India is the best country in the world to explore because of its rich culture, natural beauty, diversity, and history. You can find all types of geography in India. So, it stands at the top list of any traveller. It is always the most asked question by every budget solo traveller “How to travel in India for free as a solo traveller”
When a budget traveller starts exploring the nation he gets stuck. Travel expenses will come into the picture as a big nightmare. Don’t worry my friend! It is difficult but not impossible. Here my motto is to help you with ways you can travel for free or at a reduced cost.
so, let us see
How to travel in India for free as a solo Traveller
Volunteer Work
There are many organizations and NGOs which offer free accommodation and meals for volunteer work. It is a great way to meet new people and know the local culture. One added advantage is that you will get good friends with similar vibes. Some volunteering opportunities are working in orphanages/old age homes, assisting local community events, teaching English etc.
Couchsurfing
I am sure that you could have heard about it many times. It is one of the most popular ways to stay for free in India or any other country on a budget. For those who don’t know let me explain it is a hospitality exchange service offered by a website called couch surfing, where similarly interested people who are fond of travelling or people who are ready to host their home to fellow travellers are connected.
You can select the location you want to travel to and get the list of hosts. (Safety tip: do check the reviews and choose more than one location as a backup. Trust your instincts). You can save a lot of money on accommodation. Some hosts even provide home-cooked food also.
Work Exchange
There are several companies, Resorts and organizations which provide free accommodation, and meals in exchange for the work you do, works will be Video editing, Social media managing, Welcoming guest, translating, helping, content making, Teaching, etc. You may need to work several hours and the rest of the time you can explore the city. You can search for work through World Packers or WWOOF
Hitch Hiking
Hitch Hiking has gained much popularity in India after the boom of YouTube. Hitchhiking is travelling without money. You need to stand in the road and ask lift for vehicles to pass by. India is a friendly nation and people do give lifts to strangers. But you may not always be lucky, especially when u travel through rural routes.
It is one of the risky ways to travel, as some days you won’t get even a single meal a day or you may need to wait days to get a lift from one location to other.
There are many brave people like Shubham Kumar (the youngest Indian Hitchhiker), Uma Roy (the first woman hitchhiker from Kerala) etc. who have travelled a lot through hitchhiking. It is essential to take necessary precautions if you decide to hitchhike especially if you are a solo female traveller.
As we have discussed free accommodation and meal options, now let us move on to the next topic
How to reduce travel budget
There are several ways to reduce the cost of travel if you plan properly. Travelling is always an amazing way to explore new landscapes, new peoples, new ways etc. Just because of budget doesn’t stop your dreams. Let me help you with the best ways I know without compromising your adventure experiences.
Plan Ahead
If you properly plan your trip ahead you can save a lot of money on flights bus tickets, accommodation etc. Have a budget in your mind and search for the best deals. You can search for different travel deals online. Choose the one that suits you the best in your budget.
Choose the Right Destination
When you choose your destination, have small research and prepare your bucket list. Based on the cash available prioritize which one to move on first and plan accordingly. Use a location which is easily accessible through public transportation rather than a remote and exotic location which may tear your pocket in a short time.
Always choose Public Transportation
In India or any other location, the best way to reduce transportation costs is to travel using Public Transport. If you want to explore India for free or on a budget use local trains, shared autos or government buses. (E.g., If you are a women traveller, in Tamil Nadu on Whiteboard and pink government buses, you can travel for free).
When you are travelling long distance journeys use the Train rather than private buses. The train cost is so cheap and you can travel comfortably if you book in advance with a reservation. Prefer shared autos than hired auto or taxi. In this way, you can reduce 80% of your transportation cost
Travel during the off-season
When you travel off-season, you get good deals on accommodation, activities, and bus fare. You can also have a great view of locations as it is less crowded. Be at your pace and move around and explore the maximum. Talk to locals and find out the best off-season areas to explore and enjoy your trip
Enjoy free activities/free walking tours
Many volunteers offer free walking tours of their cities in India. Do attend those walks if you come across, them because it is the best way to know about the city, history, and culture.
In cities like Delhi, Jaipur, and Mumbai you can see such walking tours which are conducted by some young enthusiastic people who are just so passionate about explaining their city pride to their fellow travellers. They won’t ask you anything, but people do give some tips as a token of appreciation.
Also, go for activities like hiking, visiting museums, parks, local streets, etc which you can enjoy free of cost. Attend festivals, India is known for its festivals, as we have festivals throughout the year. Every place has its own festivals with different rituals and customs, it’s also a divine and sacred experience.
Cook your own food/ Eat Local street food
Eating food every day can drain your pocket as well it can cause you health issues. So, If you can, if you know it’s better to cook your own food. There are portable stoves and travel cooking sets which are available online and can be used if you are on a long trip. You can cook outdoors or choose accommodation with cooking options/a shared kitchen.
If you don’t know cooking or don’t want to cook, then another best way to reduce food costs is to try street food which is delicious and pocket-friendly. In India, you can find many small dhabas and street food counters everywhere. Restaurant foods are much more costly and can cause you a heavy budget just for the food alone. When you eat street food be careful to choose the food vendor wisely otherwise you may get a food infection.
Stay with Friends or Relatives
I know most of them don’t prefer this that’s the reason I am mentioning it in the last. But I hope at least some of you may be comfortable, so you can check with your friends and family members about the location and if you are lucky, you can get free accommodation and free homely food.
Another way is that you can be a member of different social media travel groups and build new friends who have similar thoughts, that way also you can get a friend in every city. But do a proper verification about the person before you leap into it if that person you met you know only online.
I hope now you are sure that now you are aware of how to travel India for free or on a Budget. Have a Great Travelling Experience.
Wish you all the Best!
If you are a beginner do check my 12 Awesome travel tips for beginners