Visiting Ranchi On A Tight Budget? Don't Leave Without These 8 Genius Tricks

India.com

13-07-2025

Ranchi is the capital of Jharkhand and is famous for its beautiful waterfalls, green mountains, and tranquil scenery. Ranchi is not as glamorous as some of the big cities in India, but travelers will find a certain charm in it, especially those traveling on a budget. If you want to visit the Ranchi city and not spend all your money, what you need are these clever budget travel tips that will make you save money without compromising on your experience.
1.Travel Smart – Save on Transport
Traveling to Ranchi need not be costly. If you plan ahead of time and book your tickets on trains. If you are sitting in a sleeper or second class ac compartment, you will save compared to taking flights. Ranchi is well connected to other cities like Delhi, Kolkata, and Patna, so your arrival via train should be no problem.
As for intra-city travel, rather than cabs, you can use shared autos or local buses. Restaurant public transport is very cheap and local tempos that people refer to as vikram cover almost all regions of the city for just ₹10-₹20.
Best budget transport options: Sleeper class train tickets start from ₹300-₹800, local buses cost around ₹10-₹30 per ride.
Auto-rickshaws: Shared autos charge ₹10-₹20, private autos can cost ₹100 or more depending on distance.
Buses: Jharkhand State Transport buses and private buses are available at budget-friendly fares.
2.Budget-Friendly Stay Options
Searching for affordable places to stay is not that hard in Ranchi thanks to the many options available. Rather than going for pricey hotels, you can choose inexpensive guesthouses, hostels, or lodges as they are more reasonably priced. In addition, there are many OYO budget rooms that can be booked for less than ₹800 a night.
If you want to fully immerse yourself in the culture, you can also consider dharamshalas which provide decent accommodations at very low prices.
Budget hotels: Prices range from ₹500-₹1200 per night.
Hostels and guesthouses: Available for as low as ₹300-₹800 per night.
Dharamshalas: Some religious trusts provide stays for ₹200-₹500 per night.
3.Eat Local, Save More
Food in Ranchi is economical if you eat like a local. Instead of fancy restaurants, try small dhabas and budget-friendly eateries. Local dishes like litti chokha and dhuska as well as the well known mutton curry are delectable and do not cost very much.
Best budget-friendly foods in Ranchi:
Litti Chokha – ₹40-₹80 per plate
Dhuska (fried rice cakes) – ₹20-₹50 per plate
Mutton Curry with rice – ₹100-₹150 per meal
Local Thali – ₹80-₹150 per meal
Street food like samosas and chaats – ₹10-₹50 per item
4.Explore Free & Low-Cost Attractions
Ranchi has countless other amazing sites that have little or no entry fees. Most natural wonders like waterfalls and parks have very low entrance fees, if there are any, for them.
Top budget-friendly places to visit:
Dassam Falls – Entry Free, ₹10-₹20 for parking
Rock Garden – Entry Fee ₹20
Tagore Hill – Free Entry
Pahari Mandir – Free Entry
Kanke Dam – Free Entry
Patratu Valley – Free Entry
Jonha Falls – ₹10 Entry Fee
5.Plan Your Trip During Off-Season
Avoid peak tourist seasons to get better deals on transport and hotels. The best budget-friendly time to visit Ranchi is during the monsoon or winter months when accommodation prices drop.
Peak Season (Higher Prices): October to February
Budget-Friendly Time to Visit: July to September (Monsoon) or March to May (Pre-Summer)
Flight & Train Discounts: Look for discounts during off-seasons on IRCTC and airline websites.
6.Use Budget Travel Apps & Discounts
Use a combination of website and mobile apps to get the best deals. IRCTC, RedBus, and MakeMyTrip will almost always have some discount coupons for transport and accommodation. If you are a student, make sure to always have your ID card with you – some places will offer you discounts!
Best budget travel apps:
Google Maps – To find cheap transport routes
IRCTC & RedBus – For train and bus bookings
Zomato – For affordable food deals
OYO & Goibibo – For budget hotel discounts
7.Shop Smart – Avoid Tourist Traps
When shopping for souvenirs, steer clear from the overpriced shops in the malls or in places that are often crowded by tourists. Instead, try to target local markets such as Firayalal Chowk or Upper Bazaar which will offer you souvenirs at much lower prices. Always remember to haggle as most shopkeepers do expect you to!
Best places for budget shopping:
Firayalal Chowk – Affordable clothes, shoes, and accessories
Upper Bazaar – Handicrafts and traditional Jharkhand textiles
Daily markets – Cheap fresh fruits and snacks
8.Carry Reusable Items to Cut Costs
Expenses can be controlled by using suitable items such as cloth bags for shopping. Water bottles can be carried around for easy access. Ranchi has many places to refill water, so you don't have to buy water bottles. Buying snacks in bulk is another great option to personally avoid overpriced food stalls.
Things to carry:
Reusable water bottle (saves ₹20-₹30 per bottle)
Snacks (to avoid spending on expensive snacks outside)
Cloth bag (many shops charge for plastic bags)
Final Thoughts
Everything seems possible in Ranchi, with the proper budgeting allocated for various activities such as hiking to waterfalls, pushing oneself to savor local delicacies, or simply indulging in the elegance of the city's architectural achievability.
From refined hotel accommodation and meals to smart transport choices, everything and anything is available to the people seeking the beauty of the city while keeping their pockets filled.
With proper planning and a positive attitude, one can embrace Ranchi's cultural, geographical, and culinary beauty whilst staying internally sane with money. Enjoy budget-friendly travels!