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The Top 8 Child Friendly Destinations in India for the Whole Family

A vacation with loved ones is the best stress buster. But when children come into the picture, many people get troubled on where to plan their next vacation to. You need to decide on a place which can be enjoyable for everyone while at the same time be a great learning experience for the children. Worry not, because I’m listing the top locations in India where your entire family can have the best time of their lives.

1. Thekkady, Kerala

Elephants in Thekkady
Elephants in Thekkady. Photo by Kerala Tourism.

Kerala is the best place to vacation with your family. The serene atmosphere, the natural greenery and the beautiful backwaters will relax the adults and excite the children at the same time.

Thekkady, just like any other town in Kerala, is full of scenic beauty. Enjoy the fantastic look in your children’s eyes when they look at the high hills and valleys. This is also the perfect opportunity to teach them one of the important lessons of their life – caring for animals. Elephants are plenty in Thekkady, so make sure to let them experience an elephant ride. The aana paapan (the caretaker of the elephants) will let your children feed the elephants if you request him to. Consider this as a valuable lesson for your child.

Also, don’t leave Kerala without spending a day or two in a houseboat on the backwaters. It will be the most incredible experience for your entire family.

2. Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Radhanagar Beach in A&N Islands
Radhanagar Beach in A&N Islands. Photo by Joseph Jayanth.

Taking your family on an island is a different experience altogether. Children will jump with excitement at the prospect of visiting an island and spending all the time near the sea. In fact, this is an exciting thought even for an adult.

Andaman & Nicobar Islands are one of the Union Territories of India, even though they are not connected to this landmass. The kids can learn a lot about marine life because according to a study, the island’s coastal belt is one of the richest coral reef ecosystems in the world. Also, if your kids are teenagers, you can go scuba diving around the reef.

Living on an island will be like a dream-come-true for them, and they will be thanking you for years.

3. Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand

A Tiger spotted in Jim Corbett
A Tiger spotted in Jim Corbett. Photo by Ross Huggett

This is by far, one of the best national parks in India. Don’t think that it will not be enjoyable for adults. There is no age limit for learning, and that is exactly what you will be doing here.

You, along with your children, can embark on a jungle safari. Teach them to be closer to nature. Look at the wonder in their eyes when they get a glimpse of the majestic tiger. Teach them about the value of coexistence.

The sheer variety of flora and fauna in the park will be a break for them from the concrete jungles that they are usually used to. Textbooks should not be their only source of learning. They deserve this.

4. Auli, Uttarakhand

Auli
Auli. Photo by Joginder Pathak.

Playing in the snow is an exciting prospect for each child out there, and Auli is the perfect place to do this.

Breathtaking snow capped mountains will greet you in this small mountainous city of Uttarakhand. If you love an adventurous trip, this is the best place for skiing. There are Government certified skiing operators for your help right there. And the best part is, it’s perfectly safe for your kids to ski as long as they are in safe hands.

Therefore, this vacation, give them the additional surprise of a little adventure with the snow and teach them to conquer their fears.

5. Udaipur

Puppet Show
Puppet Show. Photo by Yiqun Ding.

India has a rich historical background, and its many forts and palaces stand as a testimony to that.

It is indeed a great experience to visit these great architectural marvels and look back at the legacy of the Indian rulers. It will be a pleasant experience for you and your family. Besides, Udaipur has consistently been voted to be one of the best places to visit with family.

It will be fascinating for your children to be exposed to the Rajasthani village life. Also, make sure to show them the puppet show of the city which will teach them more vividly about the history of the various forts of Udaipur.

If you like to visit forts, don’t forget to read about The 6 Oldest Forts in India.

6. The Kingdom of Dreams, Delhi

Grand entrance of Kingdom of Dreams
The grand entrance to the Kingdom of Dreams. Photo by Os Rupiya.

If you only have a day to travel and are confused where exactly to take your children, Kingdom of Dreams is the place for you.

This huge building or monument or whatever you’d like to call it (I prefer to think that it is another world) will be the experience of a lifetime for them. Situated in Delhi, this is the best place to visit with your family for a day.

Once you enter the building, it’s a different universe altogether. You, along with your children, will be in awe of it (just like I stood gaping at everything when I first went in). Their ceilings are made to look like the night sky (or you could say bewitched like the ceilings in Harry Potter). There are some shops within where you could get amazing ethnic stuff (Tip from a local: You can get these stuff at a lower price from anywhere else like Jodhpur, Udaipur or even Chandni Chowk. They double the price in here).

There are many events and programmes arranged in here that your family will enjoy. The restaurants are the best part in this place. For the Rajasthani restaurant, they have made its walls in such a manner that it feels like you have entered some remote village. And if your children are not big fans of local cuisines, there is a huge McDonald’s shop in here too.

It is like a Disneyland in India. So get ready to take a day off and visit this super cool place.

7. Taj Mahal, Agra

The incredible Taj Mahal
The incredible Taj Mahal. Photo by TausP.

What is the use of being in India if you haven’t already visited the Taj Mahal?

No matter how much we see it on TV or in pictures, it is still an incredible and enigmatic feeling to see it in real. Besides, a lot of families and couples come here every day, and there are some great hotels nearby. Take in a guide with you so that the children can know a lot more about this iconic mausoleum.

To know more about Taj Mahal, check out The Top Sights of The Golden Triangle.

8. Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra

Mahabaleshwar
Mahabaleshwar. Photo by Aditya Kumar.

Mahabaleshwar is a minuscule town in Maharashtra. It is more prominent as a hill station. It is the ideal vacation destination for families because there are a lot of interesting things to do here.

Horse riding is one of the popular activities done in Mahabaleshwar. It will be an exhilarating experience for them to ride on a horse. Regarding the scenery also, this small town is a great place to be at.

Another interesting thing that the children can do here is to pluck strawberries. That’s right. It is such an unusual activity to perform, but it is fun. It will be fun for the children, especially if they live in a metropolitan city and have never seen strawberries so abundantly except in tight containers on the shelves of markets. To get them one more step closer to nature, take them to Mahabaleshwar.

By Merlin Chacko

Currently studying English Literature at Delhi University. Obsessed with Harry Potter and NOT Shakespeare. I believe that nothing nourishes the soul like books and travelling. Constantly amazed by the Indian culture and its history. Personally feel that the old forts and ruined palaces in India are almost magical.

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