Backpacking in India: My Stay at Moustache Hostel in Kailash, New Delhi

** Apparently as of August 2016, this hostel is no longer running, so get yourself booked into the fantastic Smyle Inn in New Delhi please!

New Delhi was my first stop on my surprise India trip in February 2016 and I firstly headed to the backpacker zone, homing in on the Main Bazaar Road district. It was handy to stay there as it’s near the train station and a great place to feel and breathe the buzz of New Delhi as a first-timer to the region. I stayed at Hotel Smyle Inn first of all and I recommend it. Four weeks later, after touring Mumbai, Chennai, Gujarat etc., I was back in the capital city. This time I spent just a night in that area, choosing to enjoy the charms of a less-chaotic district for a couple of nights. I ended up staying in Kailash to see another side of this crazy city.

Downtown Kailash, New Delhi, India

In Kailash, I stayed at the Moustache Hostel. This place has “textbook backpacking at its best” written all over it. Cool people to meet, typical dorm rooms, lots of tours and a vibe that oozes through even the most ardent, veteran long term traveller whose 100+ country journey wears thinner on every step.

Arrival at Moustache Hostel in New Dehli

So if you feel like escaping the madness of downtown New Delhi, head out to Kailash Colony metro and make the short walk to the Moustache Hostel for a few nights. Here are five top reasons to stay here.

Backpacking in India: My Stay at Moustache Hostel in Kailash, New Delhi

1.Lots of Tours
Moustache Hostels can organise your tours for you – all very easy and simple. Yes, you may get caught in a “backpacker vacuum” but sometimes time is short and money is long. The tours here include New Delhi, Agra, Rishikesh and cow fields of the Indian Countryside. Even better, you’ll make lots of new friends.

Lots of tours from Moustache Hostel

As well as the tours, lots of things to see and do every day and night. It’s so well organised here! Check the notice board each day for the schedule of events.

Schedule of events on at Moustache Hostel

2.Escape the Madness
For me, primarily this is why I chose to stay at Moustache Hostel. I’s already sampled the madness of central New Delhi. And though I loved that, I like the quiet zones too. Ahmedabad, Hampi, Port Blair and Chennai had sucked my backpacking soul to a pulp. So I escaped the madness here.

Escape the madness

A local feed in Kailash Colony

Also in this cool area near Kailash Colony is a cool M Block Market with shops and swanky bars (dear prices though). It’s close to the Lotus Baha’ai Temple too.

Backpacking New Delhi: Lotus Baha’ai Temple

3.Textbook Dorms
When I first started backpacking over a decade ago, I always smiled when I got to a hostel which had what I would describe as a “textbook dorm”. By that I mean, bunk beds, as many as you can fit into a room, good value, shower that works, Wi-Fi (not essential of course but good to have), lockers. Moustache Hostel has backpacking by the book.

Textbook dorms

4.Fastest Wi-Fi in Backpackers in India
India tried its best to destroy my online business as a professional travel blogger. Due to the shit internet (that’s being kind) I was pressing refresh 100 times a day, losing blog posts, losing clients as they thought I was unreliable (no response when I couldn’t get online). I expected more screens like this when I checked in here:

Typical Indian computer screen

But then I realised this was the fastest Wi-Fi I had had so far in India in a backpackers! Beezer! A great chance to finally get work back on track and be the unsocial backpacker.

Night fall meant Wi-Fi time at Moustache Hostel

5.Huge Lounge, Garden and Rooftop Social Area
You can meet lots of like-minded travellers here in the many common areas the Moustache Hostel offers. It reminded me of the Abraham Hostel in Jerusalem. There is a garden out the front, a cosy lounge with tables and settees, a kitchen (breakfast is included by the way) and a classic rooftop garden.