Varanasi with kids

Darmabum · Dec 17th, 2008, 00:16

I've got over 370 days in Varanasi and still want more. Three weeks is enough time just to start figuring it out.

Sarnath is a worthwhile stop; Mathura is much closer to Delhi than Varanasi. As for kites, if you'll be in Varanasi in mid-January, there's a single day - around the 14th - where the rooftops are full of kite flyers. Some of the flyers are warring with those on other roofs, trying to cut the other kites strings with their own. In the aftermath, electrical wires all around the city are strewn with kites and strings.

Walk along the ghats with your children, they'll be well-occupied by curious Indian children.

Have a Great Trip.

wilmaaa · Dec 17th, 2008, 01:03

lol i know it's not usual but three weeks it is, I have a very dear friend there that I want to spend as much time with as possible. We do have a fourth week afterwards when we'll go to see the Taj Mahal, on to Mathura, check out Vrindavan and arrive back in Delhi to fly home. There's no hope of seeing everything in one visit, for a first trip we'll be happy just to soak up the atmosphere. Visas arrived today, I guess that means going to India huh? OMG

kristinm · Dec 17th, 2008, 02:23

This time last year we were getting ready to leave on the 28th December... my 14 year old loved India - although we didn't get to Varanasi sadly.. We keep wishing we were going back.

wilmaaa · Jun 21st, 2009, 01:27

wow, well it's been a lonnnnnnnng time. My one month trip to India turned into over five months lol and three of them I spent in Varanasi. What an amazing experience! Varanasi is now my second home. A few things I thought worth coming on here to mention are..

my budget went way down as you can imagine and I found a gem of a place to stay called the Vaibhav Lodge. It's just off the market where the taxis gather and the police booth is. It's basic, but ridiculously cheap if you're staying longterm and pay by the month. I didn't meet anyone in Varanasi who had a cheaper deal than me. Also the lovely lady who runs the place babysat for me any night I wanted to go out. My son bawled his eyes out leaving the family in the end. She'd also throw our names in for dinner at no extra charge...pure kindness really.

It took me while to source beer but I came up with some gems. A true dude called Mahendra runs the Family Nest Restaurant (look up high for the sign with the arrow on Bengali Tola)he stocked his fridge with beer for us every night, only charged 120 rupees (less than the Dolphin rooftop and Zee restaurant) and he NEVER threw us out, you can curl up and stay til morning if needs be lol.

A little treat if your budget travelling with kids in Varanasi and no doubt living in the dust of the old town, is to get a rickshaw to the new part, the route to the post office, to where the Air India offices are. Right across the road from Air India office is a garden restaurant with a playground. It's beautiful, peaceful, safe and clean and the food is fab. AND they have cold beer for you to sip while your kiddies play happily.

One other very important recommendation I'd like to make for Varanasi is the ice cold coconut lassi in Shree Cafe!

I can't wait to get back.

goingback · Aug 1st, 2009, 01:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilmaaa

wow, well it's been a lonnnnnnnng time. My one month trip to India turned into over five months lol and three of them I spent in Varanasi. What an amazing experience! Varanasi is now my second home. A few things I thought worth coming on here to mention are..

my budget went way down as you can imagine and I found a gem of a place to stay called the Vaibhav Lodge. It's just off the market where the taxis gather and the police booth is. It's basic, but ridiculously cheap if you're staying longterm and pay by the month. I didn't meet anyone in Varanasi who had a cheaper deal than me. Also the lovely lady who runs the place babysat for me any night I wanted to go out. My son bawled his eyes out leaving the family in the end. She'd also throw our names in for dinner at no extra charge...pure kindness really.

It took me while to source beer but I came up with some gems. A true dude called Mahendra runs the Family Nest Restaurant (look up high for the sign with the arrow on Bengali Tola)he stocked his fridge with beer for us every night, only charged 120 rupees (less than the Dolphin rooftop and Zee restaurant) and he NEVER threw us out, you can curl up and stay til morning if needs be lol.

A little treat if your budget travelling with kids in Varanasi and no doubt living in the dust of the old town, is to get a rickshaw to the new part, the route to the post office, to where the Air India offices are. Right across the road from Air India office is a garden restaurant with a playground. It's beautiful, peaceful, safe and clean and the food is fab. AND they have cold beer for you to sip while your kiddies play happily.

One other very important recommendation I'd like to make for Varanasi is the ice cold coconut lassi in Shree Cafe!

I can't wait to get back.

Wow, thanks for all the tips. We are taking our 2 girls aged 10 and 5 in November and I'm making a note of these places. Thanks.

jobean · Oct 12th, 2009, 06:02

Interesting stuff. But did you find a swimming pool at all?! I will be travelling this December with a four year old who thinks that whenever we get on an aeroplane it takes us to somewhere with a swimming pool and though I've explained this time will be different, I'd like to accommodate her interests as much as possible! Thanks!

wilmaaa · Oct 27th, 2009, 23:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by jobean

Interesting stuff. But did you find a swimming pool at all?! I will be travelling this December with a four year old who thinks that whenever we get on an aeroplane it takes us to somewhere with a swimming pool and though I've explained this time will be different, I'd like to accommodate her interests as much as possible! Thanks!

There definetly is a swimming pool in one of the bigger hotels and my friends went there frequently but I never made it. Will be easy for you to find.

Dec 17th, 2008, 00:16	#16
Darmabum On the Road, wherever I am Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: in the mountains of Idaho . . . now the red-rock plateau of southern Utah Posts: 1,110	I've got over 370 days in Varanasi and still want more. Three weeks is enough time just to start figuring it out. Sarnath is a worthwhile stop; Mathura is much closer to Delhi than Varanasi. As for kites, if you'll be in Varanasi in mid-January, there's a single day - around the 14th - where the rooftops are full of kite flyers. Some of the flyers are warring with those on other roofs, trying to cut the other kites strings with their own. In the aftermath, electrical wires all around the city are strewn with kites and strings. Walk along the ghats with your children, they'll be well-occupied by curious Indian children. Have a Great Trip. __________________ Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate; our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure - Marianne Williamson

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Dec 17th, 2008, 01:03	#17
wilmaaa Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: UK Posts: 15	lol i know it's not usual but three weeks it is, I have a very dear friend there that I want to spend as much time with as possible. We do have a fourth week afterwards when we'll go to see the Taj Mahal, on to Mathura, check out Vrindavan and arrive back in Delhi to fly home. There's no hope of seeing everything in one visit, for a first trip we'll be happy just to soak up the atmosphere. Visas arrived today, I guess that means going to India huh? OMG

Dec 17th, 2008, 02:23	#18
kristinm Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Beautiful Bondi (not Bundi!) Posts: 1,603	This time last year we were getting ready to leave on the 28th December... my 14 year old loved India - although we didn't get to Varanasi sadly.. We keep wishing we were going back.

Jun 21st, 2009, 01:27	#19
wilmaaa Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: UK Posts: 15	wow, well it's been a lonnnnnnnng time. My one month trip to India turned into over five months lol and three of them I spent in Varanasi. What an amazing experience! Varanasi is now my second home. A few things I thought worth coming on here to mention are.. my budget went way down as you can imagine and I found a gem of a place to stay called the Vaibhav Lodge. It's just off the market where the taxis gather and the police booth is. It's basic, but ridiculously cheap if you're staying longterm and pay by the month. I didn't meet anyone in Varanasi who had a cheaper deal than me. Also the lovely lady who runs the place babysat for me any night I wanted to go out. My son bawled his eyes out leaving the family in the end. She'd also throw our names in for dinner at no extra charge...pure kindness really. It took me while to source beer but I came up with some gems. A true dude called Mahendra runs the Family Nest Restaurant (look up high for the sign with the arrow on Bengali Tola)he stocked his fridge with beer for us every night, only charged 120 rupees (less than the Dolphin rooftop and Zee restaurant) and he NEVER threw us out, you can curl up and stay til morning if needs be lol. A little treat if your budget travelling with kids in Varanasi and no doubt living in the dust of the old town, is to get a rickshaw to the new part, the route to the post office, to where the Air India offices are. Right across the road from Air India office is a garden restaurant with a playground. It's beautiful, peaceful, safe and clean and the food is fab. AND they have cold beer for you to sip while your kiddies play happily. One other very important recommendation I'd like to make for Varanasi is the ice cold coconut lassi in Shree Cafe! I can't wait to get back.

Oct 12th, 2009, 06:02	#21
jobean Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: UK Posts: 1	Interesting stuff. But did you find a swimming pool at all?! I will be travelling this December with a four year old who thinks that whenever we get on an aeroplane it takes us to somewhere with a swimming pool and though I've explained this time will be different, I'd like to accommodate her interests as much as possible! Thanks!