The top 10 hostels in North India
Created by Harsh Sonawala,Last Updated on November 23, 2023
If you are considering backpacking through North India then it is important to find cheap accommodations within a good location. We can offer you advice on the top 10 hostels in North India in cities like Delhi, Jaipur, Amritsar, Udaipur and many more. Some of which have also been reviewed by our clients. Plan your trip with India Someday now and we can book your accommodation in advance as a security blanket so that you don’t have to worry about late bookings and availability.
Backpacker in India (Photo Credit – Ibrahim Rifath)
goStops, new Delhi
Stops hostel offers literally every facility you could ask for and delivers them with professional excellence. Daily tours and activities, crisp linen, free parking, hot showers and free chai are just the tip of the iceberg. The free breakfast is the highlight – fill up on eggs to order, pancakes, fruit, toast and tea and you’ll be ready to attack the day head on!
The hostel is in a great location and is close proximity to many major sites in New Delhi. Nearby are locations such as: National Gandhi Museum, Red Fort, Jama Masjid, and an array of market stalls and restaurants in walking distance. Metro stations are just a short walking distance so it is accessible to travel to other parts of the city that are further away. You will be staying on the edge of New and Old Delhi allowing you to explore the best of both worlds.
The hostel is in a great location and is close proximity to many major sites (Photo Credit – goStops)
gOStops, Varanasi
Another option from a reliable chain of hostels, goStops in Varanasi is among the top 10 hostels in North India. Choose from a range of accommodation starting from a double occupancy ensuite and stretching all the way to tents with shared Douglas Adams – themed toilets. The staff are friendly and, along with the other residents you can socialise in the common room, create a positive environment. It seems to attract all the best people, or maybe it’s just the atmosphere. Either way, you’ll make great friends here.
One of clients decided to reside at goStops in Varanasi and offers a great insight into her stay at the hostel here.
goStops is a reliable chain of hostels found in India (Photo Credit – TripAdvisor)
Moustache, Jaipur
Not just your average clean sheets and complimentary breakfast, the Moustache Hostels pack a wholloping punch of character. Bright colours, mirror-work, embroidered parasols and upcycled furniture make this entire building a photo-op. They’ve inhaled Jaipur and expressed it on their walls.
Jaipur railway station and the bus station are only 1km from the hostel and are both easy to walk to. Whereas the airport will be a 30-40 minute drive, but you can book an Uber for only INR 200 or take a prepaid taxi from the airport for INR 300.
Moustache Hostel is forever ready to host (Photo Credit – Moustache Jaipur)
Bunkyard, Udaipur
This is our first choice for a hostel in Udaipur! Bright green vines cascade down the cool white walls of the stairwell in this amazingly located hostel. Location alone has put this hostel on our list of the top 10 hostels in North India. It is only 22 kms from the airport, 100 kms from Udaipur palace and 50 kms from Jagdish Hotel. Go up to the terrace for barbeque, enjoy the scenery of the lake on the rooftop, or pig out at the on-site restaurant. There are also yoga sessions and social nights for travellers to join onto with an array of other backpackers to meet.
Our first choice for a hostel in Udaipur! (Photo Credit – TripAdvisor)
Madpackers, Delhi
Madpackers is an oasis of calm and love that makes for a perfect homebase when you’re exploring this chaotic city. This is one of the top 10 hostels in North India to meet fellow travellers. Venture out with your new friends and the blessing of the travel crazy folks that run the hostel. Don’t be afraid to ask the front desk anything, they know it all and provide great information.
This hostel is not far from the Lotus Temple. It is also surrounded by a few parks for you to relax and take in all the sights away from the chaos that is Delhi.
This hostel is not far from the Lotus Temple and is surrounded by a few parks for you to relax (Photo Credit – TripAdvisor)
Zostel, Jaisalmer
The best of Rajasthani architecture and craft comes together to furnish this palace with locally sourced and lovingly carved wooden beds and colourful dhurries to keep the dust at bay. The location isn’t as convenient as we’d like but the sheer beauty makes up for it. Both mixed dorms and female-only dorms are on offer with shared washrooms and a locker for each bed. But if you prefer, there is also a choice of private rooms. Though breakfast is not included you can always visit the in-house café to grab a quick meal.
Mixed dorms and female-only dorms are on offer with shared washrooms (Photo Credit – www.booking.com)
Zostel, Pushkar
Another option from the Zostel brand in our list of the top 10 hostels in North India. Bright, clean and cosy, this hostel boasts a gently lit indoor pool and a wonderfully cushion-strewn rooftop restaurant. This is easily one of the more luxurious properties in the hostel category.
You are placed in what is considered the quiet part of Pushkar. However, the bus station is only 1 km away and the Pushkar lake is within walking distance. There are also several temples nearby to explore.
Bright, clean and cosy (Photo Credit – TripAdvisor)
Zostel, Agra
This is one of the top 10 hostels in North India because you are right near the greatest attraction in India. Just around the corner from the Taj Mahal itself, the Agra branch of Zostel is perfect for the budget backpacker who still wants to tick all the typical sites off their list.
Services include security lockers, bicycle parking, and a book exchange, though breakfast is not included.
Plan Your Escape: Best Places to Visit in North India
Near the greatest attraction in India, the Taj Mahal itself (Photo Credit – TripAdvisor)
Shiv Shakti, Rishikesh
Shiv Shakti is a budget hotel with dorms and definitely the best place to stay in Rishikesh. The view from the rooftop stretches across the city all the way to the Ganga. Dinner parties are held every Thursday. There are other activities as well for you to join such as a sunrise trek and evening yoga. Fresh chai is also available at all times of the day. Furthermore, Nitin, the owner, is a wonderful human being who has shown us care and friendship well beyond the line of duty.
Looking for something more Luxurious? Explore Luxury Hotels in India
The view from the rooftop stretches across the city all the way to the Ganga (Photo Credit – Shiv Shakti)
About Harsh Sonawala
Harsh Sonawala is the co founder of India Someday and since his childhood, he has travelled to different parts of India and the world. The thrill of travelling and sharing his experiences with others was the reason behind starting India Someday. Other than the office where he is conjuring up marketing ideas, he can be found scuba diving in the Andamans or relaxing in a chalet in the Himalayas.
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