunday, 8 November. Weekend.
- Govardhan Puja: Monday, 9 November. A restricted holiday, so check with your office.
- Bhai Dooj: Wednesday, 11 November. A holiday in some states and offices.
- Chhath Puja: 13 to 16 November. A holiday in Bihar, Jharkhand and parts of UP.
- Guru Nanak Jayanti: Tuesday, 24 November. A gazetted holiday.
Festival dates follow the lunar calendar and can shift by a day depending on the region. Check your company or state holiday list before you apply for leave.
5 smart Diwali 2026 leave plans
- Plan 1, the easy escape: One leave on Monday, 9 November, or none if Govardhan Puja is already a holiday for you. You're off from Saturday 7 to Monday 9 November, three days in all. Good for a short trip within 300 km of home.
- Plan 2, the festive five: Two leaves, on Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 November. You're off from Saturday 7 to Wednesday 11 November, five days. This works if your office gives Bhai Dooj off.
- Plan 3, the festive five without a Bhai Dooj holiday: Three leaves, Monday 9 to Wednesday 11 November. Same five days, Saturday 7 to Wednesday 11 November. This is the plan for everyone else.
- Plan 4, the big Diwali break: Four to five leaves, Monday 9 to Friday 13 November. You're off from Saturday 7 to Sunday 15 November, nine days. Long enough for the mountains, the Northeast or a short trip abroad.
- Plan 5, beat the rush: Three leaves, Monday 2 to Wednesday 4 November. You're off from Saturday 31 October to Wednesday 4 November, five days. Travel before Diwali and be home in time for the puja.
Our pick: Plan 2 or Plan 3. You get five full days, you can celebrate Diwali at home or on the road, and you don't use up your whole leave balance.
Ideas for each plan: On Plan 1 from Gujarat? One of these hidden places in Gujarat makes an easy 3-day escape. Stretching to Plan 4 and thinking about going abroad? Start with these countries where the Indian rupee goes further.
A second long weekend: Guru Nanak Jayanti falls on Tuesday, 24 November. Take Monday, 23 November off and you get four days, from Saturday 21 to Tuesday 24 November. If Diwali is family time this year, save the trip for this weekend instead.
How to book a last-minute Diwali trip without overpaying
Diwali week is one of the busiest times to travel in India. Fares climb, trains fill up and hotels in the popular cities sell out early. Timing your bookings well makes a real difference.
- Avoid the peak outbound days. Most people leave between 4 and 7 November, with Dhanteras on the 6th. If you can, fly on Diwali itself (8 November) or the morning after. Most travellers are already home with family by then, so seats are often easier to find.
- Book your return first. In festive weeks the return leg sells out faster than the outbound. Book both together instead of buying a one-way ticket now and hoping the return works out later.
- Shift by a day. Check fares one or two days either side of your plan. Moving from Sunday to Monday can bring the price down noticeably.
- Watch smaller airports. Tier-2 airports with only a few daily flights sell out first. If your city's direct flight is gone, fly into a nearby hub and continue by train or cab.
- Plan around the Chhath return rush. Between 16 and 22 November, trains and flights out of Patna, Varanasi, Lucknow and nearby cities are very tight. If you're heading east for both Diwali and Chhath, one longer trip often costs less than two short ones.
- Use Tatkal for trains. IRCTC opens Tatkal booking one day before travel, at 10 AM for AC classes and 11 AM for non-AC. Log in early with your passenger details already saved, and look out for the festival special trains the railways add every year. On an overnight train or bus, a neck pillow and a 20,000mAh power bank make the journey much easier. Here are the travel essentials that actually earn their space.
- Go where the crowd isn't. Udaipur, Goa and Jaipur fill up fast. Jibhi, Pushkar and Munnar have the same festive feel with calmer stays and fairer prices.
Yatray tip: The quietest, best-value window this season is roughly 28 October to 3 November, between the Dussehra return and the Diwali build-up. If you'd rather celebrate at home, Plan 5 lets you travel in that window and be back in time for the puja.
8 last-minute Diwali trips you can still plan
This list mixes the season's trending destinations with a few calmer alternatives. Festive travel searches this year show Puri up 318%, Ooty up 166%, Munnar up 107% and Varanasi up 92% compared with last year, while Goa and Udaipur remain the top domestic picks.
Here's who each trip suits, the leave plan that fits it best, and an approximate budget for three nights per person:
- Udaipur: Couples and families. Plan 2 or 3. About ₹15,000–25,000.
- Jaisalmer: Friends and couples. Plan 2 or 3. About ₹12,000–20,000.
- Amritsar: Families and first-timers. Plan 1. About ₹8,000–14,000.
- Ayodhya: Families and spiritual travellers. Plan 1. About ₹8,000–15,000.
- Puri: Families who want both beach and temple. Plan 2 or 3. About ₹8,000–14,000.
- Jibhi and Tirthan Valley: Solo travellers, friends and anyone who likes slow travel. Plan 3 or 4. About ₹7,000–12,000.
- Goa: Friends and couples. Plan 2 or 3. About ₹15,000–28,000.
- Munnar: Couples and nature lovers. Plan 3 or 4. About ₹12,000–20,000.
- Bonus, Rann of Kutch: Couples, families and photographers. Plan 2 or 3. About ₹15,000–30,000 with a tent stay.
These budgets are Yatray estimates for mid-range stays on twin sharing, food and local transport. They don't include flights or trains. Expect festive prices to run 20–40% higher than usual.
1. Udaipur, Rajasthan: the lake city in lamplight
Udaipur at Diwali looks like a film set. Havelis glow along Lake Pichola, the old city markets are strung with lights, and fireworks reflect off the water. Direct flights from the big metros make it an easy fit for a five-day plan.
- Don't miss: Sunset at Ambrai Ghat, then a walk through the lit-up lanes near Jagdish Temple.
- Hidden gem: Badi Lake, 12 km out of town, for a quiet morning away from the crowds.
- Eat: Dal baati churma, and a rooftop dinner facing the lake.
- Getting there: Maharana Pratap Airport (UDR) has direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, and overnight trains run from Delhi and Jaipur.
- Add a day: On Plan 3, carry on to Jawai, the granite-hill leopard country between Udaipur and Jodhpur. It's one of our favourite hidden gems near Gujarat.
- Heads-up: Udaipur is one of the most booked cities this season. Staying a little away from Lake Pichola gets you better prices.
2. Jaisalmer, Rajasthan: Diwali under desert stars
November is when Jaisalmer's best season begins, with warm golden days, cool nights and a fort that turns amber at sunset. Five days gives you time for the old city and a night out in the dunes.
- Don't miss: A night at a desert camp near Sam or Khuri, with folk music and a sky full of stars.
- Hidden gem: The abandoned village of Kuldhara, and Khaba Fort at sunrise.
- Eat: Ker sangri, bajre ki roti and a slow chai inside the fort.
- Getting there: Jaisalmer has a seasonal airport. Otherwise, take the overnight train from Delhi or Jaipur.
- Pack: A warm layer. Desert nights can drop to around 12°C.
3. Amritsar, Punjab: Bandi Chhor Divas at the Golden Temple
For Sikhs, Diwali is also Bandi Chhor Divas. The Golden Temple is lit with thousands of lamps, and the fireworks over the sarovar are hard to forget. It's close enough to Delhi to work on a 3-day Plan 1 break.
- Don't miss: The Golden Temple on Diwali night, and the langar, where thousands of people eat together every day.
- Hidden gem: An early visit before 5 AM, when the marble is cool and the kirtan fills the air.
- Eat: Amritsari kulcha, lassi and a classic dhaba thali.
- Getting there: Direct flights to Amritsar, or about 5.5 hours from Delhi by fast train.
- Tip: Crowds are huge on Diwali night. Arrive early and keep your shoes and bags light.
4. Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh: Deepotsav on the Saryu
Ayodhya's Deepotsav lights up the ghats with lakhs of diyas on the eve of Diwali. For many families it's the most meaningful place to be this season, and a 3-day trip is enough to take it in.
- Don't miss: Ram ki Paidi on Deepotsav night and the Saryu aarti.
- Hidden gem: Guptar Ghat, calmer and lovely at dusk.
- Eat: Kachori-sabzi for breakfast and pedas from the old bazaar.
- Getting there: Ayodhya's airport has flights from major cities, and Ayodhya Dham Junction connects to Delhi and Lucknow.
- Heads-up: The main Deepotsav evening is expected on 7 November. Confirm the official date before you book, and book early, because hotels fill up fast.
5. Puri, Odisha: temple, sea and the holy month of Kartik
Puri is the biggest riser of the season, with festive searches up 318%. Kartik is a sacred month in Odisha, so the town is full of devotion and lamps, with a cool sea breeze in the evenings.
- Don't miss: Darshan at the Jagannath Temple and a sunrise walk on the beach.
- Hidden gem: A day trip to Chilika Lake to spot Irrawaddy dolphins, or to the Konark Sun Temple, 35 km away.
- Eat: Mahaprasad at Ananda Bazar, chhena poda, and fresh seafood near the beach.
- Getting there: Fly to Bhubaneswar (about 60 km away) or take a direct train to Puri.
6. Jibhi and Tirthan Valley, Himachal Pradesh: a quiet mountain Diwali
If you'd rather have pine forests than crowds, this is the one. Wooden homestays, rivers and crisp November mornings make it a good choice for a slow break. The long road up from Delhi is why it suits Plan 3 or 4 better than a quick weekend.
- Don't miss: A drive up to Jalori Pass and the short forest walk to Serolsar Lake.
- Hidden gem: The Jibhi waterfall at golden hour, and trout fishing in the Tirthan river.
- Eat: Siddu with ghee, and local rajma-chawal at your homestay.
- Getting there: An overnight bus from Delhi to Aut or Banjar (about 12 hours), then a short taxi ride. The nearest airport is Bhuntar, near Kullu.
- Pack: Proper woollens, because nights can drop to a few degrees above zero. Packing cubes and a quick-dry towel help too. See our travel finds you'll actually use.
7. Goa: Narkasur nights and a sunny break
Goa celebrates Diwali its own way. On the night before Diwali, towns build giant Narkasur effigies, parade them through the streets and burn them at dawn. Arrive by Choti Diwali and a five-day plan covers the parades and a few slow beach days.
- Don't miss: The Narkasur parades on Choti Diwali night (7 November) in Panaji and Margao.
- Hidden gem: South Goa beaches like Galgibaga and Cola, with calm sands and fewer people.
- Eat: Fish thali, prawn rec’heado and bebinca.
- Getting there: Goa has two airports, Dabolim in the south and Mopa (Manohar International) in the north. Pick the one closer to your stay.
8. Munnar, Kerala: green hills, no rush
After the monsoon, Munnar is at its greenest. Tea gardens roll across the hills and the cool air feels like a reset. With a four-hour drive in from Kochi, it works best on Plan 3 or 4.
- Don't miss: A tea estate walk and the viewpoints in Eravikulam National Park.
- Hidden gem: Sunrise at Kolukkumalai, one of the highest tea estates in the world.
- Eat: Kerala sadya, appam with stew, and fresh cardamom tea.
- Getting there: Fly to Kochi, then drive about 4 hours through the Western Ghats.
- Prefer Tamil Nadu? Ooty is another strong choice this season, with festive searches up 166%.
Bonus: a Gujarati New Year in the Rann of Kutch
In Gujarat, the day after Diwali is Bestu Varas, the Gujarati New Year. Kutch is a lovely place to spend it. The Rann Utsav season begins in November, and the salt desert stretches white all the way to the horizon.
- Don't miss: Sunset at the White Rann near Dhordo, followed by the cultural evenings at the tent city.
- Hidden gem: Kalo Dungar, the highest point in Kutch, and the weaving village of Bhujodi near Bhuj.
- Eat: Kutchi dabeli, bajra rotla with fresh butter, and chhaas at a village homestay.
- Getting there: Fly to Bhuj (BHJ) from Mumbai, Ahmedabad or Delhi, or drive about 6 hours from Ahmedabad. You'll need your own car or a local driver to reach the Rann.
- Timing tip: Full-moon nights are the most magical and the first to sell out. This year Kartik Purnima falls on 24 November, during the Guru Nanak Jayanti long weekend.
For routes, villages and where to stay, see our full Rann of Kutch travel guide.
Final thoughts
Diwali is about light finding its way home. Sometimes home is your family's living room. Sometimes it's a lake in Udaipur, a ghat in Ayodhya or a wooden balcony in the hills.
Whichever it is this year, sort out your leave first, book the return ticket before the outbound, and pick a place that suits your mood rather than the trending list. The best Diwali trips aren't always the longest ones. They're the ones that feel easy from start to finish.
Diwali 2026 travel FAQs
Is Diwali 2026 a long weekend? Not automatically. Diwali falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026. If your office gives Govardhan Puja (Monday, 9 November) off, you get a 3-day weekend from 7 to 9 November.
How many leaves do I need for a 5-day Diwali break in 2026? Two (9 and 10 November) if Bhai Dooj on 11 November is a holiday for you, or three (9 to 11 November) if it isn't. Either way, you're off from Saturday 7 to Wednesday 11 November.
Which is the cheapest day to fly during Diwali? Diwali day and the morning after are often the easiest, because most people are already home. Fares usually peak between 4 and 7 November for outbound trips and over the weekend after Diwali for returns.
What are the best last-minute Diwali trips in India? Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Amritsar, Ayodhya, Puri, Jibhi, Goa and Munnar are all strong choices. From Gujarat, the Rann of Kutch is a beautiful option as the Rann Utsav season begins. For fewer crowds and better prices, pick Jibhi, Pushkar or Munnar over Udaipur and Goa.
Where is Diwali celebrated in the most special way in India? Ayodhya for Deepotsav on the Saryu, Amritsar for Bandi Chhor Divas at the Golden Temple, Varanasi for its ghats, Udaipur for its lakes, and Goa for the Narkasur parades.
Is it safe to travel to the hills in November? Yes. November is dry and clear across most of Himachal and Uttarakhand. Carry warm layers, since nights can get close to freezing, and check road conditions before high passes like Jalori.
Is there another long weekend after Diwali in 2026? Yes. Guru Nanak Jayanti on Tuesday, 24 November gives you a 4-day weekend (21 to 24 November) with one leave on Monday, 23 November.
Plan your Diwali trip with Yatray
Tell Yatray your city, your leave plan and the kind of trip you're after, whether that's lakes, desert, mountains or beach. Our AI puts together your Diwali itinerary with flights, stays and experiences in one place, so you spend less time searching and more time celebrating.
Contact Yatray to plan your Diwali trip
Sources
- Agoda festive travel trends 2026 (CSR Journal): search growth figures
- Diwali & Festive Season Flight Booking Guide 2026 (HappyFares): peak days, return rush and the quiet window
- Diwali 2026 Travel Guide (JustWravel): dates and holiday status
- Long weekends in India 2026 (Esquire India): Guru Nanak Jayanti weekend
