A Guide to Budget Traveling in India

In a land as diverse and vast as India, one cannot help but want to see and experience everything. While that may not always be possible, in terms of feasibility or accessibility, there are certainly tips one may take into consideration for their budget on the traveling they are able to do. In India, there are many, many techniques and hacks available for those who want to keep their traveling as budget-friendly as possible; keep reading to find out!

Planning your Destination

When deciding on a destination and subsequent itinerary, it is necessary to ask yourself some important questions. What specific destinations am I wanting to visit? What accommodations suit me and my budget? How far is it from said destination? Where do I find the experiences I want to gain, and what is the most concise method of gaining those experiences? 

These sound basic, but it’s good to articulate everything as you plan. This prevents any hiccups that often occur during the actual traveling. When visiting India, you may be visiting for spiritual reasons, or for heritage, leisure, and a number of other possibilities. For example, Rishikesh and Varanasi are two common sites for spiritual travelers, and these places have many locally owned homestays and inns in close proximity to famous religious sites which can provide you with a convenient place to stay and good quality, authentic food. Beach destinations such as Goa or the Andaman & Nicobar islands have hotels and many accommodations right on the waterfront, making them appealing to anyone that wants to lounge by the seaside. 

Eco-friendly and Wallet-friendly Transport

Similar to the rest of the world, public transport in India is cheaper and more accessible to the average traveler that wants to stay within a particular price range. The metropolitan cities such as Delhi and Chennai are closely interconnected with  dense networks of trains and buses with guides available online that make them easier to navigate. The state of Kerala offers tourist attractions that connected from one end to the other by backwaters, which are accessible by boat. 

Taking Advantage of the Off-Season

The avid traveler knows that the best deals, discounts, and fees are all available when it is not tourist season. Tourist season is different for different states in India given the different geographies, but it is more or less agreed that the winter months from October to March are the time when tourism peaks as that is when the weather is most pleasant. India has fairly scorching summers and intense monsoons, which disrupts most tourism plans but is the perfect opportunity for all-time deals from travel agencies, hotels and attractions (which are sometimes free).

Engaging in Local Culture

In what is probably the most enjoyable part of traveling somewhere, especially to a new place for the first time, lies engaging with the local community through multiple activities; be it haggling in a street market, eating at local restaurants and street food stalls, staying in local accommodations, and learning the languages and activities done for pastime in different communities. These not only help in saving money, but equal to valuable experience and memories that stay with you for a long time. India’s different languages and the sets of culture unique to every region ensure diversity of experience wherever you go.