It is summer vacation and the children are already climbing up and down the walls! You do not have to empty your pocket to provide your family with a vacation they will be discussing over years, whether you are planning a weekend trip of 2 days or the entire week of fun. Gujarat is full …
Best Budget-Friendly Places to Visit This Summer Holidays – Gujarat & Beyond
It is summer vacation and the children are already climbing up and down the walls! You do not have to empty your pocket to provide your family with a vacation they will be discussing over years, whether you are planning a weekend trip of 2 days or the entire week of fun. Gujarat is full of fantastic family places and there are a few brilliant places just on the other side of the border that can be reached easily as well. Let’s go exploring!
Inside Gujarat:
- Sabarmati Riverfront and Ahmedabad- Science City.
The biggest city of Gujarat is one of the most interesting places to visit with curious children! Gujarat Science City is a grand slam, there is a Hall of Space, IMAX 3D cinema, Energy Park, lIFE Science park and a Musical Fountain show that children are overly fond of. A day here and the kids will not go.
Have a relaxing stroll in the beautiful Sabarmati riverfront in the evening, and pay a quick visit to sabarmati asharam where you can educate your little ones about the life of Mahatma Gandhi in a very practical manner.. The museums of the city, toy train rides and Gujarati street food explore the city and make these khaman and dabeli – a memorable city vacation.
Budget suggestion: Ahmedabad has great budget guesthouses, mid range hotels close to the river front. Approximately, a family of 4 would spend between 4,000-8,000 on 2 nights.
- Gir National Park – The Land Of Asiatic Lions.
Gir is one of such once-in-a-life experiences of kids. It is the only location in the globe that is not an African location where one can see Asiatic lions in the wild.A jeep safari through Gir is thrilling and educational at the same time. Apart from lions, Gir is home to leopards, crocodiles, deer, and over 250 species of birds making it a paradise for young nature lovers.
The safaris are run by the forest department and are very well organised. Book your jeep safari slot in advance online through the Gujarat forest department website, as they fill up fast especially during school holidays. Safari entry is approximately ₹800 – ₹1200 per person.
3.Mandvi Beach, Kutch – Sun, Sand & Shipyards.
If your kids love the beach, mandvi is a brilliant and budget-friendly choice. It’s a clean, lesscrowded beach in kutch with calm waters- safe and fun for children. Beyond the beach, visit the famous traditional wooden shipyard where massive ships are still built entirely by hand. This is fascinating to kids.
Mandvi is also equipped with the beautiful Vijay Vilas Palace that has its own beach and the Kutch area is abundant in traditional crafts and colorful culture. Local kutchi thali is tasty and quite cheap in the local restaurants. The minimum budget rates begin at approximately ₹800 – 1500 per night.
Summer vacation: schedule a beach day in the early mornings when late evening to evade the heat of the day. Bring sunscreen and hats with the children!
4. Saputara Hill Station Gujarat’s cool Green Escape.
The only hill station in Gujarat and your summer friend is saputara! It is located in the Sahyadri hills at 875 meters above the sea level which is significantly cooler than the other parts of Gujarat; a big relief to those families who travel with little kids during the hot seasons. The town boasts of beautiful view points, picturesque lake with boating, rose garden, and tribal museum which provide a great glimpse into the Adivasi culture.
Winding roads, through thick green forests, are in themselves a sight of beauty, the drive to saputara. Children more so love the ride through the ropeway/cable car (a major attraction! ), rides in the saputara lake, and mini amusement parks in the town. It is ideal when you want to spend 2-3 days and enjoy a family picnic in the mountains and have a breath of fresh air.
5. Statue of Unity & Vadodara – History Meets Wonder.
The statue of unity, the world’s tallest statue is an experience that leaves children completely awestruck. Located near kevadia, just a couple of hours from vadodara, the 182- meter statue of Sardar Vallabhai Patel has viewing gallery, a museum, a cactus garden, a children’s nutrition park, and a light & sound show in the evenings. It’s incredibly well-organised and genuinely educational for kids. Entry is just ₹ 150 for adults and ₹100 for children.
Combine this with a stop in Vadodara, which is great for families. The management Laxmi vilas Palace, still the official residence of the Maharaja of Baroda is jaw-dropping royal architecture to stay in compared to Ahmedabad.
Near Gujarat – Easy to Reach.
6. Mount Abu – Rajasthan’s only Hill station
Mount abu is the summer gateway Gujarati families swear by and for every good reason! It’s the only hill station in Rajasthan, and with its cool climate, lush greenery, and beautiful Nakki Lake, it feels like a world away from the summer heat. Kids love boating on the lake, visiting the little zoo, and the toy train ride around town.
The dilwara jain temples – carved entirely from white marble are among the most stunning temples in India and are free to visit. The summit Guru Shikahr gives breathtaking panoramic views. Mount abu has plenty of budget hotels starting from ₹800-₹2,000 per night and is very well set up for family visits.
7. Udaipur- City of Lakes & Palace.
Udaipur is nothing short of magical for families. The beautiful lake pichola with boat rides at sunset, the grand city palace where kids fell lake royalty, the colorful vintage car museum, and the saheliyon ki bari garden with its fountains – this city packs so much into a short trip.
The city is well-connected from Ahmedabad by both bus and train, with budget bus tickets starting from as low as ₹200-₹300 per person . budget hotels in udaipur are plentiful and many offer lake views at very reasonable prices. It’s one of the most accessible and rewarding near Gujarat destinations for families.
8. Diu – A Tiny Island of Big Adventures.
Diu is a game that not enough families explore. The tiny island off Gujarat’s southern coast has gorgeous beaches – Nagoa Beach Beach and Ghogia Beach being the most popular with calm, clear waters that are safe and fun for kids. Portuguese colonial history gives a Diu of wonderfully unique churches, a historic fort, and charming narrow lanes.
Diu is much more relaxed and less crowded than Goa, making it a great deal for families. Kids enjoy water sports like banana boat rides and heritage sights like camel rides on the beach. Most beaches and heritage sights are free or very low cost making this one of the most budget=friendly coastal trips you can take from Gujarat.
