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The Hostel Co launches India’s first exclusive hostel marketplace

New platform promises budget hostel booking India with verified stays, community features, and prices that start at Rs 150.

Backpackers just got a home base. The Hostel Co has launched what it calls India’s first exclusive hostel marketplace, built around verified listings, social discovery, and very sharp pricing. At launch, the platform lists more than 150 hostels totalling roughly 3,500 beds across 15 to 20 destinations such as Rishikesh, Varkala, Jibhi, Udaipur, Manali and Goa, with an expansion roadmap to 40 destinations by the end of 2025.

Founded by Palash, a BITS Pilani and FMS Delhi alumnus who previously managed categories at Amazon, the company pitches itself as a local, hostel-only alternative in a market where international players currently dominate. The focus is simple: curated hostels, transparent pricing, and a community layer that helps solo travellers find their vibe before they even check in.

In This Article

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Pricing and launch offers

Entry prices start at Rs 150 per night, with time-bound launch deals highlighted for cities like Udaipur at Rs 150 and Goa at Rs 300. This is not a flash sale gimmick but a deliberate push to make short breaks and long weekend hops more accessible to students, first-time backpackers, creators, and digital nomads. The company says it will pair these headline rates with clarity on inclusions and a booking experience tuned for quick comparisons.

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How it works

The Hostel Co claims every property is verified for safety, hygiene, and experience. That means vibe-specific filters across party hostels, quiet work-friendly dorms, and unique stays that range from musical ashrams in Rishikesh to waterfall-side micro dorms off the main trail. For operators, the marketplace promises a hostel-friendly flat booking commission of Rs 25, customizable payment models to reduce cancellations, and round-the-clock customer support.

The platform is also building community tools around discovery. Verified travellers can connect via Instagram groups to coordinate travel, find roommates for onward routes, or just share tips for food, local buses, and hikes. Expect creator-led itineraries and collabs to surface too, thanks to a “Creators Travel Free” program spotlighted on the brand’s site and social handles.

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Why it matters

India’s hostel ecosystem has grown quickly in the past few years, powered by Gen Z and young professionals who want social, affordable stays rather than traditional hotels. Specialist brands and chains have scaled rapidly, while independent hostels keep the scene fresh and location-rich. A marketplace that is hostel-only, locally run, and verification-first could help standardise expectations without draining the category of its character.

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Roadmap for 2025

Beyond a target of 40 destinations by December 2025, The Hostel Co hints at loyalty features, more social discovery tools, and deeper city coverage so that travellers can stitch together multi-stop trips on one cart. The company has been actively recruiting hostels and growing its presence across LinkedIn and Instagram, which suggests a pipeline of new listings through the season.

Quick take

A hostel-only, verified marketplace with Rs 150 entry prices and community discovery hits the right notes for the Indian backpacking crowd. The proof will be in consistent verification, fair cancellation rules, and how well the platform balances rate deals with host sustainability. If those pieces hold, this could become the default tab you open before booking that next sleeper train.

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Aasthaa Bhandari
Aasthaa Bhandarihttps://www.gadgetbridge.com/
Aasthaa is the youngest member of team Gadget Bridge. Straight out of college she wished to be a journalist and with a passion for gadgets became the youngest correspondent to cover gadget news and reviews here.
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