10 Best Places to Visit in Summer in India for Elderly Citizens
Many believe that the elderly should not travel much, simply because they aren’t in the pink of their health. Well, age should never be a factor to discourage senior citizens from travelling. When a person’s children are married and well-settled and the person is free of responsibilities, one of the best ways to utilise their time is by going on travel.
India has a lot of places for senior citizens, whether they want to go on leisure getaways, observe nature and wildlife, or visit pilgrimages. In an effort to populate your travel bucket, here is a list of the best places to visit in summer in India for elderly citizens:
Leisure Getaways
1. Goa
Goa may be popular among the youth, but every person in India must visit Goa, regardless of their age. Goa is a place not only for the young ones but also for the older people. The state is brimming with places, both popular and not-so-popular. If you would rather avoid the popular places where the younger generation is partying day and night, Goa has places like Rivona Caves, Cumbarjua Backwater Canal, Sinquerim Fort, and more where you can visit. Being a coastal state, the weather is pleasant throughout the year, making it one of the best places to visit in summer in India.
2. Ooty
The lush greeneries, cascading waterfalls, and pristine lakes make Ooty one of the best places to visit in summer in India with family. Located amidst the Nilgiri hills, Ooty was once a summer retreat for the British. Its pleasant weather attracted the British out of their scorched homes and offices during the summer. Here, you can visit the Deer Park, Ooty Botanical Gardens, Kalhatty Waterfalls, Fernhills Palace, Emerald Lake, and more. Since Ooty was the best place for a summer vacation in India during the British Raj, it has various bungalows and heritage buildings from the era that you can visit, too. British Raj or not, Ooty is still one of the best summer vacation places in India.
3. Munnar
One of the best places you can retreat to is Munnar in Kerala. The hill town is known for its peace and tranquillity. If you are one of those people/couples/families who drink tea every day, Munnar is the best place you can visit. It has gorgeous waterfalls along with mesmerizingly beautiful tea gardens. The TATA Tea Museum holds a special place in the heart of tea aficionados who want to learn about the history of tea.
4. Shillong
You must have seen several photos of Shillong on the internet, or one of your acquaintances visited the place and showed you photos. Although the photos show how beautiful this north-eastern hill station is, the photos fall short to describe the actual beauty of Shillong. Not only does it have striking gardens, and beautiful waterfalls, but it’s the culture and hospitality of Meghalaya that will make you feel welcomed. What truly makes it one of the best vacation spots for senior citizens in India is the place for trekking, sightseeing, relaxing, and even golfing.
Pilgrimages
5. Rameshwaram
Off the coast of Tamil Nadu is an island by the name of Pamban Island. Rameshwaram is located on the coast of Pamban Island and it houses the starting from Ram Setu. The bridge was made by the vanar sena by writing the name of their lord on stones that made the bridge to prevent the stones from drowning. By the way of this bridge, Lord Ram and his vanar sena reached Lanka. Although it is said that the Ram Setu was on the surface until a cyclone in 1480 broke it, there are various temples in Rameshwaram that you can visit and know in detail about the story of Ram Setu. Rameshwaram is also home to the ancient 17th-century temple Ramanathaswamy Temple. Additionally, it has Dhanushkodi temple and Hanuman temple that can be visited too, making Rameshwaram one of the best vacation spots for senior citizens in India.
6. Chhota Char Dham Yatra
Exploring all the char dhams can be taxing for the senior citizens because they are located so far away from each other. But they can go on the Chhota Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand. This includes Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. Each dham is located at a height of at least 3000 meters. The Chhota Char Dham Yatra begins at Yamunotri, heading towards Gangotri, followed by Kedarnath, and then Badrinath. It is not only the pilgrimage sites that make this one of the best places to visit in India during summer, the scenic beauty of the mountains and valleys throughout the journey keeps you refreshed and energised. You will return home feeling more energetic and rested than before.
7. Varanasi
This city of Uttar Pradesh is known by many names, mostly Banaras and Kashi. It is one of the oldest cities in the world and is home to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The holy river of Ganga flows through it. What the city is truly known for is the aarti on the ghats of Ganga. In the evening you can see the grand aarti even from a boat. Just find yourself a good spot and see the beauty unfold itself in front of you. If the evening aarti is crowded, you can also choose to see the same aarti in the morning. It has a significantly less audience and is performed before dawn. To truly see the beauty of Ganga aarti, it is recommended you watch it in the morning. Young or old, the Ganga aarti makes Varanasi one of the best tourist places in India in summer.
8. Haridwar
If you are visiting Varanasi, slightly north from it, and not very far, is the city of Haridwar in Uttarakhand that you must travel to. It is the perfect location for a spiritual holiday in the Himalayas. Its neighbouring city, Rishikesh, is known as the Spiritual Capital of India since the Beatles visited it for a session of transcendental meditation by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1968. However, it’s the serene ambience and beautiful landscapes of mountains in the view make it one of the best summer tourist places in India. The city offers an unforgettable spiritual experience that you will remember throughout your life.
Wildlife and Adventure
9. Manali
Manali is often touted a popular honeymoon destination and a place for young people. But, surprisingly, the city also offers great adventures for the senior citizens of the family. In fact, it is one of the best places to visit in India in summer for senior citizens because they can take a cable car ride and go angling. If you are physically fit, especially on the side of life, then you can also opt for more challenging adventure sports like kayaking and trekking. The senior citizens should not exert much, which is why these are on the amateurish level and anyone can enjoy.
10. Sundarbans
The name Sundarban is Bangal for “beautiful forest”, and that’s exactly what this UNESCO World Heritage Site is. The enormity and beauty of the forest make it one of the best places to visit in India during summer. Here, not only can you relax in the lap of nature but you can view observe the wildlife that includes Royal Bengal Tiger, crocodile, turtles, boars, spotted deer, and more. Several resorts are located on the border of the forests that you can stay in always the massive mangrove trees of Sundarbans in the view. The tree shades will always protect you during the hottest days.
Although there is no dearth of places to visit in India in summer, for senior and younger citizens, these are the top places that everyone must visit, especially the elderly. Whether you visit them with friends or family is up to you. Besides facilitating a range of elder care services, we, at Emoha, always take joy in seeing our elders make the most of their golden years. For us, it is #EldersFirst
So head out and travel; you’ll be a wiser soul by the time you return.
