Is India still super cheap?

and spend time with a living saint!

Yeah well, this temple for a living god in Bihar sounds cooler. Might not get a hug, but you could get a 6.

Thank you for the feedback guys. Can you tell me how I can find homes stays and the cheaper guest houses that are not on the Internet?

I may be going to Delhi so I would be happy to hear your suggestions.

One last thing about accommodations, I can't really deal with disgusting bugs. I wouldn't freak out if I saw a little roach or two but I would if saw many of them. And when it comes to big bugs, other than a few daddy long legs spiders, my tolerance is almost nill. I can stomach seeing a few of them outside but not inside. Will I have to spend a fortune to avoid living with them in India?

once in varanasi i woke up in the night with a centipede type bug crawling on me.. soooo gross!! with that said, i usually don't pay more than 500 rps (always non\ac) a night for a hotel and that was the only one with a bug problem (other than mozzies). have had cockroaches crawl on me when waiting for trains yuk yuk yuk.

india can be cheap but it's easy to go for the little comforts which up the costs.

agree that if you eat veg you can save some money and there are loads great veg dishes in india so you don't get bored!

Good to hear Xscorcho, especially since you're a woman. How do you find these places? Are they private rooms or do you share them with a co-traveler?

I don't mind the bugs so much as the rats. When they fall from the rafters onto the net it bounces it up and down. Did I mention I sleep with a net? Another thing that grosses me out more than the bugs is monkeys that climb into the water tank and drown. Pigeons do the same strange thing. I told somebody they should clean the tanks at least once a year..

How do you find these places? Are they private rooms or do you share them with a co-traveler?>

1. traveling off season
2. asking travelers along the way
3. showing up and walking around until i find somewhere in my budget (can be exhausting!)

have had private and doubles - most have been under 500 either way.

I would suggest you to at least make your reservation for the first day in Delhi and also ask the Hotel People to send a cab. Within a decade India has changed a lot & also remember that for the first few days India is not a cheaper destination. Holidays can be very expensive sometime here. So better you make plan and then follow it. Also buy a prepaid card for your phone just near to Gate no 5 before exit.
Have a nice journey.