Vacationing With Your Parents
When you were a little kid, you probably looked forward to those summer trips with your parents. They would plan their budget an entire year, cutting down on some of their own luxuries just because they know you are looking forward to visit new places during your annual vacation. Now, it is time to take your parents on a vacation. And the good news is that India has a number of amazing places to visit, for parents of all ages.
1. Alleppey – In the Bosom of Nature
Let’s start with Kerala – the land of emerald green backwaters, mystical mountains, magnificent tea gardens, aromatic spices and more. You can watch the true beauty of Kerala as you glide along the backwaters on a houseboat from Alleppey.
Alleppey
Along the way, you can catch breathtaking views of the villages, the indigenous flora and fauna and if you stay the night, a glorious sunrise to remember. Your parents would thoroughly enjoy this tour because it is calming, refreshing and quite rejuvenating.
2. Mathura – Lord Krishna’s Abode
Image by KuwarOnline via Wikimedia
Mathura isa scared city in Uttar Pradesh. If you are planning to visit North India with your parents, and they are the religious kind, then they would thoroughly enjoy a visit to Mathura. The city has various pilgrim spots, ancient temples and a number of monasteries. The famous places that tourists visit are Durga Mata ka Mandir, Prem Mandir, Birla Mandir, Iskcon Temple, Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple, and of course Vrindavan.
Mathura
Vrindavan is just 20 kilometers away, so in all, it would take just a couple of days to visit these places completely. If you wish to absorb spiritual essence of the place, then you can spend as much as 4 days.
3. Jaipur – A Tryst with the Royalty
If you want to treat your parents like royalty, you’ve got to take them to the land of royals. Jaipur in Rajasthan is also known as the Pink City, and the splendor of this beautiful city with its dawdling camels and majestic palaces are a sight to behold. Visiting Jaipur is almost like visiting the heavens, and the Hawa Mahal and Amber Fort only make this feeling more evident.
Jaipur
4. Ooty – Visiting the Queen of Hills
No parent would ever say “no” to a visit to the “queen of the hills”. The pleasant hill station, Ooty in Tamil Nadu is a favorite spot for families. The soothing environment and the cool weather is definitely pleasing for them, and they would cherish a trip in the toy train, a visit to the Botanical Gardens and gazing at the Doddabetta Peak.
Ooty
5. Haridwar – Irresistible Sacred Vibes
People head to Haridwar in Uttarkhand to enjoy the sacred vibes of the city, and to enjoy the pure magnificence of nature. According to Hindu culture, a visit to the holy places of Haridwar will free them from the endless cycle of life and death as it gives them eternal peace and liberation.
Haridwar
You can take your parents to visit the Mansa Devi Temple, the Ganges river for a refreshing dip perhaps, and Daksha Mahadev Temple.It is at Haridwar that the famous Kumbh Mela festival is held, every 12 years.
6. Munnar – A City Carpeted in Mystical Mountains
Your parents would enjoy visiting Munnar in Kerala. The hill station in the Western Ghats with its numerous viewpoints is a great delight to visitors of all age groups. The top attractions in Munnar include Top Station, Meesapulimala, Rose Garden, Mattupetty, Kollukkumalai Tea Estate and Echo Point.It’s a beautiful and peaceful place where you can take your parents to, especially if they want to enjoy peace and quiet on their vacation.
Munnar
7. Shimla -The Coolest Hill Station of India
Regal snow dusted mountains engulfed in mist are shrouded in mystery at Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. If you or your parents have never been there, that’s where you should all be going. Shimla is the winter wonderland, and you have several places worth visiting there fit for a 2-3 day trip.
Shimla
The major highlights of Shimla include Kalka Shimla Mail (including luxury trains), Lakkar Bazaar, Jakhoo, Christ Church, the RashtrapathiNivas and the Summer Hill. If you are looking for an entire day of fun, or a picnic of some sort, then the Shimla Glen with its luscious verdant forests consisting of pine and deodar trees and the salubrious climate is just perfect.
8. Kashmir – Known Fondly as the Switzerland of India
They say that you must visit Kashmir at least once in your lifetime. And give your parents a gift of a vacation at this surreal and magical place. Cosseted in the Himalayas, Kashmir is a haven you wouldn’t want to come back from. It is a place where you feel like doing soul searching.The beautiful valleys, the migratory birds, colorful flowers, splendid lakes – there is too much beauty in here.
Kashmir
9. Tawang – Relishing the Spiritual Vibes
Image by TheSomdeep via Wikimedia
Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh is bounded by snowcapped mountains, and boasts of amazing views of Tibet and Bhutan. Tawang has the oldest and largest monastery in the world, and your parents would have a different kind of experience visiting this place – a cultural experience replicated in no other place.
Tawang
10. Andaman and Nicobar Islands – Exotic and Charming
Image by Dr. K. Vedhagiri via Wikimedia
Andaman and Nicobar Islands is one of the Union Territories of India and is famous for offering great opportunities for snorkeling and diving enthusiasts. There are a number of tour packages to choose from depending on how many days you want to spend there.
Andaman
Some of the highlights of the islands include the Forest Museum, Samudrika Naval Marine Museum, Anthropological Museum, Ross & Smith Island, limestone caves and mud volcano, Craggy Island, etc.
Conclusion
This is the whole package – all of these places exude culture, traditional, color and religion, and should definitely be a part of your itinerary. Vacationing in these places with your parents would make them feel cherished and loved, and help you create some great memories with them. These memories would definitely stay with you for life.
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!
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