5 Family Destinations to visit in Winters
Winters are perfect for a short family trip. Travelling in winter is an experience in itself. India as a travel destination has a lot to offer no matter what the season. From snow-peaked mountains to unexplored beaches, we have it all – just waiting to be discovered! We have shortlisted five destinations that a perfect for families in winter. So buckle up and get ready to experience winters like never before!
Ladakh
Overrun by travellers in the summers, at least in the well known tourist spots, Ladakh in winter is a special treat – both as a visual treat and for being less explored when snow and sun show up next to each other. Though many parts of the recently sanctioned Union Territory will be snowbound and inaccessible and most of the hotels will be shut, for the adventurous there will always be some areas to explore, especially those who are interested in wildlife and wish to seek the elusive Snow Leopards and other wildlife and birds of the trans-Himalayas.
Winter is also the time when some of the shepherd communities come down from the higher altitudes with their livestock to escape the harsh winter, mainly sheep-rearing nomads who lead an interesting life depending on sheep rearing and weaving as they move from place to place. Another reason to be in Ladakh in the winter is to be a part of some of the winter festivals like Losar and the Oracle Festival and games like ice skating.
Connect with your travel agent to help them curate a program that allows you to explore Ladakh at your own pace without the crowds. Just before the region transitions to winter, is the time when myriad colours light up the landscape as the poplars, willows and various wild shrubs take on fall hues. Closer to spring is also the time when the apricot flowers bloom in gently blushing clusters.
Where to Stay
One of the best hotels in Leh, The Grand Dragon Ladakh. is on the edge of the main town. A 15-minute drive from Leh Airport, the property is a family-run standalone hotel with the best suites in the entire region. The Grand Dragon boasts a multi-cuisine restaurant and a vibrant atmosphere that is perfect both for families and friends travelling together.
For couples celebrating events, the hotel’s top suites are an other worldly indulgence. On request, the hotel can organize close-by excursions to the Indus confluence, LAMO and Central Asian Museum with a guide, besides visits to monasteries that are open at this time.
Western Ghats
Siruvani and Valparai: It is easy to miss Siruvani, a small hamlet right over the Western Ghats and the Muthikulam Forests of Palakkad district. But those who live in and visit Coimbatore know that the water supply for Coimbatore is from Siruvani. touted to be the sweetest water in the country.
Combined with Valparai in the Annamalai Hills, this will be your intensive of the western ghats, known to be one of the top biodiversity hotspots in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Known for its population of endemic bird species, forests, communities and walking trails – Valparai is a sanctum for wildlife and nature lovers.
Where to Stay
Dvara offers ten cottages offering you a glimpse into the traditions of Tamil Nadu from its cuisine, local farming (baby shallots are grown in this region), floor art and the delightful stories woven into your rooms as Dvara (thresholds), architecture, calendar art, snacks and vintage furniture. Highlights include bike rides, walks along the reservoir, visit to the Isha Yoga Ashram, local temples and hand-woven textile units.
With Salem and Tirupur close to Coimbatore, there are some interesting textile immersions, including a museum in Coimbatore and relics that suggest that Salem and Tirupur supplied fabric to ancient Romans. On the other hand, Sinna Dorai Valparai is your definite base, set inside thousands of acres of tea gardens that meander over slopes that hug forests and meadows, small reservoirs and gushing seasonal streams.
The Sinna Dorai Plantation Bungalows are the ideal between heritage stay, personal services and local cuisines. A good team will help you hike through the forests and plantations, giving you a glimpse of the region’s birding habitats while short excursions around include visits to Roti Kadai and also the Reservoir.
North Kerala
North Kerala is still unexplored in parts and has many visual treats to offers and hot spots that are unspoilt by unchecked tourism. Bekal Fort, Chembara Peak, the forests of Wayanad, the remote beaches of the Malabar coast to name a few. The Malabar Coastline of the Arabian Sea has several towns and small hamlets accessed by trains or flights and good road connectivity from major metros.
One such beautiful village is Neeleshwaram in Kasargod District, a little under two hours from the Kannur International Airport. The pride of the district is the miles of undisturbed beaches lined with palm groves, peaceful inland waterways and clean sandy beaches.
Where to Stay:
An oasis of calm set in twelve naturally landscaped acres, Neeleshwar Hermitage is built according to the traditional architectural principles of traditional Kerala architecture that leans towards the perfect Vastu. The whole site is oriented towards the east to catch the energy of the rising sun, while the buildings are positioned cleverly in relation to each other for privacy and views, and in sync with the four directions and the site as a whole.
The traditional wood-and-thatch architecture is balanced with stylish contemporary touches and familiar modern comforts. Neeleshwar Hermitage overlooks a gloriously unspoiled beach of sand, stretching as far as the eye can see all around. The sea is clean and safe for swimming most of the year, perfect for families to spend time together, meditate or begin a day with Yoga.
Murshidabad
Murshidabad is a historical town about six hours by road from Kolkata, also accessible by day train. Flanked alongside the eastern bank of the Ganges river (called Bhagirathi in these parts), you arrive at the twin cities of Azimganj and Jiaganj and it feels like you have stepped back into time into an era long gone.
Buildings big and small greet you and seem to whisper tales of their prosperous past, as they beckon a second and third glance. In the 18th century, the district of Murshidabad was a wealthy cosmopolitan region at par with the top GDP nations of the world, home to affluent banking and merchant families from different parts of the Indian subcontinent and wider Eurasia, including the Armenians. European companies, including the British East India Company, conducted business and operated factories, and manufacturing companies in the region.
Where to Stay:
Bari Kothi is perfect for those interested in history, architecture and stories of restoration and renaissance. With a total of 18 rooms and suites, children are welcome here and it is an opportunity to spark their curiosity into showcasing the rich heritage of the region. Children will particularly enjoy picking their own vegetables and seeing them transform into their meals. Raft rides down the river, with sights on either side, are a flowing tale while meal times and music soirees are a peek into the rich heritage of the region.
Little Rann of Kutch
The ‘Little’ Rann of Kutch’, famed as the last home of the Asiatic wild ass and shimmering pink colonies of nesting flamingos, is dominated by panoramic flat landscapes, shrubby islands, seasonal nullahs, marshes and rocky hillocks or Dungars of volcanic origin. This unique region was originally part of the Arabian Sea.
However, as the land separated from the sea by geological forces, it became a vast plain encrusted with salt and inundated with water during the monsoons. But this terrain is a rich haven for wildlife and colourful nomadic cultures, making it a perfect setting for curious and sensitive travellers to explore.
Not far from Ahmedabad and connected by good roads over short distances with places like Gir, Velavadhar, Mount Abu, Udaipur and Jawai – Rann Riders by Kaafila helps you slow travel to discover every facet of this land and its people, in all seasons.
Where to Stay:
Rann Riders by Kaafila consists of beautifully designed cottages surrounded by greenery within easy access of the salt flats. The resort’s primary focus is on nature and wildlife and combines ethnic architecture with modern facilities. It also serves as an ideal base to explore Little Rann with its rich, unique community of birds and animals – including the endangered Asiatic Wild Ass, desert fox and Nilgai.
A destination resort, Rann Riders by Kaafila caters to various kinds of travellers – from the leisure traveller to those who seek a wellness retreat to serious birders, photographers, wildlife enthusiasts, cyclists, off-road motorcyclists and driving buffs. Nature walks, wildlife safaris and village visits are specially designed to engage guests of all age groups.