TRAVEL + LEISURE / MARCH 2016
FROM TOP: JOHN S LANDER/GETTYIMAGES; SUBHENDU SARKAR/GETTYIMAGESJust The Right Time
It’s never too early to introduce your child to the varied benefits of a vacation. Choosing lively destinations where she or he
can make vibrant cultural discoveries is always a win-win. Here’s your cheat sheet to a few! BY VATSALA KAUL BANERJEE
FAMILY TRAVEL
Locations: Much easier to
holiday with them around your
own country fi rst and prepare
them for more distance
adventures. Try Onam-around
mid-September—in Kerala,
a tapestry of spectacles.
Your toddler is likely to be
enthralled by the Puli Kali
in Thrissur, a tiger-themed,
energetic dance form in which
performers, in red, yellow
and black, dress up in masks,
artifi cial teeth, tongues, beards
and moustaches. The Boat
Races, with their splashing
oars, around the same festival
in Payippad, Aranmula and
Kumarakom, usually preceded
by a water parade of interesting
boat-fl oats is another cool
activity for the young ones
to watch. There’s nothing
to beat Goaat Christmas, a
festival that gets kids going.
The festive decorations at the
churches in old Goa, the many
stalls hawking homemade
cakes, chocolates and other
goodies, and the peppy music
everywhere adds to the fun and
festivity. For a different kind of
adventure, head to Pushkar in
Rajasthan– from around 8 to
14 November – where the kids
will be amazed and amused by
the ‘sea’ of tattooed, decorated
and colourfully caparisoned
camels as well as performances
by desert musicians and
gypsy dancers. Don’t miss
the camel-cart ride!KIDS(3-8 years old)
Curious, energetic and impatient, kids
of this age group are responsive to
intriguing new places and people. For
them a full day of activities at a theme or
nature park is perfect.
Locations:Hawaiioffers a novel playground for little
culture-vultures. The best place to learn about Hawaii
and its unusual ways is on the Big Island: the ancient site
of Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park, where
the intriguing wooden statues and old long canoes are
certain kid magnets! On Oahu, a day and evening at the
Polynesian Cultural Centre introduces children not only to
authentic Hawaiian villages and natives of six Pacific cultures
displaying their arts and skills, with special activities for
the kids – such as husking a coconut, climbing a palm
tree, weaving and more. Then there areSouth Africa and
Kenya...which child wouldn’t like to camp outdoors next to
hippopotamuses, feed elephants and get to know the secrets
of the Maasai tribe - you can stay in a Maasai village, go on
walking safari led by Maasai warriors, visit local schools
watch the women make colourful beads. Depending on
where you stay, you have a wide choice of cultural and fun
activities for the children: cooking in the bush, bug catching,
classes in African song and dance, bead-making, bird
watching and star-gazing.TODDLERS (12-36 months old)
These movers and shakers are choosy eaters,
with short attention and tolerance spans. A
holiday with colour and movement – and new
sights and sounds will engage them.
Puuhonua o
Honaunau National
Historical Park.Puli Kali in Thrissur.