13 & 14 April 2025
Many people have asked me: “Why on earth would you stay in hostels??”
As if this is such a weird and unacceptable thing to do…
I don’t know if there’s a certain stigma attached to the idea of a hostel, or if maybe some people have had bad experiences. Or, of course, it could simply be the difference in comfort levels. Budget traveling, or backpacking, certainly isn’t for everyone. Living out of a backpack, washing your underwear in the shower, and having socks, t-shirts and towels lined up on bunkbed ladders; eating 2-minute Maggi noodles or instant meals, and trying to sleep while fellow travelers pack their bags to catch a 3 a.m. bus—may not be the most boujee experience out there.
But for me, this has been the most beautiful way to travel.
Apart from the volunteering I’ve done, or staying at friends’ houses on other trips, backpacking and staying in hostels in a few different countries has brought me the most incredible experiences.
In India, many hostels are unfortunately no longer traditional backpacker havens. The relaxed, creative atmosphere is often lost to money-hungry businessmen who have no clue what it’s supposed to be about. But if you take some time, you may just find a gem—like this hostel I’ve been staying at for the past few days.
Finding Shanti Hostel & Yogi Garden Cafe was one of those ‘chance meetings’ that was divinely orchestrated by the universe long before I physically arrived here.
Sitting in the garden surrounded by fellow travelers—some busy completing yoga teacher training courses, others simply relaxing or getting ready for rafting and other adventures—I often just observe. Listening to stories, sharing stories, creating new stories. Mornings smell like cappuccino or chai, and most evenings sound like beautiful Indian folk songs.
Like-minded souls gather, drawn to the energy at places like these. Whether you’re an introvert not interested in conversation but soaking up the songs and chatter of those around you, or an extrovert lonely from solo travel and in desperate need of connection, you’re sure to find either a quiet moment or a friend. If you need a shoulder to cry on, someone will be there—going through the same lonely moment—ready to offer a tissue and a sympathetic smile.
Information is passed around, recommendations made, Instagram accounts followed, and memories filed away on Google Drive and in our hearts. Some friendships may only last a few hours, some may turn into a romantic night, and others will last a lifetime.
Spontaneous daytime dance or pool parties, mid or late-afternoon naps, leisurely strolls looking for hidden cafés, early morning or evening online meetings and training sessions, work calls, and late-night riverside conversations blur together until you forget which day it is.
It’s often a bittersweet moment as you wish you could stay like this forever—but know in your heart that this too must pass, and real life is waiting around the corner. Hours can feel like weeks, and a month can be over in the blink of an eye. A booking for just two nights often turns into a week or three—if you’re lucky enough to have a flexible schedule and budget.
In our fast-paced world, this is incredibly valuable. Immersing yourself in the slow pace of simply being, resting for a moment and allowing yourself to truly soak in the beautiful moments life has to offer, is a priceless gift.
I may have given up precious possessions to be able to afford this experience—and I would exchange it for nothing.
No amount of material wealth could ever, ever replace the wholeness that opportunities like these bring to my soul.
