Hostels and things to do on a budget around New Delhi and Agra

In December 2010, we arrived in New Delhi, traveling on to Jaipur, Agra, Varanasi, Mumbai and finishing in Goa. We recommend staying Thikana Hotel in South Delhi, thikanadelhi.com - at the time it was $128 USD per night including breakfast for 2 ppl. We did a day tour which included a rickshaw and car, seeing sights in Old and New Delhi which was fantastic, with Deepa Krishnan Delhi Magic, deepa@delhimagic.com:

Day Tour (cost was Rs 6500 or $108 USD for 2 people):

--Morning coverage: Humayun's Tomb, Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk (cycle rickshaw ride), Connaught Place (drive through)

--Afternoon coverage: Gandhi Memorial Museum/Raj Ghat/Shantivan Garden/National Gandhi Museum, shopping at the Cauvery Emporium (Karnataka Govt Emporium)

Our Thikana host recommended a Middle Eastern restaurant for dinner (can't remember the name) along with a coupon. We took an auto rickshaw to the restaurant and afterwards it turned into a night club, so we had a great time enjoying the Delhi nightlife!

Another day we took the local bus to Lodi Gardens which was an adventure. It was so beautiful seeing all the families gathering in this gigantic park in the midst of the city. If you can, eat at the Garden restaurant.

If you only have 1-2 days in Delhi, it may be best to stay in the area and explore as there's so much history. However if you feel you do have some extra time and don't mind rushing a bit to see the Taj Mahal, it is definitely worth a visit. Another option is to take a taxi or bus to Agra. It does help if you prepare transportation in advance so you can get an idea of timeframe.

Regarding our Agra experience - we took the train from Jaipur to Agra. On arrival to Agra we were overwhelmed with rickshaw drivers, so if you take the train be prepared for it. A good idea is to have the hostel/hotel you stay at recommend the best way to get there.  Once in Agra we had to switch hotels at the last minute (we don't recommend the Hotel Sheela Inn - the reason we picked it was because it was walking distance to the Taj Mahal and affordable). Try tripadvisor for recent, positive hostel/hotel recommendations. This is where you may want to consider spending a little more on a hostel or hotel for a quality experience if you decide to stay overnight.

It was an unforgettable experience seeing the Taj Mahal at dawn. It really is that stunning in the morning light. Check to make sure of when the Taj Mahal is open or closed and what you can and can't bring inside (you can't bring in electronic devices so you'll need to have a safe in your hotel or, as we didn't know this in advance, we paid a store nearby the Taj Mahal to look after our devices). We enjoyed brunch at the stunning Oberoi Amarvillas. 

Enjoy your trip! India is a beautiful, vibrant, challenging country and we made some of our best memories there.

hi Lea,

i am from New Delhi and currently live in Dubai. 

i would not recommend a hostel for two girls in delhi. there are many budget hotels which will be a lot safer and cleaner! what is your budget per night? 

the best way to get around is by metro. otherwise, taxis are good too but a lot more expensive. while there, you must visit the Red Fort, Lotus Temple, Qutab Minar, and Connaught Place. there are also tours that take you all over delhi for a full day. 

all the best!

When in Delhi, i would recommend not to travel late night and alone. For travel Delhi - Agra, go for a train Shatabdi express or Rajdhani . You may need to book online https://www.irctc.co.in/

Most of the budget travelers prefer Paharganj neighborhood in Delhi. Many options there, but you should check in only when you have seen the room, and are satisfied with it. A lot to see in Delhi, use the metro train to travel around Delhi, as it is a lot cheaper than hiring a cab or even a rickshaw, is also more convenient and safer. June is super hot in India, carry shades, caps etc and keep hydrated at all times. Check out this list for accessible places of tourist interest near Metro stations  http://www.delhitourism.gov.in/delhitourism/itinerary/metro_itinerary.jsp.  

There are several guesthouse Delhi. in delhi you can visit Hauz Khas, Please let us know your exact dates and we would be able to guide you exactly how to reach Agra to visit the Taj Mahal. You could connect with us on Facebook to get more help if needed.

In Delhi you should go to Chandni Chowk to get cheap hotels. The prices are reasonable or you should try Laxmi Nagar for the reasonable prices and near by u'll also get good food to eat.

You can visit Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri (nearby of Agra) or Jaipur. You can book hotel online from there you can find the cheap hotel . If you will try to book in person they will ask for higher charge.

there are budget hotels in Paharganj for 18 dollars per night a room. tourist area and Connaught Place just 1 km away.