Family Vacation Ideas in India

Traveling India with your family ? Check out the popular tourist places

Family vacations are all about eliminating stress from the everyday grind of life. Not only do they create memories to last a lifetime, they are a great way to bring every member of the family closer together and to nurture fiercer bonds between each other. A family friendly vacation is one that can accommodate every single member of the family like babies, children, pets, teenagers, grandparents and of course, the mother and father.

When it comes to planning a vacation with your entire family, it is important to learn how to travel with children and how to sit through a very long flight. When you travel with your kith and kin, there’s a whole lot of other stuff to be planned other than stay and activities. Nevertheless, vacationing with your family can be a joyous and fulfilling experience that you mustn’t miss out on.

Family vacation ideas for your next holiday—Our pick

Rajasthan

When it comes to having a truly royal Indian vacation, Rajasthan is the ideal family destination. Rajasthan sees a huge influx of domestic as well as foreign tourists all year-round. Rajasthan has carved a niche for itself in India with its rich cultural heritage, historical grandeur and exquisite forts and palaces. Rajasthan has several family friendly locales that are sure to enthrall, captivate and engage every member of the family.

The Pink City Jaipur, Ranthambore National Park, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Udaipur have lots of majestic edifices to see, exciting camel safaris to go on the sand dunes, animals and birds to watch and not to mention, the holy towns of Pushkar and Ajmer that will keep both the elderly and young of your family enthralled throughout the trip. Rajasthan is also an amazing shopping destination. All in all, it has everything a family needs to make the most of their time spent together, in the most joyous way possible.

Kodaikanal

In the southern tip of India lies a fascinating hill station called Kodaikanal which is popularly known as the ‘Princess of Hill Stations’. Unlike other parts of Tamil Nadu, the weather in Kodaikanal is chilly and cool even during mid-summer. Kodaikanal has a number of alluring sights, sounds and smells to boast of which makes it a very wise choice for a family holiday. Kodaikanal is also known by different names like Kodai or Kodi and is surrounded by a beautiful little lake.

The way to Kodaikanal is lined with eucalyptus trees, myrtle and rhododendron and you can’t take your eyes off the amazing view. Kodaikanal is famous for the evasive Kurinji plant which is said to flower only once every 12 years. The upcoming blooming season is in 2018. Kodaikanal will prove to be a very memorable holiday for children and adults alike with its spectacular waterfalls, viewpoints and natural abundance.

Mussoorie

Mussoorie is one among the top hill stations in India. Sitting about 2000 m above land, Mussoorie is like a mini heaven for tourists with its unbelievably green hills and picture perfect flora. Summer sees the maximum number of tourists than any other season with hotels getting pre booked and full at the very earliest. There are quite a number of fun things to do in Mussoorie that your entire family can enjoy like the cable car ropeway ride to Gun Hill, and the picturesque sceneries that you just can’t get enough of, The Kempty Falls, where you can enjoy a refreshing bath beneath a giant waterfall, Cloud End, Lal Tibba etc.

There is also Mall Road for all your souvenir and gift shopping needs. Children will love the cable car ride and waterfalls and older people are sure to fall in love with the amazingly cool weather. Mussoorie is a must-visit family destination.

The Golden Triangle Tour

The Golden Triangle Tour of India is a fascinating vacation that your entire family can revel in and cherish for years to come. The Golden Triangle Tour comprises of the most alluring palaces and temples in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur that are known the world over for their marvelous architectural grandeur and fascinating historical abundance. Children will gape in awe and wonder at the beauty of the Red Fort, India Gate and the Lotus Temple.

Adults can learn the interesting stories associated with the Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, Taj Mahal and the Itmad-ud-Daulah’s Tomb. This tour sweeps across the three majestic cities of India to make your vacation one filled with the majesty of the ancient kings and queens. You have a ton of options to go shopping for local crafts like GK1 M block market, Lajpat Nagar, Select city walk saket, Sarojini Nagar etc. This is the best tour to show every member of your family the best of India while enjoying each other’s company.

Kerala

In the Malabar coast of South West India lies the extravagant coastal state of Kerala. With its marvelous beaches, backwaters, hill stations, wildlife sanctuaries and more, Kerala is literally God’s own Country. Kerala is bestowed with unbelievable natural abundance. The history of Kerala is incredibly rich and it has a lot of interesting places to visit. But Kerala is best known for its dazzling backwaters that are mainly responsible for enhancing the beauty of Kerala in a more serene, calm and refreshingly cool way.

Popular backwaters are Alappuzha, Kochi and Kollam and popular beaches in Kerala are Kovalam, Varkala and Bekal. Kerala also has breath-taking hill stations like Thekkady and Munnar. Kerala’s Ayurvedic retreats are known the world over for their rejuvenating and therapeutic techniques. Tourists from all over the world flock to experience the divine feel of Kerala’s Ayurvedic spas and massage parlors.

Port Blair

The exotic outdoors of Port Blair are sure to bring you and your loved ones closer together. Surrounded by lush, green forests and rocky coastlines, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a seriously underrated vacation destination. Not many people are aware of how fascinating its sights are. The capital town of Port Blair is surprisingly like any other Indian town with a vibrant mix of Bengalis, Tamilians, Telagaites, Nicobarese and Burmese people. Apart from the crystal blue waters of its many beaches, Port Blair also has places of historical importance like Cellular Jail National Memorial, Samudrika Marine Museum, WWII Bunker, Corbyn’s Cove, Gandhi Statue and Clock Tower.

Port Blair is the perfect combination of natural abundance and man-made wonders which is why it is on this list of best family vacation spots. The Andaman and Nicobar cuisine is mostly south Indian and tropical with an interesting blend of Indo-western tastes. To top it off, you and your family most definitely should try the snorkeling adventures in different parts of the island. Instead of heading over to foreign tropical locales like The Maldives or Mauritius, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are waiting to blow your mind away.

Ladakh

Ladakh is the perfect family destination because you can have a lot of fun and adventure, romance as well as indulge yourself in the spiritual mysteries of Buddhism spread across the valley. Popularly referred to as ‘Little Tibet’, Ladakh has the most mind-blowing sceneries you will ever see. A trip to Ladakh will make you and your family not only fall more in love with each other, but you wouldn’t want to go back to your old, boring, stress-filled life once you breathe in the fresh, aromatic air and set your eyes on the crystal clear water of the lakes and ponds and the green, rolling hills spread out across the tall mountains.

Since Ladakh is situated in a more sensitive region of India, there are a number of guidelines and restrictions that you need to follow along with a number of precautionary measures that you need to take in order to withstand the harsh climate. There are a number of scenic attractions in Ladakh like the Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri and not to mention, the famous Khurdang La Pass. However, you might want to exercise caution with older people in the family who may not be able to trek and may find it cumbersome to tolerate the extreme weather. There are a number of monasteries in Ladakh that will make you feel like you have entered the inner realms of heaven with their serene and soothing environment.

Kashmir

When it comes to top vacation destinations in India, one can simply not ignore Heaven on Earth, Kashmir. Deemed the mini Switzerland of India, people from all over the world belonging to different age groups find Kashmir to be the most enchanting valley to ever exist on the face of the Earth. The experience of meditating in the valley of flowers is an unparalleled one. Srinagar has thrilling houseboats and shikara rides. You can take skiing lessons at the Ski Institute and surf through the snow in Gulmarg.

Kashmir is a highly sensitive region of India and has only recently come out of a long curfew. So, if you are planning on visiting Kashmir, learn every possible mode of precaution and abide by the rules and safety norms to keep yourself and your loved ones safe at all times. Spring is the best time to visit when the flowers are in full bloom and if you look forward to a lot of skiing, you should travel during the Winter.