Taking a Family holiday in India presents many unique experiences for family members of all ages. Many types of activities do not exist elsewhere and will make your India holiday full of special memories that will last a lifetime.
The Taj Mahal is one of the world’s eight wonders and is an outstandingly beautiful monument built completely out of white marble in a stunningly architectural way. It took 22 years to construct, employed 20,000 workers, and was completed in 1648 C.E. at the cost of 32 million rupees. Muslim Emperor Shah Jahan built this mausoleum in memory of his wife; his grave was added later. The Taj Mahal is decorated with an inlaid design of calligraphy and flowers with precious gems. The central dome is 58 feet in diameter and is 213 feet high and has four adjoining chambers. The huge complex also has a garden with four reflecting pools, a mosque, a guest house, and more.
Jaipur is called the “Pink City” because the city was painted pink when the Prince of Wales paid a visit back in the 1800′s. The old city is still maintained in pink. Known for its beauty and unique architecture, Jaipur was founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Sikngh II, who wanted to relocate his capital city to this first planned city of Northern India, which became one of the world’s best cities of its type. The Maharaja gave land and money to arts and crafts experts from all over India to get them to live there, and those talents continue to this day in painting and handicraft works, jewelry, gems, camel leather, hand-printed bed sheets, hand-made puppets, and much more.
If you want to see tigers and other wildlife, go to the 400-square-kilometer Ranthambore National Park, which has been a tiger reserve since 1973. At the top of a hill is the Ranthambore Fort which was built in the tenth century, and nearby is India’s second-largest banyan tree. Tigers can be spotted even during the day in the ruins and by the lakes.
At the Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary you can see elephants being fed, view other wildlife, and enjoy this bird watcher’s paradise. Up to six people can stay in a hut on an island entirely to yourself, which includes a guide, a cook, and four tribal armed guards. Accommodation alternatives include a tree house in the thick of the forest or one of six Eco Tents that the forest department has put up.
Adjoining Parambikulam is Top Slip, where you can live in a bamboo hut in the forest and see elephants, leopards, tigers, bison, wild boars, monkeys, spotted deer, flying squirrels. and more. The only source of food, if you do not have a cook, is one canteen run by the forest department and a few small stalls.
Another unusual experience is staying at a family-run rubber plantation at Kerala in the Koottickal Valley, which puts you back to the way of life of the British planters 100 years ago. In addition to rubber, plantations grow teak, vanilla, pineapples, pepper, and tapioca.
