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Paharganj Alternatives: Finding Safe Budget Hostels in Delhi

8 Comments / Decoding Delhi / By
“I landed in Delhi, got a cab to my hotel in Paharganj (where else?)… but then I got robbed in the evening, acquired a stomach infection, got assaulted by a cow, and even got lost on my way to the bus stand.”
This is a common story for many foreigners, especially those who are new in India. Yet, for some reasons, most western backpackers end up in Paharganj because it is also the cheapest option but also because they are not aware of other options. However, things have changed of late and with the growth of backpacker hostels, you don’t have to go bankrupt to stay in other parts of Delhi too and nor do you have to endure the chaos of Paharganj. But let us have a bit of background before moving ahead.
So, how did Paharganj develop into what it is now?
I am not sure but ever since I remember, this has been the only option for budget travellers in Delhi. Back in the 90s, some of my relatives visited the Delhi for that “once in a lifetime adventure” that middle-class Indians in small towns of that generation dreamt of. They spoke highly of this place on return although I’m sure they were never made aware of any other place. So, the primary benefit of Paharganj is its location, which is adjacent to New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS). On the metro, it is just two stops to Rajiv Chowk i.e. Connaught Place (CP), the centre of the city that everyone visits although, again, I am not sure why! Everything including street food is overpriced at CP. Similarly, the walled city of Old Delhi is also not far from here.
So, this is how the legend of Paharganj developed. It is a thick concentration of concrete with no space to breathe. Most of these concrete slabs eventually became cheap hotels. Less privileged people arriving in Delhi, who could not afford the luxury hotels, inevitably ran to Paharganj, as that is the only place that offered them feasible rates. Even in this day and age, you can get rooms for 400-500 if you venture into the inner alleys and if you don’t let some middleman exploit you. In the 60s, the so-called “Hippie Trail” made this place a favourite among those people with dreadlocks. This is why the restaurants here have Bob Marley posters and serve falafel.
However, the popularity of the place invariably attracted unwanted elements, and shady businesses, which are easy to operate inside those dark alleys. This is why, apart from being a chaotic and polluted mess, Paharganj has also acquired a reputation of being unsafe. Recently I even saw the trailer of a new movie, named after the place itself. It apparently is about a Spanish woman who comes here in search of her partner who disappeared in Paharganj (where else?).
So, this brings me to the original point. Yes, there is no need to stay in Paharganj even if you are a budget traveller in Delhi. This is not to say that the place does not have a certain charm that is associated with the underbelly of a great city. However, this works only if you are already an India veteran, know basic Hindi, and aware of all the tricks as well as trappings of the Indian tourism scene. If you are new, unsure, and not confident of surviving on your own, the best option is to avoid this area. You can explore it later, once you get used to the country.
Now, a casual search in Hostelworld showed me at least 5 dozen backpacker hostels in Delhi itself. Yes, this is how the hostel scene has exploded in the last 4-5 years in India. Some of these are indeed located in Paharganj and Old Delhi. But I suggest you look for the ones in Southern parts of Delhi, where you will find more spacious accommodations at similar rates of INR 400-600. I am not here to promote any specific property. So, I am just mentioning some localities. You will definitely find hostels in these areas. Also, with the extensive metro network of Delhi, transportation will never be an issue in any case.

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.

Jitaditya Narzary
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8 thoughts on “Paharganj Alternatives: Finding Safe Budget Hostels in Delhi”

  1. sherianne

    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

    Reply
  3. Anda

    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.

    Reply
  4. Chris Bloomfield

    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.

    Reply
  5. Medha Verma

    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.

    Reply
  6. Nicole

    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

    Reply
  7. Tami

    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!

    Reply

  8. Pingback: Delhi itinerary: 3 days in Delhi - Backpack Adventures

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