In today’s India where everyone is so infused in their busy lives, perhaps getting an escape from work for a few days isn’t such a bad idea. But with the increasing traveling expenses, you might be forced to spend a lot more than you want to. Likewise, not everyone earns enough to venture on those long journeys by paying high expenses and if you’re a student thinking of going on a short trip with your friends, well, you are more likely to look for budget travel options. So as an Indian traveler, which are the places you can visit when you yearn for a vacation without spending too much? Now that’s some question to answer, right? But don’t worry, relax and lose yourself on your couch as we list below the top five places in India where you can go and have a merry time without losing too many bucks from your pocket.
MCLEOD GANJ – THE LITTLE LHASA OF INDIA
Popularly known as the Little Lhasa or Dhasa of India, McLeod Ganj is a superb suburb of Dharamshala in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, India. A hill station filled with breathtaking views and green mountains, McLeod Ganj is at a distance of 448 kilometers from Delhi. With a pleasant weather during summers and some serious cold breezes blowing during winters, this piece of land a perfect place for your holiday vacation anytime during the year. With a majority of the population being of Tibetan people, McLeod Ganj offers a particularly unique experience for the voyagers. So what are you pondering your mind upon? How much are the living expenses there? Well, the cost of traveling in and to McLeod Ganj is way cheaper than you think. For the food, you will not have to spend more than 100-800 bucks for a full-fledged meal. There are numerous restaurants or joints where the food is very cheap (approx. 500/- bucks max. for a full meal for 4).
PLACES TO SEE:-
- Bhagsu Falls
- Triund Hill
- Dal Lake
- Dharamshala
- Tibetan Museum
- Kalachakra Temple
HOTELS AT LOW COST:-
For anyone concerned about the budget, choosing a hotel is a headache, but not if you’re visiting to McLeod Ganj since there are numerous budget hotels which offer fairly decent service. You can even opt for OYO rooms.
TRAVEL AND COST:-
You can easily reach McLeod Ganj by bus or renting a car, with both options bearing low costs. What makes renting a car, perhaps even a self-drive car, feasible is the transportation problem in this small hill station. Now if you’re wondering about traveling by public transport there, may be you’re heading in a wrong direction. Self-drive cars are the best options of wandering around McLeod Ganj. So you book your self-drive vehicle from Delhi at a cheap price and drive it all the way to McLeod Ganj.
JAISALMER – THE GOLDEN TOWN
Located 575 kilometers to the west of the state capital Jaipur, standing on a ridge of yellowish sandstone, and crowned by the ancient Jaisalmer Fort, Jaisalmer deserves a place in every traveler’s list. For the ones worried about the budget, the place embraces the guests with the taste of royalty at reasonably cheap prices. So you get to experience this precious gem of Rajasthan (as we call it) at low costs. For the foodies around, the city offers food at prices being as low as 100-600/-. With a unique food and cultural experience waiting for you, why not head to this beautiful piece of land for your end of the week escape?
PLACES TO SEE:-
- Jaisalmer Fort or Sonar Quila Jaisalmer
- Government Museum
- Nathmal Ji ki Haveli
- Mandir Palace
- Jain temples of Jaisalmer
- Gadisar Lake and much more.
HOTELS AT LOW COST:-
The hotel rooms in Jaisalmer are available at much reasonable prices (approx. 1000/-).
TRAVEL AND COST:-
Reaching to Jaisalmer is easy as you can reach there by bus, train or car. The best way is perhaps by renting a car or catching a train which is going to cost not more than 500/-.
KASOL – MINI ISRAEL OF INDIA
Situated in Parvati Valley, on the banks of the Parvati River, on the way between Bhuntar and Manikaran, Kasol is the Himalayan hotspot for backpackers and goes about as a base for close-by treks to Malana and Kheerganga. It is termed as the Mini Israel of India due to a high level of Israeli vacationers here. As far as the expenses are concerned, Kasol definitely comes in top three in terms of budget travel places. You can find food (basically street food) easily at not more than 100-200/- per meal. Likewise, this picturesque village has quite a number of attractions for the voyagers.
PLACES TO SEE:-
- Sar Pass
- Yanker Pass
- Pin Parbati Pass
- Kheerganga
- Malana
- Tosh
HOTELS AT LOW COST:-
Staying in Kasol is very cheap for anyone traveling to this village. Rooms are easily available at a low or medium depending on the quality of service.
TRAVEL AND COST:-
This is where perhaps the problem arises when you think of heading to Kasol since there are no direct buses to this region and you will have to de-board at Bhuntar. The charge from Kashmiri Gate to Bhuntar in a Non AC Himachal Roadways will cost you 500 INR from one side. At that point from Bhuntar, you can take a neighborhood transport which will give you an unpleasant ride to Kasol yet it will simply cost you INR 50. Preferably, you can hire a car for your journey in order to have a more convenient travel.
So what are you waiting for? If you’re a traveler on budget looking for an escape from the hectic working life, stop stressing over the budget and try heading to these places in India to enjoy the unique kind of life offered to you.
