Hostels in India: Sonder, Mysore

This post is part of a series about hostels in India. As a budget traveller, hostels are my favourite mode of accommodation when I’m travelling. The facilities are perfect for backpackers and the opportunities to make new friends are endless. However, guesthouses are still the most popular mode of accommodation in India. I want to highlight some hostels in India that I’ve stayed at and think are amazing! Today’s choice- Sonder in Mysore!

Mysore is a city whose praises I just can’t stop singing. It had so much to love- healthy restaurants, morning yoga, gorgeous architecture and a local, small city vibe.

To really experience the best of Mysore, there’s no better place than the affluent suburb of Gokulam. Gokulam is the heart of the yogi community and isn’t far from the city’s main attractions like Chaumandi Hill and Mysore Palace.

Luckily, I know a great hostel that is perfect for budget travellers visiting Mysore: Sonder Hostel. I was supposed to stay here for just 3 nights and ended up staying for 5.  Here are a few of the ways that Sonder Hostel contributed to my love of the Mysore, and why I couldn’t tear myself away from that city!

The Atmosphere

One of the first things that I judge a hostel by is its atmosphere. And rightfully so, as well as being budget-friendly, my main draw to staying in hostels is being able to meet people and stay in a homely environment.

After my long, overnight bus journey from Goa to Mysore, I felt right at home when I arrived at Sonder Hostel. With its large garden equipped with hammocks and bean bags, it’s easy to forget that you’re in the middle of a city.

I stayed in a female only dorm and instantly made two fellowing travelling sister companions; Alex and Jasmine. That afternoon we headed out for a day of eating ice cream, shopping for silk and sandalwood, and trying on kurtas and sarees.

Top Tip: Don’t miss the Hoysala temple trail!

The Staff

Sonder is an independently owned hostel and the staff were both inviting and accommodating. They were constantly on hand to offer advice on the best restaurants to eat at, where to find yoga classes and how to get around the city. It’s obvious that they love the social aspect of having guests staying with them and they were always keen for a chat over breakfast.

Staff can really make or break your experience when you’re staying in communal accommodation and the staff definitely contributed to the positive atmosphere at Sonder.

The Rooms

One thing that makes Sonder Hostel stand out from other hostels that I stayed at was the amount of character that it had. I loved the brightly coloured rooms with murals and motivational quotes. My 4-bed dorm had all the amenities that backpackers really want, like a lockable safe under the bed and a private ensuite bathroom.

As well as this, the room had little extra finishing touches that provide another level comfort. Thing like individual night lights and personal charging units take the awkwardness out of sharing a room with other people. Sonder clearly knows what their guests need and have designed their hostel accordingly.

 Top Tip: How to Make the Most of your Rupees in India

The Facilities

Much like Summer by thehostelcrowd in Goa, I was happy to see free filtered water at Sonder. I hate contributing to the ridiculous amount of plastic in the world so I always fill up my own bottle whenever possible.

Sonder also offered towel rental (a huge win for carry-on folk like me), a cheap laundry service and nice, strong WiFi!

Their common room was equipped with a TV and a library of books for travellers to swap out or buy at a small cost. Perfect for early evenings in and early rises for asana practice!

For those who prefer to prepare their own food, Sonder has a huge kitchen which is available for guests to use. (So long as they clean up after themselves.) Even if you don’t want to prepare your own meals, this was really handy for simple things like making cups of tea!

Breakfast is included in the room rate but don’t be expecting boring old toast and jam. Nope, Sonder take it to another level was mouthwatering traditional South Indian food. Guests can help themselves to food which is absolutely delicious! I loved the curried chickpeas and freshly cooked rotis.

The Location

As I’ve mentioned, Sonder is in the perfect location for your Mysore trip. Especially if you’re hoping to dabble in a bit of ashtanga while you’re there! The hostel is surrounded by cute cafes and healthy restaurants so you can feel like a Mysore local on your stay.

Since Mysore is such a small city, its easy to get anywhere. Uber was recently introduced to the city making getting around even easier and cheaper. The staff at Sonder can give you a code to get money off your first ride!

Value for Money

Accommodation in Mysore is fairly expensive by Indian standards. Especially in the wealthy suburban area of Gokulam. At Sonder, a bed in an ensuite, AC dorm will set you back 550 rupees. A great deal for such a popular area. Plus, that free breakfast is one of the best hostel breakies you’ll ever have!

With such friendly staff, great facilities and a warm welcoming environment, Sonder is a no brainer when looking for budget accommodation in Mysore. For bookings and more information, you can find their website here.

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Disclaimer: Thanks to Sonder for having me as a guest at their hostel. This is a sponsored post but, as always, all opinions are my own. 

Heading to Goa? Don’t miss  SUMMER by thehostelcrowd at Palolem Beach

P.s, don’t miss my other posts about backpacking in India!