Autumn for me is the best time to travel. The sun is not too hot, the chilly winds are still far away and the rains have just subsided. Moreover, the travel is much cheaper than peak winter months and less crowded than summer. Lastly, autumn in India coincides with the Durga Puja Festivities and we get a short break from school to celebrate a week making family memories. And what’s better than travel to make lifetime memories together. So here’s a list of our Top 10 Places for Your Durga Puja Vacation that will add even more sparkle to your festivities.
Top 10 Places for Your Durga Puja Vacation
10. Cambodia
This countries traumatic past along with its history and architecture makes it very high on our bucket list. We are now in the process of planning our travel to this affordable country where the biggest cost lies only with the airfares. Once we get that sorted out by getting the lowest fares for our acceptable travel dates, then other expenditure such as accommodation, sightseeing options and food is quite affordable. Phnom Penh and Siam Reap are the two cities we are planning to visit in Cambodia where lies the famous and world’s largest temples – the Angkor Wat temples.
You can subscribe to our blog and we will update you with our travel itinerary, budget and guide to Cambodia once we complete our travel there. The Shoulder season for Cambodia is April and October. As we missed the opportunity for cheap flights in April so now we are planning to visit Cambodia in October.
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9. Vietnam
Exotic natural beauty with a compelling heritage, Vietnam is surreal. The mesmerizing Halong Bay to the striking caves of Phong Nha Ke Bang are declared as Vietnam World Heritage site by UNESCO. The breathtaking natural landscapes of North Vietnam has lush green rice fields scattered with people working in them with conical hats. The south has the hustle bustle of the Mekong Delta. Nha Trang and Da Nang have really good beaches for surfing. Combine this with it’s the rich history and Vietnam is a perfect destination for budget travel. The cost of living in Vietnam is low so you will not be spending much on travel around , hotels and food. The country has varied seasons all over its expanse so any time of the year you will find something that suits your interests. Moreover, its easy to travel to other neighboring countries like Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar from Vietnam.
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8. Thailand
Known as a Bachelors Paradise but there are quite some places in Thailand that are family friendly too. The temple ruins of Chiang Mai is a great adventure for the entire family. The Similan Islands are great for snorkeling. Sukhothai is great for family bonding while biking together while seeing the old city. Bangkok popular for its night life is also great for theme parks and animal attractions including Kidzania. Krabi and Phuket have beautiful beaches. The best part is that the people are friendly and the food options are abundant. The shoulder season is June just after the rains and before the tourist inflow starts in July.
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7. Indonesia
Bali “the Island of gods”, in Indonesia is a very popular tourist attraction. Although similarities have been drawn between Bali and Goa, even called by some as “International Goa” however, its unique culture, natural attractions, friendly people, pleasant climate, lush green surroundings create a magic leaving all mesmerized in Bali. What makes Bali even more special is to experience its customs and traditions, to witness the rituals and ceremonies in their daily life revolving around the temples. Although Bali has predominantly a Hindu population, it’s quite different from the Hinduism we know of in India. It’s amazing to see how the belief in gods, spirits, ancestors, demons are important to the Balinese people. Seeing them making small artistic offerings of items like rice, flowers, fruits to them. Sense the calmness in the villages. To see the proud women working in the rice terraces. Experience Bali’s holy mountain, Gunung Agung in its glory. On top of all that, Bali provides a very safe and secure environment for all who visit.
Although there are other amazing places in Indonesia with pristine beaches, volcanic mountains, marine and wildlife such as Yogyakarta, Raja Ampat Islands, Sulawesi, Flores, Lombok and the famous Komodo National Park, however high cost of travel to these remote areas makes it an expensive affair. So we had decided to stick to Bali with our family. If you are planning a family trip to Bali, you may wish to check out our earlier blog post on Bali family holidays. The Shoulder season for Bali is also April and October.
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6. Singapore
The Tiny Island-State of Singapore has abundant family attractions for kids. There are attractions that suit all age groups. The confluence of cultures found here and the urbanization, make Singapore a most sought after destination in Asia. No matter how many days you plan to stay here, there will always be something left for the next visit. While travelling as a family, we not only makes deposits in the memory banks of children but also ignite their imagination. Travelling creates memories that children cherish forever. It’s always better to travel to a kid friendly destination and Singapore is the perfect place to create memories. The entire country is very well-connected by public transport and all you need is a travel card to save on the huge taxi fares. the shoulder season is April to October. The rains may play a spoil sport but it does rain almost all year round so of you can bear that then its a great location to spend your money.
Also Read: Complete Guide to Singapore Family Holiday
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5. Malaysia
Malaysia is a great to country to visit with warm people, great food, rich culture, good attractions and easy on the pocket too. Air Asia flights make travelling to Malaysia ll the more cheaper. Travelling within Malaysia is cheap too. There are many places that have duty-free shopping too. Places like Langkawi, Genting Highlands, Perhentian Islands, Penang are tourist friendly with amazing attractions. The Taxi fares are regulated by the Government so its less likely to get cheated. For more pocket friendly options you can plan Malaysia in June just after the sweltering heat of April and May and before the Rain Gods arrive.
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4. Phillipines
Why Philippines? Scenic locales, warm people, great food, really affordable, easy to travel around are reasons enough to visit this beautiful country. The people here are very friendly and kids are always given a lot of attention so its perfect for family travel. Apart from Manila, the beaches of Cebu and Bohol are great for kayaking and snorkeling. Apart from all this, the shopping is inexpensive too. The shoulder season to visit Philippines is in the months of April and May.
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3. UAE – Dubai
Dubai is like a Pandora Box for kids. From beaches to deserts, from huge aquariums to Lego-land Dubai has it all. The vibrant cosmopolitan city of Dubai offers a plethora of activities. An avid traveller can choose anything from a famous tourist attraction to an unexplored secret. The outstanding architecture, the amazing shopping malls, the exciting theme parks, the adventurous desert safari, make Dubai one of the most visited cities for family travel. The metro connectivity is very good so you can skip the taxis and save on the travel too. The best time to travel here is in early September through October, when the camel racing has just begun and the temperature has started cooling with hotels coming up with discounts to lure back tourists.
Also Read: 10 Things To Do In Dubai With Kids.
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2. Sri Lanka
The best part about travelling to Sri Lanka is that you do not need any tour agency to book your tour. It’s a very easy country to travel in. Moreover its very easy on the pocket and even extravagant tours cost much less than other countries. The best sights are observed from a train journey and tuk-tuks are easily available and happily take you around for local sight-seeing. From temples, beaches, old cities to scenic tea plantations Sri Lanka has it all. The food is amazing and affordable too. You can easily cover the entire country on a budget irrespective of the shoulder season.
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1. Bhutan
“The Land of the Thunder Dragon” is an intriguing nation. Being easy to travel for Indians since you do not need any visa for entering Bhutan. This beautiful country’s constitution follows Gross National Happiness rather than Gross National Product. 72% percent of Bhutan is under forest cover and it is a carbon neutral country. It’s a biodiversity hot-spot. It’s a country of mountains and valleys and natural beauty. The journey of this beautiful place starts with the incredible view of the snow peaked Himalayas as the plane touches Bhutan. The valleys covered with Rhododendrons are a sight to behold. Buddhism is reflected in the entire country. The best part of Bhutan are its warm, simple and multi-ethnic people. You won’t find any pesticides/chemicals in their food since all of it is home-grown and organic. With zero pollution and stunning landscapes, it is a must visit destination to forget the pressures of city life, disconnect yourself from the clutches of modernization and reconnect with your inner self.
Also Read: 10 Reasons to make Bhutan your next Holiday Destination
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