10 Budget Friendly Destinations in India has a host of locations that are the ideal destinations for travel and can be enjoyed by visitors. In India itself, there’s so much to do so many low-cost and inexpensive places to visit. Places for when you are travelling with friends or family on a budget and still do not want to compromise on the standard of your holiday. So here are the top budget-friendly places you can visit in India.
Goa : Heaven for Party Lovers
Goa is the smallest state in India and, unlike any other, renowned for its endless beaches, stellar nightlife, eclectic seafood, listed architecture of world heritage. Goa lies in the Konkan region, spread over just 3,702 km. It’s a far cry from the hippie haven or beach getaway, and it’s one of only a few 24×7 open destinations. Goa’s laid-backness (susegad) draws as many, or even more, foreign visitors as Indians do.
The Goans are very welcoming to tourists and celebrate many festivals during the year with the New Year and Goa Carnival being the most popular. Although the seafood is fantastic, with trendy bars, beach shacks, chic cafes and many clubs and nightclubs, Goa has one of the best nightlife in India. Goa is also ideal for younger visitors with comparatively tighter pockets, thanks to lower alcohol prices in the state.
This might benefit those of us who are perpetually confused between North Goa and South Goa — the state of Goa is divided into North Goa and South Goa. Although the nightlife centre where all the tourist beaches, flea markets, and beach shacks are located is North Goa, South Goa is the land of luxury resorts and peaceful beach vibes.
Having been a territory of Portugal for almost 450 years, Visit one of the many whitewashed temples, decaying forts or magnificent churches – Portuguese architecture is nowhere as prevalent as in Goa. The Kalieodscope of Goan architecture is completed by the yellow houses with purple doors, ochre coloured mansions and oyester shell windows.
Panjim, the downtown capital, overlooks the calm Mandovi River, where Goa’s famous floating casinos are docked. The centre is well linked to the international airport and is served by roads and trains from the north to the south of Goa. Goa has beautiful beaches with its coastline extending for over 100 kilometres. While among the Indian family crowd, Baga and Calangute are more popular, Anjuna and Arambol attract a lot of foreign tourists. South Goa’s beaches are much less explored, but some of them are more spectacular, such as Agonda and Palolem 10 Budget Friendly Destinations in India.
Puducherry : French Colonial Charm
Literally, Pondicherry (Puducheri) means’ new settlement ‘. The French settlement comprising the city of Pondicherry, affectionately called Pondy, and three other pockets in the various states, Karaikal (Tamil Nadu), Mahe Kerala, and Yanam (Andhra Pradesh), is what makes up today’s Pondicherry Union Territory, which is 200 km south of Chennai (Madras).
One gets to see the scenery typical of the Deccan plateau on the way to Pondicherry. A stunning landscape is created by striking red soil and deep green foliage, consisting mainly of cashew, palm and neem.
On a grid system, the township of Pondicherry is planned, meaning that the roads meet each other at right angles. The long Petit Canal on the seaward side separates the town so that the French township is on the side facing the sea and on the other the mainly Indian/Tamil one.
Jaisalmer : Golden Sands of Thar
Jaisalmer is generally referred to as the ‘Golden City of India’ because the yellow sand and yellow sandstone are used in the city’s architecture to give the city a golden glow. Jaisalmer is named after a Rajput king who founded the city in 1156 AD, Maharawal Jaisal Singh. The ruling dynasty is thought to have descended from Lord Krishna, the Yadava Prince.
For royal forts, havelis, palaces, museums and temples, Jaisalmer is also very popular. Jaisalmer Pride, Jaisalmer Fort or Sonar Quila is Jaisalmer’s most popular tourist attraction and is a World Heritage Site. Some of the most popular tourist places to visit in Jaisalmer are Nathmalji ki Haveli, Salim Singh ki Haveli, Patwon ki Haveli, Manak Chowk, Jaisalmer Folklore Museum, Tazia Tower, Gadisagar Lake, Bada Bagh, Khuri Sand Dunes, Sam Sand Dunes, and Kuldhara.
With its desert camel safari, Jaisalmer draws a lot of visitors. One of the fun things to do in Jaisalmer is a bumpy trip on a camel in the Thar Desert. The famous dunes in Jaisalmer are the Sam Sand Dunes and Khuri Sand Dunes. Near Sam Sand Dunes, the Jaisalmer Desert Festival, a music festival usually held in the 2nd week of February, is also hosted. Jaisalmer is also renowned for various crafts, such as silver jewellery, embroidery, stone, job, leather goods, and printing.
New Delhi : The ‘Capital’ of Party Places
Delhi is the national capital of Incredible India, for all the right reasons. Delhi, associated with diversity, has always been the epicentre of all Indian events that are reflected in its tourism. It has acted as the country’s main strategic and cultural centre since the time of the Pandavas, and rightly so, today it is an exhibition of India’s history. Not only is travelling in Delhi restricted to tradition, but it is a decision to take hand in hand with the past and present. Blended with modern advances, the modern-day city of Troy is Delhi. The unity of diversity is testament to the amalgamation of all denominations and cultural centres of all faiths coexisting together in harmony. There are many tourist attractions in Delhi, ranging from temples, museums, shrines and modern markets. Exploring the city is like seeing a Mini-India, with India’s rich culture represented by Delhi Tourism.
Udaipur : The White City
The town of Lakes Udaipur is situated around azure water lakes and is hemmed in by lush green hills of Aravallis, also referred to as ‘Venice of the East.’ One of Udaipur’s most beautiful sights is the iconic Lake Palace, situated in the middle of Lake Pichola. Jaisamand Lake, believed to be the second largest man-made sweet water lake in Asia, is also home to it. To the architectural beauty and grandeur of the city, add the magnificent City Palace and Sajjangarh (Monsoon Palace). The town is also renowned for its zinc and marble profusion. The Lake Fateh Sagar solar observatory is the only island-based observatory in India and was built on the Big Bear Lake model in Southern California. A large number of people interested in arts and crafts are attracted to the ten-day Shilpgram Festival that starts from 21 December to 30 December.
Udaipur was founded by Maharana Udai Singh II as the new capital of the Kingdom of Mewar in 1553. It is situated southwest of Nagda, which was the first capital of Mewar, in the lush, circular Girwa Valley.
Coorg : Lowkey Vibes
The most sought-after and famous hill station in Karnataka is Coorg, officially named Kodagu. Lying serenely among the high mountains, the scenery of Coorg remains misty throughout the year. Kodavas are the Aboriginals of the area. Aside from Kannada, Kodagu and Kodava are the other two major languages of this hill station.
The best time to visit Kodagu is between October and May and February to May is the peak season for this hill station. Kodagu is India’s largest coffee producer. It is also one of the areas with the highest rainfall in the country. This hill station has breathtakingly spectacular scenic beauty and undulating hills covered in lush green forests and a landscape dotted with coffee plantations, tea gardens and orange groves.
Bhagamandala, Talakaveri, Nisargadhama, Dubare, Abbey Falls, Iruppu Falls and Nagarahole National Park are among the popular tourist attractions in Kodagu. For trekking, Pushpagiri and Brahmagiri are ideal in Coorg.
Manali : Snow City of Himachal
Manali is an important hill station in northern India, once called the “end of the habitable world,” and is the destination of thousands of tourists every year. For those plagued by the hot Indian summers, its cool atmosphere provides a perfect sanctuary. Manali is also popular for adventure sports like skiing, hiking, mountaineering, paragliding, rafting, trekking, kayaking, and mountain biking, in addition to offering quite a few places for sightseeing. In short, Manali, the true “valley of the Gods” is an ideal place for those seeking both adventure and comfort. The brightly patterned puttoos of the Kulluis, Tibetan women wearing ankle-length rainbow-striped pinafores, Nepali porters, Buddhist monks, and even the unusual Zanskaris group, swathed in fusty woollen gonchas, muddled with souvenir-hunting Indian and Western tourists-all add up to Manali’s welcoming hubbub.
Matheran : Soothing and Serene Surroundings
Matheran is a small station on a hill in the Maharashtra district of Raigad. Situated in the Western Ghats range at an altitude of 800 m, Matheran is one of Maharashtra’s smallest hill stations. It is one of Maharashtra’s top monsoon destinations and also one of the popular hill spots to visit for a weekend trip near Mumbai & Pune. As part of Lonavala tour packages, it is also one of the top monsoon destinations to visit.
Hugh Poyntz Malet, then the district collector of the district of Thane in 1850 AD, established Matheran. The place was built for the British as a summer resort by Lord Elphinstone, the Governor of Bombay. Matheran is the birthplace of Veer Bhai Kotwal, a prominent freedom fighter. Sir Adamjee Peerbhoy established the Matheran Hill Railway in 1907 AD, covering a distance of 20 km across wide swaths of forest territory. The Matheran Hill Railway, also referred to as the Matheran Light Railway (MLR), is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Matheran is an eco-sensitive area declared by the Government of India’s Ministry of Environment and Forest, which means ‘forest on the forehead.’ It is the only automotive-free hill station in Asia. No private cars are permitted to enter the town of Matheran. Tourists to Matheran must travel up to Dasturi Point (2.5 km by foot or pony to reach Matheran.
Matheran is renowned for its 38 viewpoints, which offer a panoramic view of the Western Ghat peaks. The few major tourist attractions in Matheran are Porcupine Point, Panorama Point, Echo Point, Charlott Lake, King George Point, Louisa Point, Monkey Point, Paymaster Park, Panthers’ Caves, Rambaug Point, Heart Point, etc. In addition, Matheran offers activities such as camping, hiking, climbing, etc. The ride on the toy train which connects Neral to Matheran used to be quite famous but the service has now been discontinued temporarily 10 Budget Friendly Destinations in India.
Kasol : Hipster’s Paradise
In the travel community, Kasol, Himachal Pradesh, is very well known for being a refuge for backpackers and budget travellers. Kasol is more than just a destination, replete with encounters that will steal away the hearts of many travellers. It can easily be represented as being an entire adventure in itself. It can be called the ultimate destination, with a large range of places to visit in Kasol. The explanation for this is that a traveller encounters many journeys, whether physical, visual, spiritual, and in some cases, life-changing. Kasol is actually a small town in the Parvati Valley, not just a backpacking adventure hotspot or a resort set in the midst of green hills. It’s a hub for people who just want to get away from their daily office lives and go to the Himalayas for a lifetime of experience.
Among such a crowd of travellers, the reason why Kasol is popular is that it caters to everyone. Kasol never disappoints anyone, whether it’s those arriving for trekking, hiking, rafting, sightseeing, parties, or finding spiritual awakening. Kasol has been a paradise for trekking enthusiasts and adventure buffs from the start 10 Budget Friendly Destinations in India.
Starting from Kheerganga, Kasol has made this meadow their favourite destination high in the Himalayas. Trekking on this trail in Parvati Valley is one of the easiest things to do in Kasol and is also one of the favourites, a 12 km trek that leads through Oak and Rhododendron forests. The trek passes from Barshaini and Rudra Nag waterfalls, starting from Kasol, and ends high up on Kheerganga, which is a campers’ hotspot. Kheerganga is also one of the many hot springs in Kasol, with naturally warmed water flowing from the earth’s crust. Popularly known as Parvati Kund, after a long day of trekking in Kasol, it’s a perfect place to relax on top of Kheerganga. The route from Kheerganga can either take you back to Kasol or take you on a majestic detour to Tosh village. Nestled in a side valley of the Parvati Valley, Tosh is an offbeat trekking experience and a peaceful small town located on the banks of a small rivulet of the same name. The scenes from Tosh in the Dhauladhar range of the Himalayas, less known and almost uncrowded, are the best you can get anywhere in Kasol. The many small cafes catering to the small tourist crowd who choose to visit this offbeat green vista of a village are also popular in Tosh.
Gokarna : Less commercialized version of Goa
Gokarna is a town located in Karnataka’s Uttara Kannada district, and is etymologically translated as ‘cow’s ear.’ According to common mythological beliefs, it is the place where Lord Shiva emerged in the form of a cow from the incarnation of Mother Earth. The city, interspersed with ancient temples, is home to one of the oldest temples, known as Mahabaleshwar, enshrined with Lord Shiva since time immemorial. Karwar is approximately 59 km from the capital, 483 km from Bengaluru, and 238 km from Mangalore.
In addition, the city’s rustic outlook has drawn the interest of a number of travellers and foreigners. There are many beaches, sights of pilgrimage, and waterfalls that are tourist attractions that reverberate. The town is literally located around the Aghanashini River, which is considered to be a holy site for devotees.
The city, however, attracts both adrenaline seekers and those looking for spiritual solace due to the recent tourist influx. It is a golden beach town named after the way Om Beach and Half Moon Beach are shaped. Paradise Beach is doing its name no injustice! The tall palm trees, the serene ocean waves gushing towards the cliffs, and the nights spent watching the sun melt into the ocean give the place a mystical appeal 10 Budget Friendly Destinations in India.