India has a strong tradition of girls' boarding education, from royal-era schools in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to the Dehradun and Mussoorie cluster and convent schools in the hills. This guide to the top residential schools for girls in India compares ten widely listed options by region, board and indicative fee, and links to detailed regional guides and a safety checklist.
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Top Girls' Residential Schools in India at a Glance
| School | City | Board | Indicative annual fee* | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Welham Girls' School | Dehradun | ICSE / ISC / Cambridge | About ₹8.5 to ₹13 lakh (sources vary) | Girls' boarding (heritage) |
| Mayo College Girls' School | Ajmer | ICSE / ISC / Cambridge | About ₹8.5 to ₹11.5 lakh | Girls' boarding (heritage) |
| Hopetown Girls' School | Dehradun | ICSE / ISC | About ₹10.3 lakh (another listing ₹15.2 lakh) | Girls' boarding |
| Unison World School | Dehradun | ICSE / ISC / Cambridge | About ₹15.7 to ₹16.2 lakh | Girls' boarding |
| Scindia Kanya Vidyalaya | Gwalior | CBSE | About ₹5.5 to ₹8.4 lakh | Girls' boarding |
| Heritage Girls School | Udaipur | CBSE / IGCSE | About ₹3.9 to ₹5.4 lakh | Girls' fully residential |
| Maharani Gayatri Devi Girls' School | Jaipur | CBSE | About ₹4.9 to ₹5.8 lakh total | Girls' day and boarding |
| All Saints' College | Nainital | ICSE | About ₹5.15 lakh | Girls' day-cum-boarding |
| Vantage Hall Girls' Residential School | Dehradun | CBSE | About ₹4.1 to ₹6 lakh | Girls' boarding |
| Convent of Jesus and Mary | Mussoorie | CBSE | About ₹3.5 lakh | Girls' day-cum-boarding |
*Indicative recurring tuition plus boarding for 2026-27, from school notices where available and otherwise from listing sites, which often disagree. Admission fees, refundable deposits, imprest and kit are extra. Confirm the current fee circular with each school. Inclusion is not an endorsement.
The Schools
1. Welham Girls' School — Dehradun
Board: ICSE / ISC / Cambridge · Type: Girls' boarding (heritage) · Indicative fee: About ₹8.5 to ₹13 lakh (sources vary)
One of India's best-known girls' boarding schools, with a long academic and co-curricular record. Estimates for fees vary widely, and larger ones include a separate admission fee and refundable deposit.
View Welham Girls' School profile →
2. Mayo College Girls' School — Ajmer
Board: ICSE / ISC / Cambridge · Type: Girls' boarding (heritage) · Indicative fee: About ₹8.5 to ₹11.5 lakh
Houses named after Rajasthani princesses and a Cambridge programme alongside ICSE. Request the current circular.
View Mayo College Girls' School profile →
3. Hopetown Girls' School — Dehradun
Board: ICSE / ISC · Type: Girls' boarding · Indicative fee: About ₹10.3 lakh (another listing ₹15.2 lakh)
A girls-only school in Dehradun with differing fee listings.
View Hopetown Girls' School profile →
4. Unison World School — Dehradun
Board: ICSE / ISC / Cambridge · Type: Girls' boarding · Indicative fee: About ₹15.7 to ₹16.2 lakh
One of the higher-priced girls' schools according to listings.
View Unison World School profile →
5. Scindia Kanya Vidyalaya — Gwalior
Board: CBSE · Type: Girls' boarding · Indicative fee: About ₹5.5 to ₹8.4 lakh
The girls' school of the Scindia institutions in Gwalior, with conflicting fee listings.
6. Heritage Girls School — Udaipur
Board: CBSE / IGCSE · Type: Girls' fully residential · Indicative fee: About ₹3.9 to ₹5.4 lakh
A fully residential girls' school in the Eklingji hills near Udaipur.
View Heritage Girls School profile →
7. Maharani Gayatri Devi Girls' School — Jaipur
Board: CBSE · Type: Girls' day and boarding · Indicative fee: About ₹4.9 to ₹5.8 lakh total
Founded in 1943, Rajasthan's first all-girls school.
8. All Saints' College — Nainital
Board: ICSE · Type: Girls' day-cum-boarding · Indicative fee: About ₹5.15 lakh
A lake-town girls' school.
View All Saints' College profile →
9. Vantage Hall Girls' Residential School — Dehradun
Board: CBSE · Type: Girls' boarding · Indicative fee: About ₹4.1 to ₹6 lakh
A more affordable Dehradun girls' option.
10. Convent of Jesus and Mary — Mussoorie
Board: CBSE · Type: Girls' day-cum-boarding · Indicative fee: About ₹3.5 lakh
A long-established convent school in Mussoorie.
Girls' Boarding Schools by Region
- Dehradun and Mussoorie: the densest cluster. See best girls boarding schools in Dehradun and Mussoorie.
- Rajasthan and central India: Ajmer, Udaipur, Jaipur, Mount Abu and Gwalior. See best girls boarding schools in Rajasthan and central India.
- Nainital and Ooty: hill-station convent and mission schools. See Nainital and Ooty.
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How to Choose a Girls' Boarding School
- Set a budget for the whole stay. See residential schools by budget.
- Pick the board for your daughter's next step.
- Check safety and hostel care using our girls' boarding school checklist.
- Visit in term time and speak to current parents.
- Compare first-year and recurring cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best girls' boarding school in India?
Welham Girls' (Dehradun) and Mayo College Girls' (Ajmer) are among the best known, with Hopetown, Unison World, Scindia Kanya and Heritage Girls also widely listed. The best choice depends on budget, board and location.
What are the fees of girls' boarding schools in India?
Indicative annual fees run from about ₹3 lakh at convent schools to above ₹10 lakh at flagship campuses, plus admission fees and deposits. Confirm with each school.
Which is the cheapest girls' boarding school?
Convent and regional schools in Mussoorie, Nainital and Ooty list from about ₹3 lakh. Government options for girls may exist in some states, so check local admission notices.
At what class do girls' boarding schools admit?
Most admit at Classes 5 to 9 and sometimes 11, after tests and interviews.
Is boarding safe for girls?
It can be when the school has trained women staff, controlled access and good medical care. Verify these on a visit.
Explore More
Read Dehradun and Mussoorie, Rajasthan and central India, girls' boarding school checklist and residential schools by budget. Also see top boarding schools in India.
🏫 Find boarding schools
Compare boarding schools by fees, hostel facilities and parent reviews.
