This Backpackers Hostel Is Colourful, Spacious & Will Cost Just INR 699 Per Night

At the heart of Mumbai, in Santcruz, a quirky, fun backpackers hostel, Basti will welcome you to make it your home for a few days. Curious, we went to pay it a visit. 

Started by 22-year-old Yash Bohra and his two partners Jasmeet Singh and Angad Anand, Basti takes up all of 3 floors {and expanding} in a spacious building. When we arrived, we were soon taken in by the warmth, colours and vibe of the place.

 We entered the common hall, where true to a backpackers hostel, there were a few people resting, a couple working on their laptops, and a group of – both Indians and foreigners from England, West Indies, Australia – and nope, they were not talking about cricket.

While we went and checked the dorms out, Yash explained how Basti has been given a traditional Indian theme, with an emphasis on highlighting progessive rural villages. For the same, each dorm room is named after a unique village in India, with a small write up on each on its wall and murals done by fellow-traveller and friend of theirs, Jhanak Doshi. Be it Pothanikkad in Kerala {a village with 100% literacy rate}, Shani Shignapur in Maharashtra {a village with no doors at all}, Mawlynnong in Meghalaya {Asia’s cleanest villages}, and many more.

In totality, there are 6 dorms {including 1 non-AC and 1 women’s only dorm} and 4 private rooms, taking in a total of 40 people. There is one washroom per 4-6 people, a common kitchen with a fridge, stove, and a computer area for people to use.

The décor is quite Indian, especially Rajasthani themed, with colourful umbrellas, wall hangings of mini elephants and camels, bright cloth bedspreads and gaddas everywhere, making for a very lively space.

As such, there are no restrictions on timings, don’t smoke inside, clean up after yourselves, they mostly get backpackers and they know the rules. At night, the space is fully theirs and alive, leading to fun hangout sessions, spontaneous plans and more. They provide each guest with a map to the nearest ATM, grocery stores and convenience markets too.

Downstairs, at the straw hut-like reception desk area is also more seating space, with board games, a few books, an activity board with the forthcoming plans {pottery classes, pub crawls, cycling by the beach & more}.

Anyone with Mumbai ID might not be able to stay at the hostel because of the police rules, but if you have a friend coming from another city or country – you know where to send them!

The rates per night are INR 699 for a non-AC dorm, INR 749 for a mixed AC dorm, INR 849 for a women’s only AC dorm. Private rooms start at INR 2499.