CityDekho
Backpacker & Workation
Old Manali, Himachal Pradesh
Majuli, Assam
Kausani, Uttarakhand
Pondicherry (Puducherry), Puducherry
Shillong, Meghalaya
Ziro Valley, Arunachal Pradesh
Kodachadri, Karnataka
Yuksom, Sikkim
Vagator Beach, Goa
Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep), Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Dzukou Valley, Nagaland
Loktak Lake, Manipur

Backpacker & Workation

Backpacker & Workation
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Slow towns, fast Wi‑Fi and a community of wanderers.

24places12statesOctober–March

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Things to do

Individual sights and experiences, rather than whole places to stay.

Kasol Market Cafes

Kasol

Kasol Market Cafes

The buzzing main-market strip famous for Israeli and global backpacker food, bakeries and bonfire lounges.

Coffee Estate Walks

Chikmagalur

Coffee Estate Walks

Guided walks and stays on working coffee plantations, with tastings of fresh local brew.

Police Bazaar & Laitumkhrah Cafes

Shillong

Police Bazaar & Laitumkhrah Cafes

The buzzing market and cafe districts at the heart of Shillong's food and music scene.

Bhagsu & Dharamkot Cafes

McLeodganj & Dharamshala

Bhagsu & Dharamkot Cafes

Neighbouring traveller villages packed with cafes, yoga studios and long-stay guesthouses.

Anjuna Cliffside Cafes

Anjuna Beach

Anjuna Cliffside Cafes

Cliff-edge cafes and clubs overlooking the Arabian Sea.

Old Manali Cafe Strip

Old Manali

Old Manali Cafe Strip

The cobbled lane of German bakeries, music cafes and hostels that defines the village.

Tosh Valley Viewpoint

Tosh

Tosh Valley Viewpoint

The upper edge of the village, looking up the Parvati to the glaciers at its head. Tosh is the last road head in the valley and the walk out to the view takes about fifteen minutes.

Sendra Viewpoint

Loktak Lake

Sendra Viewpoint

A hill island in the middle of the lake with a rest house on top, and the one place you can see the scale of the phumdi rings from above. Causeway in, then a short climb.

Elephant Falls

Shillong

Elephant Falls

A popular three-tiered waterfall on the city's edge, set among ferns and rocks.

Hidlumane Falls

Kodachadri

Hidlumane Falls

A multi-tiered waterfall on the trekking route up to the peak.

Kutla Trail

Tosh

Kutla Trail

A short, scenic uphill trek from Tosh to the meadow hamlet of Kutla, popular for camping.

Kodachadri Peak

Kodachadri

Kodachadri Peak

The grassland summit with the Sarvajna Peetha shrine and panoramic cloud-sea sunrise views.

Chalal Village Trail

Kasol

Chalal Village Trail

An easy riverside walk from Kasol to the quiet hamlet of Chalal, lined with chilled cafes and music hostels.

Triund Trek

McLeodganj & Dharamshala

Triund Trek

A popular day or overnight trek to a ridge with panoramic Dhauladhar views, often camped under the stars.

Jibhi Waterfall

Tirthan Valley

Jibhi Waterfall

A small fall a short walk through deodar from the village, on a path that gets slippery in the rain. Ten minutes each way, and busy through the afternoon.

Jogini Falls Trail

Old Manali

Jogini Falls Trail

A short scenic hike from Old Manali through orchards and forest to a waterfall with valley views.

Mullayanagiri Peak

Chikmagalur

Mullayanagiri Peak

Karnataka's highest peak, a popular sunrise trek with sweeping Western Ghats views.

Explore backpacker & workation

Filter by state, or keep scrolling — 12 states for long, slow stays.

Himachal Pradesh

Old Manali

Old Manali is the laid-back, bohemian counterpart to Manali town — a riverside cluster of guesthouses, cafes and orchards above the Manalsu stream. While Manali proper is a busy hill-station hub, Old Manali draws backpackers and long-stay travellers with its slower pace, music cafes and mountain-village feel. It works as both a chilled base and an adventure springboard, with the Hampta Pass, Solang Valley and Jogini Falls within easy reach. Cobbled lanes lined with German bakeries, hostels and gear shops make it a favourite first stop for those heading deeper into Himachal or up to Spiti and Leh.

Assam

Majuli

Majuli is a river island in the Brahmaputra that is smaller every year, and going there is partly about seeing something that is going. Erosion has taken more than half the island since the middle of the last century. You reach it by ferry from Nimati Ghat near Jorhat, which takes about an hour and runs to its own schedule rather than yours. What is there is the satras — Vaishnavite monasteries founded from the sixteenth century, where monks still perform the masked dance-dramas the tradition was built on. Kamalabari and Auniati are the ones to see; Samaguri is the satra where the masks themselves are made, and the mask-makers will show you the work if you ask. Rent a bicycle. The island is flat, the distances between satras are short, and the roads are quiet enough that this is genuinely the best way to move. November to March is dry and mild. Come during the monsoon and you will find the ferry unreliable and parts of the island under water — which is, in fairness, the honest version of the place.

Nagaland

Dzukou Valley

Dzukou Valley, straddling the Nagaland-Manipur border, is a high-altitude trekking paradise famous for its rolling green meadows and the rare seasonal Dzukou lily. A favourite among young trekkers and campers, it is the best overnight trek in the Northeast. Reached via steep forest trails from Viswema or Zakhama near Kohima, the valley opens into a surreal landscape of undulating grasslands cut by a winding stream. Camping under the stars, the monsoon bloom of wildflowers, and the sense of remote wilderness make it a rising bucket-list trek for adventure-minded travellers.

Uttarakhand

Kausani

Kausani is a quiet Kumaon hill station famous for its uninterrupted 300-km panorama of the Himalayan peaks — including Trishul, Nanda Devi and Panchachuli. Mahatma Gandhi called it the 'Switzerland of India', and it has since become a peaceful retreat for travellers seeking views, tea gardens and stillness over nightlife. With its terraced tea estates, pine forests and sunrise viewpoints, Kausani has grown popular with couples, families and remote workers wanting a calm, scenic base. It pairs well with nearby Baijnath temples and the Kumaon trekking circuit.

Puducherry

Pondicherry (Puducherry)

Pondicherry's French quarter is about six streets deep, and knowing that in advance saves the disappointment of expecting a French town. What is there is genuinely good: ochre walls, bougainvillea, shuttered colonial houses, and a seafront promenade that closes to traffic in the evening and fills with the whole town walking. The Tamil quarter across the canal is larger, older and rarely visited, and the two architectural traditions meeting along that line is the actual interest of the place. The beach in Pondicherry town is rock, not sand. People arrive expecting to swim and cannot. For sand you go north to Auroville's beaches or south towards Chunnambar. Auroville, twenty minutes out, is a serious experiment in communal living rather than an attraction. Visitors can see the Matrimandir from a viewing point; going inside needs booking days ahead and is not casual. October to March. April and May are hot and humid, and the north-east monsoon in October and November brings real rain.

Himachal Pradesh

Tirthan Valley

Tirthan Valley is a quiet, offbeat river valley on the edge of the Great Himalayan National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) in Himachal Pradesh. Named after the crystal-clear Tirthan River, it has emerged as a slow-travel and workation favourite for those seeking pine forests, trout streams and riverside homestays far from the tourist crowds. With no big hotels and a strong eco-tourism ethic, the valley centres on activities like trout fishing, river crossing, forest treks and lazy days by the water. It suits people who want to sit by a river for a week rather than tick off viewpoints.

Uttarakhand

Kasar Devi (Almora)

Kasar Devi is a ridge-top village near Almora in the Kumaon Himalayas, long famous as a counterculture and spiritual retreat with sweeping Himalayan views. Once home to artists and seekers on the hippie trail, today it has become a quiet workation and slow-travel base known for its cafes, the famous 'Crank's Ridge', and an unusual geomagnetic phenomenon. The village looks out at Trishul and Nanda Devi, pine forests, and a cluster of cosy cafes and homestays. Its mellow, creative atmosphere makes it a favourite among writers, remote workers and travellers seeking calm over crowds.

Meghalaya

Shillong

Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, is the cultural and musical heart of Northeast India — nicknamed the 'Scotland of the East' for its rolling hills and pine-clad landscape. With its cafe scene, live-music culture, waterfalls and easy access to the wonders of Meghalaya, it has become a top pick for young travellers heading east. The city blends Khasi culture, colonial-era charm and a famously music-loving population (it's often called India's rock capital) with a buzzing cafe and hostel scene. It works perfectly as a workation base and a launchpad for Cherrapunji, living root bridges and Dawki's crystal-clear river.

Meghalaya

Dawki & Mawlynnong

Dawki and Mawlynnong sit in the southern hills of Meghalaya near the Bangladesh border, famous for the crystal-clear Umngot River and for Mawlynnong's title as 'Asia's cleanest village'. Together they form one of the Northeast's most photogenic and increasingly popular offbeat circuits. The Umngot River at Dawki is so transparent that boats appear to float on air, drawing travellers for boat rides and camping. Nearby Mawlynnong brings out a model of community cleanliness, living root bridges and a sky-walk viewpoint over the plains of Bangladesh — a uniquely sustainable destination.

Arunachal Pradesh

Ziro Valley

Ziro is a valley of rice paddies ringed by pine hills, and it is the home of the Apatani — one of the few communities in India who terrace-farm rice and fish in the same flooded field. The farming is the thing to understand here. The Apatani irrigate paddy and raise fish in the same water, without machinery, on a system worked out over centuries. Walk out into the fields around Hong or Hija in the early morning and you will see it running. Older Apatani women wear facial tattoos and large nose plugs — the practice was abandoned decades ago, so the last generation carrying it is now elderly. It is a difficult thing to photograph well and an easy thing to photograph rudely. Ask, and accept no. The Ziro Festival of Music happens in late September, brings a few thousand people to a valley with limited beds, and transforms the place for a weekend. Whether that is the version you want is a real question. Arunachal Pradesh requires an Inner Line Permit for Indian nationals and a Protected Area Permit for foreign nationals; arrange it before you travel. Come March to October.

Himachal Pradesh

Kasol

Kasol is a small riverside village in the Parvati Valley of Himachal Pradesh that has become the unofficial backpacking capital of North India. Set along the gushing Parvati River and ringed by pine-clad slopes, it draws a young, international crowd with its laid-back cafe culture, Israeli food, trekking trailheads and famously relaxed mountain vibe. Kasol functions as the base camp for the wider Parvati Valley circuit, with treks fanning out to Kheerganga, Tosh, Malana and Chalal. The main market is packed with cafes serving shakshuka and falafel, music hostels, gear-rental shops and bonfire-lit guesthouses.

Himachal Pradesh

Tosh

Tosh is a tiny, car-free hamlet at the far end of the Parvati Valley, a steep climb above Barshaini. With sweeping views of snow peaks, terraced fields and waterfalls, it has become a cult favourite among young backpackers looking for an even quieter, more scenic alternative to Kasol. The village is a cluster of guesthouses and cafes built into the hillside, many with balconies that look straight onto the glaciated head of the valley. It doubles as a trailhead for the Kutla and Kheerganga hikes, and its slow pace, cheap stays and dramatic sunsets make it a magnet for digital nomads and long-stay travellers.

Himachal Pradesh

McLeodganj & Dharamshala

McLeodganj, the upper town of Dharamshala, is the home of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile, and one of India's most beloved workation and backpacker bases. On a ridge of the Dhauladhar range, it blends Tibetan Buddhist culture, Himalayan trekking and a deeply traveller-friendly cafe and hostel scene. The town is a hub for meditation and yoga retreats, momos and global cafes, and treks to Triund and the Indrahar Pass. With its mix of monasteries, fast Wi-Fi cafes, long-stay hostels and a permanent international community, it has become a year-round magnet for digital nomads, solo travellers and spiritual seekers alike.

Karnataka

Chikmagalur

Chikmagalur is the coffee heartland of Karnataka, a lush hill district in the Western Ghats where rolling estates, misty peaks and waterfalls draw a steady stream of young travellers from Bengaluru and beyond. It is a top weekend and workation pick for those wanting estate-stays, treks and great coffee within easy reach of a big city. Home to Mullayanagiri (Karnataka's highest peak), Baba Budangiri and dense shola forests, Chikmagalur blends gentle adventure with slow plantation living. Coffee homestays, trekking trails and cafe culture make it a favourite for couples, friend groups and remote workers.

Karnataka

Kodachadri

Kodachadri is a misty Western Ghats peak in Karnataka, draped in shola forests and grasslands and crowned by the ancient Sarvajna Peetha linked to Adi Shankaracharya. A favourite among young trekkers and campers, it is one of the best peak walks in South India, and you can camp at the top for sunrise. Reached via forest trails or rugged jeep tracks from Kollur, the peak rewards trekkers with cloud-sea views, the Hidlumane Falls en route, and a remote, unspoiled wilderness feel. Its mix of adventure, spirituality and raw nature makes it a rising offbeat draw.

Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep)

Havelock Island, officially Swaraj Dweep, is the most popular island in the Andamans and a tropical dream for young travellers — home to the famous Radhanagar Beach, scuba diving and powdery white sand. It blends beach-bliss with adventure in a way that has made it a bucket-list staple. With turquoise water, coral reefs, mangrove kayaking and laid-back beach shacks, Havelock is the Andamans' adventure-and-relaxation hub. Diving and snorkelling at Elephant Beach, sunsets at Radhanagar and easy island life draw honeymooners, divers and backpackers alike.

Sikkim

Yuksom

Yuksom is a historical village in West Sikkim, the first capital of the old Sikkimese kingdom and the trailhead for the famed Goecha La and Dzongri treks toward Kanchenjunga. An emerging eco-conscious, slow-travel destination, it draws trekkers and offbeat travellers with its forests, monasteries and calm. Surrounded by the Kanchenjunga National Park (an UNESCO World Heritage Site), Yuksom has old monasteries, sacred lakes, homestays and forest on every side. Its blend of Buddhist heritage, Himalayan trekking and unspoiled nature makes it a favourite for conscious, adventurous young travellers.

Himachal Pradesh

Jibhi

Jibhi is a quiet wooden-cottage village in the Banjar (Tirthan) region of Himachal, increasingly loved by young travellers for its forested calm, waterfalls and aesthetic cafe-stays. Less developed than Manali or Kasol, it has a cosy, Instagram-favourite slow-travel base in the Kullu hills. Set among deodar forests and apple orchards, Jibhi pairs gentle hikes — to Jibhi Falls, the Serolsar Lake and the Jalori Pass — with riverside cottages and a laid-back cafe scene. Its scenic, unhurried character makes it a top pick for workations, couples and friend groups.

Goa

Anjuna Beach

A North Goa icon of the hippie era, Anjuna is famous for its rocky-edged golden sands, the legendary Wednesday flea market, trance parties and cliffside cafes. The best months to visit are roughly November to February, when seas are calm and skies are clear; the monsoon (June to September) brings rough water and many beach shacks shut. Plan water sports and swimming for the dry winter window.

Goa

Vagator Beach

Split into Big and Little Vagator by red laterite cliffs, this North Goa beach is known for dramatic sunsets, the Chapora fort backdrop and a buzzing music scene. The best months to visit are roughly November to February, when seas are calm and skies are clear; the monsoon (June to September) brings rough water and many beach shacks shut. Plan water sports and swimming for the dry winter window.

Goa

Arambol Beach

The northernmost backpacker hub of Goa, Arambol is loved for its bohemian community, drum circles, paragliding, a sweet-water lagoon and live-music cafes. The best months to visit are roughly November to February, when seas are calm and skies are clear; the monsoon (June to September) brings rough water and many beach shacks shut. Plan water sports and swimming for the dry winter window.

Meghalaya

Mawsynram & Nongriat Root Bridges

Mawsynram, the wettest place on earth, and the nearby village of Nongriat anchor southern Meghalaya's wonder-region of living root bridges, deep gorges and waterfalls. The trek to the famous Double Decker Living Root Bridge is a bucket-list Northeast experience.

Manipur

Loktak Lake

Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India, famous for its phumdis — floating islands of vegetation that dot the water like a green patchwork. Near Moirang in Manipur, it has become an emerging offbeat destination for travellers seeking surreal landscapes far from the mainstream trail. The lake is home to the only floating national park in the world (Keibul Lamjao, refuge of the rare Sangai deer) and to fishing communities who live on the phumdis. Homestays on the lakeshore, sunrise boat rides and birdwatching make it a quiet, photogenic stop in India's far east.

Himachal Pradesh

Bir Billing

Bir Billing is India's paragliding capital and one of the best free-flight sites in the world, set against the Dhauladhar range in Himachal Pradesh. The twin spots — the take-off at Billing and the landing meadows at Bir — have turned a quiet Tibetan-settlement village into a buzzing hub for adventure seekers, digital nomads and cafe-hoppers. Beyond paragliding, Bir has quietly become a workation favourite, with fast Wi-Fi cafes, co-working stays, Tibetan monasteries, a tea-garden landscape and a thriving long-stay community. It blends adrenaline, Buddhist calm and remote-work comfort in a way few Indian towns do.