Help in Paharganj!!!!!!!!

Tan0381

Hi!

was wondering if anyone is in the area?

Im too afraid to step outside my hostel and would be great to meet up with a fellow back packer!

seventies'hippy

Try just going out & sticking to the road your hotels on, just walk slowly but confidently as if you've been along there dozens of times, when you see a juice bar, cafe etc, somewhere with seats outside would be best, sit down, order a drink, make it last & watch the world go by, If you can strike up a conversation with other westerners all the better, Ask questions, Do you know how I can do/ get to,,,,,,, whatever type stuff. People are always willing to help/talk they just need an 'in', Give em it!

Good Luck

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beach

I think every one in delhi is in that area you are not too far from another backpacker.

Alan D

Sound advice from seventies'hippy and Beach is right, Paharganj must have the highest density of backpackers in India outside of Goa and Pushkar.

Now is not the time to be cool, just babble away to people until you get a response, even if it doesn't come naturally to you.

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machadinha

The many rooftop restaurants will even allow you to chat to others without being confronted with the street at all! Other than that follow the above advice, you'll have to get through it at some point.

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Dr Funkenstein

Sorry to hear that Paharganj is freaking you out a bit, Tan0381.

Seventies hippy's advice is sound - try and look confident (even if you don't feel that way!) and just take it slowly. I'd advise hiding behind a decent pair of shades for a bit until you feel a bit happier with everything - no eye-contact is one of the best way to avoid tout hassle - and just get yourself settled in a chai stall and watch the world go by until you feel a bit more comfortable with it all.

Paharganj is a bit of a 'baptism of fire' in many ways. If you want a crash course in India in the space of an hour it's ideal, but if you're trying to avoid culture-shock it's not the best place in the world.

Once you've been there a while, the heat, the cows, the touts and even the ever-present shit won't bother you one bit. You'll be fine in a while, I'm sure.

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Idli

This thread might help you little bit.

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Sadhu

Nothing to be afraid of! I agree about the shades - put on some sunglasses, and casually stroll down the street, ready to SMILE and gently decline any tout offers. Don't act freaked out or angry, just put on that 'all is right with the world I'm back in Mother India' vibe you see people with. A smile says 'I am OK here' as opposed to 'I am really overwhelmed - please rip me off!" Stop in any cafe/tea house, or the rooftop cafe at Anoop's, and you'll see tons of westerners. You so need to get the high of walking down the street taking it all in. It looks more intimidating than it really is. That first rush as you walk down a busy street on your first trip is one of the great highs of the Indian experience.

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vinayverma

After all those great advices, if you are still feeling unfortable, drop me a line with your contact details, I can walk around with you.
I'm also sending you my contact number, feel free to call if you need any help.

All the best
Vinay

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nickooji

It's odd in Paharaganj i find it harder than anywhere else to meet westerners, where are the haunts so to speak?

AllanM

I agree with Nikooji.

It always feels like a combo of out cooling each other and abject fear of the onslaught that Paharganj can be at times.

The few people that I have met in Paharganj were on their 6th or 7th trips and were comfortable with being there; ie, their defenses weren't on high alert.

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nickooji

Alan i've done 7 or 8 trips, and i still feel it, admitedly i stayed in conaught lane until recently, i always meet people at Ringos and Sunny but feel that i spend too much on food up there! You can only have so many meals at Don't pass me by.

AllanM

The Connaught area always seems to draw old hands that don't want to deal with the Paharganj madness every day. I'm thinking of staying there this summer on my forays through Delhi. I'm afraid that I might miss the fun and rs. 20 Dal and Chappati's of main bazar.

How's the Ringo these days? I've heard stories...It'll be tough for me to change, I'm so used to The Hare Krishna and the Anoop.

Dr Funkenstein

So. How's it going, Tan0831 ?

I hope you've got used to it and are enjoying yourself a bit more now.