Best backpacker destinations in India
28 curated backpacker destinations across 16 states, each with the months it is worth going and the months it is not.
Best of backpacker India
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Kasol
Himachal Pradesh
Parvati valley's trance-backpacker hub, gateway to treks
Peak: Mar to May and Oct to Nov
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Kodaikanal
Tamil Nadu
Misty Palani lake town loved by trekkers, backpackers
Peak: Apr to May and Sep to Oct
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Anjuna-Vagator
Goa
North Goa's flea-market, trance-party, hostel strip
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep)
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Andaman's backpacker-diving hub with Radhanagar Beach
Peak: Nov to Mar
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Varkala
Kerala
Cliffside beach town with yoga shalas and sunset cafes
Peak: Dec to Feb
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Omkareshwar
Madhya Pradesh
Om-shaped Narmada island with a Jyotirlinga and hostel vibe
Peak: Oct to Feb
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Dawki & Shnongpdeng
Meghalaya
Glass-clear Umngot river: boating, cliff camps, border
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Visakhapatnam (Vizag)
Andhra Pradesh
Port city where the Eastern Ghats meet the Bay of Bengal
Peak: Dec to Feb
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Ziro Valley
Arunachal Pradesh
Apatani tribal valley of paddy fields and music festival
Peak: Mar to May and Oct to Nov
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Gokarna
Karnataka
Temple town turned backpacker beach-hopping strip
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Leh
Ladakh
Ladakh's backpacker capital and high-pass road-trip hub
Peak: Jun to Sep
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Malvan-Tarkarli
Maharashtra
Konkan coast's clearest water for scuba diving
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Pondicherry (incl. Auroville)
Puducherry
French Quarter beach town next to the Auroville commune
Peak: Dec to Feb
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Pushkar
Rajasthan
Holy lake town, Rajasthan's backpacker capital
Peak: Oct to Feb
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Rishikesh
Uttarakhand
Yoga capital and rafting hub on the Ganges
Peak: Feb to Mar and Oct to Nov
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Mandarmani-Tajpur
West Bengal
Bengal's 'drive-on' beach: long flat sand, low-key escape
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Manali
Himachal Pradesh
Himalayan backpacker basecamp for treks and easy adventure
Peak: Apr to May, Oct and Dec
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Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram)
Tamil Nadu
UNESCO shore temples and carvings on a laid-back beach strip
Peak: Dec to Feb
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Arambol & Mandrem
Goa
North Goa's hippie tail end, drum circles and cheap huts
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Long Island
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
No cars, one village, and Lalaji Bay a two-hour walk away
Peak: Dec to Mar
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Munroe Island (Munroe Thuruthu)
Kerala
Canoe canals through eight islets where Kallada meets Ashtamudi
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Orchha
Madhya Pradesh
Riverside Bundela heritage town on the backpacker trail
Peak: Oct to Feb
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Shillong
Meghalaya
Northeast's hill capital: cafes, lakes, live music
Peak: Oct to Feb
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McLeod Ganj
Himachal Pradesh
Dalai Lama's home-in-exile - Tibetan culture hub
Peak: Mar to May and Oct to Nov
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Ooty (Udhagamandalam)
Tamil Nadu
Nilgiris' colonial hill capital, toy train and tea gardens
Peak: Apr to May and Oct
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Palolem-Agonda
Goa
South Goa's mellow beach belt with silent discos
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Tosh
Himachal Pradesh
Last-village hippie hangout above Kasol's Parvati valley
Peak: Mar to May and Oct to Nov
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Tiruvannamalai
Tamil Nadu
Barefoot 14 km girivalam loop around a hill read as a lingam
Peak: Nov to Feb
When to go
January, February and December are the months with the most backpacker places in peak season.
By state
Himachal Pradesh (4)Tamil Nadu (4)Goa (3)Meghalaya (2)Andaman & Nicobar Islands (2)Kerala (2)Madhya Pradesh (2)Karnataka (1)Ladakh (1)Maharashtra (1)
Common questions
How many backpacker destinations are there in India?
This catalogue lists 28 tagged backpacker, across 16 states and union territories. It is a curated list, not an exhaustive one: places earn a spot on the strength of the landscape or the heritage.
When is the best time for a backpacker trip in India?
January, February and December put the most of them in peak season. Each place carries its own window, though, so check the one you are aiming at.
Which states have the most backpacker destinations?
Himachal Pradesh (4), Tamil Nadu (4), Goa (3), Meghalaya (2) and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (2).
Other themes
MountainsBeachHeritageSpiritualWildlifeTrekDesertIslandLakesWaterfallsCityOffbeatPartyCultureSnow