why foreign tourists like PAHARGANJ in Delhi ?

ploink

My first arrival in Paharganj in the night was a shock of a kind (the hotel was at the end of a dark, narrow alley, and the alley stank - thanks to the urinal at the beginning of the lane). In the morning, though, the area was full of light, colours, people, ... everything that had been missing in the night. It may not be the nicest area in Delhi but for me it's nice enough. It's near the New Delhi train station, it's near Connaught Place (walking distance), it's near Old Delhi (walking distance), it has many, many (cheap) hotels and the like - if you don't like one, easy to find another one.

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Jorge Reverter

I agree absolutely with BabeInTheWoods. Can rewrite everythingh again but no need to do it.

Indians must understand that we are not indians and we feel better in Paharganj than in any other area in Delhi probably because we are foreigners, is not a question of money (at least in my personal case).

Jorge

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PeakXV

The title "Why budget-no frills foreign tourists like Paharganj in Delhi" might be more appropriate. The place does not exactly excel in business amenities nor does it have accomodations that offer sports/physical fitness facilties for those needing their work-out fix at the end of the day. It might also rank close to last in the greater Delhi area for noise & air pollution.

But as they say, one man's trash is another man's treasure, and the convenience & low cost of this railway flophouse cannot be overlooked ..... and very useful to a certain demographic of traveller.

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bijapuri

I prefer Karol Bagh. Still crazy but a notch above. Tons of hotels, and a Metro station.

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nycank

It all started with Lonely Planet.... and then web happened....the combination of the two led to most travellers from outside india on a budget gyrating to Paharganj.

ranjan154

Paharganj, has been a favorite of budget travelers from all over. The range of hotels starts from Rs. 100 to Rs. 2500. This area is full of international travelers throughout the year.Some of the travelers prefer this place as they stay for months here. As far as I know his place need to get more neat and clean.

Karol bagh is the next favorite destination of budget travelers. The range of hotels start from Rs. 800 to 3500. This place is comparatively neat and clean from Paharganj.

Lonely planet has really been a good source of information for all kind of travelers. In addition to that Rough Guide and Foot Prints are equally great.

I agree that Paharganj is one of the most popular and tourist friendly places in Delhi.

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incitatus

Actually Lonely Planet was a rip off of a stapled together publication called 'BIT Guide' available in the mid 70's. (LP India was first published in 1981)
On their webpage the Wheelers said that when they went across the Middle East and Asia overland to Australia it was something few people thought could be done.
Actually a Scottish Sunday newspaper the 'Sunday Post' had sent one of their reporters to do just that in 1973 because it was such a fashionable journey for young people to undertake.
The route was called "The hippy trail."
I did it myself in 1975.
There was lots of cheap hotels in Paharganj then-and why not?, it's close to the major railway station......where cheap accommodation is always to be found.
Personally I always stayed in Old Delhi,I first stayed in Paharganj in 1995 -my 9th trip to India-and Delhi- because I was going to Rajasthan for the total eclipse then coming back to overnight then go to Darjeeling- so why go further than the railway station area?
In spite of everything Lonely Planet was following a well trodden path-they just made more money from it than anyone else!

unclelach

The west end (geographic) of the Main Bazaar street is very close to the new "R K Ashram Marg" Metro Station. This station is just one stop out from Rajiv Chowk Station(Connaught Place).

When weary of Paharganj's confusion, colour and craziness you can take off in the clean AC Metro train and reach most places in Delhi very quickly.

It was only this year that I resorted to staying in Paharganj. I found that I could quickly find a cheap room when rooms in other parts of town were fully booked. Stayed at Hare Rama Guesthouse three times. The rooms there are very plain but the Roof Cafe is great.

Had most meals at Hare Rama but Madan Cafe(see web site) out in the street is just the place to sit over a Masala Chai and watch the world pass. The cafe owner is very friendly and remembers his customers.

Shark

Shashank's an agressive little Delhi unit isn't he. Take a chill pill old mate. I actually have only stayed in Paharganj in my six trips to India and I love it. Although I must admit my young children had a look of dismay when we first took them to the Ganj on a cool winter's evening just on dusk when the dust and all the action seems further exagerated.

machadinha

All I know is their own legend has it the original couple put it together as the mimeographed and stapled version you mention entitled "Asia on A Shoestring" or something to that effect, having overlanded it from Britain to Australia before any dates you mention.

So you may be right, but I'm curious where you got your information from.

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shashank.aggarwal

I don't have any problems with people staying in Paharganj, But I sure do have a problem and I am sure most other Delhiite would have the same, when people perceive Delhi to be of Paharganj's Standard..

Its not unusual for westerns to share their experiences and write in blogs, based on their stay in Paharganj, so for them and other audience Delhi becomes a city with filth, touts, cramped hotels, no infrastructure, unbearable crowds...

Even though Delhi has its own share of problems, but it sure is many times better than PaharGanj...

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Shaktipalooza

It is rather interesting how the vast majority of travelers like to spout the virtues of traveling off the beaten track, yet somehow end up clumping up like schools of fish in these sorts of places.

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shashank.aggarwal

I was just thinking about this..but didn't get the right words to express !!

incitatus

Firstly -I remember people having copies of BIT guide when I was in India in 1975.
Secondly -I visited BIT's HQ -just off the Portobello Road -when I went back to London.

Thirdly according to my 1984 edition of Lonely Planet India ,it was first published in October 1981.

Fourthly -One of the authors to the early editions was Geoff Crowther who is described as being involved with BIT and helping to put together "Their first,tatty,duplicated,overlan d guides..."

Additionally I met another of the authors -Prakaj A Raj- when I was in Nepal when he was researching the LP "Kathmandu/Nepal" guide.

The LP guides were a great advance on BIT guides because they had maps-BIT tended to recommend a lodge which was "400 yards away from the railway station" which wasn't much use as that covers a lot of ground!

freenote

\if you look closely at the two photo's posted above It apears that the vast majority of people there are Indian ,shoals of them