India is a wonderful country for children to visit. Children are much loved in India and not seen as a nuisance, so welcomed in restaurants and hotels. Families with children travelling to India will enjoy a memorable time. They play an important part in the social life of the family.
Travelling a great distance with young children to anywhere, not only India can be very stressful for all concerned. Apart from the wait at the airport, there is the long flight, having their sleep routines upset and coping with a different time zone. Some children have no problem with this; others do. A fractious child on a plane might be an annoyance for other customers, but it’s far worse for the poor parent, who is not only having to calm their child, but also missing out on their own rest. If you are planning to take pre-school children to India, unless it is to visit relatives, and your child is that rare breed that takes these sorts of things in their stride, it is not recommended. In addition, very young children, hot sun and fair skin are not a good combination. At some times of the year, it will be just too hot to do much exploring.
Primary school children may well enjoy India if you choose your activity carefully. Babysitting and laundry costs are low and the food is wonderful – with a huge variety of cuisine for even the fussiest eater. They might not appreciate the Taj Mahal but they would probably love a bird watching trip; find a boat ride on the backwaters exciting and love going on one of the special luxury trains, with children under 12 half price and a crèche on board for the under 5s. Combined with a relaxing beach or hotel with large garden options, this could be a good way to ease them into India.
Teenagers
India is perfect for teenagers. Your argumentative, difficult, obnoxious offspring might even turn into a human being having dipped their toe in India. They see at first hand the poverty and the work ethic amidst the heat and the dust and the bustle. Children their own age have babies on their back and are working on building sites; street urchins are selling cheap books at traffic lights to make a few quid. Nothing is said, but you know it has shocked. Teenagers will love the quirky, funky disco bars in the major cities; travelling through the crazy traffic in an auto rickshaw and the wonderful variety of delicious cheap food at every turn. Spa and beauty treatments are at least half the price back home and generally better. There are bustling markets everywhere (but sensitive ones might find chickens crammed in a cage and sold live – stuffed in a bag – a bit hard to stomach) with piles of vegetables, spices, clothes and almost everything you could possibly want to buy. Air-conditioned malls sell cheap books, DVDs and jewellery – it’s a cornucopia of experiences, smells and life.
by Applenet 
