Quick verdict: India is the world’s cheapest major backpacking country — $20/day possible. Most-rewarding + transformative + intense.
6 best backpacking spots in India
Delhi (Paharganj)
Backpacker hub
$5-25/night. Backpacker district adjacent to New Delhi station. Most arrivals start here.
Rishikesh
Spiritual budget
$5-20/night ashrams. Yoga capital. Ganges-side meditation. Sometimes free if doing yoga TT course.
Jaisalmer (Golden City)
Desert backpack
$8-25/night. Golden Fort + camel safari into Thar Desert. Off-beaten Rajasthan.
Hampi (Karnataka)
Ruins backpack
$8-25/night. Vijayanagara Empire ruins + boulder landscape. Quieter than Rajasthan tourist routes.
Goa (Anjuna + Vagator)
Beach backpack
$8-25/night. North Goa hippie scene + beach hostels + Western comforts.
Varanasi
Spiritual backpack
$5-25/night. Ganges ghats + cremation ghats + sunrise boat ride. Most intense Indian experience.
Compare India tours and tickets →
Helpful Packzup guides
Frequently asked questions
Best India backpacker route?
Daily India backpacker budget?
India visa for backpackers?
India transport for backpackers?
Best India backpacker hostel?
Updated 2026. Some links on Packzup are affiliate links.
You Might Also Love
Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.