A British travel blogger recently visited Pakistan and stayed at what he deemed the “world’s cheapest hotel.” This hotel had no air conditioning, windows, or Wi-Fi, and the shared toilets were quite smelly. However, the accommodation cost only 70 Pakistani rupees per night (0.25 USD). He mentioned feeling a warmth like never before during his stay there.
David Simpson, the man behind the travel blog, shared a video on Instagram of his stay at a rooftop hotel located in an ancient Caravanserai in Peshawar, Pakistan. He described this place, which traces back to a historical trade route, as the cheapest hotel in the world.
A Caravanserai is an inn situated along ancient trade routes such as the Silk Road, providing accommodation, rest, and supplies for weary travelers and their animals.
The video captured by Simpson shows that the hotel is essentially an open-air large dormitory without windows. Each guest has a simple woven bed, an electric fan, and complimentary tea, with no other amenities available. There are no room services, no air conditioning, no Wi-Fi, and certainly no personal privacy.
According to Simpson, guests would wash facing broken mirrors attached to the walls, and the shared toilets were not pleasant, ranking among the top three worst smells he had encountered. Sleeping at this hotel felt like being a 16th-century merchant for some, who stayed for weeks awaiting the right time to sell their goods, while others came just to shoot short films.
He mentioned that the hotel owner is hospitable, always personally welcoming guests and sharing stories of the city’s history spanning hundreds of years. Simpson remarked, “I’ve stayed at five-star hotels, but the warmth I felt here is incomparable to anywhere else.”
Following Simpson’s video share, many internet users commented on the experience. One account mentioned being from Peshawar but was unaware of this hotel and expressed gratitude for Simpson’s share. Another compared the hotel to a shelter for homeless people, while another expressed concern about safety when carrying a passport, money, and a phone.
Furthermore, the UNESCO website introduces the Grand Trunk Road connecting Peshawar and Calcutta in India. This route has a 2,500-year history and serves as a vital hub on the Central Asian trade route, featuring forts, towns, military posts, and caravanserai along the way. These resting spots are essential for traders traveling in the region.
It is along this route and at these resting places that goods, cultures, ideas, religions, and languages were exchanged, leaving a lasting mark on the societies along the route.