Lonely Planet Review

The pick of the bunch in Majnu-ka-Tilla, Wongdhen House welcomes weary travellers with comfy rooms, courteous staff and an inviting little restaurant that cooks everything from banana pancakes to phing sha (Tibetan noodles with mince meat) washed down beautifully with a glass of fizzy fruit beer.

With a happy-go-lucky and soothing temperament, Wonghden is by far the most popular hotel in this area; it's wise to book ahead as rooms can fill up in a flash, especially during the tourist season (around October to March). All of the hotel's 26 rooms are essentially the same - the prices vary according to the floor on which they're located, with the most inexpensive rooms situated on the top (4th) floor. So, if you don't mind climbing up and down stairs, these rooms are damn good value for money. The most expensive rooms are on the 1st and 2nd floors and also come with bigger TVs and slightly thicker mattresses. There's a small rooftop terrace with vistas of the Yamuna River and its forlorn environs, as well as views of neighbouring residential buildings, some adorned with colourful prayer flags gently flapping in the breeze.