India’s Highest Pickleball Court Opens at 9,000 ft as Zostel Kufri Rewrites Valentine’s Day Travel

Zostel, part of the Zo World ecosystem, has launched Zostel Kufri, a new-age mountain hostel located over 9,000 feet above sea level in Kufri, Shimla district, Himachal Pradesh.

Key Highlight
- India’s highest pickleball court at 9,000+ ft above sea level.
- First hostel in India to feature a dedicated pickleball court.
- Positioned as a social, activity-driven alternative to conventional hill getaways.

Property Details
- Location: Kufri, Himachal Pradesh (45 minutes from Shimla).
- Rooms: 33 total – 12 dormitories (4-bed, 6-bed, 8-bed options, including female dorms) + 21 private rooms (standard, deluxe, superior deluxe).
- Many rooms feature balconies and panoramic Himalayan views.
- Interiors blend colonial-inspired design with modern comfort, reflecting Shimla’s heritage.

Valentine’s Travel Context
- Launch coincides with experience-led Valentine’s travel trends.
- Guests increasingly prefer shared activities, outdoor settings, and cooler climates over nightlife-centric destinations.
- Industry data shows ~22% occupancy growth across hill destinations like Shimla, Manali, Mussoorie, Rishikesh, and Udaipur.

Brand Philosophy
- Zostel emphasizes community-first travel: sport, shared moments, and human connection.
- CEO Aviral Gupta: “Travel is about human connection, not just destinations… Zostel Kufri takes that philosophy to a new altitude.”
- Part of Zo World ecosystem, which is scaling rapidly with goals of 15,000+ beds and ₹2200Cr GMV by 2030.

This launch positions Zostel Kufri as a trailblazer in sport-led hospitality, blending adventure, community, and romance against the Himalayan backdrop.