Where to stay in Delhi in 2023
21.07.2023 - 07:28
/ roughguides.com
/ Red Fort
Given Delhi’s size, it’s pretty important to give serious consideration to where you’d like to stay. Proximity to the city’s main sights can be a factor, and prices vary by area. In addition, you might prefer to be near to a railway station, or far from the hubbub. With that in mind, read on to find out where to stay in Delhi, as related in The Rough Guide to India, your travel guide for India.
Delhi has a vast range of accommodation, from dirt-cheap lodges to lavish international hotels.
It’s easy to book rooms online, and that includes cheaper places. In fact, we advise even independent budget travellers to book at least the first night in advance.
For example, hauling a backpack from place to place around Paharganj is not only stressful but will see you treated as a target by touts.
From a visitor’s perspective, Delhi is divided into two main areas. Old Delhi is the city of the Mughals and dates back to the seventeenth century. It’s the capital’s most frenetic quarter, and its most Islamic — a reminder that for more than seven hundred years Delhi was a Muslim-ruled city.
Old Delhi’s greatest monuments are undoubtedly the magnificent constructions of the Mughals. These include the mighty Red Fort, and the Jama Masjid, India’s largest and most impressive mosque.
To the south, encompassing the modern city centre, you’ll find New Delhi This was built by the British to be the capital of their empire’s key possession.
A spacious city of tree-lined boulevards, New Delhi is also impressive in its own way.
Considering visiting Delhi? Browse our customisable India itineraries, or talk to our local India travel experts.
Wondering where to stay in Delhi? You might want to be near attractions, like the Lotus Temple © Shutterstock
The best for an authentic experience
Though it’s not in fact the oldest part of Delhi, the seventeenth-century city of Shahjahanabad, built for the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, is known as Old Delhi.
Construction began on the city in 1638, and within eleven years it was substantially complete, surrounded by more than 8km of ramparts pierced by fourteen main gates.
Today much of the wall has crumbled, and of the fourteen gates only four remain, but it remains a fascinating area, crammed with interesting nooks and crannies.
That said, you’ll need stamina, patience, time, and probably a fair few chai stops along the way to endure the crowds and traffic.
The same is true of Paharganj, the district just across the rail tracks. Despite being rather unrepresentative of the city as a whole, this somehow manages to encapsulate Delhi in a nutshell.
Note that few tourists stay in Old Delhi, which many find dirty, noisy and overcrowded. Most hotels here are mostly geared to Indian visitors rather