India has a variety of places that are the perfect travel destinations and can be enjoyed by tourists. There’s so much to explore, so many low-cost and cheap places to visit in India itself. Places for when you’re traveling on a budget with friends or family and yet do not want to compromise on the quality of your vacation. So here are the top budget-friendly places in India that you can visit.
Pondicherry
You can never miss Pondicherry in the list of budget tourist destinations in India. A city with cobblestoned French quarters, golden beaches, cosy cafes offering dainty delicacies, temples and Auroville Ashram, Pondicherry is the perfect place to experience French and Indian culture in a single city. If you want to travel cheap and still enjoy every bit of the place, Pondicherry is the best choice!
· Average cost: Stay + Food = Rs 500-Rs 1000/day approx
· Best time to visit Pondicherry: October-March
· Places to visit in Pondicherry: Auroville, Aravind Ashram, Paradise Beach
· Nearest Railway Station/Airport: Puducherry Railway Junction/ Chennai International Airport
Jaipur
India love visit a different exotic destinations. But multiple travelers wish for a pocket-friendly trip. If you too don’t wish to burn a hole in your pocket Jaipur Sightseeing Tour from Delhi is ideal. From budget-friendly staying options to roadside eateries; Jaipur always serves as a budget-friendly destination for Delhiites. Moreover, the local conveyance is affordable and abundant.
The city offers a huge list of splendors right from the magnificent forts to the colorful markets. Jaipur is one of those places where people can find a lot of things to engage in and that too without burning a hole in their pocket. So, if you are looking for a budget trip from Delhi then consider Jaipur as one of the best spots.
Average cost: Stay + Food = Rs 1800-Rs 2500/day approx
Best time to visit Jaipur: Any Time
Places to visit in Jaipur: Hawa Mahal, Amber Fort, Jaigarh Fort, Jal Mahal, City, Palace, Jantar Mantar, Albert Hall, Patrika Gate
Nearest Railway Station/Airport: Jaipur Junction/ Sanganer Airport
Pushkar
the religious site at the border of the Thar Desert, Pushkar is famous for camel rides, delicious street food, Jagatpita Brahma Mandir among others. Pushkar is one of the cheapest travel destinations in India to visit with family, friends or alone as apart from temples, you can also explore the lakes, 52 ghats, palaces, bazaars or even camp at the desert area.
· Average cost: Stay + Food = Rs 1800-Rs 2500/day approx
· Best time to visit Pushkar: November to March
· Places to visit in Pushkar: Pushkar Lake, Brahma Temple, Man Mahal, Desert camping
· Nearest Railway Station/Airport: Ajmer Junction/ Sanganer Airport
Udaipur
One of the most exotic cities in India, Udaipur also offers good scope for budget travel. While you can explore the opulent City Palace, take a boat ride on Lake Pichola or even check out the vintage car museum, as a budget traveller you can cut down travel costs by booking budget hotels or shared dormitories and relishing amazing street food in Udaipur.
· Average cost: Stay + Food = Rs 700-Rs 1000/day approx
· Best time to visit Udaipur: September-March
· Places to visit in Udaipur: Lake Pichola, City Palace, Fatehpur Sagar, Vintage Car Museum, Eklingji Temple
· Nearest Railway Station/Airport: Udaipur Railway Station/ Maharana Pratap Airport
Gokarna
Another beach paradise in the southern state of Karnataka, Gokarna is a destination that enthralls both luxury and budget travellers. Stroll along the expansive beaches watching sunrise and sunset, relish local delicacies and visit the various temples in Gokarna to enjoy the essence of this place. Don’t forget to add Gokarna while planning your budget trip in India.
· Average cost: Stay + Food = Rs 800-Rs 1500/day approx
· Best time to visit Gokarna: June-August
· Places to visit in Gokarna: Om Beach, Paradise Beach, Mahabaleshwar Temple, Koti Tirtha Temple
· Nearest Railway Station/Airport: Karwar or Murdeshwar Railway Station/ Dabolim Airport
Kanyakumari
One of the best budget-friendly destinations in India, Kanyakumari is a spectacular wonder of breathtakingly beautiful beaches, architectural marvels, aesthetically built temples and other places to explore. Also known as the southern tip of India is also surrounded lush paddy fields, coconut trees, astounding mountains and green valley’s making it a great vacation destination to relax and unwind.
· Average cost: Stay + Food = Rs 1000-Rs 1500/day approx
· Best time to visit Kanyakumari: October-March
· Places to visit in Kanyakumari: Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Kanyakumari Temple, Saint Thiruvalluvar Statue, Our lady of Ransom Church, Wax Museum
· Nearest Railway Station/Airport: Kanyakumari Railway Junction/ Trivandrum Airport
Rishikesh
Located on the lap of the Himalayas, Rishikesh is one of the best destinations for budget travel in India. It is an enchanting place that offers you quite a bit for the cheapest rates, and from temples, cafes to yoga centres Rishikesh transports you to an altogether different world! If you are a daredevil and will to shell out extra money on adventure sports, plan your trip around the time when river rafting, bungee jumping, ziplining etc are allowed for tourists.
· Average cost: Stay + Food = Rs 500-Rs 1000/day approx
· Adventure activities: Rs 400 – Rs 1600 per person approx
· Best time to visit Rishikesh: September-November
· Places to visit in Rishikesh: Laxman Jhula, Triveni Ghat, Beatles Ashram, Vashishtha Gufa
· Nearest Railway Station/Airport: Dehradun Railway Junction/ Jolly Grant Airport
Suggested Tours:
Jaisalmer
The Golden City of Rajasthan is also one of the best budget-friendly travel destinations in India. With colossal forts, opulent havelis, museums showcasing ancient manuscripts and artefacts and innumerable eateries selling authentic Rajasthani delicacies, Jaisalmer is an absolute treat for every traveller who wishes to take time out and tour this place.
· Average cost: Stay + Food = Rs 1000-Rs 1500/day approx
· Best time to visit Jaisalmer: November-March
· Places to visit in Jaisalmer: Jaisalmer Fort, Heritage Museum, Desert National Park, the Gadi Sagar
· Nearest Railway Station/Airport: Jaisalmer Railway Junction/ Jaisalmer Airport
Suggested Tours:
Amritsar
Next on this list is Amritsar, one of the most loved and cheap vacation destinations in India. Whether you are looking for a weekend getaway or an extended holiday, this city will allure you with its charm. It is no surprise that Amritsar is renowned for the Golden Temple and attracting tourists from far and wide. Make sure to try their langar and Karah prasad while paying respect at the Gurudwara. What else? Get drenched in the feeling of patriotism at the Wagah Border evening ceremony (without any entry fees). For your next vacation, plan a trip here and get ready for a memorable time without spending too much.
· Average cost: Stay + Food = Rs 500-Rs 1000/day approx
· Adventure activities: Rs 500 – Rs 2000 per person approx
· Best time to visit Amritsar: March-November
· Places to visit in Amritsar: Golden Temple, Akal Takht, Wagah Border
· Nearest Railway Station/Airport: Amritsar Railway Junction/ Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport
Varanasi
One of the most popular destinations for culture lovers and spiritual souls, Varanasi is actually a cheap destination to travel to. Here, you can take a holy dip in the Ganges, attend the majestic Ganga Aarti at the Dasaswamedh Ghat, seek blessings at the renowned Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple and take a stroll around the Banaras Hindu University. And don’t forget to relish the Banarasi Paan and get your hands on exquisite Banarasi sarees (yes, all of this will not cost you much).
· Average cost: Stay + Food = Rs 500-Rs 1000/day approx
· Best time to visit Varanasi: March-November
· Places to visit in Varanasi: Ganges River, Dasaswamedh Ghat, Assi Ghat
· Nearest Railway Station/Airport: Railway Junction/ Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport