-1762079303875_v.webp)
- By Supratik Das
- Sun, 02 Nov 2025 04:47 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
In a video that has left the internet both amused and amazed, a travel vlogger has revealed what he calls the world’s cheapest hotel, located in Pakistan’s Peshawar. The price? Just Rs 20 per night, or roughly 70 Pakistani rupees. But the real story lies not in the price tag, it’s in the place itself.
The hotel, proudly named Caravanserai, sits in the old quarters of Peshawar and has now gone viral after British travel vlogger David Simpson, known as The Travel Fugitive, posted a video documenting his stay. The footage shows what appears to be a cross between an unfinished building and a community terrace, a bare rooftop dotted with a few charpais (traditional woven cots), mismatched fans, and concrete walls with peeling paint.
A “Room” Under The Sky
Forget walls, ceilings, or even doors. At Caravanserai, the “rooms” are nothing more than open-air cots laid out on a rooftop, where guests sleep quite literally under the stars, and sometimes, under a buzzing ceiling fan hanging from loose wires. The setup includes torn bed sheets, a shared bathroom that seems older than the building itself, no WiFi, and zero privacy.
Every movement, conversation, or snore is shared openly with every other guest. The roof offers no partitions, only a few half-broken walls, and a scenic view of surrounding rooftops filled with water tanks and pigeons. Complimentary tea is offered as a gesture of warmth, though most viewers online agree that’s the only luxury available here.
View this post on Instagram
Simpson, unfazed by the setup, described the experience as “unreal,” adding, “I’ve stayed in five-star hotels, but the warmth I felt here is unmatched.” Viewers, meanwhile, were divided — some calling it “authentic travel” and others comparing it to “a refugee shelter with chai.”
Viral Sensation With A Twist
The viral video, now watched by millions, captures cracked walls, open drains, and even a few chickens wandering near the cots. Yet, amid all this, the owner’s cheerful welcome stands out. “He greeted me like family,” Simpson said, noting how the host offered tea and stories about the inn’s century-old history. Locals proudly say Caravanserai continues the ancient Silk Route tradition, where traders rested in open courtyards. But many online users questioned why “authentic” in Pakistan so often looks like a construction site. One comment read: “Why does authenticity have to be dirty always?”
Despite its rough edges, or perhaps because of them, the “Rs 20 hotel” has become a social media sensation. For budget travellers and bikers passing through Peshawar, it’s now a talking point, if not a destination. Some viewers joked it’s “the only hotel where you get both fresh air and mosquito bites for free.” Another quipped, “For Rs 20, you get a view of the stars, the moon, and your neighbour snoring beside you — all-inclusive!”