India Guide
Delhi
Paharganj and Ram Nagar
North of Connaught Place and directly west of New Delhi railway station, Paharganj, centred around Main Bazaar, provides the first experience of the Subcontinent for many budget travellers, as it holds Delhi's best inexpensive accommodation. There will always be budget rooms available here – don't believe anyone who tells you otherwise. Packed with cheap hotels, restaurants, cafés and dhabas, and with a busy fruit and vegetable market halfway along, it's also a paradise for shoestring shoppers seeking psychedelic clothing, joss sticks, bags, and oils of patchouli or sandalwood.
Adjacent Ram Nagar, directly north of Paharganj, just beyond the flyover section of Desh Bandhu Gupta Road, is also lined with hotels and a few restaurants. While within easy reach of the Main Bazaar, you're spared the incessant noise and commercial atmosphere. Rates tends to be a little higher than in Paharganj, but rooms are generally bigger, brighter and cleaner.