Cheap Accommodations in Darjeeling for Backpackers
Category: Low Budget
Well, there is no hostel or hotel in Darjeeling that's dedicated only for backpackers. But over the years there are some that have made a cut into the community of backpackers who come here from all over the world.
The main reason for that is the low price, relatively clean rooms combined with good friendly service. The goodwill spreads mainly by word of mouth and good online reviews and they become somewhat known as backpackers accommodations.
Strangely, many such lodgings are quite off limit from the main town center of Darjeeling. So, it also seems that the backpackers tend to like locations away from the noisy crowded areas or do not mind hiking quite a bit if it is for good value for money.
These backpackers accommodations mainly comprise of hostels (predominantly the youth hostels), low-budget small hotels and
homestays run by local families.
And there are also a few
Cheap Holiday Homes which are mostly run by the staff welfare organizations of banks, but are also open to general public. They have limited rooms though.
Below are some of the popular backpackers accommodations in Darjeeling:
Youth Hostels in Darjeeling
There are two Youth Hostels in Darjeeling - 1) International Youth Hostel which is managed by YHAI (Youth Hostels Association of India), and 2) Tenzing Norgay Youth Hostel which is managed by GTA (Gorkhaland Territorial Administration).
1. International Youth Hostel, Darjeeling
This accommodation is run by YHAI (Youth Hostel Association of India) which is part of a larger international non-profit organization, Hostelling International. which has the largest network of Youth Hostels all over the world.
The large white & blue building with several floors is located only 250 meters before Darjeeling Railway Station on Hill Cart Road (which is the main road going into Darjeeling Town). The Mall (Chowrasta) is a 20-minute walk from here.
Youths who are members of YHAI, as well as any other individuals (Indians or foreign nationals) and even families can book beds or private rooms in this youth hostel.
Beds in 3 to 6-bedded Dormitories, budget Double Rooms as well as costlier Suites are available for booking. The dormitory beds here are among the cheapest stay options in Darjeeling and quite popular with low budget travelers and backpackers.
Note that in dormitories, you get the beds that you booked, other beds can be occupied by other boarders of any gender... you will also need to share the attached but common bathroom with others in the dormitory room.
Although the rooms are basic, all rooms including dormitories have their own bathrooms with western-style toilets, geysers with taps for hot and cold water, wash basins with mirrors, etc. All rooms also have a cupboard, a small table, a couple of chairs, mirror, etc.
A Double Room
The Double Rooms and Suites additionally have TV with cable channels. The Double Rooms and Dormitories have common balconies, while Suites have private balconies. You can get good view of the mountains including Kanchenjunga from some of the balconies upstairs that face the backside of the building as well as from the terrace.
The reception and the lobby is at the ground floor. In-house dining is available... you can get breakfast lunch and dinner at very reasonable prices. There is a fairly large dining room at a level below the ground floor. The food is simple and average. In lunch and dinner, you can get veg or non veg thali that are prepared in Indian style.
There is no room service though. Staffs are limited. The Youth Hostel offers WiFi. The front-desk can organize car hires. There is also an ATM nearby. Right opposite to the Youth Hostel, there is a large multi-level car parking known as DRC Car Parking. There is also a taxi stand on the main road and opposite the youth hostel.
Tenzing Norgay Youth Hostel, Darjeeling
This is a fairly old Youth Hostel in Darjeeling... the management has changed hands. It is presently managed by the GTA (Gorkhaland Territorial Administration) of Darjeeling. While most youth hostels in India tend to be quite noisy, this one is relatively quiet and peaceful.
Many backpackers' accommodations in Darjeeling are located at the upper part of the town and along Zakir Hussain Road. Tenzing Norgay Youth Hostel is also no exception. It's located next to the budget hotel
Broadway Annex and the Gurudwara.
It requires about 20 minute walk from the Mall (Chowrasta) to get there. The walk is slightly uphill. You can also reach there by car using a different route.
As the name suggests, it's a Youth Hostel and primarily meant for students where one can book beds. There are no private rooms here. Earlier, they also allowed even families. But presently, only students (both boys and girls) and men are allowed to stay here, but not women or families.
Being basically a hostel, its amenities are more geared towards basic stay. There is no food or room service at present (although they have a large kitchen space and food was served earlier). You will also need to buy drinking water from outside.
There are large dormitory rooms with 10 beds in each. The rooms are spread across first and second floor. A kitchen space and the dining room (both non-operational at present) are in the ground floor. There are common shower rooms and toilets in each floor that are shared by the boarders of the rooms. Rooms and the bathrooms are fairly clean.
There are common balconies around the dormitory rooms in both floors. The balcony can be accessed from all the rooms. The balconies offer great views of the valley, Kanchenjunga snow peaks and Darjeeling township on clear days.
Go through
Tenzing Norgay Youth Hostel to get all details about the accommodation, how to reach, amenities, staff services, how to manage food & drinking water, and also know about the booking process.
Aliment Hotel
This is a small hotel with four floors and 21 rooms. It's located on Dr. Zakir Hussain Road which is a 18-20 minute walk from the Mall (Chowrasta). The location is a liittle isolated and free from touristy crowd. The hotel is owned and run by a local family.
One of the highlights of the hotel is its roof top terrace. You get excellent views of the valley, Darjeeling township and Kanchenjunga peaks from here.
There are single rooms for one person, double rooms for two and family rooms that can accommodate a family of three. The rooms have standard amenities such as flat screen TV, attached bathrooms with geysers, WiFi, etc. The double rooms have great views of the township as well as Kanchenjunga snow peaks on clear days.
There is an in-house dining room located upstairs. They serve Indian and Tibetan cuisine and serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. All staff including the owner's family are friendly and helpful. The staff at the reception can help you plan your tours and organize transports.
Go through
Aliment Hotel to get complete details including room information, amenities, food, location, how to book, etc.
This is another low budget hotel popular with the backpackers. This hotel is also located at Zakir Hussain Road, but closer to the town center (about 12-15 minutes walk). You will often find this hotel packed with foreigners.
This is a small hotel with a few rooms. It has a few dormitory beds also. Some rooms offer great view of the valley and Kanchenjunga.
There is a common lounge/ dining area as you enter. This is where you will meet up several other fellow backpackers. There are books and comfortable sofa seating here and also an adjacent balcony where guests spend most of their time while staying in the hotel.
Rates provided by booking.com
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Visitors' Reviews/Comments
Soumya Das (March 2015)
Hi Raj sir, we 10 friends are going to Darjeeling from 24April to 26April. We are looking for a dormitory to stay together. It will be very helpful if you can suggest one dormitory. Thanks,
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) March 2015
Hi, Dormitory accommodations are quite limited in Darjeeling. Presently Tenzing Norgay Youth Hostel which has dormitory is lying closed. One option is to book rooms at Hotel Broadway Annex which is located right next to the youth hostel and is a member of Youth Hostel Association of India (YHAI). You can get standard rooms for two persons @Rs. 660/- if you book online through YHAI site. Another option is Tower View hotel on Zakir Hussain road which has a few dorm beds. It's a low budget hotel.
Abhijay (June 2013)
Hi Raj, I am planning a trip to Darjeeling-Kalimpong and other nearby places in mid-July for a week. I was hoping to get some suggestions (about hotels and places to see) from you for our trip. We will be just 2 guys (kind of backpacking) so we are not looking for anything fancy. We just want to visit some really good places in the time we have. Thanks.
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) June 2013
Hi, One of the most well known hotels for backpackers is Hotel Aliment. It's located at a higher elevation and a bit away from the Mall area. It requires 20 minutes uphill walk from the Chowrasta Mall. Although cars and jeeps can go there, since its a bit out of the way, they won't unless you pay them extra. But most prefer to walk. It's located on Zakir Hussain Road that originates from the Mall and goes all the way past St Paul's school. This is where you can meet up and chat with many other backpackers at the restaurant upstairs, many of them foreigners. Some rooms and the restaurant upstairs offer great views of the valley and even Kanchenjunga on a clear day.
Another Backpacker hotel is Tower View, also on Zakeer Hussain Road but closer to the Mall. This hotel is not as friendly and clean as Aliment.
Another option ... Hotel Villa Everest is one of my favorite hotels in Darjeeling (Located on Gandhi Road). It's not a budget hotel but during July through September, they offer rooms for backpackers at attractive prices. Which means you get great accommodation and service at very affordable prices.
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