How to Travel Himachal on a Budget?

Himachal Pradesh is one of the states on India’s northernmost tip and one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations. Its popularity stems primarily from the pristine beauty of locations like Kasauli and Shimla, to name a few. Shimla is a famous “hill station,” as Indians call it, while Kasauli is a historic city that is also home to Kasauli Breweries and Distilleries, India’s oldest liquor makers.

Himachal Pradesh is not a cheap or budget holiday destination. Traveling to and within Himachal Pradesh can be extremely expensive due to its fame and the reliance of many industries on tourism for revenue. You will incur significant costs for hotels, food, local transportation, shopping, and other amenities. This is common for all Indian states and cities that witness a lot of traffic and, hence, isn’t unique to Shimla or Himachal Pradesh only.

Historically, Shimla and Kasauli were favorites of the British colonials, and though they’ve long departed India, the legacy of these places being top holiday destinations with a large price tag continues. However, there are few ways to travel to Himachal Pradesh on a budget. Traveling Himachal Pradesh on a Budget There are only two ways to have a holiday in Himachal Pradesh on a budget.

One way is to travel alone, without anyone. The second is to travel in a large group. These are the only two ways to save money on travel to Himachal Pradesh. All the other ways are very expensive. Since Himachal Pradesh is a fairly safe and law-abiding state, you can travel alone without any problems, regardless of your age or whether you are female or male. Because the state is surrounded by mountains, traveling between its locations can be slow and costly, unless you opt for an expensive flight.

Tips for budget travel in Himachal Pradesh

Therefore, here are some tips for a budget-friendly trip to Himachal Pradesh. These tips may not be applicable to everyone, as Himachal Pradesh is not a suitable destination for individuals with physical disabilities or illnesses. Because of the high altitude, the atmospheric oxygen levels in most places in Himachal Pradesh are fairly low. If you suffer from asthma, bronchitis, tuberculosis, anaemia, or other such disease, stay away from Himachal Pradesh. Others can follow these tips:

Book a holiday package

The easiest and simplest way to travel to Himachal Pradesh is to buy a holiday package from any reputable tour operator in India. These tour operators provide all-inclusive holiday packages starting from Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Kochi, Amritsar, Lucknow, Indore, and Chandigarh. The reason is that these cities are well connected by air to Shimla, so you can arrive in HP in just a few hours.

Holiday packages from good tour operators usually include your hotel accommodation at places in Himachal Pradesh, local land tours, sightseeing, and often, breakfast and dinner. Most hotels provide free breakfast to persons traveling on holiday packages, which helps you save money on meals. Some others provide all three meals. Tour operators have partnerships with hotels and land tours. This means you can get very reasonably priced holiday packages from these companies, both online and offline.

Solo Traveler

The best way to travel to Himachal Pradesh is as a solo traveller or backpacker. Regrettably, India lacks a culture of backpacking due to people’s unrealistic expectations of solo travel. By nature, Indians are timorous when it comes to backpacking and, therefore, follow the flock. If you want to defy this archaic norm, consider traveling solo and backpacking to Himachal Pradesh, where you can enjoy the experience on a budget. Solo travellers and backpackers can save a lot of money because they stay in lodges and share accommodations, including dorms.

As a backpacker or solo traveller, you can travel on public transport, such as city and state or municipal buses, and ride shared autorickshaws to save money on internal travel. You have the comfort of spending as much time as needed at any tourist attraction.

Solo travellers and backpackers aren’t afraid to eat at local diners and eateries that offer a taste of ethnic foods from that region and are very economically priced. Another benefit of solo travel is that you can meet new friends who are also traveling like you. This can expand your social circle and give you deeper insights into various cultures. Solo travel or backpacking isn’t just about saving money; it is also about thrills, adventure, and discovery.

Road Travel

In Himachal Pradesh, very few people go on road trips. That’s due to safety concerns. Since Himachal Pradesh is a mountainous state, all cities are located on top of hills, valleys, or foothills. The roads are narrow, and you will have to drive through zigzag mountain routes to reach anywhere. Also, roads in Himachal Pradesh are prone to landslides. Hundreds of people, particularly motorists and tourists, have suffered serious injuries or lost their lives while attempting to travel through Himachal Pradesh by road.

Though thousands of tourists do travel by road, they’re mainly experienced ones who are aware of HP road conditions. If you are traveling by road, there are various Dhaba’s that provide food from various northern states, such as Uttar Pradesh, HP, Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, located at spots on the various state highways.

These dhabas aren’t always cheap, and in fact, most of them can be quite pricey because they cater mainly to tourists. In such cases, you could bring packed meals or use a Kerosene or gas stove along with some utensils to prepare your own food. Because Himachal Pradesh enforces strict cleanliness and environmental protection laws, be careful where you cook. In Himachal Pradesh, you can also save money on a road trip by refueling the vehicle using the Hello BPCL App.

Conclusion

The three ways mentioned above to budget travel in Himachal Pradesh can help you enjoy the state’s beauty while also saving money on a holiday. While Himachal Pradesh is a superb tourist destination, beware of low oxygen levels in Shimla and other places that could cause breathing problems and related diseases. Also, consider the possibility of landslides affecting mountainous highways and roads in Himachal Pradesh. That way, you can have a safe holiday in the state.