8 Sibling Travel Experiences That Will Bring Your Childhood Back

Raksha Bandhan is usually one of those days when siblings suddenly become sentimental for approximately 17 minutes before returning to their regularly scheduled arguments. But this year, there is a better way to celebrate the person who has known you since the era of questionable haircuts, stolen chocolates and fights over the TV remote. This year, Raksha Bandhan falls on August 28, which is a Friday, so the festival lands perfectly for a weekend escape. Instead of buying another gift that will eventually disappear into a cupboard, take your sibling somewhere you can be gloriously silly together. 

8 Travel Adventures To Experience With Your Sibling This Raksha Bandhan 

1. Fight Over The Window Seat On A Toy Train In Ooty

There is something super nostalgic about a toy train, especially when you are travelling with the person who once fought you for the window seat on every family holiday. In Ooty, board the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, the historic mountain railway that winds through the Nilgiris with dramatic bends, tunnels, misty valleys and tiny stations along the way. The railway is part of the Mountain Railways of India UNESCO World Heritage property, making the ride far more than just a cute photo opportunity. Spend the journey sharing snacks, pointing out random houses in the hills and taking photographs that will inevitably end up in the sibling WhatsApp group. Better still, recreate an old childhood photograph during the journey and see which version of you has aged more dramatically. Spoiler: both of you will claim it is the other one.

Also Read: From Goa To Bali, Where Are Indians Heading For Rakshabandhan And Janmashtami Long Weekends?

2. Turn Rishikesh Into The Ultimate Sibling Competition

Every sibling relationship has that one person who says, “I dare you,” and then immediately regrets it when you actually agree. Rishikesh is basically a playground for that dynamic. Instead of spending the entire trip sightseeing, pick an adventure and make it a competition. Go river rafting on the Ganga, try ziplining or take on one of the region’s famous bungee experiences, depending on what is operating during the monsoon. The Uttarakhand Tourism department lists rafting, kayaking, trekking and other adventure activities among Rishikesh’s major experiences.

Also Read: 10 Things To Do In Rishikesh Beyond River Rafting

3. Cycle Through Hampi Like You Have Absolutely Nowhere To Be

Forget the standard sightseeing circuit for a day and rent bicycles in Hampi. Pedalling between ancient ruins, enormous boulders, temple complexes and quiet village roads feels wonderfully uncomplicated, almost like being back in school during summer vacation when the only plan was to cycle until somebody’s mother started yelling from the balcony.

Karnataka Tourism recommends cycling through landmarks including the Vittala Temple, Lotus Mahal and Hampi Bazaar, with typical routes ranging from around 10 to 20 kilometres. Start early or head out in the late afternoon, stop whenever you spot something interesting and let your sibling decide the route for once. You can even make up ridiculous checkpoints along the way. The loser buys the post-ride breakfast. No negotiations! 

Also Read: 8 Oldest Nations In The World That Are A Paradise Of Heritage Travel For History Buffs

4. Go Camping And Recreate Your Summer-Camp Era

Remember summer camp? The tents, midnight conversations, questionable food and the bizarre confidence that staying awake until 2 AM made you adults? Recreate the whole thing with your sibling in a mountain campsite. Pick a property that offers tents, bonfires and outdoor activities, then deliberately keep the itinerary loose. Bring a deck of cards, snacks, a portable speaker and the kind of stories that begin with, “Do you remember when Mum thought we were sleeping?” You do not need a packed schedule. Sit around the fire, roast marshmallows or whatever local snacks are available, play stupid games and stay up talking until one of you gets sleepy. 

5. Play ‘I Spy’ On A Wildlife Safari

As children, spotting a cow from a moving car could qualify as wildlife photography. Upgrade the game with an actual safari. Head to Jim Corbett National Park and turn animal spotting into a sibling championship. Keep a completely unofficial scorecard: one point for a spotted deer, two for an elephant, three for an unusual bird and an entirely unreasonable number of points for a tiger.

Corbett’s official tourism information currently provides safari booking and park updates, although visitors should check the latest zone and weather restrictions before travelling, particularly during the monsoon. The best part is that there is no guarantee about what you will see, which means both of you can spend hours scanning the forest and then become ridiculously excited about the smallest movement in the bushes. 

6. Take A Sunset Boat Ride In Udaipur And Become Movie Characters

There are sibling trips where you spend the day running between monuments, and then there are trips where you sit on a boat, stare at the water and pretend your life has a background score. Choose the second option in Udaipur. A sunset boat ride on Lake Pichola gives you views of the City Palace, Jagmandir and the surrounding hills, with Rajasthan Tourism specifically recommending the experience around sunset. Get on the boat before golden hour, take an absurd number of photographs and recreate your most dramatic childhood poses. Then sit quietly for a while. You might discover that after years of sharing a home, a room, family gossip and 900 arguments, having uninterrupted time with your sibling is actually rather lovely.

7. Take A Four-Minute Ropeway Ride And Scream For No Reason

Not every childhood-style adventure needs to involve an expensive itinerary. At Udaipur’s Doodh Talai, you can take the ropeway connecting the hillocks towards the Karni Mata Temple. Rajasthan Tourism describes it as a four-minute ride offering panoramic views across the city, including Lake Pichola. Four minutes is not a particularly long time, but with your sibling, it is enough time for someone to announce that they are suddenly scared of heights. Take the ride around sunset, when the city starts glowing below you, and make a game out of spotting landmarks from the cabin, this Raksha Bandhan. 

8. Take A Road Trip With The Playlist You Grew Up On

Sometimes the destination is just an excuse to get into a car together. Pick a scenic monsoon route, preferably one that you can comfortably cover over a weekend, and build a playlist entirely from songs you heard growing up. Include the songs your parents played in the car, your embarrassing teenage favourites and that one track both of you pretended to hate before secretly memorising every lyric. Stop for roadside chai, pakoras and whatever local snack catches your attention. Play antakshari, argue over the aux cable and take the longer route simply because you can this Raksha Bandhan.

Also Read: 10 Epic Road Trips Every Indian Should Experience At Least Once Before Turning 30 Years Old

Cover Image Courtesy: gunajena/Canva Pro and Prime Video

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