Travelling is fun, especially when it is with family during summers! The best part of travelling is the whole family is together and there is joy and giggling all around! But, travelling with family is also quite expensive! As the whole family is out with you, the expenses rise automatically. From stay to food and accommodation, everything has to be counted. Every individual expenses count and which mostly results in a big bill!
But, why worry when you are in India! India is blessed with so many beautiful landscapes, beaches, heritage, mountains, may it be covered with snow or greenery! As there is a diversity of languages, religions, etc. similarly, there is a diversity of lands. Once you start knowing and exploring India, there is no coming back! Absolutely beautiful tourist destinations, a religious destination, etc present in India itself are better than many places in abroad; to a benefit are also budget-friendly!
Let us take you on a tour to the Top 20 Budget-friendly Indian locations to travel this summer.
- Manali
May it be a solo tour or a romantic honeymoon, or may it be a family trip, Manali is the best place to travel during summers. A cold tourist place which is not so expensive is the best place to visit during summers.
Hadimba temple, Jogini waterfalls, Hampta pass, Manu temple, Nehru Kund, Arjun gufa, Rahala falls, Manali sanctuary, Rohtang pass, Gauri Shankar temple, Van vihar, etc are the few spots which are very famous among tourists. Other than this, there are a lot more places to visit in Manali. A complete tour of Manali will also be budget-friendly if you want to travel on a low budget. Because tourism in Manali is vast, so the locals consider the fact and provide food and staying services at minimum rates.
2. Kasol
Kasol, a very famous tourist spot in Himachal Pradesh is very popular among the youngsters, because of the trekking and absolutely beautiful sceneries. Kasol, the most stunning place for adventures is located at Parvati valley, on the banks of the Parvati River. It is a village famous for its food, scenery and humanity of locals towards tourists.
Manikaran Sahib, Nature park, Parvati river, Kheerganga peak, Tosh village, Manikaran Hotsprings, Tirthan Valley, Chalal village, Shiv mandir, Malana village, Moon dance café, Buddha place, Naina Bhagwati mandir, etc are the main tourist attraction in Kasol. Great food, great people and great sceneries; what more reasons do we need to visit the place, also budget-friendly!
3. Goa
When we discuss travel during summers, the first place that pops in the head has to be Goa! Mesmerising beaches, historic spots, heritages, food, culture, etc is the reason why people want to visit Goa! This place is famous among youngsters; Goa tourism keeps in mind the budget of everyone. Almost every friend circle has once planned a trip to goa!
Goa offers more than 15 beaches for the tourists to chill, they are – Calangute beach, Baga beach, Anjuna beach, Sinquerim beach, Candolim beach, Palolem beach, Butterfly beach, Vagator beach, Arambol beach, Dona Paula beach, Ashvem beach, Galgibama beach, Benaulim beach, Mabor Beach, Colva beach, Bambolim beach, Chronicle beach, are the beaches. Apart from these, there are a lot of museums, clubs and churches which are the main attractions of the place. One of the main reasons for youngsters to visit Goa is the low cost of alcohols. Thus, it is considered the most famous party place in India.
4. Rishikesh
A beautiful city in the state of Uttarakhand, Rishikesh is very famous in between adventure freaks. The place is located in the Himalayan foothills and on the banks of the river Ganga. These days, there is a trend in between youths to go on an adventure with friends or in a group. So, the first place which they decide is mostly Rishikesh. The city is also famous for its temples and meditation centres and yoga centres. It is a traffic-free, alcohol-free and religious place that fits everyone’s budget.
Rishikesh is known for the Laxman jhula, Ram jhula, Tera Manzil mandir, Shri Bharat mandir, Triveni ghat, The Beatles ashram, Shivpuri, Neelkanth Mahadev temple, Jumpin heights, Parmarth Niketan, Byasi, Muni ki Reti, Kaudiyala, Raghunath temple, Rishikund, Laxman temple, Vashishta cave, Kanjapuri Devi temple, Shivananda Ashram, Omkarananda ashram. The place is also very famous for river rafting.
5. Ooty
Ooty is a resort-like town in the state of Tamil Nadu in southern India. The place was established by the East India Company. It was ruled by the East India Company for a very long time. The place is a hill station located in the Nilgiri hills. Locals also call it the “Queen of Hills.” This place attracts a lot of tourists in summer because of its cold climate and blissful scenery.
The place offers a lot of beautiful attractions to the tourists like Avalanche lake, Ooty lake, Emerald Lake, Ooty botanical gardens, Deer Park, Doddabetta peak, Kalhatty waterfalls, Kamraj Sagar dam, Mudumalai national park, Mukurthi National park, Needle Rock view-point, Ooty rose garden, Ooty toy train, Tribal research centre, Parsons valley reservoir, Pykara waterfalls, Wax world, etc.
Ooty is a wonderful tourist place to visit in the summers as the locals support tourism there, and the place is also very budget-friendly.
6. Varanasi
Varanasi is a very popular Religious and historic place in India. The ancient cultural beliefs are still practised in the place. The place is considered the spiritual capital of India. Varanasi also provides one of the best cuisines in India. The place is located on the banks of the holy river Ganga. Lakhs of people visit Varanasi every year to take the blessing of Lord Shiva in the temple of Kashi Vishwanath. The land of Varanasi is home to more than 2000 temples. As there are so many temples, the tourist usually stays in Dharamshala nearby and also have food. This reduces the expense in the trip which makes Varanasi a budget-friendly tour.
One of the most important reasons of the tourist to visit Varanasi is to take bath in the holy Ganga. Other places to visit include Dasaswamedh ghat, Assi ghat, the Manikarnika ghat, Dhamek Stupa, the Kashi Vishwanath temple, the Ramnagar fort, Darbhanga ghat, etc.
7. Lonavala
Surrounded by green valleys, Lonavala is a hill station in the state of Maharashtra. The place is called the ‘Jewel of Sahyadri’ also ‘the city of caves. The place is a beautiful destination that looks like a wonderland full of valleys, waterfalls, lakes and caves. The place is full of greenery which also attracts lots of nature lovers. This place is also a home of historical sites and religious worship spots. Lonavala is also low in expenses which makes it a favourite spot for tourists throughout the year.
Lonavala has a couple of tourist spots to entertain the tourists like the Tiger’s Leap, Bhaja caves, Karla caves, Bhushi dam, Duke’s nose, Tikona fort, Pawna lake, Lohagad fort, Ryewood Park, Valvan Dam, Rajmachi fort.
8. Nainital
Nainital is a beautiful and pleasant town in the state of Uttarakhand. The town is around the Nainital lake which is a very popular boating site. The place is very famous between the newlyweds and tourists who love cold places. It is also a famous honeymoon destination. Most of the people who visit Nainital come under the middle class which shows the place is pocket friendly.
Nainital has so many pleasant tourist spots like the Nainital lake, Mukteshwar temple, the high altitude zoo, Eco cave gardens, Naina Devi temple, Naina peak, Snow view point, Kilbury bird sanctuary, the ropeway, the Tiffin top, etc.
9. Shimla
The only location which pops into the mind while discussing summer vacations is Shimla. Extremely charming and delightful place amidst mountains covered with snow, Shimla is the favourite honeymoon spot in India! Victorian architecture is also very popular here. The cold and pleasant atmosphere makes Shimla a very good tourist place to visit in the summers. The expenses in Shimla stay within the budget if the trip is planned accordingly. We find lots of budget-friendly hotels within Shimla with good food.
The tourist spots which top the list in Shimla are the Mall road, Annandale ground, Green valley, Kali Bari temple, Jakhoo hill, Kufri, the Ridge, the Himachal State Museum, Chadwick falls, the wax museum, etc.
10. Hampi
An ancient village in south India in the state of Karnataka, Hampi is very historic and beautiful. The ruins of the ancient Indian empire of Vijayanagar are still maintained there by the locals and the government. There are a lot of ancient Hindu temples still present which attract lakhs of tourists every year. The locals run the tourism in Hampi by running restaurants and selling handcrafted things. This makes shopping and food cheaper in Hampi which is budget effective.
Hampi has many ancient sites like Virupaksha Temple, Vijaya Vittala temple, Lotus Mahal, Hanuman temple, Hippie island, etc. Also, there are more places to visit like Coracle ride, Hampi Bazaar, Matanga hill, etc.
11. Amritsar
The city holding the religious importance of the Sikh religion, the city having the Golden Temple in the state of Punjab in Amritsar. The city is very historic and also the second-largest city in Punjab. Amritsar offers a huge amount of fusion street foods and also has a rich variety of traditional Punjabi cuisines. The place is very famous in between food bloggers for the same reason. Amritsar is also very budget-friendly as the place is located around big cities which makes travelling affordable and also the food is very affordable.
Apart from the very famous Golden temple, the city has a lot more to offer to the tourists like the Wagah border, Jallianwala bagh, Guru Ke Mahal, Hall Bazar, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum, Partition Museum, Khair-ud-din masjid, Akal Takht, Gobindgarh fort, Harike Wetland, Tarn Taran Sahib, Shri Ram Tirth temple, Pul Kanjara, Bathinda fort, ISKCON temple, Sun city, etc.
12. Darjeeling
Darjeeling is a very famous city in the state of West Bengal in the foothills of the Himalayas. The cold weather and magnificent scenery of mountains make it a famous tourist spot in India during summers. Tourists are also attracted to the toy train which runs there. Darjeeling is also very famous for the tea plantations. The Darjeeling tea is world famous because of its distinct aroma.
The top places in Darjeeling where tourists attract more are the Kanchenjunga Mountain, Tiger hill, Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Japanese Peace Pagoda, Tinchuley village, Batasia Loop, Toy Train, Lamahatta, Mahakal temple, Rangit Valley ropeway, Ghum Monastery, Observatory hill and many more!
13. Udaipur
Udaipur, the former capital of the Mewar Kingdom, is located in Rajasthan state in India. The royalty and richness of the Rajputana dynasty is seen even today in Udaipur. The locals sell handmade pieces of decorations which show the royal Marwari culture. The city was established by Maharana Uday Singh which gave the city its name as Udaipur. Now, many forts and palaces are converted into museums and also luxurious 7-star hotels. Many tourists during summer specially visit Udaipur to witness and experience the royal life that was once the Maharana of Rajasthan had lived. There are a lot of ancient lakes in Udaipur which also attract a lot of tourists. The tour of Udaipur can be extremely expensive as well as in budget if planned accordingly.
There are a lot of places in Udaipur where tourists get attracted are Udaipur City Palace, Lake Palace, Jagmandir, Jagdish temple, Saheliyon ki Bari, Sajjangarh Palace, Fateh Sagar Lake, Lake Pichola, Udai Sagar Lake, Jaisamand Lake, Rajsamand Lake, Jiyan Sagar, Doodh Talai, Maharana Pratap Memorial, Vintage car museum, etc.
14. Kodaikanal
Kodaikanal is a town in the hills in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. The place is located around a man-made lake which is named Kodaikanal Lake. The town is surrounded by evergreen forest which makes it an appropriate location for vacation during summers. It is a very famous hill station in the state of Tamil Nadu. The place is also called ‘Princess of Hills’. It has a very cool and pleasant climate throughout the year.
The Kodaikanal leaves travellers spoilt for choice while it comes to the tourist places to visit. The list starts from Green Valley View, the Kodaikanal Lake, Bear Shola Falls, Pillar rocks, Thalaiyar Falls, Coaker’s walk, Berijam Lake, Dolphins Nose, Bryant Park, Silver Cascade Falls, Kurinji Andavar Temple, Pear Orchard Camping, Subramanya temple, Moir Point.
15. Kanyakumari
Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of India is a coastal town. The town is very popular for its sunset and sunrise over the water. Kanyakumari is the meeting point of the three water bodies – The Bay of Bengal, The Arabian Sea and the Indian ocean. The place fits in the budget if planned accordingly. The local markets sell things at local prices. So we get an idea that the place is not so expensive.
The main tourist attractions in Kanyakumari are the Vivekananda rock memorial, Thiruvalluvar statue, Sunset viewpoint, Padmanabhapuram Palace, Kanyakumari beach, Bhagavathy Amman temple, Mathur Aqueduct, Vattakotai fort, the wax museum, and the list continues.
16. Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer is the city in the heart of the Thar desert. The city is known as the ‘Golden City’ because of the yellow sandstone architecture which is constructed throughout the city. The Jaisalmer Fort is also very famous because of its very massive walls touching the skyline. The city is very near to the Pakistan border. The rich and precious Rajasthani heritage is still maintained and can be still seen in many places within the city. The place is not very costly and can be selected as a good option for summer trips.
Including the rich cultural heritage which is quite popular, there are many more places in Jaisalmer that attract tourists are the Jaisalmer fort, Bada Bagh, Patwon ki Haveli, Sam sand dunes, The Thar Heritage Museum, Gadisar lake, Jain temples, Salim Singh ki Haveli, Kuldhara, and many more.
17. Wayanad
Wayanad is a district which is a lush, forested region in the southern state of Kerala. The place is a home to a number of animals like tigers, leopards, Asiatic elephants, etc. Wayand is famous for its trekking suitable locations, bird watching sites, greenery, mesmerising waterfalls, caves, etc. the place is very famous among tourists during summers as the place is no so expensive and because of the natures touch.
Wayand offers so many site seeing like Edakkal caves, Chembra peak, Thirunelli Temple, Lakkidi view point, Soochippara falls, Banasura hills, Kuruvadweep, Meenmutty falls, Wayanad wildlife sanctuary, Pookot lake, etc.
18. Munnar
A hill station in the southern state of Kerala, Munnar is situated in the western ghats mountain range. Munnar is surrounded by tea plantations all around. The place attracts a lot of tourists every year because of its exotic varieties of flora and fauna, mountains and valleys and most important the climate. The climate here is mostly pleasant throughout the year. The rocky terrains have made it a very famous spot for trekking in Kerala. The place fits in budget if planned properly.
There are a lot of sites to visit in Munnar like Tea gardens, Top station, Rajamalai National park, Kalari Kshethra, Anamudi peak, Mattupetty dam, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Thoovanam falls, Kundala dam lake, Rose gardens, etc.
- Meghalaya
Meghalaya is a beautiful and blissful state in the northeast of India. Meghalaya is one of the Seven Sister states. The land here is occupied with mountains, valleys, plateaus, and many rivers. The state usually experiences low temperature making it one of the most loved places to visit during summers. The place is not so developed making it budget friendly to travel.
The list for tourists to visit the place and enjoy a good time will not end once started. Places like Cherrapunji, Balpakram national park, Shillong, Elephant falls, Living root bridge, Mawlynnong village, Nohkalikai falls, Tura, Kyliang rock, Umiam lake are just a few places mentioned from the vast list.
- Daman
How can someone forget a coastal region which is also a party place due to its very affordable alcohol rates. Daman is a coastal region in the west of India in the state of Gujrat. The beaches in Daman are considered the cleanest beaches. Its mud coloured blackish water makes it different from other beaches in the world.
There are many places to enjoy Daman’s pleasant and active life like, Jampore beach, Lighthouse, Devka beach, Moti daman fort, Mirasol lake garden, Dominican Monastery, and many more.