Are you afraid to get away from the boring routine at home and trek to a beautiful valley in the heart of the Himalayas? Or, do you need some vitamin ‘sea’ to sail through the manic work week ahead? You do not have to plan much in advance or spend a lot of money to gift yourself and your family a quick break to reboot. There are many easy-to-access, cheap places to visit in India that offer as memorable a trip as an exotic destination.
There are plenty of cheap places to visit in India when you are low on budget and are looking for cheap stays and accommodation options. Here’s our list of 10 budget-friendly destinations to take off without worrying about your bank balance.
1. Kasol, Himachal Pradesh
A wonder to behold, with air which not only mystifies your sense but makes you live in the impulses of life, Kasol is a village mothered by the Parvati valley. This Himachal’s popular destination is best known for its thrilling treks, flavorsome food, roaring river, and heartfelt humanity. Kasol has a flea market that sells a variety of items, so you can pick up trinkets, souvenirs, pendants, and even semi-precious stones to take back home for family and friends.
- Best time to visit — October to June
- Ideal duration — 12 hours
- Average cost (stay and food) — Rs 1000/day approx.
2. Mcloedganj, Himachal Pradesh- Land of the Dalai lama
Mcleodganj is a hill station near Dharamshala, popular among trekkers. When it comes to tourism in Himachal Pradesh, Mcleodganj is the most popular place among trekkers. With so many attractive tourist places in Mcleodganj, it is also popular for being the home to the famous Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama. This hill station near Dharamshala is quite popular around the world for being home to the famous Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama. Its culture is a beautiful combination of Tibetan with some British influence.
Mcleodganj is known for its monasteries, museums, temples, waterfalls, lakes, and Tibetan settlements. Mcleodganj sightseeing tours include Namgyal Monastery, Tsuglagkhang (the residence of Dalai Lama), Bhagsu Falls & Bhagsunath Temple, and Tibetan Museum.
- Best time to visit — March to June
- Ideal duration — 10 hours by road
- Average cost (stay and food) — Rs 1200/day approx.
3. Udaipur, Rajasthan- The city of lakes
Udaipur, the exquisite capital of Mewar, Rajasthan, is a royal tourist destination for travelers who love history, culture and architecture. It is quite a renowned destination owing to its massive palaces, ancient forts, beautiful lakes, lush green gardens, age-old temples, romantic backdrops and so much more.
To protect Udaipur from external attacks, Maharana Udai Singh built a six kilometer long city wall, with seven gates, namely Suraj pole, Chand pole, Udiapole, Hathi pole, Amba pole, Brahmpole and so on. The area within these walls and gates is still known as the old city or the walled city. The Lake City of Rajasthan, Udaipur, has been ranked as the cleanest city in the state with a population of less than 10 lakh under the Swachh Survekshan 2020.
- Best time to visit — November to February
- Ideal duration — 11.5 hours by road
- Average cost (stay and food) — Rs 1500/day approx.
4. Amritsar, Punjab- Home to golden temple
Amritsar is the largest and most important city in Punjab and is a major commercial, cultural, and transportation centre. It is also the centre of Sikhism and the site of the Sikhs’ principal place of worship — the Harmandir Sahib, or Golden Temple.
It is the preeminent spiritual site of Sikhism. The gurdwara is built around a man-made pool that was completed by the fourth Sikh Guru, Guru Ram Das in 1577. Guru Arjan, the fifth Guru of Sikhism, requested Sai Mir Mian Mohammed, a Muslim Pir of Lahore, to lay its foundation stone in 1589.
- Best time to visit — October to March
- Ideal duration — 7 hours by Train
- Average cost (stay and food) — Rs 1400/day approx.
5. Agra, Uttar Pradesh- the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan
Agra is a historical city that is 231 km away from Delhi. This is another cheapest place to travel to in India. If you have a keen interest in Indian history then this place won’t disappoint you.
The Agra Fort, which was once the lavish residence of the Mughal Emperors of India, showcases immaculate architectural grandeur. Walk through this historic fort and explore its impressive buildings and structures, including the Moti Masjid, Musamman Burj, Diwan-i-Khas, Shahjahani Mahal, and Jahangir Mahal.
The most famous food of Agra, Petha is a delicacy whose amazing taste will stay with your forever. Made from white pumpkin, this century old sweet can be very soft and syrupy or hard and chewy but it is always sweet with a delicate floral taste.
- Best time to visit — November to February
- Ideal duration — 5 hours by Road
- Average cost (stay and food) — Rs 2000/day approx.
6. Jaipur, Rajasthan- the pink city
The city of Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan and is known for its various attractions like Amer Fort, Hawa Mahal, Jala Mahal, Jantar Mantar, etc. It is popular by the name Pink City and is the largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is also believed to be one of the initially planned cities of the nation.
Jaipur, popularly known as the Pink City of India, is the largest city in the state of Rajasthan. It is also the capital of Rajasthan. Known for Hawa Mahal, Jal Mahal, Amer Fort, Jantar Mantar and several other places to visit, Jaipur has numerous stories to tell.
Jaipur is famous for jewelry, textile, gemstones, lac bangles, and many other handicrafts. Hawa Mahal, City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Albert Hall Museum, Birla Mandir, Galtaji Mandir, Gaitore, Nahargarh Fort, Amer Fort, Jal Mahal, Abhaneri are few places that you shouldn’t miss to visit when in Jaipur.
- Best time to visit — November to January
- Ideal duration — 4.5 hours by Road
- Average cost (stay and food) — Rs 1200/day approx.
So, which place you would like to visit first? Comment below and let me know if you have any queries or if you would like to add any other place to this list of ‘cheapest tourist places in India’.
Happy Traveling…
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