A Room With a View

Hotel New City Palace, Delhi

Room 307, Hotel New City Palace, Delhi, India

It took 5,000 laborers 14 years to complete the Jama Masjid, but you can admire the fruits of their toils with less effort by simply opening the door to your balcony. Perhaps you'll also hear the muezzin as he calls the faithful. Shah Jahan, the Mogul emperor who commissioned the Taj Mahal, started construction of this landmark in 1644, building three gates, four towers, and two minarets. When the sandstone-and-marble structure (whose official name, Masjid-i-Jahan Numa, is Persian for "World-Reflecting Mosque") finally opened in 1658, it was—and remains to this day—the most revered and the largest Muslim house of worship in India. It and your hotel are in a teeming neighborhood near Chandni Chowk, the Old City's main artery, where the small alleys, crowded markets, and vibrant street scene embody Delhi life as it's been for centuries. The feel of the place is in contrast to that of New Delhi, a twentieth-century British master plan typified by wide tree-lined streets and home to India's government. Although your room is basic (don't expect pillow menus at the Hotel New City Palace), this view will have you thinking, Out with the new, in with the old.

There are 13 rooms; doubles range from $6 to $10. Room 307 is $10 (91-11-2327-9548).