Aim: To compare subarachnoid block and paravertebral block with respect to duration of analgesia and intraoperative haemodynamic stability in unilateral inguinal hernia repair. Methods: In this randomised single–blind study, 50 patients about to undergo hernia repair were randomly allocated into two groups. Group P– Paravertebral group, where 25 patients received paravertebral block as the anaesthesia technique and Group S– Spinal group, where 25 patients received spinal anaesthesia as the anaesthesia technique. Time to perform the block and achieve anaesthesia, mean arterial pressure, SpO2, heart rate and duration of analgesia were noted. Results were analysed statistically using student’s t test to determine the p value and significance of the observations. Results: In the paravertebral group there was a significant prolongation in the duration of analgesia (347.95+22.39 minutes vs 166.8+16.4 minutes) with statistically insignificant changes in heart rate (78.84 vs 78.24, p value 0.7321) and SpO2 (98 vs 98, p value 1.0) when compared to the subarachnoid group. Mean arterial pressure showed significant variation with a p value 0.0154 (90.4+4.07[P] vs 86.7+5.67[S]. Conclusion: Paravertebral block provides excellent surgical anaesthesia with minimal hemodynamic disturbances and a significantly prolonged duration of post–operative analgesia when compared to subarachnoid block.