India's hostel scene has grown fast over the last decade, and there's now a sociable dorm bed within reach of almost every stop on the classic backpacker route: the Golden Triangle, Rajasthan, Varanasi, Rishikesh, Goa, Hampi, Kerala and the Himalaya. This guide goes city by city, then covers the big chains, female-only dorms and current price ranges.
We don't rate hostels or copy reviews here, and every hostel below is named only for its location and type. Prices change with the season and the exchange rate, so treat every figure as a guide and check current rates before you book.
Delhi
Delhi's backpacker hostels cluster in two areas near the New Delhi railway station. Paharganj, on the Main Bazaar, is the classic first stop: cheap, chaotic and a short walk from the station and the Delhi Metro. Karol Bagh, a little further out, is quieter and better connected by metro, with a similar spread of hostels. Dorm beds run from about ₹350 at the simplest places to ₹900 at a social hostel with a common room and events. goSTOPS and The Hosteller both have well-known Delhi locations, and Moustache runs a hostel in the city too.
Agra
Almost every hostel in Agra sits in Taj Ganj, the lanes immediately south of the Taj Mahal, and several have rooftop views of the monument itself. Dorm beds run from about ₹300 to ₹700. Zostel Agra, The Hosteller Agra and a couple of smaller backpacker places are all within a few minutes' walk of the east and west gates, which matters if you want to be there for the sunrise opening.
Jaipur
Jaipur's hostels are spread between the walled Pink City, where you're close to Hawa Mahal and the bazaars but it's noisier, and Bani Park, a calmer residential area a short auto ride away with easier parking and a few more hostels per street. Dorm beds run from about ₹350 to ₹900. Zostel, Moustache and goSTOPS all have Jaipur properties, alongside independent backpacker hostels such as Madpackers.
Udaipur
Most of Udaipur's hostels are in the old town around Lake Pichola, an easy walk from the City Palace and the ghats, with a fair few doing double duty as a rooftop cafe with a lake view. Dorm beds run from about ₹300 to ₹800. Zostel, Moustache, goSTOPS and The Hosteller all have Udaipur locations, alongside smaller independent hostels.
Pushkar
Pushkar's hostels sit mostly in Choti Basti, on the edge of the old town, an easy walk to the lake, the bazaar and the Brahma Temple. Dorm beds run from about ₹300 to ₹700. Zostel's Pushkar hostel has a seasonal swimming pool, which is unusual for the chain in India, and Moustache and The Hosteller also have properties here. Rooms get scarce and pricier during the Pushkar Camel Fair each November, so book ahead if you're timing a visit around it.
Varanasi
Varanasi's hostels cluster near the ghats, especially around Assi Ghat, a calmer stretch a little south of the main Dashashwamedh Ghat crowds, and along the lanes just back from the river. Dorm beds run from about ₹300 to ₹700. goSTOPS, Zostel, The Hosteller and Moustache are all represented here, alongside a good number of independent backpacker hostels.
Rishikesh
Rishikesh's hostels are almost all in Tapovan, the hillside neighbourhood above the Laxman Jhula end of town, a short walk from Bajrang Setu, the cafes, the yoga studios and the evening aarti. Dorm beds run from about ₹250 to ₹500, among the cheapest on this list. Our Rishikesh guide covers named hostels, prices and the rest of the town in more detail.
Goa
North Goa has most of the hostels, spread across Anjuna, Vagator and Arambol, where the backpacker and social scene is concentrated. South Goa has fewer hostels and more beach huts and guesthouses, though Palolem has a handful of good backpacker places. Dorm beds run from about ₹400 to ₹900, rising well above that in the crowded weeks around Christmas and New Year, when it's worth booking early. Zostel, goSTOPS, The Hosteller and Moustache all have Goa hostels, split between the two coasts. See our Goa travel guide for areas and things to do.
Hampi
Hampi's hostels and guesthouses are spread between Hampi village, on the temple side of the Tungabhadra, and the villages on the north bank around Sanapur and Anegondi, reached by coracle or by the road bridge. Virupapur Gaddi, the former "hippie island," is no longer a place to stay: the Supreme Court upheld an order to demolish its guesthouses and restaurants in February 2020 on heritage grounds, and most of the popular places there are now closed. Dorm beds run from about ₹400 to ₹900. Zostel's hostel is on the north bank near Sanapur, away from the ruins, and a small number of independent backpacker places cover both sides of the river.
Kochi and Kerala
In Kerala, Fort Kochi has the widest hostel choice: old colonial lanes near the Chinese fishing nets, with a mix of heritage-building hostels and simpler backpacker places. Dorm beds run from about ₹400 to ₹900. The Hosteller and Zostel both have Fort Kochi hostels. Elsewhere in Kerala, hostels are thinner on the ground. Alleppey and the backwaters are mostly houseboats and homestays rather than dorms, and Varkala has a handful of cliff-top backpacker places.
Leh (Ladakh)
Leh has a small but decent hostel scene, mostly around the Main Bazaar and Changspa, the road that climbs towards the Shanti Stupa. Dorm beds run from about ₹550 to ₹700, with a few budget guesthouse dorms from around ₹200, and prices sit above the national average because everything travels a long way to get there. Zostel has a Leh hostel, and it's one of the easiest places in the region to find people to share a jeep with for Nubra or Pangong. See our Ladakh guide for named places and current prices.
Manali and Spiti Valley
Old Manali, across the river from the main town, has the hostel scene: Zostel and The Hosteller both have hostels here, alongside smaller independent places, with dorm beds from about ₹400 to ₹900. In Spiti Valley, Kaza is the only real town and has a small Zostel hostel, but most of the valley is homestays and guesthouses rather than dorms, from about ₹300 to ₹600 a person. See our Spiti Valley guide for the homestay side of things.
Mumbai
Mumbai's backpacker hostels are concentrated in Colaba, near the Gateway of India, within walking distance of the Fort district's Victorian buildings and the Colaba Causeway market. Dorm beds run from about ₹500 to ₹1,200, among the higher prices on this list, in line with Mumbai's cost of living overall. Our Mumbai guide covers the rest of the city and how to move on to Goa.
The big Indian hostel chains
A handful of chains cover most of the destinations above, and it's worth knowing what each one is generally like before you book:
- Zostel is one of the longest-running and widest-spread chains, with hostels and Zostel Homes in dozens of destinations across India and a few in Nepal. Expect a common room, a cafe or bar, and sometimes a pool, as in Pushkar.
- goSTOPS runs about 30 hostels, with a strong presence along the Golden Triangle route (Delhi, Jaipur, Varanasi) and a reputation for a lively, activity-driven atmosphere.
- The Hosteller describes itself as India's largest self-operated hostel chain, with more than 70 properties from the big metros to smaller towns such as Rishikesh, Pushkar and Fort Kochi.
- Moustache (Moustache Escapes) runs a smaller, more polished chain of around 20 hostels, generally with curtained bunks, personal lights and plugs in the dorms, and its own female-only dorms.
Independent hostels fill in the gaps between the chains, especially in Agra, Hampi and Udaipur, and they're worth checking alongside the big names rather than defaulting to whichever chain you already know.
Female-only dorms
Most city hostels from the big chains run at least one female-only dorm alongside the mixed ones, and it's the norm rather than the exception in Delhi, Jaipur, Udaipur, Goa and Rishikesh. It gets patchier in smaller or more remote spots such as Pushkar, Hampi and the Himalayan towns, where a hostel might have only one or two beds set aside, if any. Filter for a female-only dorm directly on a booking site rather than assuming a given hostel has one, and book ahead in peak season, when the smaller female dorms fill first. Our solo trips for women guide has more on choosing where to stay across all the countries we run trips in.
India hostel prices in 2026
| City or region | Typical dorm bed (₹) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | 350 to 900 | Paharganj cheapest, Karol Bagh quieter |
| Agra | 300 to 700 | Almost all in Taj Ganj, near the Taj |
| Jaipur | 350 to 900 | Pink City or Bani Park |
| Udaipur | 300 to 800 | Old town, near Lake Pichola |
| Pushkar | 300 to 700 | Higher during the Camel Fair |
| Varanasi | 300 to 700 | Near Assi Ghat |
| Rishikesh | 250 to 500 | Almost all in Tapovan |
| Goa | 400 to 900 | Higher at Christmas and New Year |
| Hampi | 400 to 900 | Hampi village, Sanapur or Anegondi |
| Kochi (Fort Kochi) | 400 to 900 | Widest choice in Kerala |
| Leh | 550 to 700 | From about ₹200 at budget guesthouses |
| Manali (Old Manali) | 400 to 900 | Spiti mostly homestays, ₹300 to 600 |
| Mumbai | 500 to 1,200 | Mostly around Colaba |
Prices checked September 2026 and will move with the season and each hostel's own pricing. At September 2026 rates, US$1 is about ₹96. Our India cost guide has the rest of a daily budget.
What to check before you book
- Air-con vs fan dorms. Fan-only dorms are cheaper but can be uncomfortably warm on the plains from March to June, and year-round on the coast and in Kerala.
- Curtains and lockers. Most hostels from the big chains provide both. Bring your own small padlock to be sure, especially at independent places.
- Distance from the station or bus stand. A cheap hostel a long auto ride from the station, especially in Delhi, Agra or Mumbai, can cost you more in transport than you saved on the bed.
- Minimum stays and price surges. Expect this around Christmas and New Year in Goa, and during the Pushkar Camel Fair each November. Book ahead or expect to pay more.
- Filtering for a female-only dorm. Availability is good in the bigger cities but patchy in smaller towns, so filter for it directly on a booking site rather than assuming a hostel has one. Our India safety guide and solo trips for women guide have more on staying safe while you're there.
Skip the planning and travel with a group
If you'd rather not book a string of hostels yourself, our small-group trips for solo travellers aged 18 to 40 include your accommodation for every night on the route.
