Backpackers Inn, Dharamsala

Backpackers Inn is a very average travelers' abode but has the most amazing panorama over the town of McLeodGanj and the Himalayas that you will wake up to every day. You can spend hours admiring the vistas from the terrace of the hostel. It is also right in the centre, only minutes away from the Dalai Lama's Temple, so it is an ideal base for sightseeing as well.

The Location

Backpackers Inn is located just off the main street in McLeodGanj. You will have to walk down a really steep staircase so if you have a suitcase, you will probably need to ask for help, but amongst all the backpackers, this is probably still the most central one. This means that everything is right on your doorstep -- all the restaurants, eateries, souvenir shops, and tourist agencies. You can also walk to all the sights of the city from here, even if the waterfall might take quite a while to get to. It is important to point out that for a while, the owner did not get the permit for the current building and had to transfer the hostel to a less-attractive nearby location, which collected him a lot of negative reviews on all booking sites. However, now it is back to the original place.

Rooms and Bathrooms

The hostel boasts three stories worth of rooms. The dorms are quite basic though, with old and rusty furniture. Beside the bunks, there is a couch and a few armchairs inside, which would be great, but this means that guests often treat this as a common area, socialising and talking loud well past midnight. However, there are lockers for the safety of your belongings. There is also a balcony that belongs to the room, which is an amazing place to just sit taking in the views. The dorm is en suite, but the bathroom is quite rundown and dirty and there is only a bucket-type shower.

Common Spaces

The whole top floor of the hostel is a common area. On one side, you have a huge terrace with an amazing panorama over the town of McLeodGanj and the Himalayas; on the other, you have an indoors space with a large mattress to sit on, which is quite convenient in case it is cold outside. This area also operates as a bar and you can order food and drinks here.

Summary

If you can forgive the hostel for the very basic and non-attractive room and bathroom, it can be a great choice for a place to base yourself in during your time in McLeodGanj, not just because of its ideal location, but because of the amazing views it offers.