Nearest metro station to Paharganj depends on which end of the area you’re going to, because Paharganj stretches between two quite different metro stops. RK Ashram Marg on the Blue Line serves the western end of Main Bazaar, near the Ramakrishna Mission, and hotels on that side are about a 10-minute walk away. New Delhi metro station, on the Yellow Line and Airport Express, is on the other side of New Delhi Railway Station. Paharganj’s eastern end starts right opposite the railway station’s Paharganj entrance, so from the metro you cross the railway to get there. Jhandewalan on the Blue Line is useful for Paharganj’s northern lanes.
Paharganj is best known for Main Bazaar, a long, crowded street of budget hotels, guesthouses, cafés, and shops selling clothes, bags, and souvenirs. For decades it has been a first stop for backpackers arriving in Delhi. The layout is simple once you know it: the railway station is at the east end of Main Bazaar, and RK Ashram Marg is at the west end.
| Detail | Information |
| Nearest station for west Paharganj | RK Ashram Marg (Blue Line), about a 10-minute walk to the western end of Main Bazaar |
| Nearest station for east Paharganj | New Delhi (Yellow Line and Airport Express), across New Delhi Railway Station |
| Station for north Paharganj | Jhandewalan (Blue Line) |
| Typical distance | About 0.5–1.5 km, depending on where you’re going |
| New Delhi metro gates | Gates 1 and 2 (New Delhi Railway Station); Gate 3 (Kamla Market, step-free); Gate 4 (Airport Line, Civic Centre); Airport Express Gates 5, 6 and 7 (step-free) |
| Main Bazaar weekly closure | Officially Monday, though many shops still open |
| Nearby landmarks | New Delhi Railway Station (Paharganj side), Ramakrishna Mission, Connaught Place (about 2 km) |
| Time zone | IST, UTC+5:30 (no daylight saving) |
RK Ashram Marg: For the Western End of Main Bazaar
RK Ashram Marg is an underground Blue Line station, one stop west of Rajiv Chowk. It’s named after the Ramakrishna Mission, which is right beside it. From the station:
- Come up on the Ramakrishna Mission side.
- Walk towards Main Bazaar, following the flow of traffic and the hotel signs.
- The western end of the bazaar is about a 10-minute walk away.
This is the easiest station if your hotel is towards the western half of Main Bazaar or the streets around Rajguru Road. The route stays on one side of the railway, so you don’t have to cross any tracks.
Best for: passengers on the Blue Line, from Noida, Vaishali, Anand Vihar, Dwarka, Rajouri Garden, or Karol Bagh, and anyone changing at Rajiv Chowk, one stop away.
New Delhi Metro: For the Eastern End, via the Railway Station
New Delhi metro station is on the Ajmeri Gate side of New Delhi Railway Station. Paharganj is on the opposite side, facing the station’s Paharganj entrance, so you have to cross the railway:
- Leave the metro through Gate 1 or 2, or through Gate 6 if you’re coming off the Airport Express.
- Walk through New Delhi Railway Station on the foot overbridge that crosses the platforms to the Paharganj side. A platform ticket may be needed to pass through the station area.
- Come out at the Paharganj entrance, opposite the eastern end of Main Bazaar.
The crossing takes about 10 to 15 minutes. The station is being redeveloped, so routes and entry points on both sides change during construction. Follow the signs on site. If you have heavy bags, a short auto ride around the station can be easier than the footbridge.
Best for: travellers coming from the airport on the Airport Express or on the Yellow Line from Gurugram, Hauz Khas, Chandni Chowk, or Kashmere Gate. It’s also the natural route if you’ve just arrived by train and are staying at the station end of Main Bazaar.
Jhandewalan: For Northern Paharganj
Jhandewalan, one Blue Line stop west of RK Ashram Marg, is useful for the northern parts of Paharganj and the Jhandewalan and Desh Bandhu Gupta Road side. Check your hotel’s address on a map app before deciding between Jhandewalan and RK Ashram Marg.
Routes to Paharganj
| Starting point | Suggested route | Approx. metro time |
| IGI Airport (T3) | Airport Express to New Delhi, then cross the railway station | About 20 min + 10–15 min walk |
| Rajiv Chowk / Connaught Place | Blue Line 1 stop to RK Ashram Marg | About 2–3 min + 10 min walk |
| Old Delhi (Chandni Chowk) | Yellow Line to New Delhi, then cross the railway station | About 5 min + 10–15 min walk |
| Kashmere Gate ISBT | Yellow Line to New Delhi | About 10 min + walk |
| Noida / Vaishali | Blue Line towards Dwarka to RK Ashram Marg | About 30–45 min + walk |
| Dwarka | Blue Line towards Noida/Vaishali to Jhandewalan or RK Ashram Marg | About 40–45 min + walk |
| Hauz Khas / Gurugram | Yellow Line to New Delhi, or to Rajiv Chowk and then Blue Line | About 25–55 min + walk |
| Hazrat Nizamuddin | Pink Line to INA, then Yellow Line to New Delhi | About 25–30 min + walk |
Tips for Paharganj
- Touts are common. At the railway station, the metro exits, and in Main Bazaar, ignore people who tell you your hotel is full or closed, or who offer to take you to a “government tourist office”. Go straight to your booked hotel.
- Mondays: Main Bazaar is officially closed on Mondays, but many shops and cafés still open.
- Crowds and traffic: The bazaar is narrow and busy with cycle-rickshaws, two-wheelers, and handcarts. Keep your bags in front of you.
- Bargain at clothing and souvenir shops. Opening prices are often inflated.
- Late arrivals: The Airport Express and Yellow Line run until around 11:30 PM to midnight. If you arrive after that, take a prepaid taxi and go straight to your hotel’s address.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Which is the nearest metro station to Paharganj?
A. It depends on the end. RK Ashram Marg (Blue Line) is best for the western end, and New Delhi (Yellow Line and Airport Express) for the eastern end across the railway station.
Q2. How do I reach Paharganj from New Delhi metro station?
A. Cross New Delhi Railway Station by the foot overbridge to the Paharganj side, about 10–15 minutes.
Q3. How far is Main Bazaar from RK Ashram Marg metro?
A. About a 10-minute walk to the western end.
Q4. Can I reach Paharganj directly from the airport by metro?
A. Yes. Take the Airport Express to New Delhi, then cross the railway station to the Paharganj side.
Q5. Which metro station is closest to northern Paharganj?
A. Jhandewalan on the Blue Line.
Q6. Is Paharganj Main Bazaar open on Monday?
A. It’s officially closed on Mondays, but many shops stay open.
Q7. Which Blue Line station is near Paharganj?
A. RK Ashram Marg, with Jhandewalan for the northern side.
Q8. Is Paharganj close to Connaught Place?
A. Yes. It’s about 2 km, or one Blue Line stop from RK Ashram Marg to Rajiv Chowk.
