Diwali 2026 in the hills, minus the noise

Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday 8 November. If you would rather swap firecracker smoke and city traffic for cold mountain air, a few lamps and a home-cooked meal, Tirthan Valley is a short overnight journey from Delhi. This guide uses Chhet, near Jibhi, as your base.

• Dhanteras: Friday 6 November
• Choti Diwali: Saturday 7 November
• Diwali / Lakshmi Puja: Sunday 8 November
• Govardhan Puja: Monday 9 November (a bank holiday in Uttar Pradesh, among others)
• Bhai Dooj: listed for 10 or 11 November depending on the source and state

Office holidays around Diwali differ by state and employer, so check your own calendar first. A common plan is to leave Delhi on Friday night, celebrate Diwali in the hills, and travel back on Monday night if Monday is a holiday for you.

One more date worth knowing: Guru Nanak Jayanti is on Tuesday 24 November 2026. Take Monday 23 off and you get a four-day weekend later in the month.

• Quiet nights: Chhet is a small village above Jibhi, away from the market road
• Dogs welcome: many dogs find city firecracker nights stressful. Our cottages are pet-friendly, so you can bring yours along
• Away from city lights: a quiet deck is a lovely place to light a few diyas and look up at the sky
• Food made here: our caretaker's wife cooks fresh Himachali food, including Siddu, the local steamed bread

Take an overnight Delhi–Manali Volvo and get off at Aut, then continue via Banjar to Jibhi and Chhet. By car, the route runs via Chandigarh, Mandi and Aut. Plan for about 11 to 13 hours each way. Festival weekends mean busier buses and highways, so book bus seats early. Our Tirthan Valley weekend itinerary and How to Reach page have the details.

• Slow mornings with tea and the valley view from the Glass House deck or the Mudhouse patio
• Village and forest walks around Chhet and Jibhi
• A day trip towards Jalori Pass and the Serolsar Lake trail. In November, ask us about road conditions before you set out, because they can change after snowfall
• A custom trek or a riverside dinner arranged by our team. Ask on WhatsApp what is possible for your dates

For more ideas, see things to do near Chhet and Jibhi.

• Warm layers, a jacket and a beanie, because November nights in the hills are cold
• Good walking shoes for village paths and trails
• Cash, since ATMs in Aut and Banjar are not always working
• Your own diyas or candles if you would like to light them on the deck
• For dogs: a lead, a bed or blanket, and their usual food

We have three stays in Chhet: the Glass House, a glass-walled stay for two with a private hot tub, and two Mudhouses for families and friends. Long weekends fill up early, so WhatsApp us your dates, number of guests and pets, and we will confirm availability and the final price before you pay.

• Diwali 2026 dates: The Old Farmer's Almanac
• November 2026 state holidays: RBI holiday list via ClearTax