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Malviya Nagar- Saket- Mehrauli
These are the southernmost areas of Delhi and among the most preferred residential areas in Delhi. I have stayed in Saket in a hostel on one occasion, and before that, I lived in a rented room in this area for a long time. These residential complexes hide some of the oldest yet least known monuments of Delhi, while the Qutub Minar towers over Mehrauli, which is practically the oldest settlement of Delhi. Eventually, the road here connects you to Gurgaon. So, if you have some business in Gurgaon, then also this is a good area to stay. The Yellow Line of Delhi Metro connects these places directly to CP, Chandni Chowk (Old Delhi), New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS), Old Delhi Railway Station (DLI), Kashmiri Gate Bus Stand (ISBT) & of course, Gurgaon.
Nearest Metro Stations: Malviyanagar, Saket, Qutub Minar, Chattarpur
Nearby Local Attractions: Qutub Minar, Mehrauli Archeolgical Park, Mehrauli Village, Champa Gali, Garden of Five Senses, Qila Rai Pithora, Jahanpanah
Hauz Khas Village-Green Park- Safdarjung
This is practically one of the most affluent neighbourhoods in Delhi, interspersed again with some interesting monuments of Siri, the second city of Delhi. Hauz Khas Village, a slick neighbourhood full of art galleries, boutique shops, cafes, and pubs, is a popular hangout in the city although signs of excessive commercialization are now visible. This area also falls on the Yellow Line of Delhi Metro as the one above and is even closer to the centre.
Nearest Metro Stations: Hauz Khas, Green Park
Nearby Local Attractions: Hauz Khas Village, Siri Fort & Lake, Humayunpur
South Ex
South Extension is another popular residential area connecting Yellow and Violet Lines via the Pink Line of Delhi Metro. It is the area between Lajpat Nagar and AIIMS. Major cultural centres of Delhi such as Siri Fort Auditorium, India Habitat Center, & India International Center are not far from here. The Pink Line also directly connects it to the Nizamuddin Dargah as well as the Nizamuddin Railway Station (NZM).
Nearest Metro Stations: South Ex, AIIMS, Mulchand, Lajpat Nagar
Nearby Local Attractions: Siri Fort Auditorium, India Habitat Center, Shahpur Jat, Masjid Moth, Kotla Mubarakpur Complex, Nizamuddin, Humayun’s Tomb etc.
Vasant Kunj
This is another upmarket residential locality in the southwestern corner of Delhi. Nowadays it is full of malls and market places. Vasant Kunj does not exactly have a metro line but there are some nearby areas with metro connectivity. However, the primary benefit of staying here is that it is much closer to the international airport (IGI) compared to other areas.
Nearest Metro Stations: Chattarpur on Yellow Line, Delhi Aerocity Airport Express (Orange Line) and Vasant Vihar (Magenta Line)
Nearby Local Attractions: Sultan Garhi, RK Puram Complex
Nehru Place-Kalkaji-Greater Kailash-New Friends Colony-Hemkunt Colony
This area is located on the south-eastern part of Delhi along the Violet Line of Delhi Metro. It is close to a popular attraction, the iconic Lotus Temple. The metro connects it directly to the Red Fort and Kashmiri Gate Bus Station (ISBT). Nizamuddin station is also not very far from here too.
Nearest Metro Stations: Chattarpur on Yellow Line, Delhi Aerocity Airport Express(Orange Line) and Vasant Vihar(Magenta Line)
Nearby Local Attractions: Lotus Temple, Purana Qila & Zoo, Feroz Shah Kotla, Tughlaqabad
PS1: While it is still a bit easier for me as a local, I understand that foreigners face a much harder time in Delhi and they mostly remain oblivious of good things that the city has to offer. So, apart from avoiding Paharganj itself, here is a useful list of scams to avoid in Delhi, especially you are a foreigner who is new in India.
PS2: Once your stay is settled, you can start exploring Delhi. In this case, the best option for budget travellers is to use the metro, which has an extensive network all over the city and its suburbs. Here is a Guide to Delhi Metro from a foreign traveller’s point of view.
PS3: If you genuinely want to explore Delhi beyond the cliches of Paharganj, CP, and Old Delhi, read my post on Genuinely Offbeat Things To Do in Delhi.
It sounds like the metro in Delhi is well connected. Hauz Khas Village sounds like the perfect area for me. I like that Vasant Kunj is close to the airport, so much easier than carrying a suitcase all over the place
It’s interesting to know there are so many budget accommodation options in Delhi. What is the average price range of a budget stay?
I’ve never been in India, or in Delhi by this token. It’s good to know there are quite a few budget accommodations in Delhi. Hopefully they are clean and safe. My experience with budget hotels hasn’t been to good in other parts of the world.
These places sound much better than being assaulted by a cow! I like being frugal, but not when it is so sketchy our safety is questionable. It’s good to have another option that is still close with access to public transit.
So I did not know that Paharganj was always known as the budget option in Delhi since the 90s. I can imagine foreigners landing there and not having the best experience, I am personally not fond of that area myself (I am from Delhi, by the way). You’ve done a great job of listing some nicer areas where one can find budget hostel stays. I am surprised to see Vasant Kunj featured in the list, I would’ve imagined accommodation would be expensive! It definitely is a better area to stay though.
I loved using the Delhi metro. So easy to use and well connected. I did not know paharganj was the budget friendly alternative. That s great
I’ve never been to India but I imagine how easy it would be for a beginner to end up in a bad part of the city, looking for cheaper lodging. Great idea to help out those who might be unaware and offer some good alternatives!
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