The Best Hostels for Backpackers to Book in India
The Indian hostels experience has come a long way since the early days of backpacking. Modern hostels in India offer clean dorms, spotless bathrooms and buzzing shared spaces. The best hostels in India up the ante with courtyard gardens, rooftop terraces and even mountain views. And with pocket-friendly prices, you’ll have money spare for rickshaw rides and meals in India’s finest restaurants. Book your hostel in India with Culture Trip.
1. goSTOPS Mussoorie, for socialising over a board game
Hostel
How many hostels have a terrace garden with plunging vistas of Himalayan hills? Just a stroll from Camel’s Back Road and Mussoorie Mall Road, goSTOPS is a hostel with a firm sense of fun. There’s a games room with giant ludo and carrom boards, a friendly lounge, and bright dorms and bedrooms full of geometric patterns in primary colours. The best bedrooms have balconies, and there are night-time fire-pit bonfires on the roof terrace.
2. Backpacker Panda Manali, for an atmospheric location
Hostel
Manali was India’s original hippy hill station, but the hills are going upmarket and so is the Indian hostel scene. Backpacker Panda has a gorgeous location, where the town breaks down into pristine pine forests, and fun-filled shared spaces are filled with international flags and technicolour murals. Clean, wood-lined bedrooms and dorms – with four, six or eight beds – are lined along balconies with stunning forest views, and there’s a cheerful cafe. This is what backpacking ought to be like.
3. The Hosteller McLeodganj, for boutique-style digs
Hostel
McLeod Ganj has been a fixture on the backpacker circuit since the Dalai Lama arrived in nearby Dharamshala in 1960. Today, visitors to this unmistakably Buddhist hill station can stay in one of the best hostels in India – a sparky space full of creative design that feels more like a boutique hotel than your average backpacker digs. The smartly decorated, fan-cooled bedrooms and dorms have big windows and valley views that get even more stupendous when you reach the rooftop conservatory and terrace.
5. Zostel Udaipur, for tranquil lake views
Hostel
6. Zostel Delhi, for low-cost comfort in the capital
Hostel, Hotel
Drawing visitors from all over the world, Zostel Delhi has everything a backpacker needs: comfort, cleanliness and a lively vibe, all at a good price. It’s suitable for groups or solo travellers, as there are both air-conditioned dorms and private rooms – female-only dorms are also available. Laundry service, hot showers, private lockers, tea and coffee facilities, and free wifi are among the amenities. Plus, there’s a fully stocked kitchen and a lounge area, encouraging guests to mingle and have fun. Travel talks, social events and parties are the highlights of this place.
7. Moustache Jaipur, for a real feel of Rajasthan
Hostel, Hotel
If you’re looking for authentic Rajasthani culture, Moustache fits the bill. Situated on action-packed Mirza Ismail Road and just a stone’s throw from Jaipur Junction railway station, this hostel exudes local character with its traditional patterns and furnishings. The rooms are spick and span with comfortable beds, and there’s also a kitchen, free wifi and three common spaces. An added bonus is the spectacular view of Nahargarh Fort from the rooftop.
8. Jungle, for a calmer stay in Goa
Hostel
If you want to be sociable yet removed from the bustle of Goa’s most popular spots, this hostel is perfect. Set amid quiet jungle but just a stone’s throw from lively Vagator beach, Chapora Fort and other beautiful attractions, it offers the best of both worlds. There’s a community vibe here, with lots of recreational facilities, including barbecues, yoga sessions and rooftop movie nights. The private rooms and air-conditioned dorms come with hot water, free wifi, personal lockers and free breakfast. There’s also an in-house cafe that serves organic Indian teas and coffees.
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
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