Hello, beautiful people! Monsoon is nearly here, and we hope you all are just as eager to be signing in the rain as we are! We have here a guest post for you, from Surf Excel- with superb ideas for Monsoon 'staycations' (as they call it) with the family. We hope it will make your holidays all the more enjoyable!
Many people opt
to leave the country when the rains arrive, choosing alternative destinations
for their family holidays. But they may be missing out: India's countryside is
transformed into a verdant paradise during the wet season; flowers bloom,
mountains are cloaked in midst, and – best of all – you can escape the dry city
heat. So if you can't manage a holiday abroad this year, there are plenty of
options at home. And, with low-cost accommodation during the monsoons, you may
get a lot more for your money. Here are some of the best places to take the
kids this year.
Rajasthan
The desert state may see its fair share of
rain as the monsoon winds travel northwards, but here they generally only last
an hour and will not characterise every day of your trip. Take the kids to the
City Palace in Udaipur, floating serenely out on Lake Pichola; they will love
the sunset boat trips. Older ones will enjoy the trek up to the soaring
Kumbhalgarh Fort, known as the 'Cloud Palace' and built so the maharajas of the
past could have the best views of the shifting monsoons. What's more, off-peak
season could land you with a hilltop residence of your own at a fraction of the
price; there are plenty of family-friendly hotels around Jaipur and the tiger
sanctuary in Ranthambore National Park.
Goa
Goa is also a
bargain destination at this time of year, but the rains only enhance the beauty
of this west-coast region. Treat the kids to rare wildlife and rushing
waterfalls in Mollem National Park, or try the smaller, easy-to-reach Bondla
zoo and deer safari. The rains don't come in half measures in Goa, but this is
all part of the fun. With monsoon celebrations like Sao-Joao Festival in June,
you can watch the boat races in Siolim or embrace the rain and dance in the
streets. Just make sure you take enough changes of clothes for everyone, so you
can save the laundry for when
you get home – Surf Excel has got some great laundry
tips for the monsoon season!
Kerala
Both
child-friendly and appealing even in the wet weather, South India's Kerala
makes for a great family holiday. Sunny intervals interrupt the rainfall up
until October, although watch out for the Northeast Monsoon later in the year,
which hits this part of the country harder. Periyar National Park stays open
for most of the year and you can take a boat safari through the serene,
wildlife-rich habitats. If the kids like this idea, they'll love the chance to
stay the night on the houseboats that travel the famous backwaters of Kerala;
with a wooden roof over your heads, you're free to enjoy the colourful scenery.
Quick breaks from the city
Since longer
trips are not always advisable in monsoon weather, you might want to try a
quick weekend break closer to home. Even Mumbai, which receives some of the
worst floods during this time also has convenient access to Bhandardara, a
hillside resort around 3-4 hours drive from the city which is peaceful enough
to take the grandparents as well as the kids. If you're stuck in Delhi for
monsoon, try nearby Damdama Lake, where there's a full programme of activities
for little ones, from archery to woodland play parks, as well as idyllic
cottage accommodation and ample space to set up a barbecue.
Of course,
depending on where you live, it's difficult to escape the monsoon altogether,
but if you're worried about child safety or the hassles of travel during the
wet season, wait until the first rains have passed and take your holiday in
August or September. Accommodation is usually cheaper overall, but some places
are not always open so do check ahead once you've decided on a location. Though
a 'staycation' is not always a first choice, it's also a chance to see the best
rural India has to offer and embrace the beauty that the rains bring to our
country.
I hope you all enjoyed this post and got some good ideas for your upcoming 'stay-cations'! For unique articles with cleaning tips, parenting tips and kids’ activities, please visit the Surf Excel website. :)
Have a great day, people!
PS- The pictures in the post have been taken from Google. :)
