Summer holidays in India fall in the months of April, May and June each year when schools and colleges shut down. They are an ideal time for planning family vacations with children.
There are many unique and beautiful places in India to visit during Summer Holidays in 2018. Chopta – Chandrashila in Uttarakhand, Darjeeling and Sandakphu in West Bengal, Shillong and Mawlynnong in Meghalaya, Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra, Coonoor and Kotagiri in Tamil Nadu among others. For those looking for international destinations, we recommend cool hill stations in Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.
1. Chopta – Chandrashila- Deoriatal in Uttarakhand
This is an ideal trek for a family, it promises an amazing learning experience for your children aged 7 or more. Trek for four days through mountains, meadows and forests as you admire the majestic Himalayan peaks. In summers, a fiesta of flowers is guaranteed with red and pink rhododendrons blooming in full glory. TrekTheHimalayas and IndiaHikes are recommended trek organizers. The nearest airport is Dehradun.
Read more: Must-Do Treks in India
2. Darjeeling and Sandakphu in West Bengal
The Queen of the Hills is well-known for its tea gardens. The mighty Kanchenjunga looms on the horizon. Age is no bar to enjoy a joy ride on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, or the toy train, listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site. Book a ticket on the regular service to and from Kurseong. Visit the fantastic Mountaineering Museum for memorabilia from Everest expeditions. Sandakphu, 58 km away from Darjeeling, offers a panoramic view of the Eastern Himalayas, including Mt. Everest and Mt. Kanchenjunga. The nearest airport is Bagdogra.
Read more: Best Time to Visit Darjeeling 3. Shillong and Mawlynnong in Meghalaya
Children will enjoy visiting the Don Bosco Centre and learning more about Meghalaya’s indigenous cultures and artefacts. Unwind at the atmospheric Cafe Shillong, you may just catch a live music gig. The must-see destinations in Meghalaya are the living roots bridges built over many years by entwining the aerial roots of Ficus Elastica trees. Admire the community-driven waste segregation initiatives at Mawlynnong. Plan a boat ride on the crystal clear waters of the Dawki river at the Indo – Bangladesh border. While Shillong has an airport, there are very limited connections. Best to fly to Guwahati and drive down.
Read more: 8 Places To Visit In Shillong
4. Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra
The hill station of Mahabaleshwar lies in the verdant forests of Western Ghats. Hike up to the Pratapgarh fort owned by the Satara princely estate. The famous Battle of Pratapgarh between Shivaji and Afzal Khan that led to the establishment of the Maratha empire was fought here. Spend a day tasting strawberries at the local farms on the Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani road. What’s more – an annual four-day-long Strawberry Festival is held at Mapro Garden during the Easter weekend. Children will enjoy a tour of the Mapro Factory, where those delectable jellies and jams are made. If time permits, visit the nearby town of Wai for its beautiful temples. The nearest airport is Pune.
Read more: 10 exotic destinations that are totally worth the bus journey
5. Coonoor and Kotagiri in Tamil Nadu
The beautifully landscaped Sim’s Park with a thousand species of plants is located in the centre of Coonoor. The High Field Tea Estate offers guided tours of the tea gardens and the tea factory. Learn organic cheesemaking with a two-day long course offered at Wild Acres (provided you stay there). The Pony store at Bicketty (about 10 km away from Coonoor) is a heaven for handicraft lovers – you will end up stocking colourful buttons, pins and needles. The nearby hill station of Kotagairi is great for a day visit. Sign up for the day-long tour offered by Keystone Foundation to learn more about the local communities. The nearest airport is Coimbatore.
Read more: Explore Coonoor with Kapoor & Sons and Skyscanner
6. Destinations outside India: For international destinations for your summer holidays, head to any of these cool international hill station destinations this summer. Skyscanner lists some budget getaways you can explore – Sapa and Da Lat in Vietnam, Maxwell Hill and Getting Highlands in Malaysia, Pai and Chiang Mai in Thailand, Luang Prabang in Laos, Kalaw and Pyin Oo Lwin in Myanmar and Nuwara Eliya in Sri Lanka.
Read more: Budget summer getaways from India Book your flight tickets & hotels: Skyscanner collects flight prices from over 1200 major airlines and online travel sites so that you need not bother about spending time in comparing prices. The award-winning Skyscanner’s new 3-in-1 travel app makes your flight, hotel and car booking superbly easy!
