Very rarely does one find time to travel around as the hectic work schedule is taking away the luxury that one used to have in the 90s or the early 2000s. But, if even if you manage to get the off, travel expenditures have gone up so high that you may not have the budget to visit exotic places across the country. But there are some affordable destinations in India that you can look to visit this summer or any time of the year within a budget of Rs 20,000. Some prominent destinations include Pondicherry, Kodalkanal, Jaipur, among others.
Jaipur
Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan, is full of monuments and architecture to excite you. Known as the pink city, it has historical sites and forts that attract the tourists from all over the world. You can take famous bangles from the city for your wife as well as any female members of your family.
Delhites can save the travel cost by opting train over airways to visit Jaipur. Time difference between train and flight for Jaipur from Delhi is minimal.
Train Fare- Rs 400-1,000 per person
Air Fare- Rs 3,000 per person
Note-Fares from other cities to the said destination will vary
Popular Places- Ajmer Fort, Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal, City Palace
Cost of Visit- Rs 25-500 per person
Shopping options/Must Buy-Bangles, Jaipuri Quids, Tie and Dye Cloths, Jewellery
Now look at some of the budget hotels in the city of Jaipur
| Budget Hotels | Estimated Cost per day |
| Royal Aashiyana Palace | Rs 700 |
| Hotel Pearl Palace | Rs 1,100 |
| Hotel Anuraag Villa | Rs 1,300 |
| Sunder Palace Guesh House | Rs 1,400 |
| Golden Hotel | Rs 1,700 |
Udaipur
Udaipur, known as the lake city, adds to the rich history of Rajasthan with a large number of artefacts and temples. Not only it has been loved by the Indians, but even the foreigners like to have a glimpse of the city. Udaipur has been the witness of many a marriage functions of top corporate houses in India as well as overseas. Not only this, even many Bollywood movies have been shot in the picturesque locales of the city. So what are you waiting for? Just pack your bags and make a dash to Udaipur.
Train fare- Rs 1,000-1,200 per person
Air Fare- Rs 5,000 per person
Opt for train to reduce your travel expenses
Note-Fares from other cities to the said destination will vary
Popular places- Udaipur City Palace, Bagore Ki Haveli, Jagdish Temple, Monsoon Palace
Cost of Visit- Rs 2,000-2,500 per person
Shopping options/Best buy-Handicrafts, Jewellery, Paintings, Leather Items, Antique Pieces
Please note the cost of accommodation in Udaipur in the table below.
| Budget Hotels | Estimated cost per day |
| Hotel Kiran Palace | Rs 1,000 |
| Hotel The Tiger | Rs 1,100 |
| Hotel Mandiram Palace | Rs 1,100 |
| Hotel Thamla Haveli | Rs 1,200 |
| Hotel Padmini Palace | Rs 1,600 |
Ooty
Come to the southern India and you will not be able to take your eyes off from the wonderful locales of Ooty. Located in the Niligiri hills, the popular hill station is mainly known for tourism, agriculture, as well as production of photographic films and medicines. The city is also famous for chocolates with cocoa butter being available at low cost.
Train Fare- Rs 2,000-2,500 per person
Air Fare- Rs 7,000 per person
Opt for train to reduce your travel expenses
Note-Fares from other cities to the said destination will vary
Popular places- Ooty Lake, Avalanche Lake, Emerald Lake, Government Rose Garden, Nilgiri Mountain Railway, Doddabetta Mountain
Cost of Visit- Rs 10-100 per person
Shopping Options/Best Buy-Handmade Chocolates, Aromatic Oils, Acres Wild
See the table below to know the budget hotels for accommodation
Budget Hotels
| Estimated cost per day | |
| Hotel Khems | Rs 1,200 |
| Hotel RJ Inn | Rs 1,500 |
| RK Holiday Homes | Rs 1,600 |
| Hotel Mount View | Rs 1,900 |
| Haveli Atithi Bhavan | Rs 2,000 |
Pondicherry
Pondicherry is the union territory of India filled with mustard coloured conial villas, chic boutiques and tree lined streets. There are many memorable sites in Pondicherry, including Aurbindo Ashram. You can get a free stay or at a very nominal cost. Other sites include Serenity Plus, you can enjoy delicious food at price within the range of Rs 50-Rs 1,000 in the city.
Train Fare- Rs 1,000-2,000 per person
Air Fare- Rs 7,000 per person
Opt for train to reduce your travel expenses
Note-Fares from other cities to the said destination will vary
Popular Places-Serenity Beach, Auro Beach, Intach Heritage Centre, Chunnambar Boat House
Cost of Visit- Rs 100-500 per person
Shopping options/Best Buy-Consumer Goods, Candles, Incense Sticks
As you would be looking to stay in Pondicherry, you must be keen to know the budget hotels there. Below are the budget hotels that you can look to stay.
| Budget Hotels | Estimated cost per day |
| Sree Sairam Hotel | Rs 800 |
| Pondicherry Executive Inn Pvt. Ltd. | Rs 1,200 |
| Pleasant Inn Pondicherry | Rs 1,300 |
| MGR Regency Comfort Hotel | Rs 1,600 |
| Hotel Tamizh Park | Rs 1,800 |
Kodaikanal
Kodaiakanal, a hill town in Tamil Nadu, is the centre of attraction for visitors around the world. You can witness picturesque forest valleys, waterfalls, grassy hills and lakes. Also, you can enjoy delicious street food.
Train Fare- Rs 3,000 per person
Air Fare- Rs 8,000 per person
Opt for train to reduce your travel expenses
Note-Fares from other cities to the said destination will vary
Popular Places-Kodaikanal Lake, Berijam Lake, Kodaikanal Golf Club, Palni Hills
Cost of Visit- Rs 10-100 per person
Shopping Options/Best Buy- Woollen Materials, Handmade Articles, Toys, Medicinal Herbs and Oils
Look below the list of budget hotels in Kodaikanal
| Budget Hotels | Estimated cost per day |
| Snooze Inn | Rs 1,000 |
| Hotel Spring Valley | Rs 1,400 |
| Hotel Kodai Gate | Rs 1,500 |
| J’s Heritage Hotel & Resort | Rs 1,500 |
| Hotel Grand Paradise Inn | Rs 1,900 |
Alleppey
Alleppey, a famous place in the state of Kerala, is known for boat riding and wonderful beaches. If you are a non-vegetarian, you can taste delicious local fishes of the city.
Train Fare- Rs 2,000 per person
Air Fare- Rs 7,000 per person
Opt for train to reduce your travel expenses
Note-Fares from other cities to the said destination will vary
Popular Places- Krishnapuram Palace, Vijaya Beach Park, Sea View Park, Alappuzha Beach
Cost of Visit- Rs 100-500 per person
Shopping Options/Best Buy-Coir Products, Carpets, Spices
Kindly refer below the table to know the budget hotels and their respective prices in Alleppey.
| Budget Hotels | Estimated cost per day |
| Lake and Paddy Home Stay | Rs 500 |
| South Canal Holidays | Rs 900 |
| Shade Tourist Home | Rs 1,200 |
| Riverside Retreat | Rs 1,700 |
| Sisir Palace | Rs 1,800 |
Itanagar
Itanagar, the capital of Arunachal Pradesh, offers attraction galore for visitors around the world. The city has picturesque mountains, rivers and the greeneries that one would love to witness.
Train Fare- Rs 9,000 per person (New Delhi to Dibrugarh to Fukrating via train, then take taxi to Itanagar)
Air Fare- Rs 11,000 per person (New Delhi to Guwahati to Itanagar)
With not much difference in fares, you can opt for flight to reach Itanagar quickly
Note-Fares from other cities to the said destination will vary
Popular Places- Ganga Lake, Ita Fort, Itanagar Wildlife Santuary, Namdapha National Park, Jawaharlal Nehru State Museum
Cost of visit- Rs 100-500 per person
Shopping Options/Best Buy-Wood Carvings, Bamboo and Cane Items, Woollen Products, Fruit Bowls
Please look below the table to know the budget hotels in Itanagar.
| Budget Hotels | Estimated Cost Per Day |
| Rajhans Hotel | Rs 600 |
| Arunachal Hotel | Rs 600 |
| Blue Pine Hotel | Rs 600 |
| Itafort Hotel | Rs 700 |
| Tosum Hotel | Rs 800 |
Travel Loan
You can avail the option of travel loan to roam around the said destinations if you do not have the necessary funds with you. Loan for travelling in India comes under the category of personal loan, which are offered by banks and NBFCs across the country. The minimum and maximum amount of personal loan are Rs 10,000 and Rs 30,00,000, respectively.
