A zestful traveller’s choice

With minimalistic living on the vogue, less is the new more. The online era has helped the hotel industry make revolutionary changes over time to meet the needs of new-age travellers or backpackers. Backpackers’ love for travel knows no borders. Unlike an average tourist, they spend more time exploring places, people and culture.

With the hotel industry taking up budget-friendly avatars, Chennai has now welcomed its first ‘Zostel’!

“Zostel is India’s first chain of backpacking hostels that works on a franchise model, where like-minded entrepreneurs start a hostel of their own,” explains Akhil Malik, one of the co-founders.

Akhil Malik

On being asked why he chose to start a Zostel in Chennai, Vignesh Rajendran, the franchise owner, says, “Chennai is very different from other parts of India and has a lot to offer a backpacker. The cuisine is very inviting as well!”

For every travel enthusiast out there, Zostel aims to bring about a change in the backpackers’ experience, especially in the way they share their stay, food and memories with fellow travellers. He adds, “Besides being light on one’s pocket, this is a place where all travellers, especially the ones who go solo, feel safe.” He also feels that the chain has become an interesting spot in the city that serves to be a destination for cross-cultural exchange.

Talking about the set-up,  Shanmathi Muralidaran, the young designer of the dorm, says, “Zostel-Chennai is the first of-its-kind down south. The rooftop setup is a primary attraction for the travellers.”

Shanmathi

When asked about the ethnocentric design of the space, she explains, “We managed to infuse the essence of Tamil culture in the design. We have incorporated decors of Chennai’s identity like the filter coffee cups, the oonjal, the kolam prints on the wall, a city map and the exclusive Zostel auto to top it all.”

 Shanmathi adds, “I have made sure that my design inspires backpackers, who get to learn about Chennai’s culture and heritage, even if they were staying here only for a night. In order to effectuate this vision, I had to work with wooden pallets, buy antiques from the run-down markets and up-cycle damaged goods to create the decor.”