Budget travel in South India specifically — because the north gets all the coverage and the south is arguably better value.

Kerala: the backwater boat trips are famous and there are budget options. The public ferry from Alleppey to Kottayam costs $1.50 and takes 2.5 hours through the same backwaters as the $80 tourist houseboats. The scenery is identical. Budget accommodation in Alleppey starts at $8-12/night for a clean guesthouse room.

Tamil Nadu: the temple towns (Madurai, Kanchipuram, Chidambaram) are extraordinary and almost entirely free to enter the outer courts. The Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai is one of the most spectacular structures in Asia and you can walk through most of it without paying anything.

Pondicherry: the French colonial quarter is a surprising combination of European architecture and Indian everyday life. The Sri Aurobindo Ashram guesthouse offers accommodation for visitors at approximately $12-18/night in basic rooms. Pondicherry is noticeably cheaper for accommodation than Goa.

Goa: budget travelers can still find affordable beach accommodation in the non-resort areas. North Goa (Calangute, Baga) is tourist-priced. South Goa (Palolem, Agonda) is significantly cheaper and better in most respects. Off-season (May-September, monsoon) rates are 40-60% below peak.

Overall South India daily budget: $18-28/day covers guesthouse accommodation, local restaurant food (dosas at ₹50-80, thalis at ₹100-150), and local transport.