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Guest accommodations in India can range from luxurious palace suites with private pools, to five-star hotels in an urban city, to modern hostels with charging stations and a comfortable bed, to little more than a roof over your head, a place to lie down, and a bucket shower.

As in most countries, lodging prices tend to be higher in India's large cities and lowest in its rural areas, although urban areas offer more in the way of options. Particularly in tourist areas, costs will rise or fall according to the season, and can drop as much as 50% outside of peak season.

The high season generally coincides with the best weather for the area. In areas popular with foreign tourists, there may be an additional peak period during the Christmas and New Year season. In the same light, towns with popular temples might have additional peak seasons during the time of major festivals or pilgrimages. In some parts of the country, such as the Goa area, hotels may close during the monsoon season.

State governments generally tax hotel accommodations, which will be added to the advertised cost. These will vary from state to state. Luxury taxes and service taxes may also be applied.

Rooms in budget and midrange hotels in India may have shared bathrooms, sometimes with squat toilets. You may also have to bring your own sheets, towel, and soap. In some budget hotels, it would be good to also have insect repellent, a flashlight, and maybe a padlock for the door. Keep your door locked at all times. When traveling outside of a regular tourist area, some of the cheaper hotels may refuse foreign guests as they don't have the required registration forms for foreigners.

Although it is permissible to camp in the wild along trekking routes in India, the country does not have very many official camping sites, and some of those may be open only during the summer months.

India has many backpacker hostels, particularly in Delhi, Goa, Kerala, and Varanasi. Many of these are high quality, with air-conditioned dormitories, an on-site cafe or bar, lockers, and free wireless Internet. Hostels are usually mixed, although there are a few female-only options.

The government of India maintains a network of guesthouses for traveling officials and public workers. Known as circuit houses, dak bungalows, forest rest houses, PWD bungalows, or rest houses, these places might accommodate travelers if they have rooms available, although permission may need to be arranged through local officials. Some Indian states operate tourist bungalows, which are generally mid-priced, with varying standards of cleanliness and service. Some state governments operate chains of more expensive hotels, which include some historical properties.

Homestays are family operated guesthouses that often offer a homey atmosphere and home-cooked meals. Standards may vary greatly. Some hotels market their properties as homestays but are operated like hotels, with little or no interaction with the family. Local tourist offices might be able to provide a list of participating homestay families.

Large train stations often have basic rooms for travelers holding ongoing train tickets. Some of these rooms are stark, but others are pleasant enough. These rooms are useful for early morning departures or layovers.

India also has several high-end and heritage hotels, many of which are luxurious, and even destinations in themselves. These include five-star hotels, as well as historic places. The Indian Heritage Hotels Association represents several of these.

The focus of websites listed in this category is on guest accommodations in India and may include any of those discussed above, as well as any other guest lodging facilities in the country, or associations of facilities providing guest accommodations. Online booking sites and those offering comparisons or guest reviews may also be on-topic.

 

 

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