amritaspeaks

What are the best places to go on a family trip? This is a question that people ask me often. I have been travelling with my son since he was four and a half months old, but I must say I always preferred to plan well and take it slow when he was a baby and later on a toddler. Now that he is a teenager, I can do a more “running-around-ticking-my-itinerary-list” kind of holiday and he enjoys it as much as we do.

While looking for the best places to go on a family trip I always keep a few things in mind. Here are those:

1. There should be activities for all of us to do.

2. A comfortable hotel room where we can retire at the end of the day and have a good night’s sleep.

3. Availability of food that can have the flavour of simple home-cooked food so that your stomach doesn’t end up revolting on your holiday.

4. The availability of transportation in case of an emergency.

5. Medicine shops should be also available in the vicinity so that you can buy emergency medication.

Best places to go on a family trip

I am an Indian and I think my country has the best places to explore on a family trip. If you are in love with the mountains, the sea, heritage and history then you can find the best places for a family trip in India. I am listing five places we explored from Kolkata, the city I live in India, and for me these proved to be the best places for a family trip.

1. Darjeeling

This was my third trip to Darjeeling but my husband and son’s first trip and they were very excited. We were travelling in the end of May and the rains come full-fledged in June. So our travel agent Dreamland Escapes advised us to stay in Darjeeling town and not venture too much into off-beat locations because in case of a landslide we would get stuck.

So we stayed in a wonderful hotel, Hermitage Resort Darjeeling, booked by them. It has the best views of the Himalayas and we had an absolute ball exploring Darjeeling. From witnessing the sun rising on the mountains right from our bed to walking down Observatory Hill in the mist, the old-world charm of Darjeeling was just amazing.

When you are going for a family trip the best thing to do is opt for dates that would allow the rush to move away. People usually visit Darjeeling in March-April but in May you will spot a lot of travellers in this quaint mountain abode but there is no mad rush.

Since our hotel was within walking distance of the Mall we lounged around that lovely place and then headed to Glenary’s for dinner. In fact, Glenary’s is a place that should we revisited for lunch and evening snacks as well. On the day we headed there for lunch the sun was peeping from behind the clouds after a shower and the valley below looked heavenly from the open deck, where we were sitting.

Darjeeling is the best place for a family trip because children have a lot to do. My son enjoyed the toy train ride thoroughly, he tried indoor wall climbing at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, loved the HMI museum and was super excited to spot the red panda at the Darjeeling Zoo.

Needless to say shopping for knick-knacks and small gifts for his friends, to take back home was exciting for him. He enjoyed the luscious momos that we had at a shack next to the Darjeeling Tea Gardens and liked the monasteries, especially the Ghoom Monastery.

If you are travelling with elderly people on your family trip then Darjeeling has a lot of hotels where guests can be dropped off at the gate so that there is no climbing required. Do check if the hotel you are booking has this facility.

What we loved most on our family trip to Darjeeling were the leisurely walks down Observatory Hill and the coffee shops around the Mall where you can enjoy your cuppa and watch tourists pass by.

2. Puri-Gopalpur 

Situated in the neighbouring state of Odisha, Puri and Gopalpur are just an overnight train journey from Kolkata. This was my seventh trip to Puri and while I visited this place often with my parents on our family trips, it was my turn now to take my son to the temple town and give him a taste of the waves as well.

I have been around the world and have been to several beaches but the sea at Puri is indescribable. Perhaps that’s why the number of tourists is swelling every year in Puri because the attraction of those giant waves will always be unparalleled.

This time we decided to do things a bit differently. We drove down to Puri and Gopalpur. Husband was at the wheel, I was the navigator and son – who had very enthusiastically bought a car mattress – played the DJ and a few hours later Rip Van Winkle. It took us 11 hours to reach Puri with lunch and tea breaks in between. The highways were amazing, although some diversions played with our patience. But the drive was scenic and totally worth it.

On my earlier sojourns in Puri we have gone on cycle rides and late-night walks on the beach but this time it was all about playing with the waves – my son loved the ride on the waves in an inflated tube along with a nulia (the local people who are adept in handling the treacherous waves) and loved to splash around in the pool. Hans Coco Palms, the hotel we stayed in has a sprawling pool, great food (they cooked a whole crab for us), lovely rooms and very courteous staff. It was wonderful to laze by the pool and enjoy the palm-dotted ambience.

We climbed to the top of the lighthouse that was right next to the hotel. It was a bit of a climb but the view at the end of it was strikingly beautiful.

A visit to Konark Sun Temple and Puri Temple should also be on the itinerary.

After three days we headed for Gopalpur in our car. The Bypass road in Puri is a boon for car trippers and thanks to yet another wonderful highway we were in Chilika in no time. The second largest coastal lagoon in the world is a beauty to behold. One can opt for a boat ride here but it was too hot in the afternoon, so we decided to give it a miss and proceeded to Gopalpur.

Mayfair Palm Beach Resort is the best place to stay on a family trip. While the property is beautiful with really large, well-maintained rooms, it was the private beach, the restaurant next to the beach and the crystal-clear sea that had our heart.

With ample activities for children this resort is very family friendly. My son wouldn’t get out of the pool and the sea, loved playing table tennis, tried his hand at pool, if he had been younger I would have surely spent more time at the children’s play area. Then the hotel staff organised housie and musical chairs and my son enjoyed these events too.

We spotted boats and fishes in the sea, took long walks in the manicured lawns and I just wished the hours wouldn’t pass as I sat on the lounger in the huge balcony with my Kindle. It was a truly relaxing family holiday.

3. Ooty – Coonoor

Never knew Nilgiris could be so beautiful. Ooty used to be a Bollywood shooting hub at one point of time, but once I went there I realised why. The winding roads through the tea gardens, the stunning lakes, the pine forests, waterfalls, animal farms, wild animal spotting at Mudumalai  Wildlife Sanctuary and topping it all is the scenic toy train ride that remains etched in one’s memory forever.

After going through umpteen places to stay and weighing the pros and cons we zeroed in on La Montana by TGI solely because of the views it offered. Once we checked in we realised apart from the unbelievable views the hotel has huge rooms, excellent facilities and great food.

The best thing about this hotel is we could see the toy train passing from our balcony. And every time we heard the train’s whistle reverberating through the valley we would run like children to the balcony to see the train.

The walk to Avalanche Lake can be a long one but it is highly doable, and the views are worth every step. Elderly people might find the climb down to Pykara Forest and Pykara Falls a little steep but if they manage it, they would be amazed at the natural beauty our country has to offer.

One can spend hours staring at the Pykara Falls, the Emerald Lake or Ooty Lake. We fell in love with the colourful flowers at Sim’s Park in Coonoor.

A chocolate factory in Ooty can be a truly exciting place for children. My son loved the variety of handmade chocolates that were being made right in front of him. Needless to say, he picked up a veritable collection. As adults, we found the tea factory rather fascinating and bought all kinds too.

From boating at the lakes to spotting a wild elephant at the national park to heritage tours, Ooty and Coonoor have activities and sightseeing opportunities that are perfect for a family trip. That’s why it’s one of the best places to visit with your family. In fact, many opt to stay in Coonoor and make day trips to Ooty. We did the opposite though.

4. Sikkim

I have travelled the length and breadth of Sikkim in shared cars and without prior hotel bookings earlier but when you are travelling with your family, including children or elderly people, you can’t afford to do that. So once again my travel agent Dreamland Escapes made all the bookings and worked on our itinerary for our 8-day Sikkim trip. I always prefer to go through a reliable travel agent because it saves me a lot of time and booking hassle.   

Since it was December and I was travelling with my son I decided to keep our itinerary restricted to Gangtok, Ravangla and Kaluk. North Sikkim gets freezing in winter so it might not be a great idea to travel with children.

We wanted to stay near the main artery of Gangtok the MG Marg. We opted for the Yangthang Heritage Hotel. The best thing is despite being right in the middle of the city the hotel is away from the noise and has unfettered views of the Kanchenjunga. The very second day we went berserk in excitement seeing the peak peeking out in the wee hours of the morning. The hotel has huge rooms and bathrooms, courteous staff and delicious food. Our stay there was amazing. From Gangtok we did the usual rounds of Changu Lake, Nathula Pass, Banjhakri Falls, Rumtek Monastery and Bakthang Falls.

Just walking around MG Marg and shopping is a joy in Gangtok. We found ourselves at Baker’s Café every day devouring cappuccinos, pastries and churros.

At Ravangla we visited the Buddha Park which is green and beautiful and, inside, the murals depicting the life of Buddha are a visual treat. On our Sikkim trip not a day passed without having momos but here at a small café at Buddha Park we had the tastiest vegetable momos. From Ravangla we also visited the magnificent Ralang Monastery.

In Ravangla we stayed at Buddha Retreat. Hotel Zumthang, where we stayed earlier, is also another great option with a scenic location that offers great views.

Our trip ended in Kaluk where we stayed in the Ghonday Village Resort. The resort is so beautiful, with fabulous views of the mountains that we just wanted to sit at the balcony or in the garden and enjoy the ambience. Our only activity was taking short walks on the mountain roads and interacting with the locals. We always returned to the giant chessboard in the hotel, the evening bonfire, the delicious local food that the hotel served and generally enjoyed the stay at the resort.  

5. Santiniketan

As Kolkatans Santiniketan is our favourite place for quick weekend trips but now that Santiniketan has made it to the UNESCO World Heritage List the interest of the international travelling community has peaked. Rabindranath Tagore set up Santiniketan in 1901 establishing an open-air school and the Visva Bharati University because he wanted to re-invent learning. International students have been coming to study literature and arts in Santiniketan for a long time and it has become a place where art and music thrive.

Santiniketan has moved with the times but it has not shed off its old-world charm. On my recent visit to Tagore’s university town it was rather comforting to see the greenery untouched, the trademark red soil dazzling in the winter sun and the quaint bungalows looking pretty in the tranquil ambience and Santhal drums beating somewhere in a remote tribal village.

We stayed in the beautiful Rangabitan Tourist Complex that’s run by West Bengal Tourism Corporation. It’s a huge property and some of the bungalows face the forest. You wake up to the chirping of birds. The rooms are all renovated, have smart TVs and the food has a home-made touch.

This time we went to the Rabindra Bhavan where apart from photos and prizes, Tagore’s pens, clothes and the gifts he got from different countries are on display. It is a fascinating exhibit. The Uttarayan Complex is where Tagore had his five beautiful homes. Since the University campus is closed to visitors now, we could not visit the places inside it. My son found Tagore’s homes and the museum particularly fascinating because he is studying about the Bard in his school curriculum, and it was a moment of discovery for him.

This time we made it to Prakriti Bhavan, the nature art museum where stones and tree barks are placed as installations with interpretations. The imagination is unique and nature is shown as raw and beautiful.

The Ballabhpur Wildlife Sanctuary is another virgin zone where a family of deer roam around and we spotted cranes, orioles and kingfishers.

The Sonajhuri Haat located next to the Khoai River is a major attraction in Santiniketan that not only attracts people looking for beautiful handicrafts but with an opportunity to dance with tribal dancers and sing with baul singers, this place gives a holistic experience of the culture and craft of the place.

We were lucky to catch a Lokoshilpa Mela where local dancers were performing, and local food was being made and sold and a bohurupee (polymorphous character) posed as a native ghost and was turning out to be quite a scare fest.

All in all, these holiday spots traverse mountains, oceans and a heritage site and have accommodations to fit every budget. In India a family trip often means travelling with elderly parents and children. The places we went to are ideal for everyone.

Photos: Vivaan Sengupta, Jaydip Sengupta and Amrita Mukherjee