India’s vibrant soul is bound to enchant you!
If you could describe India in one word, it would have to be “vibrant.”
A country bursting with myriad sights, sounds, colours, and tastes, India is also home to incredibly diverse ethnicities, religions, and cultures. It’s a place where the modern and traditional rub shoulders, where the food is as diverse and as wonderful as the people, and where natural beauty is abundant.
India is also an incredibly family-friendly destination as you’ll soon find out.
During the upcoming June school holidays, Changi Airport is organising Vibrant India, a month-long event showcasing the many reasons families should consider India as their next holiday.
Running from 30 May to 28 June 2015, Vibrant India will be packed with exciting interactive games and activities especially for school-aged kids. You can even get a chance to win free air tickets to India.
And in case you do bag those tickets, get a load of six amazing spots that can make India an unforgettable family getaway:
India is an amazingly family-friendly holiday destination.
Delhi
One of the oldest cities in the world and home to 25 million people, Delhi is the sprawling and fascinating capital of India. Along with Agra and Jaipur, it also makes up the famous Golden Triangle – the most popular tourist circuit in India. This “triangle” of cities has been dubbed “golden” because of the extraordinary amount of beauty and culture contained in each city.
Delhi sits at the apex of the triangle. The city is full of activities and adventures for the whole family, and getting around is made convenient by its efficient Metro service. Adults will love soaking up some of the magnificent architecture that’s found in this city, shopping at the many bazaars, and sampling delectable food.
Kids meanwhile are going to love attractions such as the Kingdom of Dreams for an awesome Bollywood experience, Adventure Island theme park, the beautiful Garden of Five Senses, and the Nehru Planetarium for some star gazing.
There are no words to describe the beauty of the Taj Mahal, located in Agra.
Agra
From the ethereal beauty of one of the seven wonders of the world – the Taj Mahal – to the beautiful sandstone and marble Akbar Mausoleum, the magical city of Agra offers plenty in terms of culture and history for the whole family.
Mums, before you head to Agra, make sure you tell your royalty-loving little princess the beautiful love story of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal – it’s bound to enthrall her and make the trip to Taj Mahal so much more meaningful.
Other not-to-miss family-friendly attractions include the Red Fort of Agra, a 16th-century Mughal monument which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site, and Ram Bagh, the oldest Mughal garden in India.
Don’t forget to take your camera with you as you visit all these incredible sites for some awesome family photos!
Tell your kids not to be surprised if they come across gaily decorated elephants strolling the streets during your Indian holiday!
Jaipur
Jaipur is the capital of the state of Rajasthan and is also one of the cities that make up the famous Golden Triangle. This fascinating historical city is also home to the former royal family, who live at the City Palace in the heart of Jaipur.
Jaipur is also super family-friendly, with loads of attractions for mum, dad, and the little ones. You and the kids will love star gazing at the Jantar Mantar, an astronomical observation site built in the early 18th century. You can also take an elephant ride at Amber Fort, which is Jaipur’s star attraction, and learn about the art of block printing at Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing.
Your family is also sure to have fun exploring the majestic Hawa Mahal, or Palace of Winds, which has 953 windows or “Jharokhas,” all of them decorated with intricate designs.
Love yoga and Bollywood movies? If you do, hurry on to the next page!
Try out some yoga moves with your little one in Kochi!
Kochi
Located on the tropical Malabar coast, Kochi is perhaps most famous for its stunning coastal landscape and beautiful Keralan art.
Kochi is also well-known for something else: yoga! In fact, it is home to some of the best yoga retreats in India. Mums, you know exactly what this means for you, right? It’s the perfect place for you to indulge in a little “me” time while dad takes the kids for some sand castle-building fun on the beach!
As much as this wonderful city has to offer to adults, it’s also full of attractions for the kids, too. The Wonderla amusement park offers heaps of water- and land-based rides, and the Folklore Museum is a great place to learn about South Indian culture.
Your whole family will also enjoy exploring Jew Town, the centre of the Kochi spice trade and where the historical Jewish Synagogue is located. You can also soak up the gorgeous surroundings while boating on the backwaters of Vembanadu Lake.
Picky up some sparkly bangles for your little girl and as presents for the folks at home as you explore the bazaars of Chennai.
Chennai
Known as the “capital of the south,” Chennai is home to a good mix of the old and the new. Exploring this city with your family will reveal gorgeous museums, temples, and bazaars, as well as stunning luxury hotels and great restaurants.
What’s in it for the kids? Plenty, actually, such as the Wild Tribe Ranch (an adventure sports theme park), the Airgnar Anna Zoological Park, and the National Art Gallery.
After a day well spent enjoying some of these attractions, it’s highly recommended that you and your family take a sunset stroll along the beautiful Marina Beach before heading to Choki Dhani, a Rajasthani village fair with loads of yummy food and live entertainment.
Your little ones might even pick up some Bollywood dance moves of their own in marvellous Mumbai!
Mumbai
Where to even start with all the attractions of marvelous Mumbai? Perhaps with one that you most certainly have heard about – Bollywood.
Mumbai is home to India’s most prolific movie industry, the largest tropical forest in an industrial zone, and some pretty amazing colonial architecture – and that’s just the tip of the iceberg! You and your family will also discover enchanting bazaars, temples, and awesome food.
There’s plenty in Mumbai for the little ones to see and do, too, such as Adlabs Imagica and EsselWorld Amusement Parks (the latter is India’s largest amusement park), Snow World (to beat the heat!), and the Nehru Planetarium for budding astronomers.
Have we tempted you to plan your next family vacation to India already? The Vibrant India event at Changi airport is sure to seal the deal! Head to the next page to find out more.
Your whole family should check out Changi Airport’s Vibrant India event this June school holiday!
This June school holiday, head down with the whole family to Changi Airport’s Vibrant India event where you are sure to fall in love with everything that is India!
When: From 30 May (Saturday) to 28 June 2015 (Sunday)
Time: From 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. every day
Where: Terminal 3 Level 2 Departure Check-In Hall, near Row 11 (Public Area).
Here are a few not-to-be-missed highlights of the event:
Exhibition Journey
Present a single same-day receipt with a minimum spend of S$10 (or S$20 for supermarkets) from any Changi Airport shopping or dining outlet to redeem one Exhibition Journey guide as well as an exclusive souvenir!
Changi Rewards members may present any valid same-day single receipt with no minimum spend.
Bouncy Fun Station
Let your kids go wild in a play area with customized Chennai train station inflatables!
Date: 30 May to 28 June 2015
Time: 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Click here to find out how to redeem passes to the Bouncy Fun Station. Parents, do keep in mind that the play schedule is allocated based on earliest available time slot, limited to a maximum of 20 participants. Also, participants must be above one metre in height and at least four years old.
How many feathers does a peacock have? Guess correctly at the Changi Airport Vibrant India event and you could soon be on your way to India with free airline tickets!
Lucky Draw Contest
India is home to an amazing array of wildlife, including the peacock. Just by counting the number of peacock feathers on a peacock display at the event site, you stand the chance to win air tickets to India.
You could win up to S$2,000 worth of Changi Vouchers! Find out how on the next page.
Get pretty henna designs on your hands at the Vibrant India event, only at Changi Airport.
Hand-Painting Henna
Have you seen those beautiful, intricate patterns sometimes on Indian ladies’ hands? They are known as henna drawings. Now you, too, can see your hands with intricately beautiful henna designs. Available only on weekends and on a first-come, first-served basis.
Dates: May 30 and 31; and June 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, and 28
Times : 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Colour Me Challenge
Kids and adults can mimic the colour and fun of the Holi celebration in India with this challenge. Just visit the “Colour Me” booth at the Vibrant India event and get a chance to win up to S$2,000 worth of Changi Vouchers.
How to win the Challenge:
- Step 1: Enter the “Colour Me” booth and have fun with the variety of vibrant colours available
- Step 2: Snap a photo with your best pose
- Step 3: Upload your #ColourMeChangi photo onto your Instagram account
Submission deadline is on 28 June 2015, at 10:59 p.m. The top 20 photos with the most likes win $100 Changi Vouchers each. Winners will be notified by 31 July 2015.
Travel Deals to India
You can even book your holiday to several of the gorgeous locations mentioned in this article (Delhi, Kochi, Chennai and Mumbai) at the event itself with participating travel agencies offering exclusive travel deals: Jetspeed Travel, Tour Masters, Changi Travel Services, and Serangoonair.
Date: May 30 and 31; and June 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, and 28
Time: 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.
So go and mark your calendars down for Changi Airport’s Vibrant India! And don’t forget to tell us all about your experience there after your visit, by posting a comment below.
