A long weekend works best when the holiday, the leave days and the destination are planned together. 2027 has two nine-day breaks, in March and October, plus several three- to six-day windows.
This guide lists the 2027 Central Government holidays and shows which breaks need how many leave days. It then suggests road trips from Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Gurugram and Mumbai.
The dates come from the Department of Personnel and Training Office Memorandum F.No.12/2/2023-JCA, dated July 16, 2026, and were checked on October 5, 2026. That list applies to Central Government offices. Private companies and state governments publish their own calendars, so confirm every date with your employer before you book.
The 2027 Central Government holiday list
These are the 17 compulsory holidays for Central Government offices in Delhi and New Delhi. Offices elsewhere observe 14 of them plus three chosen locally, so the list can differ by state.
| Holiday | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| Republic Day | 26 January | Tuesday |
| Id-ul-Fitr | 10 March | Wednesday |
| Holi | 23 March | Tuesday |
| Good Friday | 26 March | Friday |
| Ram Navami | 15 April | Thursday |
| Mahavir Jayanti | 19 April | Monday |
| Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) | 17 May | Monday |
| Buddha Purnima | 20 May | Thursday |
| Muharram | 16 June | Wednesday |
| Independence Day | 15 August | Sunday |
| Milad-un-Nabi (Id-e-Milad) | 15 August | Sunday |
| Janmashtami (Vaishnav) | 25 August | Wednesday |
| Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday | 2 October | Saturday |
| Dussehra (Vijaya Dashmi) | 9 October | Saturday |
| Diwali (Deepavali) | 29 October | Friday |
| Guru Nanak's Birthday | 14 November | Sunday |
| Christmas Day | 25 December | Saturday |
Two things to know. Independence Day and Milad-un-Nabi share Sunday, August 15, and Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday, Dussehra and Christmas Day all fall on a Saturday, so none of these adds a weekday off. The memorandum also says no substitute holiday is given when a holiday falls on a weekly off or two festivals fall on the same day, so don't plan around a replacement day.
Restricted holidays that make bridges
Central Government employees can choose any two Restricted Holidays a year. This is the rule that decides which breaks you can build, because several of the best ones need one or more. These are the Restricted Holidays that line up with weekends or compulsory holidays:
| Restricted holiday | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 1 January | Friday |
| Holika Dahan / Dolyatra | 22 March | Monday |
| Ugadi / Gudi Padava / Chaitra Sukladi | 7 April | Wednesday |
| Vaisakhi / Vishu / Tamil New Year | 14 April | Wednesday |
| Dussehra (Saptami, Mahashtami, Mahanavami) | 6, 7 and 8 October | Wednesday to Friday |
| Naraka Chaturdasi | 28 October | Thursday |
| Christmas Eve | 24 December | Friday |
With only two to spend, the best value is Holika Dahan on March 22, which turns a long weekend into nine days, and Vaisakhi on April 14, which makes a six-day break for one leave day. Diwali and Christmas are both good for four days. If your employer gives you a different number of optional days, adjust accordingly.
The best long weekends of 2027
This table lists every useful break in date order, with what it costs you in leave. Day counts include the weekends on either side.
| Break | Dates | Days off | Leave days | Restricted holidays used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Day | 23–26 Jan | 4 | 1 leave day (Mon 25 Jan) | None |
| Holi and Good Friday | 20–28 Mar | 9 | 2 leave days (Wed 24, Thu 25 Mar) | 1: Holika Dahan, Mon 22 Mar |
| Ugadi and Gudi Padava | 7–11 Apr | 5 | 2 leave days (Thu 8, Fri 9 Apr) | None (a state holiday in many states) |
| Vaisakhi, Tamil New Year and Ram Navami | 14–19 Apr | 6 | 1 leave day (Fri 16 Apr) | 1: Vaisakhi / Vishu, Wed 14 Apr |
| Bakrid | 15–17 May | 3 | None | None |
| Buddha Purnima | 20–23 May | 4 | 1 leave day (Fri 21 May) | None |
| Janmashtami | 25–29 Aug | 5 | 2 leave days (Thu 26, Fri 27 Aug) | None |
| Dussehra | 2–10 Oct | 9 | 3 leave days (any three of Mon 4 to Fri 8 Oct) | 2 of the Dussehra days, 6 to 8 Oct |
| Diwali | 28–31 Oct | 4 | None (5 days if you also take Wed 27 Oct) | 1: Naraka Chaturdasi, Thu 28 Oct |
| Christmas | 24–27 Dec | 4 | 1 leave day (Mon 27 Dec) | 1: Christmas Eve, Fri 24 Dec |
Holi and Good Friday: March 20 to 28 (nine days)
This is the strongest break of the year. The run is Saturday and Sunday, Holika Dahan on Monday, Holi on Tuesday, two leave days on Wednesday and Thursday, Good Friday, and the next weekend. It suits a longer drive rather than a rushed city break. From Bengaluru, think Coorg, Chikmagalur or Hampi. From Hyderabad, Hampi, Srisailam or Araku Valley. From Pune and Mumbai, Goa, the Konkan coast or Mahabaleshwar.
Dussehra: October 2 to 10 (nine days)
Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday and Dussehra both fall on Saturdays, so the break only works if you cover the five weekdays in between, October 4 to 8. With two Restricted Holidays you need three leave days; without them you need all five. It's a good window for a substantial trip. From Gurugram, consider Rajasthan, Rishikesh, Corbett or the lower Himalaya. From Bengaluru, Hampi or the Uttara Kannada coast. From Pune and Mumbai, Goa, or the heritage circuit towards Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
Republic Day: January 23 to 26 (four days)
One leave day on Monday, January 25 gives four days. January weather suits an early start. Consider Mysuru from Bengaluru, Bidar from Hyderabad, Lonavala from Pune or Mumbai, and Neemrana or Jaipur from Gurugram.
Ugadi and Gudi Padava: April 7 to 11 (five days)
Take Thursday and Friday off for five days. Both festivals fall on Wednesday, April 7, and are state holidays in many states, so check yours. This one suits Hyderabad, Pune and Mumbai travellers: Warangal or Bidar from Hyderabad, Nashik or the Sahyadri ghats from Pune, and Alibaug, Matheran or Igatpuri from Mumbai.
Vaisakhi, Tamil New Year and Ram Navami: April 14 to 19 (six days)
Use Vaisakhi, Vishu or Tamil New Year on Wednesday, April 14 as a Restricted Holiday, take Friday, April 16 as leave, and you get six days ending on Mahavir Jayanti. Plan longer driving sections for the morning, because April is warm.
May: Bakrid and Buddha Purnima
Bakrid gives a free three-day weekend on May 15 to 17, though the date depends on moon sighting. Buddha Purnima on Thursday, May 20 becomes four days if you take Friday, May 21 as leave. These suit shorter drives or hill destinations: Mahabaleshwar, Lonavala, Coorg, Chikmagalur or the Nilgiris, for a change from inland heat.
Janmashtami: August 25 to 29 (five days)
Take Thursday and Friday off for five days. Janmashtami may be a holiday or an optional holiday in your state, so check before planning. A slower hill or heritage trip fits.
Diwali: October 28 to 31 (four or five days)
Naraka Chaturdasi, Diwali, Govardhan Puja and Bhai Duj run from Thursday to Sunday. Take Naraka Chaturdasi as a Restricted Holiday for four days, or add Wednesday, October 27 as leave for five. This is among the busiest travel weeks of the year, with crowded highways, stations and hotels, so book early and don't treat it as a last-minute trip.
Christmas: December 24 to 27 (four days)
Christmas Eve on Friday, then Christmas Day on Saturday and Sunday. Take Christmas Eve as a Restricted Holiday and Monday, December 27 as leave. It suits a carefully paced drive towards Goa, the Konkan coast, Pondicherry, Rajasthan or the lower Himalaya, depending on where you start.
Road-trip ideas from five cities
Check distances and drive times on a current map for your exact starting point before you book. Ghat roads, weekend traffic, city exits and expressway entry points can change a journey a lot.
Bengaluru
For a short break, Mysuru is an easy change of pace. Coorg and Chikmagalur suit couples and families looking for coffee country, forest roads and hill air. For longer breaks, drive towards Ooty and the Nilgiris via Bandipur, and keep wildlife movement and forest-entry rules in mind. Kabini and Nagarhole suit wildlife travellers, but arrange safaris and stays early. The nine-day windows in March and October can support Hampi, Gokarna and the Uttara Kannada coast, or Pondicherry.
Hyderabad
For a short or medium break, try Srisailam and the Nallamala forest, or the heritage towns of Nagarjuna Sagar, Warangal and Bidar. For a longer trip, Araku Valley via Visakhapatnam brings Eastern Ghats scenery and cooler air, and Hampi works for a multi-day heritage drive. Tirupati and the Tirumala Hills need advance planning around temple timings, accommodation and queues, so a clear itinerary matters more than covering many stops.
Pune
Lonavala and Khandala suit a short break, though the Sahyadri roads get busy on holiday mornings. Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani are a longer hill-station option. For a longer window, consider Goa, Ganpatipule or a Konkan route, Kolhapur and Panhala for food and forts, or Nashik and Trimbakeshwar for a relaxed regional circuit. The nine-day breaks can also take in Ajanta and Ellora. Give the monuments proper time, and note that Ajanta is closed on Mondays and Ellora on Tuesdays. See our one-day Pune guide for what to do once you are there.
Gurugram
For short breaks, Neemrana and Sariska offer a manageable change from the city, while Jaipur and the Aravallis suit forts, food and craft. Agra is a practical longer-weekend idea, but check live traffic and allow time for city roads at both ends. Rishikesh and Haridwar with Rajaji combine river landscapes, religious places and forest. For a longer break, consider Jim Corbett, Lansdowne, Mussoorie and Dehradun, or Shimla and the lower Himalaya. Mountain routes need a buffer day because holiday traffic and weather can affect the return. Amritsar suits a longer cultural and food trip.
Mumbai
Natural short-break options are Lonavala and Khandala, Matheran, Igatpuri and the Kasara ghats, and Alibaug. Start early on Fridays and holiday mornings. Matheran is car-free: you park at Dasturi Naka and walk, ride a horse or take the toy train from Neral, so allow extra time. Nashik offers vineyards, food and access to Trimbakeshwar, Mahabaleshwar suits a hill break, and Ganpatipule opens up a slower Konkan coast. For a longer holiday, consider Goa or the inland heritage run to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar for Ellora, Ajanta and Daulatabad.
How to plan around the 2027 calendar
Start with the break, then choose the destination. A nine-day holiday supports a longer loop, while a three-day weekend is better for a nearby region.
- Check your employer's holiday list before you take leave, and confirm state holidays for Ugadi, Gudi Padava, Janmashtami and other regional festivals.
- Book hill-station stays well ahead for the March, October and December breaks, and earliest of all for Diwali week.
- Keep a buffer day at the end of a long drive rather than returning just before work. Friday evenings and holiday mornings bring the heaviest traffic, especially on routes leaving Bengaluru, Pune, Mumbai and Gurugram.
Fuel and tolls will be a large part of the cost. Our guide to budgeting an India road trip has the current toll figures and what the FASTag annual pass covers.
Plan your 2027 road trip in the app
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Open the app →Sources and dates checked
Holiday dates checked October 5, 2026; other items October 7, 2026. Moon-dependent holidays can change.
- DoPT Office Memorandum on 2027 holidays, F.No.12/2/2023-JCA, July 16, 2026 (reported by IGE Corner)
- Holidays to be observed in Central Government offices, 2027 (PO Tools Blog)
- Dussehra 2027 date (Samvat)
- Ajanta and Ellora timings and closing days (StayVista)
- How to reach Matheran (Matheran.net.in)
Photo credits: hero image by Raghaven97, CC BY-SA 4.0; Coorg photo by Dcrjsr, CC BY 3.0; Goa photo by Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, all via Wikimedia Commons. Images were resized and compressed.
