Fascinating and thrilling; India will be even more astounding for children than for their wide-eyed parents. The scents, sights, and sounds of India will make for an unforgettable adventure and one that most kids will take in their stride.
Vibrant festivals, medieval forts, fairy-tale palaces, camel rides across desert dunes and a well-oiled tourist infrastructure for hassle-free travel. For older kids there's the thrill of the incredible Flying Fox (zip wires) at Jodhpur.
Palm-fringed, white-sand beaches and inexpensive exotic food; an ideal choice for family holidays, whatever the budget.
The picture-perfect Taj Mahal and the nearby abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri will set young imaginations ablaze.
Canoe and houseboat adventures, surf beaches, Arabian Sea sunsets, snake boat races, wildlife-spotting and elephant festivals.
Pony and yak rides around colonial-era hill stations, rafting, horse riding, tandem paragliding (kids can do it), walks and canyoning around Manali.
Travel with children in India is usually a delight, though you (and your kids) may have to get used to being the centre of attention. Locals will thrill at taking a photograph or two beside your bouncing baby. This may prove tiring and disconcerting, but you can always politely decline.
As a parent on the road in India, the key is to remain firm, even if you feel you may offend a well-meaning local by doing so. The attention your children will inevitably receive is almost always good-natured; kids are the centre of life in many Indian households, and your own will be treated just the same. Hotels will almost always come up with an extra bed or two, and restaurants with a familiar meal.
Jaisalmer Enjoy playing knights around the world's biggest sandcastle, Jaisalmer’s centuries-old fort, and take a camel ride in the Thar Desert.
Delhi Run around magnificent forts, explore Lodi Gardens and Mehrauli, or try hands-on exhibits and ride in a toy train at the National Rail Museum.
Ranthambhore National Park Step into a Jungle Book world, home to a monkey kingdom, and hop aboard a jeep to scout for Shere Khan.
Udaipur Go boating on the lake, take a horse-riding excursion, and explore fairy-tale palaces.
Orchha Wander the crumbling palaces and battlements of little-known Orchha.
Madhya Pradesh The land of Kipling's Jungle Book, with jungles, and tiger-spotting safaris.
Tiger parks, Madhya Pradesh Delve deep into the jungle or roam the plains at the tiger parks of Kanha, Pench or Bandhavgarh. You might not see a tiger, but there’s plenty of other wildlife worth spotting.
Elephants, Kerala In Periyar, kids can spot wild elephants.
Dolphins, Goa Splash out on a dolphin-spotting boat trip from almost any Goan beach to see them cavorting among the waves.
Hill-station monkeys Head up to Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) or Matheran (Maharashtra) for close (but not too close...they can be vicious!) encounters with cheeky monkeys.
Lions, Gujarat Go on safari through Gir National Park at dusk or dawn and spot the only Asiatic lions in existence.
Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan Take a bike ride to spot myriad multi-hued birdlife in this reserve.
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu Visit an elephant camp where the park’s working elephants (many rescued and unfit to return to the wild) are fed and washed.
Autorickshaw, anywhere Bump thrillingly along at top speed in these child-scale vehicles.
Bike, Delhi Pedal around on a DelhiByCycle tour; for older children who are competent riders, or toddlers who can fit in a child seat.
Toy Train, Darjeeling Ride the cute-as-a-button steam toy train between Kurseong and Darjeeling, past colourful mountain villages and rushing waterfalls.
Hand-pulled rickshaw, Matheran From this monkey-infested hill station, you can continue to the village on horseback or in a hand-pulled rickshaw.
Houseboat, Alappuzha (Alleppey) Go boating on Kerala’s beautiful backwaters, with lots of interesting stops en route. If you hit town on the second Saturday in August, take the kids along to see the spectacular Nehru Trophy boat race.
Palolem, Goa Plump for a beachfront palm-thatched hut and take it easy at beautiful Palolem beach, with Goa's shallowest, safest waters.
Patnem, Goa Kick back at peaceful Patnem, with its nice sand beach and cool, calm, child-friendly beach restaurants.
Havelock Island Splash about in the shallows at languid Havelock Island, part of the Andaman Island chain, where there’s also sensational diving possibilities.
ALook at climate charts; choose your dates to avoid the extremes of temperature that may put younger children at risk.
AVisit your doctor to discuss vaccinations, health advisories and other heath-related issues involving your children well in advance of travel.
AFor more tips on travel in India, and firsthand accounts of travels in the country, pick up Lonely Planet’s Travel with Children or visit the Thorn Tree Forum at lonelyplanet.com.
You can get these items in many parts of India too:
ADisposable or washable nappies, nappy rash cream (Calendula cream works well against heat rash too), extra bottles, wet wipes, infant formula and canned, bottled or rehydratable food.
AA fold-up baby bed or the lightest possible travel cot you can find (companies such as KidCo make excellent pop-up tent-style beds), since hotel cots may prove precarious. Don't take a stroller/pushchair, as this will be impractical to use as pavements are often scarce. A much better option is a backpack, for smaller kids, so they're lifted up and out of the daunting throng, plus with a superb view.
AA few less-precious toys that won’t be mourned if lost or damaged.
AA swimming jacket, life jacket or water wings for the sea or pool.
AGood sturdy footwear.
AAudiobooks, for whiling away long journeys.
AInsect repellent, mosquito nets, hats and sun lotion.
AIf you’re travelling in the regions of India, such as Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Goa, Kerala, or the big cities, you'll find it easy to feed your brood. In major cities and more touristy towns there's always a wide range of international cuisines on offer.
AWhile on the road, easy portable snacks such as bananas, samosas, puri (puffy dough pockets), white-bread sandwiches and packaged biscuits (Parle G brand are a perennial hit) are available.
AMany children will delight in paneer (unfermented cheese) dishes, simple dhals (mild lentil curries), creamy kormas, buttered naans (tandoori breads), pilaus (rice dishes) and Tibetan momos (steamed or fried dumplings).
AFew children, no matter how culinarily unadventurous, can resist the finger-food fun of a vast South Indian dosa (paper-thin lentil-flour pancake).
AIndia offers such an array of accommodation options – from beach huts to five-star bubbles – that you’re bound to be able to find something that will appeal to the whole family.
AThe swish upmarket hotels are almost always child-friendly, but so are many upper midrange hotels, whose staff will usually rustle up an extra mattress or two; some places won’t mind cramming several children into a regular-sized double room along with their parents.
AThe very best five-stars come equipped with children’s pools, games rooms and even children’s clubs, while an occasional night with a warm bubble bath, room service, macaroni cheese and a banquet of satellite TV will revive even the most disgruntled young traveller’s spirits.
ATravel in India, be it by taxi, local bus, train or air, can be arduous for the whole family. Concepts such as clean public toilets, changing rooms and safe playgrounds are rare in much of the country. Public transport is often extremely overcrowded so plan fun, easy days to follow longer bus or train rides.
APack plenty of diversions (iPads or laptops with a stock of movies downloaded make invaluable travel companions, as do audiobooks, plus the good old-fashioned story books, cheap toys and games available widely across India).
AIf you are hiring a car and driver – a sensible and flexible option – and you require safety capsules, child restraints or booster seats, bring these with you or make this absolutely clear to the hiring company as early as possible. Don't expect to find these items readily available. And finally, don't be afraid to tell your driver to slow down and drive responsibly.
AThe availability of a decent standard of health care varies widely in India. Talk to your doctor at home about where you will be travelling to get advice on vaccinations and what to include in your first-aid kit.
AAccess to health care is better in traveller-frequented parts of the country where it’s almost always easy to track down a doctor at short notice (most hotels will be able to recommend a reliable one).
APrescriptions are quickly and cheaply filled over the counter at numerous pharmacies, often congregating near hospitals.
ADiarrhoea can be very serious in young children. Seek medical help if it is persistent or accompanied by fever; rehydration is essential. Heat rash, skin complaints such as impetigo, insect bites or stings can be treated with the help of a well-equipped first-aid kit or resources from a local pharmacy.