Ten Destinations in India for Backpackers

chillibreeze writer — Barnita Biswas

Need an editable PowerPoint map of India

India oozes with history and legends. She is vast, her landscape is diverse, and her nature, wildlife and flora change from district to district. Even the people are just as varied, their religions, languages, dialects, diets, clothing, and lifestyles can be incredibly diverse. With the range of options India offers, deciding where to head can be quite a chore for any traveler. Here's a list of places I have backpacked to and survived in, with a daily budget averaging INR 500 and never exceeding INR 1000.

1. The Seaside State of Goa
Every tourist lands up in Goa for the state's white-sanded beaches lined with palm trees. Goa is dotted with forts, medieval churches and ancient temples. There are enough sights and sounds to keep tourists busy for weeks, if not months. If you're the kind that enjoys electronic music and all night parties, head for Vagator, Arambol or Anjuna Beach or chill out at Chapora. For peace and quiet, head towards Agonda, Morjem or Patnem. Baga and Calngute are among the most commercialized beaches with water sports, sun lounges, restaurants and drinking joints. History and culture buffs can enjoy Panaji, check out the Portuguese quarter with its typical architecture, skip over to the Bom Jesus Basilica, take a peek at St. Xavier's 400+ years old remains and enjoy the romantic history of Dona Paula. Remember, Goa is THE most popular destination among foreign tourists and it can get really crowded (and expensive) during the peak seasons.

2. The Temple Town of Gokarna, Karnataka
Gokarna is a tiny sea-side temple town surrounded by paddy fields. Gokarna's USP is its natural coves with pristine white beaches carved into ancient basalt cliffs. The town is a paradoxical spot where ancient temples and age-old rituals merge with sunbathing holidayers as naturally as vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. Once you’ve visited the temples and familiarized yourself with the ashrams in town, take a tempo or a mini-bus down to Ohm Beach and camp out at a sea-facing shack there. Hike over the few rolling, rocky hills that line the coast to the beautiful, pristine Kudla beach (northwards) or head south towards tiny Half Moon beach, treacherous Paradise, Barqa or Sagar beaches.

If walking isn't your scene, haggle with the locals and take a boat over for a couple of hundred bucks. Keep an eye out for dolphins. Be forewarned though, most of the shacks on these beaches have only the most basic requirements; hammocks, swings, music players, clay and grass huts with shared bath rooms and toilets. Many even lack centralized electricity. Surprisingly, the low cost resorts here have excellent restaurants that offer the freshest seafood imaginable in local, continental, Middle Eastern and Oriental styles. Gokarna is a great base to explore the surrounding areas including Jog Falls, the Yana rock formations and the small towns around.

3. The Ruins of Hampi, Karnataka
A mere four hours from Gokarna, on the banks of River Tungabhadra, lay the remnants of the capital city of the ancient Vijayanagara Empire. Hampi is a deemed UNESCO heritage site that is also lovingly called ‘Bedrock’, thanks to a profusion of large and weirdly arranged boulders. Apart from the monolithic carved temples and palaces, the site is also famous for the bouldering opportunities it offers. Most visitors end up staying at Hampi for weeks as the ruins and rock formations are spread across a vast area and can take days to stroll through. Tourists from all walks of life visit Hampi - Indian pilgrims, backpackers as well as luxury travelers can find a range of hotels and inns that suit their budgets. The low cost guest-houses and shacks at Hampi village and across the river at Virupapur Gadde are most popular among backpackers.

4. Historical Mysore, Karnataka
Mysore offers the Western traveler a glimpse of South India's rich history, architecture and varied art forms. It is also home to dozens of parks, lakes, temples, museums and palaces like Ambavilas Palace or the Mysore Palace, Jaganmohana Palace, Jayalakshmi Vilas and Lalitha Mahal. Mysore is a great base to visit Chamunda Hills, BR Hills, as well as the historical towns of Somanathapura, Talakad and Srirangapatna. Other attractions in the region include wildlife sanctuaries, Bandipur and Nagarhole. Bird sanctuaries like Ranganathittu and Kokrebellur are also nearby. Mysore has ample hostels, hotels, low-cost apartments and places for rent that will enable you spend a month or two exploring neighboring temple towns, waterfalls and other places of interest while you study Carnatic music, Yoga or Ayurveda.

5. God's Own Wayanad, Kerala
This district in Kerala, the southernmost state of India is full of paddy fields, tea-gardens and coffee estates. Wayanad district is sprawled on the Southern half of the Deccan Plateau and spans over rugged terrain with ridges cloaked in lush, tropical jungles that are home to several endemic species of flora and fauna. It is home to the world's largest population of wild elephants and its two wildlife reserves, Muthanga and Tholpetty are popular destinations for wildlife enthusiasts. History lovers can leisurely explore the district's ancient Vaishnavite and Jain temples, Tipu Sultan's forts and the famed Edakkal Caves with their prehistoric paintings that date back to 6000 BC. Check into a home stay, lodge or a low budget hotel and take your time to discover the secrets of this area.

6. The Centre of the World, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Perched on the banks of the sacred River Ganga, Varanasi is a deeply spiritual place and one of the holiest pilgrimage spots for Hindus, Jains and Buddhists. It is said that people who die in Varanasi are freed from the cycle of life, while a mere dip in the (considerably filthy) Ganges, washes ones sins away. Many visit Varanasi for its temples or to learn Sanskrit, study the Vedas and Yoga from its universities, but the majority visit Varanasi, to gain salvation, atone for sins and pray. People watchers can immerse themselves for hours, simply watching the tide of life ebb through this place. Varanasi is a great a base to check out the historic towns of Sarnath, Vrindavan, Ayodhya and Mathura.

7. The Oasis Town of Pushkar, Rajasthan
Romantic Rajasthan is the personification of the Old India cliché with its history of warring clans, legends of brave princes, Maharajas with opulent palaces, intricately carved temples and gorgeous haveli. Apart from Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and the other main tourist attractions, Rajasthan has plenty of small towns that can entirely enchant you, like Pushkar, an ancient oasis town on the shores of Lake Pushkar in Ajmer district. The town is best known for its dozens of intricately carved temples and the annual Pushkar Camel fair held there every November-December. Like all Rajasthani towns, Pushkar also has a local fort and palace; Man Mahal and Pushkar Palace. Camel caravans, safaris and races are exotic experiences no tourist should miss out on.

8. The Mountain Trails of Leh – Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir
Leh is famous among backpackers for scenic treks through high mountain passes, flower filled valleys, high altitude lakes, Buddhist monasteries, palaces, forts, quaint villages, friendly, indigenous people and colorful marketplaces. Trek from village to village and spend your trip in placid isolation. Mingle with the locals and discover their unique ways. This is one of the few places in the world where you can experience a yak safari, taste an authentic thukpa and buy some yak wool knitwear.

9. The Himalayas, Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh is filled with wonderful destinations for adventurous backpackers. Kullu District is famous for its tiny, wooden villages set amid apple orchards, perched on steep hillsides. You can get lost in this district, travelling from one village to another. Stop by honeymooner's paradise Manali and enjoy the narrow, colorful lanes of Kullu, a bustling market town where villagers' bring their produce from all over the district. Rest a while and enjoy the idyllic, riverside town Kasol then head for the hot water springs in Manikaran, a pilgrim's town. Use Kasol as a base to hike up to isolated villages like Rasol and Tosh. Don't forget to stock up on the bright woolen knitwear the local women make.

10. Meditation City, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
Affectionately titled Yoga Capital, Rishikesh is a peaceful haven for pilgrims and yoga buffs but most Westerners know it as the place where The Beatles composed the White Album. The town is located at the foothills of the Himalayas, on the banks of River Ganga and pilgrims flock to it all year around to meditate and pray. In recent years, Rishikesh has become popular with adventure sport lovers for white water rafting, paragliding facilities, trekking trails and camping grounds. Unlike Varanasi, Haridwar and other towns on its banks, the Ganga is beautiful here, clear and blue, so if you must wash your sins off in the sacred river, this is the place to do it. If you’re staying in town, take the time to stroll upriver from Laxman Jhula, to discover white sanded beaches and find unspoiled meditation spots. Be warned, alcohol and non-vegetarianism is banned in this holy town but the multitude of low cost vegetarian food outlets dish up some amazing local and international fare.

Enjoy India.

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—About our writer:

Barnita Biswas is a Mumbai-Bangalore based freelance writer, editor, researcher and new media specialist with nearly eight years of experience juggling words. In between travels and photography sessions, Barnita writes online and creative content, magazine articles, reviews, business content, ad copy, promotional content and other word formations. Her favorite topics include open source technologies, new media, the environment, literature, folk tales, story-telling, theater, travel, photography, organic gardening, animal welfare, current affairs and other important subjects.

Ten Destinations in India for Backpackers

chillibreeze writer — Barnita Biswas

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