By sagnika sinha
You cannot choose your family, but you can always choose your vacation spot! This is exactly what I tell myself when I am making bookings for the whole family. Mostly my whole consists of my parents but even then, there are so many expectations that I feel overwhelmed. Let us talk more about what I think are 5 of the finest places to travel for family vacation in India in 2025.
However, I would not want to spend all my moments, the good and the bad, with them. At times, I feel miserable with the pressure of vacation planning and then there are times when I make them miserable with my approach to everything.
Okay, I am not sharing this blog with my parents! This is too much of an obedient girl vibe going on.
Places to Travel for Family Vacation in India in 2025
Why do we need to know about these finest places for a family vacation? Well, you must consider several factors when it comes to family. These factors not only help us in finalizing a place but also decide on accommodation, transportation and expenses.
- Preferences and interests
- Activities and Attractions
- Comfortability and Adaptability level
- Medical history
- Budget
So, now that we have identified the factors which are necessary to consider before planning a family vacation, let’s look at the places. These places are some of the finest on earth, maybe that is why they have been the evergreen choices of travelers all over the world.
So why are they important in 2025? Some of the trending aspects of travel this year are predicted to be a mix of outdoor adventures and relaxation. I have seen my father crave relaxation and long walks!
He often prefers sitting and sipping tea while staring at the sun rising on the hill tops, green lush forests or wide expanse of water! On a different day, he also decides on going on a cab ride to a specific location, a mix of wellness and adventure!
Therefore, I am going to share with you the finest places to travel for family vacation in 2025. These places are a perfect mix of the outdoor and relaxation, creating a perfect environment for a family to bond more, creating memories that are fun, festive, functional, foolish and futile.
1. Jammu and Kashmir
“Gar firdaus, bar ruhe zamin ast, hamin asto, hamin asto, hamin asto!”
The great poet Amir Khusrau was in awe of Kashmir when he spoke these words! Well, this is the sentiment of every individual who ever visited Kashmir, and mine was nothing different. If there is a paradise on this earth, it is here, it is here, it is here…
I traveled with my family to Jammu and Kashmir and what a beauty it was. I feel the camera did not do justice to the beauty of nature! We visited Adi Shankaracharya temple. This temple has about 250 stairs, so my mother could not climb it.
There was a lot of greenery as we went during September! The recommended time to visit is between May to September. It will take about an hour or two to complete the hike and you get to see the beautiful Dal Lake!
Furthermore, we went to Gurez Valley which is surrounded by snow-capped mountains all around. You will get a clear view if you visit during May to October, thus, exploring the valley! Pahalgam is one of the most touristy places in Kashmir with activities such as skiing, sledging and trekking!
2. Coorg
This was more of a family and friends’ trip as my friends and their family were also part of this trip. You can visit Coorg in 2025 with your family to create some of the best memories of a lifetime. First visit Namdroling Monastery which offers a beautiful view of the landscape of Coorg.
If you are a coffee lover, the Mountain View Coffee Plantation offers a variety of coffee and organic coffee mugs. Then you can visit Dubare Elephant Camp! We had our cab from the hotel so you can also do that if you have elders and children with you!
The visitation time ranges from 9:30 to 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. My recommended time to visit is sunset. You must pay the entry fee Rs. 20/- furthermore, there are other fees for watching elephant care, feeding, ride and others. The best time to visit Coorg is September to March.
Our 4C Little Paradise Homestay in Coorg was situated among the coffee plantations. You can take a car from the hotel and reach the Mandarpatti pickup point, another pivotal place. From there, the authorities have their own 4*4 car to reach the Mandarpatti Viewpoint!
Take stairs to the viewpoint, so if you have elders with knee problems, it is better if you don’t take them. You will experience strong winds so be careful! I would say visit during early morning as the view is to die for!
Additionally, Abbey falls offers views all around and shows the true diversity of the Karnataka landscape. This one is my personal feat as Rajar Seat has a historical story behind it. The place gives you a beautiful view of both sunrise and sunset and the timing starts from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
3. Darjeeling
If you are looking for peace and scenic beauty together in 2025, Darjeeling in West Bengal is the ultimate place to be. When I took my parents to Darjeeling for the first time, they were shockingly mesmerized!
It was never my plan to make my family fall in love with a place but fall in love they did. Starting from Sealdah station in Kolkata, we took an express train to New Jalpaiguri (NJP), WB. On an overnight journey, we reached NJP in the morning and took a four-wheeler onwards!
The hotel I booked was quite near the mall road Darjeeling, and it was the best decision I took. If you have a family member who likes going on small walks around the hotel, but cannot sit or lounge back long in the hotel, book accommodation closer to the mall.
You will need 2 to 3 days to cover some of the top sights in Darjeeling. Let me share these places so you can plan ahead accordingly.
| Major Attractions | Highlights |
| Tiger Hill | • Best time to visit for sunrise – 4 A.M. to 4:30 A.M. • Ticket Prices – Rs. 50/- • Vehicle Prices – Rs. 200/- • Observatory tower Ground level – Rs. 20/- • First Floor – Rs. 30/- • Top Floor – Rs. 40/- |
| Batasia Loop | • Open from 6 A.M. to 5 P.M. • Ticket Prices – Rs. 20/- • The place is in Ghoom, a few kilometers ahead of Darjeeling If you also visit the place through toy train for which the ticket prices are Rs. 450/- and Rs. 1420/- based on the destination. |
| Shri Mahakal Temple | • Open from 4 A.M. to 11 P.M. • Ticket Prices – Rs. 100/- for Bhasma Aarti • Rs. 250/- for Sheeghra Darshan • Rs. 1100/- for VIP Darshan Furthermore, if you want to perform other spiritual activities including Mahamrutyunjay Jaap, Rudrabhishek and others, the chargers will be more. |
| Peace Pagoda | • Open from 4 A.M. to 7 P.M. • Entry is free • There are prayer rooms in the pagoda. Visitors can walk from the gate, through a narrow road to the main building. For prayers, you 4:30 A.M. to 6 A.M. and 4:30 P.M. to 6:30 P.M. |
| Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park | • Open from 8:30 A.M. to 4 P.M. • Ticket Prices – Rs. 180/-Animals you get to see – Red Panda, Snow Leopard, Tibetan Wolf, Himalayan Salamander, White Royal Bengal Tiger, Black Panther, Siberian Tiger and others Oh, I loved the zoo, of course I have an affinity towards animals and birds. But I am sure you will love it, so will children. |
4. Ooty
In 2025, Ooty is a place to be especially if you are traveling with family. By 2030, statistics project that India is looking forward to making more domestic travels and Ooty is one of the significant places providing you a mix of nature, landscape, technology, and self-growth.
We visited in the month of September; it is one of the coolest places during that time. Let me share with you some of the coolest things to do in Ooty and how you can experience the best of the place along with your family.
| Toytrain from Ooty to CoonoorKnown as the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site | • Time needed to complete the trip, one and half hours to complete • You get to see forests, mountains and tea fields • Five stations you will cross are Coonoor, Wellington, Aravankadu, Ketti and Lovedale Ticket price – • First class- Rs. 300/- • Second class seating – Rs. 175/- • General class – Rs. 80/- to Rs. 150/- |
| Pykara LakePykara Falls | • The lake and the falls are at different location, with a 2 to 3 kms distance between them • You can visit both the places at one go as the two places are the “must see” in Ooty • You can go boating, the timing is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Ticket prices start from Rs. 1000/- • I would suggest you visit the lake and the waterfall after 4 p.m. as the sunset is worth watching! |
| Niligiris Eucalyptus oil and Essential oils Distillery | • There are several oil manufacturers and suppliers in and around Ooty! We visited TNEOEOD, who are quite renowned! • You can get a variety of oil, starting from Eucalyptus to Nilgiri oil • Approximate starting price of the products is Rs. 3000/- |
| Dolphin nose viewpoint | • Unique rock formation • Open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. everyday • Camera allowed • It will take 1 to 2 hours to cover the viewpoint • Entry fee for adults – Rs. 30/- • for kids – Rs. 10/- |
5. Dalhousie
Another beautiful place to visit with family, Dalhousie offers a literal cinematic view. I visited Dalhousie during September with my family! There are several colonial architectures in the city so if you are a history fan, this is it for you.
Exploring rock gardens along with experiencing breathtaking views. There are churches that are beautiful dating back to British Raj namely St. Francis and St. John. Let’s go through the places you can explore too if you want to visit Dalhousie for a family travel vacation this year!
| Khajjiar lake one night stay | • We booked the Government bungalow, HPTDC • This is my recommended stay because it gives you one of the best experiences of life • I booked the stay two months ago; the price of the rooms starts from Rs. 1000/- • The bungalow is based at the foothills of the Dhauladhar ranges |
| Kalatop Wildlife Santuary | • You must take a 30-minute trip via car to the main toll gate of wildlife sanctuary • You can also take a walk if you love treks • The sanctuary is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. • The entry fee is Rs. 250/- • There is a variety of animals starting from Ghoral, Himalayan Black Marten, Flying Squirrel, Rhesus Monkey, Barking Deer, Leopard and many others |
| Chamera dam on Ravi River | • A boating point – Rs. 400/- per person, the session is 20 minutes • There is also a river rafting option on the Chamera lake! • There are small cafes and eateries all around the dam • The dam produces hydroelectricity • You can visit from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
I Travel with Family to Practice Self- Restraint!
Hah! It might sound funny, but it is true. When you travel with your family, it is the ultimate practice of self-restraint. You learn to adapt to others and their choices, even after experiencing setbacks.
On a serious note, I feel when you make your family happy, it is one of the very few moments in your life that you actually feel selfless. The happiness derived from that is priceless. The list of places will ensure that your family will get a break from their daily routine.
Furthermore, you also learn multitasking, responsibilities and patience. The experience with family not only ensures that you make loads of memories but also creates awareness among all members of the family.
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