20 things you can buy for 50p in India.

The humble 50p. In the UK it'll buy you 2 Freddo's if you're lucky and perhaps a prawn cocktail sandwich in the reduced to clear. In India, it'll stretch just that little bit further... Here's some examples to name but a few.

1. 2 hot glasses of sweet, milky masala chai. 

2. A shot of Blue Riband gin.

3. 2 bottles of drinking water (make sure you always check the seal, and if they say 'normal' water they mean 'warm', so specify you want the cold stuff.) 

4. A small kingfisher (or a large one if you're lucky.)

5. A pack of postcards from child sellers outside just about every temple, fort, palace or general tourist attraction in Rajahstan. 

6. 2 packets of Spanish Tango Tomato crisps which we've found taste exactly like prawn cocktail and are the best train/ bus/ boat snack ever.

7. A large lassi at either Lassiwala, Jaipur or blue lassi in Varanasi. They were the best we tried all trip. 

8. 6 cups of coffee at the Indian Cafe, Jaipur.

9. Half a day's bicycle hire in Hampi.

10. 5 glasses of sugarcane juice, squeezed in front of you on most shop corners in Mumbai.

11. 2 adapter plugs in Varanasi.

12. 5 wraps of still-hot bhel puri, mixed in front of you in a silver urn and spiced to your liking. 

13. 3-5 hot roti/ chapati, from just about every restaurant you'll ever visit in India. 

14. A bounty (or twix, or snickers, or if you're lucky a 4-fingered kit kat.) 

15. Tiger balm.

16. Jewellery: wooden earrings and rings, plaited bracelets, silver anklets you name it. 

17. A pot of nail varnish (just about any brand you can think of.)

18. A mudbath in Arambool.

19. A ride around Colaba in Mumbai, in a traditional Mumbai taxi. 

20. 5 'kisses' from Laxmi  the elephant at the Virupaksha Temple in Hampi. 

The best backpacker hostels in Rajahstan.

Tripadvisor and hostelworld are great tools in India, offering honest and fair reviews of the thousands of hostels offering up cheap digs for travellers living out of backpacks. It's hard to find a comprehensive list of the hot spots though, so avoid missing out on the rooftop parties and communal breakfast chat and book into the below:

Delhi: Moustache Hostel, M Block Market, South Delhi. (650rps per dorm bed, including breakfast and wifi. Towels 50rps rent.)

As hostels go, Moustache is pretty pricey.  At almost £7 a night, we'd spent the same amount in Jaisalmer on a deluxe room inside the fort. That said, Moustache have got 'hosteling' down to a tee, and can afford to charge a bit more for the service. 8-bed dorms, both mixed and split, that are cleaned regularly, had individual fans and plugs and hot communal showers. Lockers are provided and you can buy a good lock for 50rps on reception. Tea and coffee is available all day, and drinking water's on tap. Breakfast is included, offering cereal, toast, eggs and hot chai. There's wifi all over as well as two desktop computers (something I got pretty excited about.) The common room's decked out with games, a tv and loads of info, whilst the large roof terrace hosts nightly yoga classes and is a non-overlooked sun trap in the day. 

Greater Kailash is an expensive part of Delhi, and M-block market reflects that. That said, the frozen yogurt shop 2mins away is every hangovers godsend and we got some amazing street food at MK's which is directly opposite (follow the queues.)

4/5 from me. 

Varanasi: Stops Hostel, near Assi Ghat. (Between 350-550rps per night, breakfast, wifi and activities included.)

We didn't actually stay here, (needed a list like this to follow didn't we), but everyone that did raves about it. The hostel pur on daily activities which are all included (just tip the guides), so you can do as much or as little as you like; from boat rides to massages and cooking classes. The dorms are clean, thought it's recommended to opt for the slightly more expensive, smaller dorm as the 16-bedder has showers located on the roof.

Jaipur: Zostel Jaipur (299-499rps per dorm bed. Free wifi, breakfast 70rps.) 

I couldn't recommend Zostel Jaipur enough. Rahul is the guy in charge and he was the perfect host, organising everything over email in advance (including free train station pick up) and making sure everyone's happy throughout the stay. The rooms are clean, the showers hot, wifi's great and the 8-bed dorms are really comfy. Washing facilities are available for 70rps, which we found really helpful and you can pay 70rps for the breakfast which is served communally everyday.

The only drawback is that tuc-tuc drivers don't know where Zostel is as it is relatively new and in a more residential area (something we didn't consider a drawback because of how safe the location felt.) Just make sure you have a Hindu version of the address - Rahul gave us one- and you'll be fine. 

Stay here, it will make your time in Jaipur. 

5/5 from me. 

Jaisalmer: Mystic Jaisalmer Hotel, near Air Force Circle, Jaisalmer Old City. (300-900rps per night, wifi included.)

Located outside the fort walls, this was the hostel recommended by the team at Zostel (if you tell Mystic you've stayed their they'll give you a discount.) The decor is bright and traditional, with a lazy restaurant on the rooftop where breakfast is served and beers are available. The staff are super helpful and will organise camel safaris on request. 

Agra: Zostel Agra, Taj East Gate Road. (349rps per person.)

Zostel had opened just a couple of weeks before when we checked in (guests 24 & 25), so everything is completely new. When we asked for cutlery the staff unwrapped them from their packaging! That said, already this place has got a great feel to it. Arty paintings cover the walls and the rooms are small (only 4 to a room), but really clean and the showers hot. Wifi's good and the location is bang on for the taj - just 2 minutes from Shilmgram where you can buy your east gate entry tickets.

3/5 - but only because it's in it's infancy. This place is full of potential.