List Of Public Holidays & Best Vacation Ideas
Planning your travel itinerary for 2025? We’ve got news for you! The 2025 calendar has presented several public holidays falling on Thursdays, Fridays, and Mondays, which means that with strategic planning and a few well-timed leaves, you can create multiple long weekends to explore India or jet off on international adventures. Discover the best dates to maximise your vacation time and make the most of the year ahead. Let’s dive into India’s public holiday calendar for 2025 and start planning your dream long weekend escapes!
Public holidays in India that convert into long weekends in 2025
February 26: Mahashivratri
Mahashivratri is a gazetted public holiday in India for 2025. With the festival falling on a Wednesday, you can enjoy a long weekend, the first of the year. Plan your holiday around Monday and Tuesday or Thursday and Friday, and club it with Mahashivratri on the nearest weekend for a fabulous five-day weekend.
Things to do: If you do not have any religious ceremonies that might require you to stay home, plan a relaxing break in the mountains, probably the last one before the scorching summer arrives at the plains. You can also visit the Lingaraj Temple in Odisha for celebrations. Alternatively, you can plan a trip to Haridwar to witness stunning celebrations of Mahashivratri and spend a couple of days at a rustic Rishikesh river camp.
March 14: Holi
Holi falls on a Friday in 2025, creating the perfect opportunity to set off in search of the most colourful celebrations. With the festival celebrated with equal fervour in almost all corners of the country, this is the best time to indulge your wanderlust and be part of the festival.
Things to do: Visit places famed for their Holi celebrations, such as Mathura, Vrindavan, Goa, Varanasi, Hampi, and Jaipur. Don’t forget to get your water guns and ‘gulaal’.
March 31: Eid-Ul-Fitr
For those who have a holiday on March 31 (Monday) for Eid-Ul-Fitr, this is another opportunity for an amazing long weekend. The off can be clubbed with the preceding weekend for a stress-free end-of-quarter holiday.
Things to do: Plan a three-day weekend getaway to a nearby destination or simply stay at home, binge-watch your favourite shows, and indulge in delicious takeout.
April 10: Mahavir Jayanti
Commemorating the birth of Lord Mahavira, the last Jain Tirthankara, Mahavir Jayanti (Thursday) is a gazetted holiday in India for 2025. If you take Friday off, you get a four-day long weekend.
Things to do: You can visit some of the most popular Jain pilgrimage sites, including the Dilwara Temple, Khandagiri Caves, and Udayagiri Caves.
April 18: Good Friday
Good Friday is the perfect time for a long weekend. Club it with the weekend of April 16-17 for a relaxing holiday.
Things to do: You can choose to focus on spiritual growth or plan a quick getaway to a nearby resort. Consider nature camps or national parks like Jim Corbett. If you’re worried about crowds during one of the most popular long weekends in India, take a few extra days off and opt for an international vacation instead.
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May 12: Buddha Purnima
If you get a holiday on Buddha Purnima, which falls on a Monday in 2025, rejoice and plan another long weekend.
Things to do: Plan a mountain getaway to Kashmir, a national favourite when it comes to hill stations. Other ideal May destinations include Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, the Northeast, or even Mount Abu in Rajasthan. Alternatively, explore Bodhgaya and its surroundings for a splendorous trip across several Buddhist cultural and spiritual spots.
August 15: Independence Day
Another opportunity for an uninterrupted long weekend in India, Independence Day falls on a Friday in 2025.
Things to do: Attend the flag hoisting in your locality or stay home and watch the celebrations on television. Alternatively, consider getaways to destinations like Mount Abu, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Ladakh, Kodaikanal, or Spiti Valley, which experience minimal rainfall during this time and offer enticing options for travel.
September 5: Milad-un-Nabi (Eid-e-Milad)
The start of September presents another opportunity for a long weekend, as Eid-e-Milad falls on a Friday in 2025, making it a three-day-long weekend.
Things to do: Plan a short escape to a nearby luxury resort for a stress-free holiday that lets you indulge in life’s finer pleasures. With the year coming to an end, there’s no better time to treat yourself.
October 2: Gandhi Jayanti and Dussehra
In 2025, Gandhi Jayanti and Dussehra will fall on the same day, October 2 (Thursday), meaning one holiday less. However, the silver lining is that you can take Friday off and enjoy an extended festive vacation.
Things to do: Even after Durga Puja is over, Kolkata’s pandals remain vibrantly lit and crowded, offering a festive atmosphere like the first day of the festival. If that feels a little far for you to plan a trip, October is a great time to travel across Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand before it gets crowded due to winter vacations.
October 20: Diwali
Diwali will be celebrated on October 20 (Monday) in 2025, with twinkling fairy lights, the sound of crackers, and decadent desserts all around. It’s a magical time, and it’s perfectly understandable if you prefer to skip a vacation and enjoy the festive season with your family.
Things to do: With a three-day weekend ahead, you could plan a quick one-night trip, especially if you take October 17 (Friday) off. Alternatively, use this time to clean your home and decorate it with flowers, lights, and vibrant colours for the festive season.
November 5: Guru Nanak Jayanti
Things to do: In 2025, Guru Nanak Jayanti falls on a Wednesday, giving you the perfect opportunity to take a couple of days off on either side and combine it with the nearest weekend for a long vacation. If you’re not a fan of the cold northern winters, consider a coastal getaway to destinations like Goa or Kerala for a warm and relaxing holiday.
December 25: Christmas
Presenting another opportunity for a four-day-long weekend, the last of the year, Christmas in 2025 falls on a Thursday.
Things to do: Take December 26 (Friday) off and plan an international trip to experience the best Christmas and New Year celebrations. Destinations like Thailand, Singapore, Europe, and Dubai are perfect for ringing in the festive season with unforgettable experiences.
Bonus points if you take December 29-January 1 off, making it one of the best long weekends in India in 2025. For an unforgettable trip, how about visiting The Santa Claus Village in Finland? It’s the perfect destination for a magical holiday experience during the festive season.
(Feature image credit: pxhere)
Related | Beyond The Dazzling Lights: Best Diwali Long Weekend Getaways In India
Note:
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
If you are in Goa for a short visit, make sure to visit Anjuna Beach, Baga Beach, Old Goa, and Dudhsagar Falls.
Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Goa, Kerala, Rajasthan, and Karnataka are some of the best destinations in India for a long weekend getaway.
Explore the local markets, enjoy street food, and explore a few of the forts and palaces in Jaipur over a long weekend.
Eravikulam National Park, Munnar Rose Garden, Mattupetty Dam, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, and Tea Museum are some of the best places to visit in Munnar.
The Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Tomb of Akbar, Mehtab Bagh, and Taj Museum are some of the top attractions in Agra.
Visitors to Rishikesh can enjoy river rafting and camping, visit Ram Jhula, Triveni Ghat, and The Beatles Ashram, as well as check out the scores of amazing cafes and restaurants.
India is home to extensive local transportation options in almost all cities and towns. From autos, manual rickshaws, and taxis to battery-operated tuk-tuks, subways, local buses, and more can be found for getting around in India.
The best time to visit India over a long weekend is during a festival, especially Holi, Diwali, Onam, Ganesh Chaturthi, Janmashtami, and more.
In tier-I and tier-II cities, you are sure to find local festivals and events during a long weekend, from music concerts to comedy shows at local restaurants.
Pack your bag depending on the weather in the region you are visiting in India. Check for recent updates and weather forecasts before you start packing.
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