Hotel Shelton

Located right on the busy Main Bazaar of Paharganj, the Hotel Shelton attracts both Indian and international travelers wanting convenient access to the nearby railway station, and gets its fair share of backpackers. (Though while it's cheap for a mid-range hotel, it's a bit pricier than the true budget hotels in the area). The lobby is large, with marble floors and gaudy black-wicker chairs with zebra print upholstery, plus a few fish tanks and a Buddha statue for decoration. The ceiling is semi open, atrium style, so guests from rooms above can look down at the comings and goings of the lobby from the hallways. There's also an elevator. The only other common area is the hotel's 24-hour restaurant, located in a pleasant, semi-open rooftop space filled with cushioned wicker couches positioned around high wooden coffee tables. There are a few more seats out on the uncovered section of the patio with views of the neighborhood, plus lots of potted greenery. There's also a pool table and a couple of hanging seats for relaxing.

Hotel Shelton is located right on the Main Bazaar, the aptly titled main thoroughfare in the Paharganj neighborhood of New Delhi. The area known for its budget hotels, backpacker-friendly eating joints, and numerous shops selling cheap hippie clothes and costume jewelry. Old Delhi's Chandni Chowk is a half-hour drive away or about 15 minutes by bicycle rickshaw, while Connaught Place can be reached in about 15 minutes on foot. Gurudwara Bangla Sahib and Jantar Mantar, both near Connaught Place, can take as little as 10 minutes to reach by car, but getting to both usually takes longer due to the city's infamous traffic. The Rama Krishna Ashram Marg station of the Delhi Metro is a 10-minute walk away, while New Delhi Railway Station, which also has a metro stop, takes 15 minutes to reach on foot. Factor in about 15 minutes by car to India Gate or 20 to 25 minutes for Humayun's Tomb. South Delhi attractions such as the Lotus Temple and the Qutub Minar can take 45 minutes or longer to reach depending on traffic. The Indira Gandhi International Airport is about an hour away by car, traffic permitting.

The Shelton offers Deluxe Rooms in double and triple configurations, Super Deluxe Rooms that sleep two, and Family Rooms for up to four guests.  Rooms are similarly decorated with polished marble floors, dark-wood furniture, pincushion-style headboards, white walls with Indian artwork, and ceilings with inbuilt track lighting (a pleasant alternative to the fluorescent lighting so popular in area hotels). Throws cushions and bed runners add color to white beds. Amenities include air-conditioning, thermos-style pitchers for hot water, and wall-mounted flat-screen TVs. Super Deluxe Rooms add mini-fridges. Bathrooms are comparatively basic and of the open-plan, wet-room-style variety, though they do have large square-shaped rainfall showerheads.

The Hotel Shelton offers decent amenities compared to other budget-to-midrange hotels in Paharaganj. The on-site restaurant serves Indian and continental cuisine a la carte. While breakfast is included in room rates, it's basic, and usually just consists of an omelette or an Indian stuffed flatbread known as a "parantha." The restaurant is open 24 hours a day and offers room service at all hours. Other features include free hotel-wide Wi-Fi, laundry service, currency exchange, and airport and railway station transfers. Tours of both Delhi and other areas in India can be arranged through the front desk.