History of Youth Hostel Movement
The Youth Hostel movement was first initiated by a German school teacher, Mr. Richard Schirrmann way back in 1909. He set up the first Youth Hostel in 1912 in Altena, Germany, in his own school building to provide convenient accommodation to students who were involved in outdoor activities. Subsequently, the Youth Hostel movement started growing and as a result, the Youth Hostels’ Association was formed in Germany in 1919. The initiation of the International Youth Hostel Federation (IYHF) was an outcome of the first International Youth Hostel Federation Conference held in Amsterdam in 1932. With this, the Youth Hostel Movement gained momentum and more and more Youth Hostels began to be established in Europe with hygienic stay and food facilities.
The Scenario of Youth Hostels in India
The Government of India has been extending its support to promote the Youth Hostel Movement in India since 1966. The Youth Hostels Scheme was formulated as per the guidelines prescribed in the manual of the International Youth Hostel Federation. To date, 83 Government Youth Hostels have been constructed all over India.
In India, the Youth Hostels Scheme has been functioning as a joint venture between the Central and State Governments. While the Central Government bears the cost of construction, the State Governments provide fully developed land free of cost, with water, electricity and approach roads. After the construction is completed, the hostels are handed over to the State Governments for management. These youth hostels are looked after by a manager and a warden with support from a Hostel Management Committee.
Motive of the Youth Hostel
The main purpose of establishing Youth Hostels was to provide a “HOME AWAY FROM HOME” to travelers at affordable means. Youth Hostels are unlike hotels, where guests merely pay and stay. In a Youth Hostel, the atmosphere is more friendly and one is never made to feel like a stranger. The wardens in the hostels are friendly and can be approached to discuss problems and to seek advice, thus making the hoteliers feel at home. The hostellers, in return, may be expected to help the wardens to keep the Hostel clean and undertake some housekeeping responsibilities if required.
This kind of arrangement not only facilitates budget and low-cost travel but also provides various learning opportunities through travel and outdoor activities. Young people on educational tours, as well as excursions to historical and cultural centers, get plenty of opportunities to meet like-minded people, experience diversity at all levels, and consequently, gain tremendously from these kinds of youth hostels on both the economic and personal front.
The accommodation provided in these hostels is in the form of dormitories, which are separate for both men and women. There is a dining hall with self-service, a common room or lounge where the hoteliers can meet, mingle and engage in discussions on topics that are of common interest. Given the informal atmosphere of these hostels, they not only serve as a place for recreation but also become places for fostering informal education and nurturing new bonding and ties.
Some of the salient features of the Youth Hostel are:-
- It is a non-religious, non-political and non-commercial unit without any discrimination pertaining to race, color, gender, caste, creed, or social background.
- Overnight charges are kept to the minimum so that the youth with limited means can also avail the stay facility.
- Its functioning is as per the norms, rules and regulations laid down by International Youth Hostel Federation with minimal variationsdepending on the country of location.
- It promotes travel among the youth and also encourages various youth related activities and programmes.
- It cannot be used for political party meetings and social functions like marriages.
In India, these youth hostels are managed by a Hostel Management Committee constituted by the State/Union Territory as per the guidelines laid down by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India.
The Youth Hostel, Dalhousie
Dr. Karan Singh the then Union Minister of Tourism sanctioned the construction of the Youth Hostel at Dalhousie based on the request of the Himachal Pradesh Government and its foundation stone was laid by Smt. Sarojini Mahishi the Minister of State Tourism and Civil Aviation on 12th August, 1972.
Youth Hostel Dalhousie is the smallest built-in area. The main building has a plinth area of 1600 sq. ft. compared to 5000/10,000 sq. ft. in most other Hostels. It is also one of the oldest hostels. Hence, this is one of the prestigious Hostels under the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports.
The Youth Hostel at Dalhousie is a 92-bed hostel and to date students/youth of 22 states and 48 countries have visited and stayed here. A statistic shows that around 15,000 visitors visit and stay in this hostel every year. Adventure activities and other national-level programs of this hostel receive good participation from all over the country. This was the only government Youth Hostel to be linked to an International online booking network. Of all the Government Youth Hostels in India, there is only 6 Govt. Youth Hostels that are ISO certified and the Govt. Youth Hostel Dalhousie is one of them.