Staff was great and Amaresh was kind and helpful to resolve my concern timely. Shankar was great in the kitchen and the food was amazing. The property is located at a very good place and peaceful with a scenic view.

I actually booked 2 bed domitry with a shared bathroom but it didn't mention that the shared bathroom will be shared by the whole zostel and was a bit of concern with cleanliness and hygiene. So will recommend not to select this type of room but others from the given option.

I had an amazing stay at Zostel Kodaikanal! The property is stunning and well-maintained, surrounded by beautiful views. The location is perfect—peaceful yet close enough to key attractions, making it a convenient base for exploring. The staff was incredibly friendly and always went out of their way to make me feel welcome and comfortable. Their warm hospitality added so much to the overall experience. The vibes at the property are unmatched—perfect for relaxing, meeting fellow travelers, or simply soaking in the serene atmosphere. Highly recommend Zostel Kodaikanal to anyone looking for a memorable and laid-back getaway. Can't wait to visit again!

While the property itself is beautiful and the staff is friendly and accommodating, my experience was affected by the behavior of some other guests. Unfortunately, there were groups of travelers who didn’t respect the peaceful and community-oriented vibe that Zostel is known for. They were loud, intrusive, and disregarded the privacy of fellow travelers, which took away from the serene atmosphere I was looking forward to.

The Board games and the common area was fun to connect with other travellers.. A herd of bisons entered the property during our stay, ironically herding all the scattered groups towards the kitchen and made the night memorable. the staff made us all feel safe by bringing us inside. there couldn't have been a better story. 😆

We only stayed one night, it was little time to adjust and understand, for a more constructive feedback. Some of the travellers have voilated the alcohol policy by placing the liquor bottles openly.. which lead to a minor argument, but by the end, the manager Divesh and staff had explained the practical concerns and peacefully resolved.. they were friendly. zostel must explore ways to have a designated place for drinking during the rains.

Well, for starters the view is Immaculate and the staff is super friendly as well! And the environment that the Zostel team has created where fellow hosteliers can mingle and get friendly is super awesome. Loved the property manager dude, he was super friendly and sweet! I met three new wonderful people who made my trip immaculate thanks to this environment! Thank you Zostel team!!!

The only problem I had was with the tap water, it was kind of muddy but tbf in a terrain like that it is actually common however can be avoided by installing a filter of some sorts. Other than that, nothing much!

There's lots of things I liked about this hostel but the most amazing was the extremely nice and helpful staff, which made this stay one of the best times I ever had in a Hostel worldwide!!! devesh, prashant and nilu at the reception helped me with all of my hundreds of questions about the area, cab prices, public transports, dorms etc etc. and made recommendations on how to proceed with my further travels. The staff created such a cozy vibe that each person in this hostel was relaxed and the super beautiful common area made me talk to lots of (mostly indian) travellers in groups or who travelled alone. Even when the Zostel was booked out completely, Dev made sure to keep an eye on all cancellations and organised me a place for another 3 nights in the dorm! There is a little restaurant in the Zostel with really delicious indian and international food all day and breakfast, for about 100-300 Rs., which is perfect because the center is approx. 20-25 min walk (but a nice little street, I enjoyed walking it). There is no specific mountain view, but the Zostel is a bit on the top of the hill so you still have a really nice view on nature and the lower houses. They organised campfire every night. I felt like I left my home when I checked out after 4 nights. Just book it, it's amazing, and thanks again to the whole crew!!! Especially recommend for people travelling alone who look for a social environment.

There was no community kitchen but if you have some vegetables/fruits, the kitchen crew will e.g. stir fry it for you for free (most amazing service and so delicious!!) The Zostel was booked out in high season in May so with so many people going in and out and use the bathroom, it could become a bit dirty. I think for these situations, they shouldn't just clean in the morning but also once around 8PM. But that level of cleaning I've only experienced in Germany. The showerhead wasn't really working well in one dorm bathroom and not much at all in the other one, which they claimed to repair. But you're in the mountains, so water pressure can be difficult. I just showered with these big bassins and that turned out fine! It's a Hostel for a price below 1000 Rs. afterall.

I had a great experience out here.All the staffs were courteous and addressed all needs of zostellers. Planned just for a day but stayed here for a week just for their morning dosas and uthappams. The canteen was really good and had a mixed menu suitable for people across all states.Special mention to the Bonfire and lobby where you can play UNO and other games with co-zostellers. Finally the dog in the canteen is unavoidably cute.

This is an excellent place to meet other people and go on tours together. It's in a good location, as you can walk into town, and the staff are very friendly. We asked to switch rooms after our first night and we were granted this request without any hassle. The property has a large common room with beautiful views, and lots of outdoor hang-out areas including a fire pit. Nice place for chilling in nature with good company. Nice to have the cafe with meals available to purchase througout the day and evening. We ate here most of the time, as we didn't want to walk into town for every meal. Overall, good value for money, and good place to stay for meeting other travellers.

Cleanliness could be improved in the cafe and dining areas, but overall the rooms, linens and toilets are clean and comfortable.

The hostel was clean, comfortable and has a very nice atmosphere. Staff is very friendly and helpful. It's a bit far from the lake / city center for non much walkers but for me the half an hour walk was fine. There are no Tuktuks or scooter rentings in Kodai, just more or less expensive taxis.

The receptionist could have tell me from the beginning that it's better to book online for extending bc it's cheaper. In this case I figured out that it's more expensive when I checked my bank account. Of course I could have done it while paying but it was just not in my mind that it's more expensive when I book at the reception.

Zostel Kodaikanal, situated in the picturesque hill station, offers guests an exceptional stay experience. With its stunning views and serene atmosphere, this property, managed by the hospitable host Ravi, guarantees a memorable getaway. The well-appointed rooms, overseen by the helpful and friendly Nilu, are impeccably clean and furnished with essential amenities. Guests can revel in the beauty of the surrounding mountains from the inviting terrace and lounge areas. Conveniently located, the hostel allows easy access to nearby attractions and enchanting nature trails. For budget-conscious travelers seeking a cozy and scenic retreat, Zostel Kodaikanal, with Ravi and Nilu's dedicated service, is an ideal choice.

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Super chill hostel on the edge of town. Fantastic views. Cafe serves decent food and its convenient. Also a really cute cat hangs around the hostel.

It's somewhat far from town, but still within walking distance. I estimate about 15 mins total get to the main road. Definitely helps to have a vehicle but not necessary. Hostel could also be cleaner. There were hundreds of dead ants lying around and they were there for the whole time I stayed there.