1

If you are ok with VERY unfancy hotels - then Paharganj is surely the best place to catch up with other travellers on New Year Eve in Delhi. I guess there is no need to book the hotel ahead. Just arrive and look around. There are plenty of them. There is a Connaught Place not far from Paharganj (like 5-10min by rikshaw or auto) - it is the best public place to be during the New Year Eve, but i suggest that you wouldn't be there alone. Share idea with some other foreign travellers to get there together to be at 12 o'clock.
The other choice of mine would be Majnu-ka-Tilla in North Delhi - the Tibetan Refuge Camp. They always organize the New year parties over there and Tibetans are nice folks to mix up with for a New year. You could meet foreign travellers there too. And personally the guest houses in that camp, though not fancy too, are much much better than shabby Paharganj.

2

As said above, Paharganj is horrible, but there are lots of western tourists.
Smyle Inn is not too bad (for the location), I stayed there recently 1 night in
order to catch an early train from New Delhi station...

3

I stayed at Smyle two years ago. It will serve its purpose, but dont expect too much.

4

I stayed at Smyle Inn too. Get an air con room if you are there in the summer. The plus points are it is clean and there is hot water. Also there are internet facilities and chilled refreshments. Breakfast is OK too.

The minus points are it is down a rather grim alleyway off the main stretch. Actually very grim. I was there with my husband and would leave and arrive with him most of the time and I found it fine. Though I did sometimes go out by myself. I think the hotel itself would probably be fine for a lone woman though I was with my husband.

As for bars, there are not a lot in Paharganj. But if you go to the end there are a couple. I would recommend going to the restaurant in the Hotel Metropole at the end of the street near the Metro station. The food is outstanding and you can have the odd Kingfisher there. They have a bar too. Message me if you want another bar tip or have any other questions.

Edited by: littlesaint

5

Guys I am looking for the same! I want to stay in a backpacker's hostel. Are there any?
And is Pahargang the "Khao San Rd." of Delhi???

6

yangzo, what amazing advice!
I really hope to stay at the Majnu-ka-Tilla in North Delhi - the Tibetan Refuge Camp. Do you have contact details? Is it possible to stay there for a few nights like 28th to the 1st/Jan.? Thanks so much! Tashi Dele.

7

It's possible you will need a permit to stay in Majnu-ka-Tilla, as you do in other Tibetan camps now. You can get those in Delhi, though. There are a couple of email addresses here:

http://ctrc.tibet.net/downloads.html

Here is another:

http://www.tibetbureau.in/pap-

I don't know that it applies to Majnu-ka-Tilla, but it might. The rules changed this past August.

8

Thank you pippali!