Mother's Day Special: 12 Holidays For Mum

Mothers love vacationing with their daughters and sons. It's one of their greatest joys. Plan a very special excursion. 

 

Pic: Kind courtesy Indian Navy/Wikimedia Commons

Many a mom likes heading to temples and other places of worship. They enjoy viewing flowers and gardens. Or taking in history. They are always due a little bit of pampering at a spa. Hatke mummies like freaky adventures...

Pic: Kind courtesy Anil Sharma/Pexels

Government Botanical Garden, Ooty

A serene retreat below Doddabetta peak, the 22-hectare colonial garden has 650 flora species, loads of flowers, all of which makes it just the place for nature-loving mothers. Popular in Bollywood films, it was designed & established in 1848 by British architect William Graham McIvor and a Scottish marquess.

Pic: Kind courtesy Adam Jones Adam63/Wikimedia Commons

Paradise Beach, Puducherry

Also known as Chunnambar Beach, it's a lesser-known strip of sand 8 km from Puducherry city and accessible only by a scenic boat ride from the Chunnambar Boat House. Sunbathe. Swim. Splash about. Get mom into a bikini.

Pic: Kind courtesy Puducherry Tourism

Darjeeling, West Bengal  

Why not head to West Bengal's Queen of the Hills for relaxing tours of tea gardens and hot cuppas and scenic toy train rides on the UNESCO heritage railway line?

Pic: Kind courtesy Arne Hückelheim/Wikipedia Commons

Nepal

Get more adventurous and cross over to Nepal -- no visa required -- and take in sacred sites like Pashupatinath and Boudhanath or pretty spots in Pokhara, Nagarkot and Chitwan.

Pic: Kind courtesy Nabin K. Sapkota/Wikipedia Commons

Velankanni, Tamil Nadu

The peaceful coastal town in Tamil Nadu's Nagapattinam district is a meaningful destination for mothers seeking spiritual comfort at the Gothic-style Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health, a major Catholic pilgrimage site.

Pic: Kind courtesy sajanjs/Wikipedia Commons

New Delhi

Has your mom ever been to New Delhi? If not, that should be at the top of your list. Food at Chandni Chowk. Shopping at Sarojini Nagar, Khan Market or Dilli Haat. Exploring beautiful landmarks like Humayun’s Tomb and its new museum attached.

Pic: Kind courtesy VasenkaPhotography/Wikipedia Commons

Taj Mahal, Agra

Another bucket-list destination. Sit on that famous bench before the white marble beauty and click a pic for perpetuity with Ma. 

Pic: Kind courtesy Jean-Marc Astesana/Wikipedia Commons

Haridwar, Uttarakhand

Located in Uttarakhand, it is one of Hinduism’s seven holiest cities and has a lovely, not very showy but moving Ganga aarti every evening at Har Ki Pauri.

Pic: Kind courtesy Jean-Marc Astesana/Wikipedia Commons

Ananda In The Himalayas, Uttarakhand

One of India's top spas, up in the foothills of the Himalayas, near Rishikesh, your mom can have a holiday of a lifetime in this luxurious wellness retreat, rejuvenating via Ayurvedic therapies, yoga sessions, meditation, detox programmes and delicious meals.

Pic: Kind courtesy Ananda In The Himalayas

Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu

Many mothers dream of eventually one day making it to super sacred Rameswaram, situated on Pamban Island and linked to the mainland by the iconic Pamban Bridge.

Pic: Kind courtesy Vinayaraj/Wikimedia Commons

Kaziranga National Park, Assam

For moms who love wildlife, India has so many great wildlife parks to pick from. But viewing the one-horned rhino at Kaziranga is an unforgettable experience.

Pic: Kind courtesy Diganta Talukdar/Wikimedia Commons

Indian Museum, Kolkata

To get to know Bengal's lively capital city you need several days. The vast Indian Museum with its fossils, Mughal paintings, Egyptian mummy, ideal for museum buff maters, needs a day or two for sure. And then there is walks on the Hooghly, hogging on Bengali sweets and visits to the Victoria Memorial, the Maidan, New Market.

 

Pic: Kind courtesy Vyacheslav Argenberg/Wikimedia Commons

Statue of Unity, Kevadia, Gujarat

A trip to see the world's tallest statue is quick and rather memorable Mother's Day excursion. And a chance to understand Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's legacy. 

Pic: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff
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