Moradabad is an industrial city on the banks of the Ramganga river in Uttar Pradesh, known as Pital Nagri, or Brass City, for its brass handicrafts. It is a major city in the Western UP region and a hub for employment, education, industry, culture and administration, and it is one of the cities being modernised under the National Smart Cities Mission.
For a visitor, Moradabad is a city of riverside heritage and working industry rather than a resort town. The city's historic core grew up along the Ramganga, where the Jama Masjid built in the seventeenth century still stands on the riverbank, while the modern city spreads outward along the major road and rail corridors, including the Delhi Road and National Highway 24. Moradabad is also the divisional headquarters of the Moradabad division of Northern Railway, so the railway station area is a practical anchor for arrivals and departures. This guide covers which areas to base yourself in, and what kind of accommodation to expect at each budget level.
Best areas to stay in Moradabad
1. Pakbara and Delhi Road (National Highway 24)
This is the area along the Delhi Road and National Highway 24, at the edge of the city on the approach from Delhi. It is the most straightforward base for travellers arriving by road from the national capital, and it is where you find larger, highway-oriented accommodation with parking and easy vehicle access.
It suits first-time visitors who want a quiet, low-friction base and anyone breaking a long drive. The trade-off is distance: you are away from the historic riverside core and the railway station, so you will need a vehicle or auto-rickshaw to reach the city's sights and markets.
2. The central city and railway station area
Moradabad is the divisional headquarters of the Northern Railway, and the railway station area is the natural base if you are arriving or departing by train. Staying centrally puts you within reach of the city's commercial and administrative heart, and of the old city around the Ramganga.
This suits budget travellers and anyone relying on trains, as well as visitors who want to be close to the brass trade and the everyday life of the city. Expect more noise and traffic than on the highway edge of town, and plan on shorter trips to the riverside Jama Masjid and the older quarters.
Where to stay on a budget, mid-range or splurge
- Budget: simple guesthouse-style and small hotel accommodation, most likely concentrated in the central city and around the railway station, where transport connections matter more than facilities.
- Mid-range: comfortable hotels with modern conveniences, found both in the central city and along the main road corridors, suitable for business travellers and couples.
- Splurge: the largest and best-equipped hotels sit on the highway approach to the city, such as the Delhi Road and National Highway 24 corridor at Pakbara, where larger properties cater to road travellers and events.
Best area for a first visit
For a first visit, base yourself in the central city and railway station area. It puts you closest to the historic riverside core, including the Jama Masjid on the Ramganga, and to the city's markets and brass workshops, with the railway station on hand for onward travel. If you are arriving by road from Delhi and value quiet and parking over proximity, the Pakbara and Delhi Road corridor is the practical alternative.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Moradabad?
Moradabad is on the Northern Railway network and is the divisional headquarters of its own division, with connections built up since the nineteenth century, including lines toward Bareilly, Chandausi, Aligarh, Ghaziabad and Saharanpur. By road it lies on National Highway 24, about 165 km from New Delhi.
Which area is best if I am arriving by train?
Stay in the central city and railway station area, which keeps you close to the station and within easy reach of the old city and the river.
Where should I stay if I am driving in from Delhi?
The Pakbara and Delhi Road corridor along National Highway 24, at the city's edge, is the most convenient base for road arrivals, with larger highway-oriented accommodation.
What is Moradabad known for?
It is called Pital Nagri, or Brass City, for its brass handicrafts, which are exported worldwide, and it has more recently become a hub for work in aluminium, steel and iron as well.
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