Located in the beautiful city of palaces known for scenic beauty and favourable climate,  Mysore Youth Hostel is a joint venture of the Central Government of India & State Government of Karnataka. It conforms to the norms followed by International Youth Hostel Federation and is a non-religious, non-political, non-commercial unit transcending barriers of race, colour, sex, caste, creed or social background

What is Youth Hostel ?
"Youth Hostel is a "HOME AWAY FROM HOME"

It  provides young people on their educational excursions inexpensive hostelling facilities  in the form of dormitories – separate for ladies and gents, a dining hall with self-service, a common room or lounge.

It is a place for forming friendship, recreation and informal education.

Unique    features  of   the   youth   hostel are that  both  men and women  can  stay self service, sharing and caring, and  that  it  is  looked  after  by  two wardens - a husband wife team who are also known  as  hostel parents.

The Youth Hostel Movement was the brainchild of an eminent German teacher Richard Schirrmann, who believed in the virtues of group excursions to study geography, history and the world of nature. He took delight in organizing week-long trails for students.

During an excursion in 1909, one night on 26th Aug, a terrible storm ranged with thunder and lightening. While his young wards were fitfully asleep in the school premises, Richard lay awake pensively toying at the idea of utilizing the school building during holidays. It flashed to him that empty schoolrooms were waiting to be turned into dormitories and dining rooms. That fateful night marked the birth of the youth hostel movement. Thus the first Youth Hostel was opened in 1912 in Altena, Germany.

The International Youth Hostel Federation was inaugurated in 1932 as an outcome of the First International Youth Hostel Conference held at Amsterdam. At present there are 5600 Youth Hostels in 56 countries covering all the continents.

The Indian Chapter of the Youth Hostel Scheme was initiated in 1949 when YHA of India was formed at Maharaja's College hostel under the University of Mysore. The Association shifted in 1977 to New Delhi, the present National Office.

The Government of India extended its support to the movement in 1966 when it decided to provide one model youth hostel for each State.

The Mysore Youth Hostel, after being relocated from Hampi, started functioning with its formal inauguration on 26th Mar 1988.

As of date there are 71 youth hostels in addition to the Mysore Youth Hostel.

Warden - Cdr Narendra Sing Sirohi (Retd.), Warden, Dr. Sharada Sirohi, Sri Mallesh, Smt. Roopa K M, Smt. Nagarathna .R, Sri. Shivanna .D, Sri. Nanjundaswamy, Smt. Prema, Sri. Karupaiah, Sri. Siddaraju, Sri. Gangadhar and Sri. Nagendra P.