Top 10 backpacker hostels in South India

If you’re planning a trip to South India and want to keep costs low then there are some great hostels in Goa, Karnataka and Kerala. We have written a list of the top 10 backpacker hostels in South India to help you organise your trip.

Enchantingly colourful India – Credit: i-to-i Meaningful Travel

Wanderers, Morjim Goa

Cheap, airy, and comfortable, their selling point is their outrageously amazing location. Just a five-minute walk from the pristine secluded Olive Ridley Turtle Beach and hemmed in by lush green paddy fields and swaying palms, it’s a far cry from the over-crowded beaches of Baga and Vagator that most tourists flock to.

Instead of staying in your average dorm you also have the option of staying in a tent – Credit: Wanderers

Jungle, Vagator Goa

Wake up with Yoga and go to bed on a tummyfull of delicious BBQ. The lovely open rooms are made even bigger by their wide open windows that almost let in the view. Simple and clean, the basic furniture and the clean lines of the wall art bring the jungle that cocoons these cottages to life.

Happy Camper, Kochi

Bright yellow walls, white cast-iron chairs, gently rounded fonts—it’s as boutique as boutique gets. Veg out in the rope swings or the neatly manicured lawn. If you have any questions, feel free to strike up a conversation with one of the staff to squeeze every drop out of this beautiful city. One of most social hostels in Cochin is also extremely well-run and one of the best backpacker hostels in South India

How could you not feel happy with such a colourful open space to chill in? – Credit: Booking.com

Old Quarter, Goa

This hostel is the reason you shouldn’t just skim the beaches of Goa but actually take some time to soak up the history of its capital City, Panjim. True to the local culture, this hostel revels in whitewashes and exquisite tilework and reinvents the Portuguese colony.

Right in the centre of Panjim – Credit: Booking.com

Zostel, Mysore

A gem in the crown of the City of Palaces, this Zostel is everything Mysore celebrates. A sprawling two story bungalow with endless lawns, ornate balconies, bright curtains and unnecessary elephant statues. Go here if you have a taste for living like a king.

Zostel is a reliable company that owns hostels all around India – Credit: Zostel Mysore

Manjula’s, Mysore

Come here not to find a bed, but a whole city. Hop onto one of their deep-diving cycle tours or get from one local monument to the other hassle free with their Fare’s Fair programme that ensures you can get across the city without getting ripped off.

Fun and friendly hosts that can give you advice on where to go – Credit: Trip Advisor

Electric Cats B&B, Bangalore

Every bit as funky as its name, the Electric Cat’s B&B embodies the fun, young, up-and-coming vibe of the city. The Dreamcatcher Café and Bistro downstairs is a great way to meet other travellers to pound the streets with.

Electric Cats has a funky and electric vibe – Credit: Electric cats

Maritime, Kochi

Quirkily colour-coded just like the rest of The Hostel Crowd’s properties, Maritime is festooned in the nautical shades of blue, white and red. Stop here for attentive support on booking a houseboat or catching a Kathakali performance in the city.

Quirky and nautical themed – Credit: Trip Advisor

The Goan Corner, Hampi

A whole new take on the bare minimum a hostel can provide, the Goan Corner gives you a matress on the terrace with nothing over your head but a mosquito net and the stars. That said, it’s a quality hotel with a great restaurant and a menagerie of incredibly friendly pets.

Close to the gran Hampi ruins – Credit: Trip Advisor

Summer, Goa

A quick walk from the shops, the fields and most importantly, the beach. Summer is beautiful and simple, everything you need to survive as you tan yourself all the way to the hospital. Most importantly, since it’s run by The Hostel Crowd, you can catch a free shuttle bus in from one of their North Goa hostels.

A beautiful and simple building – Credit: Booking.com