Parents – ah, that special word signifying special people in our lives! Don’t we all fondly remember the fun of a family holiday from your childhood? Can you envision yourself carving a castle on the beach sand with your mom or playing treasure hunt with your dad among the gardens you visited while holidaying? A rush of nostalgia might just engulf you.

Owing to busy schedules and other things, you might not get enough time to spend with your dearest parents, but it won’t be too difficult to cajole them into accompanying you on a fun trip. It’s time to rekindle the love with your parents, and in the fun n frolic, relive some of those fond childhood memories perhaps. Here’s a list of a few places that are less hassle and more fun.

1. Jaipur

Image Source: Flickr @Colin_Charles

Jaipur is a vibrant city and if your parents are in the pink of their health, then this is the place to be. The splendour of the forts and palaces is something that one would appreciate at any age. The hustle and bustle will keep everyone’s mood buoyant. Who knows your mom might just enjoy practicing some moves with one of those Rajasthani Folk dancers, while you and your dad watch in amusement!

2. Coorg

Image Source: Flickr @ashish v

Nestled among the hills of the Western Ghats and washed by the waters of the Cauvery, this wonderful land of coffee and spices is cool, comforting and carefree. Your parents would love to unwind at Coorg and enjoy the fresh air. If they feel fit, they might also want to go on a comfortable hike down the coffee estates. People usually rent villas and chill over the weekend with a warm cuppa. But, it is all not sit around though - there are some interesting places to visit and explore like the Abbey Falls, Omkareshwara temple, Buddhist monasteries and Nagarahole national park, all at a small-drive-distance away.

3. Puri

Image Source: Flickr @Abizek

Puri packages everything that’s ideal for gracefully aging parents, and will entice you in equal measure. The place is charming with its golden sands, restless sea, old temples and quaint art. Drink tea on the beach from earthen cups with warm sweetmeats from local vendors, and have a hearty laugh chatting about fun moments and good times from past! Puri is famous for its Jaggannath Temple, which is not only a place of worship but also a monument to be admired for its architecture. Find your mom an unusual souvenir for keeps, among seashells, curios, and quirky trinkets made from the horns of buffaloes.

4. Pondicherry

Image Source: Flickr @eopath

If your parents haven’t been to France, no worries, a trip to Pondicherry would give them a distinct French feel - the prevalent food, wine and architecture. A former French colony, Pondicherry is a quaint town by the sea, decked with bougainvillea, cathedrals, white-washed verandas and cobble stoned streets. The star attraction here for mom and dad would definitely be the Aurobindo Ashram and Matrimandir. Beautiful as it is, the Matrimandir is a place for joyous peace, where one could rediscover oneself.

5. Rameswaram

If holy lands and pious waters are what your parents are looking for, then accompanying them on a trip to Rameswaram would do the trick. You get to wash away your sins while you enjoy being with your parents. The temple here is magnificent and houses kunds famed to have powers of spiritual purification. Spiritual advancement gains priority as one grows older, they would surely love to take a dip in the holy waters of the kunds. Also, visit Dhanushkodi where the land fades away into the sea leaving tell tale signs of a legendary bridge.

6. Goa

Yes, it might sound like an unconventional destination to take your parents for a holiday, but who knows they might just be waiting for an opportunity like this! The ‘still jogging’ kinds would not want to miss out on the fun that this place has to offer. For quieter moments, you can spend time on the white sand beaches watching the sunsets, reflecting over how wonderfully you have treaded through life together as a family. Just hire a boat ride or cruise and sail out! Go on a food adventure and try some Goan dishes including prawn balchao, crab xacuti, shark ambot tik, sorpotel and much more. Beware, your mom might pester you later for a recipe!

7. Darjeeling

Travelling up and down the mountains of Darjeeling on a toy train with your parents! Sounds fun right? Choose this laidback hill station, for an enjoyable, but relaxing time for the whole family. With the green rolling mountains and majestic Kanchenjunga, Darjeeling is just ‘cool’. Enjoy the glorious sunrise from Tiger Hills, visit the Ghoom monastery and, better still, take your parents to a tea estate for a refreshing stroll amidst the tea bushes.

You can see a fun-spirited dad and a jovial mom once again. And the recipe to this magical moment is a family holiday to any place where you can create great memories together and make them realise you care.

If we have missed out on some great place in our article, do let us know.

Anjali Nayyar

Anjali loves to read, philosophize, travel and spend time with her family. With a Masters in Sociology, Anjali ended up as a writer instead of a sociologist. She believes that writing is a channel through which one can express one's innermost self and express one's uniqueness, the gift of life, for all to savor.

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