Top five budget destinations of western India that you must visit
Last Updated : May 19, 2016, 11:51 a.m.
When the talks veer around the travel destinations in western India, then you can’t take your eyes off from the beautiful beaches, beach parties, hills, mountains, waterfall, etc. These spectacular sights will definitely drive you crazy and make your visit a memorable one. During any time of the year, you can visit here and get influenced by the charm it presents. Rich in culture, the western India destinations embody a perfect picture that attracts travellers from all over the world. You can witness rafting expeditions, Sunburn Festival, Rann Utsav, Water Sports as well as other celebrations and activities. There are many jaw-dropping destinations that you can find in western India, such as Goa, Mumbai, Mahabaleswar, Panchgani, Khandala, Lonavla, Dandeli National Park, among others. You will have incure a cost of say Rs 10,000-35,000 for travelling across these locations. You can do that by either paying cash or take personal loan to fulfill your dream. Personal loan is provided by banks and non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) for a maximum period of 5 years at an interest rate of 10%-25% per annum. You can get the loan upto Rs 30 lacs. Based on the monthly income and repayment capacity, the lender will set an amount that you are eligible to receive as loan .The payment of the loan can be done in equated monthly installments (EMIs), the portion of both interest and principal payable on the loan amount. So, visit the nearest bank branch or go online to apply for personal loan .
Goa
Goa is the most sought after holiday destination for both foreigners as well as the Indians because of its wonderful beach, sea foods, amusement parks, etc. Honeymoon couples can enjoy sun bath, wonderful spa, boat riding and many more. Get yourself laced with lush green orchards surrounded by azure water. Also, you can enjoy the ancient architecture and festives of Goa.
Now check out the fares for Goa
Train Fare- Rs 1,000-2,000
Air Fare- Rs 3,000-7,000
Cost of food- Rs 100-1,500 per person per day
Best shopping places- Mapusa Market, Anjuna Flea Market, Calangute Market Square, Mackie's Night Bazaar
Must buy shopping items- wooden carvings, handicrafts, cashew feni, spices
Table showing the list of budget hotels in Goa
| Budget Hotels | Estimated cost per day |
| Hotel Ashirwad | Rs 1,000 |
| La Len Resort | Rs 1,100 |
| Vailankanni Holiday Homes | Rs 1,200 |
| Baga Villa | Rs 1,300 |
| Sangolda Greenz | Rs 1,750 |
Mumbai
Mumbai, the city of dreams, is not only the home to Bollywood but has wonderful sea shore in Juhu Beach, Marine Drive, as well as Haji Ali Dargah. The city of Mumbai is a matter of huge research as it is divided into two extremes, where on one side you will see the rich dwelling into the luxurious world and on the other hand the middle class and the poors spending the day eating 'vada pavs'. Coming back to the travel, you can get to see popular sights here via bus titled Mumbai Darshan. And if you are a party freak and have the money, then get ready to shake your leg in the club party till late into the night. You can enjoy delicious cuisine as well as the street food such as vada pav and others.
Now check out the fares that you will have to pay to reach Mumbai.
Train Fare- Rs 1,000-4,000
Air Fare- Rs 3,000-5,000
Cost of Food- Rs 100-1,500 per person per day
Best shopping places- Colaba Causeway, Bandra, Crawford Market, Fashion Street, Zaveri Bazaar
Must buy items-cloths, shoes, jewellery, precious stones, antiques, electronics
Table showing the list of budget hotels in Mumbai
| Budget Hotels | Estimated cost per day |
| Hotel Travellers Inn | Rs 1,900 |
| Hotel Oasis | Rs 3,000 |
| Hotel Arma Court | Rs 3,000 |
| Hotel Accord | Rs 4,200 |
| Residency Hotel Andheri | Rs 4,300 |
Mahabaleshwar
Mahabaleshwar, a hill station located towards south of Mumbai, is a perfect holiday destination for you to enjoy. You can enjoy activities like Trekking, horse riding, boat riding, and view many spectacular sights like Arthur's Seat, Wilson Point, Bombay Point, Lingamala Falls, Babington Point and Elephant's head point.
Check the out the travel cost, best shopping places, etc in Mahabaleshwar
Train Fare-Till Mumbai- Rs 1,000-4,000
Air Fare-Till Mumbai- Rs 3,000-5,000
Afterwards, you will have to pay a bus fare of up to Rs 400 to reach Mahabaleshwar
Cost of food- Rs 100-1,000 per person per day
Best shopping places-Town Bazaar, Imperial Stores, Amit Super Market, Mahabaleshwar Shopping
Must buy items-international chocolates and sauces, strawberries, raspberries and gooseberries
Table showing the list of budget hotels in Mahabaleshwar
| Budget Hotels | Estimated cost per day |
| Hotel Relax Inn | Rs 800 |
| Krishna Continental | Rs 2,000 |
| Hotel Vyankatesh | Rs 2,600 |
| Pratap Heritage | Rs 2,800 |
| Hotel J's Excellency | Rs 3,000 |
Panchgani
Panchgani, another beautiful hill station closer to Mahabaleshwar, is a perfect place for people looking for peace. Laced with green forests, Panchgani has many beautiful sights such as Table Land, Pandavgadh Caves, Rajpuri Caves, Devil's Kitchen, Parsi Point, etc.
Now check the fares that you need to pay to reach Panchgani.
Train Fare-Till Mumbai- Rs 1,000-4,000
Air Fare-Till Mumbai- Rs 3,000-5,000
Afterwards, you will have to pay a bus fare of up to Rs 450 to reach Panchgani from Mumbai
Best shopping places- Shivaji Circle, Buddha Ka Bazaar, Strawberry Den
Must buy items-leather goods, wooden handicrafts, fruits, juices, mocktails
Table showing the list of budget hotels in Panchgani
| Budget Hotels | Estimated cost per day |
| Pan Hill Hotel | Rs 1,700 |
| Hotel Gitanjali | Rs 2,600 |
| Elypsium Spa Resort Panchgani | Rs 3,000 |
| The Signature Crest | Rs 3,100 |
| Strawberry Hills Resort | Rs 3,500 |
Khandala
Khandala reminds of 'Aati Kya Khandala' song from the Bollywood movie with Aamir Khan and Rani Mukherjee in the lead. This beautiful place will excite you through its favourable climate and Kune Waterfall, regarded as the best waterfalls in India. This place has everything an ardent nature loves craves for. Some of the spectacular sights that you can view here are Pavana Lake, Bhaja Caves, Lohgad Fort, Nagphani, Reversing Station, Shooting Point, Rajmachi Fort, etc.
Now check the cost you will have to bear to reach Khandala.
Train Fare-Till Mumbai- Rs 1,000-4,000
Air Fare-Till Mumbai- Rs 3,000-5,000
Afterwards, you will have to pay a bus fare of up to Rs 500-600 to reach Khandala from Mumbai
Best shopping places- Khandala Market
Must buy items- Chikki, canned jams, snacks such as chivda, sev and wafers
Table showing the list of budget hotels in Khandala
| Budget Hotels | Estimated cost per day |
| Sai Niwas Hotel | Rs 1,200 |
| Lions Den Hotel | Rs 1,400 |
| Girija Hotel | Rs 1,800 |
| La Exotica Hotel | Rs 2,000 |
| Purohit Holiday Resort | Rs 2,200 |
Travel Loan
You can take travel loan to visit the said destinations if you do not have the requisite funds. Travel loans in India come under the category of personal loan. All you have to do is apply to the bank for personal loan. The minimum and maximum amount of personal loan are Rs 10,000 and Rs 30,00,000, respectively.
Table showing the interest rate on personal loan from select banks
| Banks | Interest Rate | Processing Fee |
| SBI | 17.65% per annum | 2%-3% of the loan amount |
| HDFC Bank | 15.75%-20% per annum | 2% of the loan amount subject to a minimum and maximum of Rs 1,000 and Rs 25,000, respectively |
| ICICI Bank | 11.49%-17.50% per annum | 2.5% of the loan amount plus service tax as applicable |
| Axis Bank | 15.5%-24% per annum | 1.5%-2% of the loan amount and service tax as applicable |
Key points to be kept in mind
• Plan your travel early and make sure you book the ticket at least three months in advance to reduce the costs
• Keep an eye on the discount offers of the airlines to reduce your cost of travel
• You can visit travel websites like MakeMyTrip, Yatra, Clear Trip and others to book air tickets
• Check for travel package with companies like Thomas Cook and others
• Travel package companies roll out different types of plans. Invariably, they offer package at lower cost when you travel with family compared to the time when you do the same alone.
• Check for discount in travel package offers
• For railway tickets, please log on to irctc website