Planning a Vacation to India

Most NRI families I know plan vacations with a lot of thought, care and enthusiasm. Sadly, there is one thing that we often fail to consider – a vacation in India. Don’t get me wrong, I am not for a minute trying to say that we don’t want to return to India. In fact, we love and miss our home country dearly. But our trips back home to India are in our minds, not vacations. They are necessary visits. Vacation though, is an altogether different matter. Vacations ought to be in Europe, or Disney Land.

 

And my entire point is that when we NRIs are planning a vacation; India, our very own country, is what we should very seriously look at before yet another foreign retreat. Why? Because of countless reasons really. Let me list just a few:

 

1. Diversity. India should really be a synonym for diversity. Climatic, scenic, geographic, cultural; every kind of diversity. It’s like multiple countries rolled into one. There are countless regional ethnicities like Bengalis, Maharashtrians, Tamils, Punjabis – with all their different & yummy food, clothes, activities, festivities. It is a real travel treat.

 

2. Something for Everyone. From that same diversity, India is home to stunning beaches where the kids can build castles and the parents can relax and unwind. There are countless adventures. In the hills there is trekking and the scenic beauty of the Himalayas. There is the awesome desert of Rajasthan in which to camp. The flat plains of Gujarat with all the vibrancy of its people. There are game sanctuaries with unspoilt wildlife in Ranthmbore and Sariska. There is white water rafting in Rishikesh, Kayaking in the Backwaters in Kerela, and many other options.

 

3. Time with Family. And finally of course, there is the complete holiday experience that can be topped off by time being spent with your native family. Nothing better for any NRI than to feel the warm embrace of his or her family again, while the children get their annual dose of Indian flavors and grandparents’ love.

 

It is a sadly ignored destination that I have promised myself, I shall be visiting more. And I promise you, an Indian vacation, will not disappoint you either!