10 Holiday Destinations in India to Visit with Your Toddlers

India is an exciting destination for travellers of all kinds. It keeps people of all generations and ages thrilled to the core. Children especially love the diverse experiences that India has to offer.

Toddlers may get cranky soon, so you will have to take sufficient breaks for resting and napping. Nevertheless, visiting India with your young children will be a fairy tale experience if you make the right moves. There is almost nothing to worry if you hire a good travel agency to plan your tour.

The best thing about India is that the people adore children.If they see you carrying one, they will go out of the way to make it comfortable and easy for you. Young kids are given free boarding in the hotel rooms, and you’ll be charged only a nominal fee for kids’ meals, if not free.

There are plenty of child-friendly places that you can take your toddlers to. Here is a list of destinations that you can consider for your next vacation.

1. Munnar, Kerala

Munnar is always the favored destination for families with toddlers. You can enjoy an easy vacation at your pace, wander around the tea estates, learn about the tea extraction process and take in the mountain air. It would be good for your kids to breathe in the natural fresh air at Munnar.

If your children enjoy nature, and are big enough to walk on their own, you can plan short trekking trips with them. Boating is another enjoyable activity at Munnar. Elephant rides are popular with tourists but if you are travelling with a very young child, you can skip it. Toddlers or not, a you should never turn down the chance to experience a Kerala houseboat.

2. Goa

Image by Alex via flickr

Goa would be a nice destination to explore with your little ones. You can spend the day on the beaches, visit the churches, forts and museums and have an easy-paced vacation while at Goa. The highlight of the trip would be building sandcastles at the beach and posing in front of them.

There are a couple of spice plantations at Goa – Tropical Spice Plantation and Sahakari Spice Farm, that you would enjoy visiting with your family. Don’t miss the Butterfly Sanctuary; your little ones are really going to love it.

3. Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Image by Sivanjali Sivapatham via Wikimedia

Chennai can be a really hot destination during the summers, so you can skip it if you are planning to visit between the months of April and July. The ideal time to visit is from November to March, when the city has cooled down a bit from the monsoon rains.

Chennai is known as the ‘Gateway to the South’ and has quite a few beaches, museums and amusement parks. The city is completely safe for a vacation with very young kids.

4. Sikkim, North East India

Image by Carsten.nebel via Wikimedia

Sikkim is an amazing place to visit and its pristine beauty never ceases to amaze even the seasoned visitor. A toddler may not gauge the importance of the armed forces, but you can visit the Nathu La Pass where you can see the Indian Army on duty.

5. Majuli, Assam

Image by Kalai Sukanta via Wikimedia

Majuli, along the river Brahmaputra in Assam. is a must visit place for those travelling with little kids. It lets you have a quiet and peaceful vacation where you can enjoy nature in all its glory and gaze at the migratory birds. There is a very old village in the vicinity where you can observe ancient Assamese civilization.

The main attractions in the area are Majuli Mahotsav and Ras Mahotsav. If you have slightly bigger children, you can take them to visit the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalay, AuniatiSatra Museum, Circuit House and Ygdrasil Bamboo Cottage.

6. Hampi, Karnataka

Hampi in Karnataka sings stories of lost glories of the rich culture that India once had. It is also listed as a World Heritage Site. As you will be travelling with very young children, you need to carry sufficient medication for high altitudes, umbrellas and raincoats. If your children are in the school-going age, you can explain to them about the Monolithic Bull, Mathanga Hill and Pampa Sarovar.

7. Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Image by mattharvey1 via flickr 

It is believed that Andaman and Nicobar Islands,the archipelago of 300 islands, situated in the Bay of Bengal is a great attraction for families with kids. While activities like deep sea walking, scuba diving and snorkeling are meant for adults, kids will enjoy visiting the Marina Park and the Mini Zoo. The cellular jail is an important part of the history of India, and a must visit place.

8. Ooty, Tamil Nadu

Ooty is a hill station in the Nilgiris, and a very famous tourist destination. Your little kiddo would enjoy the toy train ride, the Botanical Gardens and the boat rides. The chocolate factory is a must visit for little kids. Ooty is famous for its home-made chocolates, so don’t miss that.

9. Thekkady, Kerala

If your toddler loves big, grey elephants you can take him/her to Thekkady. The weather is suitable and it is the perfect place to unwind by taking a houseboat ride. Houseboat rides are perfectly safe, even for very active toddlers, so try not to miss the experience.

10.Puri, Odisha

You don’t have to be a Hindu to visit this beautiful North Indian destination called Puri. It is a clean place with rich culture and a history spanning centuries. You can give your kids a taste of the Maha Prasad from the Jagannath Temple, let them enjoy the sunset views at the Puri Beach, watch the magnificent birds at the Chilika Lake Bird Sanctuary and even take them along for a visit to the Konark Temple.

Conclusion

While traveling with kids, remember not to pack too many activities into a single day. Children can adapt quickly, but they can also turn cranky at the drop of a hat.So arm yourself with patience manifold and you are all set to go.

Author Bio:

Sunu Philip is the Inbound Marketing and Creative Head for Paradise Holidays, Cochin – a Kerala based tour operator. She loves reading, exploring new places and trying out different cuisines