By sagnika sinha
Budget travel will be trending in 2025 especially because of the riveting experience! They are not just about saving money but also experiencing the best when visiting a new place. I personally feel a little guilty when I return from a trip to realize how lavishly I spent.
Yes, luxury travel is important too, but I feel budget travel is more authentic when it comes to creating meaningful experiences. Whenever I have made a budget travel plan, I feel more flexible to sudden changes. This is possible mostly in solo travel!
Be it an unplanned activity of parasailing while sitting on a beach or a visit to a beautiful Pizzaria on the top of a mountain viewpoint! In this blog, I will share with you five places you must travel solo making it a budget travel.
Budget Travel is more than Saving Money!
I have saved money on accommodation and transportation! This has helped me visit a greater number of places to see, to eat and to immerse myself in the local culture.
Managing my finances has also helped me in extending my trip duration. So, it is not just about saving money but about getting a more detailed, inclusive, longer and local experience. You can visit various travel destinations even where you are budgeting!
Let me share with you some of the best places to budget travel in India and the places to visit there. Yes, I will also share with you the type of accommodation and transportation you should choose to keep it budget-friendly!
1. Gokarna
If you are booking a flight, you need to book a flight to Dabolim International Airport (Goa). It takes 3 hours to reach Gokarna from the airport. You can also go by train from Mumbai, Bangalore, Mangalore and Mudgaon (Goa) to the Gokarna railway station, 10 km away from the city.
I booked the bus from an app called Redbus (check the app to know more), which will drop you at the main bus stand. It might be a little far from the accommodation you have booked. It is better to check the location of your accommodation before you reach the whole way.
I booked a scooty online hence, I got off the bus and then decided to take the scooty and reach my hostel. Accordingly, you can rent it based on the number of days you are staying there. You have to submit a government ID which you will get back when you return the scooty!
Transportation
- Bangalore to Gokarna – take a bus from Anand Rao Circle to the main bus stand at Gokarna
- Rented a scooty – Rs. 400 on weekdays
- Rs. 500 on weekends
Accommodation
- Trippr Hostel– Rs. 660/- per person
- Zostel – Rs. 699/- per person
- GoKo Hostel – Rs. 630/ per person
- BlueFin Beach Stay – Rs. 675/- per person
- Marine – Uana Cafe, Dorm & Lounge – Rs. 769/-
Places to Visit
- Yana Caves – 50 kms from the town – 1 hour and 30 minutes to reach on scooty, you can also hike up – 2 to 3 hours hike
- Vibhuti Falls – 30 minutes from Yana caves – a walk of 10 minutes inside the forest after parking (Rs.10/-)
- Visit Murudeshwar Temple –timings – 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.
- Visit Mirjan Fort – timings – 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Activities
- Worship Bhairaveshwara Shikara and Mohini Sikhara in Yana Caves
- Swim in the pool of water made by the Vibhuti falls
- Sunset at Middle Beach
- Try Shaksuka at one of the cafes around the beach
- Try water activities such as surfing, jet skiing, scuba diving, banana boat rides and others
Recommended time to visit
- The Best time to visit based on weather – October to March
- The Best time to visit to avoid the crowd – April to June (it gets really hot)
- Weekends are really crowded in Murudeshwar Temple
2. Udaipur
Udaipur is a beautiful place, and all your historical buffs will fall in love with this place. If you are traveling solo with a budget, this location is a treasury. Starting from Bagore Ki Haveli to Chittorgarh Fort, there are beautiful rooms, gardens and artifacts on display!
A beautiful place on the Machhala Magar mountaintop, I visited Mansapurna Karni Mata temple. There is also a staircase, and it is a bit tough which takes about 15 minutes so if you have any issues while walking, you need to avoid it. If it is a family travel plan, try and avoid it!
You must try the Udaipur cuisine as there are several local Rajasthani dishes such as Ghewar, Dal Baati Churma, Mawa Kachori, Laal maas, Papad ro saag and others. Please buy indigo prints, bandhej and leheriya, which are quite popular in the place!
Transportation
- You can take the Chetak Express or Mewar Express from Delhi to Mumbai
- You can catch a flight from Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi and Jaipur
- Use shared autos
- Use public buses
Accommodation
- Look for stays in old Udaipur, closer to Lal Ghat, they are quite cheap starting from Rs. 999/- to Rs. 1500/-
Places to Visit
- City Palace – Rs.200/ entry fee – timings – 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Lake Pichola (Gangour Ghat) – no entry fee – sunset is to watch for – you can listen to music by local artisans
- Bagore ki Haveli
- Sajjanghar fort – watch the sunset from the fort, so visit after 4 p.m. – Rs.174/- as entry fee – open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Karni Mata temple – use the ropeway which takes 15 minutes – timings – 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ticket prices – Rs. 87/- for adult and Rs. 43/- for children
- Chittorgarh Fort – entry time – Rs. 10/- – timings – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Activities
- See courtyards, pavilions, museums and gardens of the palace
- Take a boat ride, sunrise and sunset, visit the havelis
- Food tour
- Putli Sansar (Puppet world, a Cultural show) at Bagore
- Sunrises and sunsets
- Shopping camel leather bags and Bandhini dupattas
Recommended time to visit
- Best time to visit is from October to March
- If you want to experience the monsoon, the best time to visit July to September
3. Bir
Himachal Pradesh is one of the leading places in India for you to travel right now! There are several places like Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala and others. Bir Billing is another place in Himachal, which you must visit if you want to paraglide.
You can stay in a camp in Bijnath after you take a bus back from Bir or stay in homestays and hotels; however, they are quite limited. With experienced instructors, favorable weather conditions and advanced equipment, you will be safe while paragliding.
Furthermore, the village is beautiful as you can watch sunrise and sunset from various points at Bir Billing. This can totally be one of the best solo travel destinations!
Transportation
- Online booking A/C and non- A/C buses from apps RedBus and AbhiBus
- Trains from Delhi to Pathankot Cantonment daily
- Flights to Kangra airport is also available
Accommodation
- Camp at Bijnath after trekking on the mountain
- Zostel Plus Bir stay – Rs. 629/-
- Trippy Tribe extended – Rs. 834/- per person
- Bunksters Bir – Rs. 560/-
Places to Visit
- Sherabling Monastery – timing – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – free entry
- Gunehar Waterfall trek – 70 feet high, another waterfall is 30 minutes away
- Paragliding landing site – 4650 feet above sea level – Rs. 3000/- per person – timing – 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- McleodGunj – Namgyal monastery, Tibet Musuem, Dalai Lama temple
- Dharamshala – Church of St. John, Dhaudhar Nature Park
Activities
- Go for waterfall trek, an activity is 7 km which takes about 45 mins
- Trek across waterfalls
- You must catch the sunset at the paragliding site
- Do not miss paragliding as an experience
- All these places are free of cost
- Treks are organized along with several beautiful places
Recommended time to visit
- Best time to visit – March to June
- September to November
- If you are flower lover, you can visit between the month of March to May
4. Rishikesh
Becoming a popular destination for solo travel for women along with budget travel, Rishikesh is a beautiful place. You can go to Zostel Rishikesh or the Hosteller when planning to live on a low budget.
I also went to Triveni Ghat, a very popular, spiritual, and picturesque location where evening Ganga Aarti takes place. You must visit the ghat along with Laxman Jhula, Beatles Ashram, and others if you are spiritually awake.
Rishikesh can be easily one of the places for your adventure travel. Let’s highlight some of the coolest activities and places to visit when in Rishikesh.
Transportation
- Take a taxi to Neer Garh Waterfall from Ram Jhula – Rs. 1000/–
- Rishikesh to Dehradun – 2 hours – Rs. 1500/- to 2500/-
Accommodation
- ArtBuzz Rishikesh – Rs. 663/-
- Julley Commune Rishikesh – Rs. 731/-
- Skyard Rishikesh (closer to Lakshman Jhula) – Rs. 569/-
Places to Visit
- Neer Garh Waterfall – timings – 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. – Entry fee – Rs. 30/- per person
- Ganga Aarti at Parmath Niketan – an ashram, meditation, yoga classes and cultural performances
- Triveni Ghat – 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. – no entry fee
- Dehradun – Tibetan Buddhist temple, clock tower and Mindrolling monastery
Activities
- River rafting
- Waterfall treks
- Bunjee jumping
- When visiting Dehradun, you must go to paragliding, trekking and visit monasteries
- You can also go river rafting and sightseeing
Recommended time to visit
- Best time to visit September to November
- March to May
5. Pondicherry
There are several hostels, dorms and guesthouses which are quite budget friendly starting from Rs. 500/- to Rs. 1000/-. You can use local transportation to travel from various places such as beaches.
Apart from the popular Sri Aurobindo Ashram, where both Indians and foreigners visit, there is also the beautiful French colonial transportation. Try and eat at the local street stalls so you can maintain your budget!
Transportation
- Bus from Chennai to Pondicherry – Rs. 500/-
- Cab ride to Pondicherry from Chennai – Rs. 2672/- to Rs. 3000/-
- Flight to Pondicherry from Mumbai and Delhi is available
Accommodation
- Natura Ashram – Rs. 600/-
- Nomad House – Rs. 600/-
- Micasa Hostels – Rs. 747/-
- Trinite Homes Women’s Hostel – Rs. 900/- approx.
Places to Visit
- White Town – old architectural building, beaches and eateries
- Paradise Beach
- Pondy Marina Beach – entry fee – Rs. 150/-
- Rock Beach – entry is free – timing – 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Activities
- Historical buildings and churches around town
- With glistening waters, mangrove trees have surrounded the paradise beach
- Scuba diving
- Surfing
- Cafe hopping
- Cafe Xtasi
- Umami – Rs. 345/- to 690/-, Satsang – Rs. 1000/-, Cafe A La Villa Creole – Rs. 700/-
Recommended time to visit
- Best time to visit is from October to February (peak season)
- July to September (off season)
Tips to Keep it Under Budget and yet Enjoy!
If you want to have a great experience and yet keep your travels under budget, let me share with you some of the tips. These tips will not only help you to save money but also do a lot more in terms of personal growth.
For example, if you eat the local food at the tourist spots and nearby markets, you can save a lot of money. Additionally, if you look for activities that are completely free of cost and yet fun, you will have an immersive travel experience.
Let us go through some of the key strategies I apply when I am traveling solo to create my budget travel plan!
- Flexibility with dates – I am always flexible with dates especially if it’s just me because I can manage my work accordingly and take leaves!
- Travel search engines – I use Skyscanner, Google Flights and Kayak to compare prices of flights across various websites and apps before I finalize the travel dates or book flights
- Deals and promotions – I have signed up to newsletters of several apps hence, I am updated on any deals, offers and promotions that are offered. If I am planning a budget travel, I keep a tab as well on such developments.
- Book early – Another hack that I try is to book early as often, the prices are lower. If you check dates for flight or accommodations, you will see that the closer you book to the date of your trip, the higher they charge.
- Accommodation – This is not possible if you are traveling with family but solo, you can try booking homestays and hostels. For a bigger group, you can book Airbnb, you will see it costs less as compared to hotels and resorts.
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