Delhi is hosting some of the world’s most powerful leaders this weekend. For travellers looking for a room in the capital, that could mean something less exciting: very expensive hotel bills.
The 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit is being held in New Delhi on 12 and 13 September, with leaders and delegations from the expanded 11-member grouping arriving in the capital.
The hospitality industry is already feeling the impact.
According to reports, rooms at some of Delhi’s luxury hotels have crossed Rs 2 lakh a night, while ultra-luxury suites have climbed dramatically higher. The Times of India reported that room availability at top properties had fallen sharply as demand surged around the summit.
An even more eye-watering picture comes from data cited by the Indian Express: some luxury suites at a Taj property were reportedly being quoted at Rs 12–15 lakh a night, while five-star hotel searches had risen 50% and room rates had increased by as much as 100%, according to ixigo data.
Cleartrip, meanwhile, reported a 25% increase in hotel bookings compared with the same period last year.
Part of the pressure is also coming from security arrangements. Around 30,000 security personnel have been deployed for the summit, while separate hotels have been arranged for several visiting leaders and their delegations.
So, if you were planning to spend the weekend in the capital but don’t fancy paying a small fortune for a hotel room, there is another option: leave the city behind.
Here are six nature-heavy escapes that can turn the BRICS weekend into a chance to swap traffic and conference routes for wetlands, forests and wildlife.
1. Sultanpur National Park, Haryana
If you want nature without travelling too far, Sultanpur is one of the easiest options.
Located near Gurugram, the national park is particularly attractive to birdwatchers.
It works best for travellers who want a quick nature reset rather than a full-fledged wildlife holiday — a few hours amid wetlands, grasslands and bird calls can feel surprisingly far removed from Delhi’s urban rush.
2. Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan
For those looking for something wilder, head towards Alwar and the Aravallis.
Sariska offers forests, rocky landscapes, and the possibility of spotting tigers, leopards, deer and other wildlife.
The destination also makes sense for a longer weekend because the journey takes you from Delhi’s dense urban landscape into the rugged Aravalli ecosystem.
3. Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur
Around 200 km from Delhi, Bharatpur is a particularly good choice for travellers who would rather watch birds than chase tiger sightings.
Keoladeo National Park is recognised as one of the world’s most important bird breeding and feeding grounds. Photograph: (Sahapedia)
Keoladeo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of India’s best-known wetland habitats. The park is home to more than 370 bird species, with migratory birds arriving during the winter months. Visitors can explore the wetlands on foot, by cycle rickshaw or with guides.
For a slower weekend, this may be one of the most rewarding choices on the list.
4. Chambal
For something less predictable, head towards the Chambal landscape.
The region is particularly fascinating because its wildlife experience is very different from a conventional tiger reserve. The big draw is its riverine wildlife. A boat safari can take visitors past critically endangered gharials, freshwater turtles, mugger crocodiles and a wide range of resident and migratory birds.
The Chambal is also one of the few places where travellers have a chance of spotting the Gangetic river dolphin.
5. Corbett, Uttarakhand
If the idea of a weekend means waking up to a forest rather than a city skyline, Corbett is the obvious longer escape.
The reserve is not just about spotting a tiger. Its forests, riverine habitats and extraordinary birdlife make it a destination where the journey into the wilderness is part of the experience.
6. Rajaji National Park, Uttarakhand
And if you want the hills without going as far into Uttarakhand, consider Rajaji.
For those who can take Monday off, these destinations can turn an expensive Delhi weekend into a much-needed escape into the wild. Photograph: (campingrishikesh)
The broader Rajaji landscape combines the Shivalik hills, forests and the Ganga ecosystem, making it a compelling option for travellers looking for something quieter than the usual hill-station circuit.
Leave the hotel rush behind
The BRICS summit will put Delhi at the centre of global attention this weekend.
With hotel rooms becoming scarce and premium tariffs reaching extraordinary levels, the alternative weekend could be one spent outside the capital, listening for birds at a wetland, driving through an Aravalli forest, watching a gharial slip beneath the Chambal’s waters or simply waking up to the sounds of a Himalayan forest.
For those who can take Monday off, these destinations can turn an expensive Delhi weekend into a much-needed escape into the wild.
