living in delhi?

Hi,

I'm a recent college grad from NY and I'm thinking about moving to Delhi for a few months and was wondering if anyone knew of any rooms for rent or was interested in finding a 2 bedroom apartment with me. Any suggestions for neighborhoods that are safe for women, fun, and affordable? Ideally i'd like some place with internet and cable access too....
let me know if you are interested or have suggestions! I'm young and like to go out and have a good time and I'd like a roomate who would be easy going and looking to do the same!

Amanda

Amanda-
Sorry I can't offer you a roommate but my husband and I are moving to Delhi in January and in search of pretty much the same thing you are. I'll share any info we get with you- so far people have suggested Vasant Kunj and Defense Colony as affordable, safe areas. Good luck and I'll pass along any good tips I get!

Adriane

hi amanda,

i'm an easy-going 24 year old girl from toronto and i'm starting a year-long contract based in delhi in february. i'm stressing a little over finding an apartment, and i'm hoping to find another girl my age to share with... it would be awesome to save money, have someone to chat with at the end of the day sometimes and to check out the city and have fun. when will you be in delhi?

b.

Amanda and Adriane - current grad student in Chicago who will be in Delhi for a temporary post with media org for a few months starting in late September. I'd be interested in chatting about what you've been looking at and what you both find. Short term housing on the web just seems to look alot more expensive than I've been told it should be (although still ok compared to my rent here).

but I guess the higher profile rental services are aimed at the corporate folks who will probably never see the bill...

20,000 Rs (~ 500 $) which is quite a general rent paid in the US... will get you a lot of options. In the best of whatever Delhi has and it will probably also be more safe for you...
I come out looking silly saying this... but ferchrissakes if you're young and female be very prepared to deal with Delhi.

The search for accomodation in Delhi is not really net friendly !!!

You're best off to get here and budget for a couple of weeks in a guesthouse scour the papers (Hindustan Times/Times of India /Sat /Sun) and get in touch with a few letting agents.

If your budget for 20,000INR is realistic then you could get a very good three bedroom place - probably unfurnished for this in a few areas.

Defence Colony , Vasant Kunj, Golf Links good safe but generally a little pricey....try Nizamuddin, Friends Colony, Jangpura still safe less costly.

A good agent I know is Malik - 0091 9891055526 nice guy very straight usual one month fee.

I echo Indojingai's words about safety - if you're a girl be prepared for the staring and cover up. There have been a few nasty incidents lately here, not to put you off coming but Delhi's a metropolis full of males whose introduction to western women comes via FTV and Baywatch.

Good luck

BB

Thanks for the tip. What sort of nasty incidents? Any particular neighborhoods where they have occurred? Is it really that bad for those who dress modestly and are generally careful?

For months everyone insisted Delhi was perfectly fine for a western woman but of late people have been telling me differently.

I'd be particularly interested in what any of the female members have to say about this.

I lived in Delhi from 2000-2001 in a studio apartment in Defense Colony and I was just fine. I enjoyed it and had no problems at all. Use the same common sense that you'd use in any big city.

There have been at least two recent cases of girls from the north-east of India (not tourists) being abducted as they were walking along Delhi roads at night (both times accompanied by other girl(s)), gangraped and dropped in the same spot where they had been taken from. Officials blamed it on the 'revealing clothes' worn by the girls. Police did not much since the victims were not related to some politician and suchlike. Depressing. However, if you keep your wits about you (do not accept drinks/food from total/partial strangers - a Spanish friend (male) had everything he was travelling with - passport, cash, cheques, camera - stolen after one such episode in September last year - the drinks/snacks are laced), dress 'sensibly', do not wander around alone at night on Delhi streets if you can help it, you should be alright.

The incidents which Anar referred to are very rare thankfully - but the groping and leering are not.

Common sense should see you right and use of regular taxis at night is a must.

All bests

BB

Hi, I was wondering if any of the posters here who were looking for roommates are still in need of a female roommate? I am moving to Delhi in December after graduating from college and am starting the process of researching housing in Delhi. Send me a PM if you are interested or just to share notes.

hope all is well

Hi Wanderlustress, i just got my own apartment here in Delhi, Anand Niketan as well , this place is a lil pricey but a very safe place , u can also try Defence Colony which is also another nice area which i like but dun like the apartments there, if u want a just one bedroom, i can recommend u to a house i know of, a nice old gentlemen and his family is living there and they have one seperate bedroom for rent, i did not take the room there bcos it's too small for me. PM me if u need any help, i am getting very good at getting apartments after searching for two weeks heh heh.

A friend of mine is moving from london to stay in delhi for a year from jan '06 and she is looking for a place too,maybe both of you can hook up on accommodation if you want

cheers

i'm still hoping to find someone to share with also!

i'm a canadian woman, 25, from toronto, moving to india to work on a research project and hoping to find another girl to share with. 7 weeks to go until i arrive in delhi, planning to stay in india for a year, and i'm feeling really ...

... excited/nervous/curious/spooked/optimistic/intimidated/crazy/intrepid ...

all of the above, really. and i'm reading indiamike WAY too much. :P

hi there

ive sent you a private message with my friend's email. She gets here in the beginning of Jan but will be spending a month in goa before she gets back to delhi sometimes in Feb. You can contact her directly.

cheers