South Delhi vs. Gurgaon

boomaye · Jul 10th, 2008, 02:31

Hello everyone, I've spent quite a bit of time going through the various posts and am interested in getting the group's thoughts.

I am planning on moving to Delhi in September with my wife and infant son. I left India for the US at a very early age, but have visited enough times to feel comfortable in the country. However, living in Delhi and visiting Delhi are two different things.

My office will be in Khan Market area and I want to minimize my commute and as such am thinking about Def Col or VV as possible rental options. Other suggestions are welcome. However, my wife is not Indian and has only seen India from a tourist standpoint.

Although we'd probably prefer South Delhi, I've been told that G'gaon is probably an easier option for us. My assumption is that we can get a (i) western standard flat with modern fixtures, (ii) a sense of security within the complex, and (iii) not have to deal with water/power issues as the complex takes care of these things.

I guess my question is, can I get these things in South Delhi as well, i.e. can my wife hangout in a local park with our son without worrying about her safety (any more than she would in NY)? can we get a responsive landlord and have 24hr access to water/power? can we get a flat that's newly done, but not ridiculously priced?and is a builder flat as safe as a condo in g'gaon?

And is all this possible for 1 lac/mo? If not, how bad is it commuting from g'gaon to khan market? Also, can anyone suggest a good broker?

I'll probably be travelling 10 days/mo for work and want to minimize any hassles that my wife will face in maintaining the flat, adjusting to a new environment/culture, and taking care of our newborn son.

Thanks so much.

puchoo · Jul 10th, 2008, 12:55

Hi Boomaye and welcome to Indiamike.

Gurgaon is coming up really fast but i still prefer Delhi for a host of reasons from infrastructure to public transport (Gurgaon hs none) to power and water issues as well.

Gurgaon to Khan market is quite a drive and you would be looking at spending anything between 1.5-2 Hours on the road each way. A lot depends on when you leave Gurgaon in the morning and Delhi in the evening. Avoiding peak traffic hours can easily cut as much as 30 - 40 minutes off the driving time but this strategy seems to be failing a bit now thanks to the increasing traffic in general. The rains dont help either , a 10 minute downpour and everything goes out of whack.

Defence Colony (which is where i stay by the way) is an excellent option. Its only about 6 odd Km's to Khan market i.e a 15 minute drive or so. I love the colony , its one of the few remaining neighborhoods in Delhi which is still very spacious. Almost each block has a big garden , a local grocery shop , roads are safe and empty enough for jobs and walks. Defence Colony also has one of the best markets for food in Delhi with some of the most popular restaurants such as Sagar , Moets , Colonel Kababs, Swagath. Its considered one of the poshest colonies in Delhi and the layout , greenery and space are some of the reasons for this.

VV again is fine but the distance increase substantially and you would be looking at a 1 hour drive each way.

In terms of apartments 1 lac a month is a good budget. Finding places in any of these areas will not be a problem. A little luck goes a long way as well. Def col has a lot of houses which have been re-built in accordance with what expats would expect (It has a very high population of expats). Keep in mind that a typical broker fee is 1 months rent and landlords can ask for a security deposit equivalent to the rent of 1-3 months. You can haggle on both!

A budget of 1 Lac a month should easily see you getting a 3 bedroom , Drawing, dining, study kind of a place. If you can secure a ground floor then you might get a small garden as well. Electricity and water is not an issue , power cuts happen but they are very seldom now. In the last 3 months or so i just remember 2 which lasted for about 45 minutes each, if you have an inverter then even this will not be a bother.

In addition Def col is also a very safe area. There is a active Resident Welfare Association at work and the evening see's a deployment of guards everywhere within the colony. In addition , given its high profile status, there is substantial patrolling done by the police as well.

In terms of landlords best to clear all doubts and ask whatever , even if you think its silly, that you want to. Members here have faced problems with their landlords on small and big issues post moving in but a lot of them because they were not discussed beforehand.

I'll leave someone else to recommend a broker but in the interim you can look at the following 2 sites for some leads on houses as well as brokers.

99acres.com
magicbricks.com

Hope that helped!

Edit - Just wanted to add that there are some other colonies as well you can look at which are very close to Khan Market in particular Jorbagh and Golf Links , though i dont find either as attractive as Def Col but both are only a 5 minute drive from Khan.

onajourney · Jul 10th, 2008, 22:17

I agree with the post above. If I had the money, Defence Colony is where I would choose to live - great amenities with the parks and markets, as well as very good proximity to Khan Market.

ronsaik · Jul 10th, 2008, 22:37

Ummmm...IMO Jor Bagh and Golf Links would both be more attractive, more exclusive, and more convenient addresses than Def Col, but I wouldn't know how liquid the rental market there is.

Tapatio · Jul 11th, 2008, 00:20

having lived in gurgaon, south delhi wins hands down (my humble opinion).

check out G.K. 1 area lots of nice places around and green areas. its takes a little bit of patience (and luck) but, you should have no problem finding something in your price range. good luck!

capt_mahajan · Jul 11th, 2008, 00:28

Not a Delhi fan, but would prefer to live there than in Gurgaon anyday. Besides location, infrastructure, lower entertainment options and almost zero history and sightseeing, Gurgaon is another city, I don't class it as a suburb of Delhi.

Amongst the options being mentioned here, Defence Colony may well be close to the cheapest- if that is a word one can use in the context of South Delhi.

brownboy66 · Jul 11th, 2008, 01:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by puchoo

VV again is fine but the distance increase substantially and you would be looking at a 1 hour drive each way.

just to pitch in here.....

I agree that Defence colony is probably the most convenient and best location in terms of getting to Khan Market - but would not completely write off Vasant Vihar either. I live in Chanakyapuri which is probably half way between Khan Market and VV - and it would take 15 minutes to get to either location from here regardless of the traffic (have travelled to both location during peak hour traffic and while its heavy - its not at a standstill). Travelling from VV to Khan market would almost certainly be a longer trip than from DC, but nothing like the commute that would be required coming from Gurgaon.

VV doesn't have the same access to parks, restaurants that DC has, but one thing it does have is loads of modern apartments (possibly a few too many on some streets). My suggestion would be to look at it as a back-up.

boomaye · Jul 11th, 2008, 02:09

Thanks to everyone for their advice. Would VV be as safe as def col? Also, do builder flats have back up generators and 24 hour access to water?

Any suggestions on brokers?

capt_mahajan · Jul 11th, 2008, 09:40

Yes, it would be as safe.

Yes to backup generators, but you have to check what they back up. Within Delhi, they probably will not have backups for all lighting, airconditioning etc, but maybe just a couple of fans and lights per apartment.

24 hour access to water in VV depends on how much storage capacity there is. Should not be a problem.

Shaily · Jul 17th, 2008, 08:29

boomaye,

I am in the exact same predicament as you. We are possibly moving to Delhi in a couple of months and have an infant son. Only difference is that my husband is the one that is not Indian. While I have been to India many times, I have never lived there (past the age of 4). I have some of the same questions as you. Would love to hear what you and your wife think of living there (as you will likely get there before us!).

puchoo · Jul 17th, 2008, 11:29

Yes in general VV would be as safe. I have a few friends staying in VV and they have personal power back up systems and they have not been supplied by the landlord etc , water is not a problem in either of the localities.

Quote:

Originally Posted by boomaye

Thanks to everyone for their advice. Would VV be as safe as def col? Also, do builder flats have back up generators and 24 hour access to water?

Any suggestions on brokers?

kammaldeep · Jul 17th, 2008, 13:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by boomaye

Thanks to everyone for their advice. Would VV be as safe as def col? Also, do builder flats have back up generators and 24 hour access to water?

Any suggestions on brokers?

VV is quite a safe colony and on top of that u can hire a guard.. which i would say there is in most of the houses in VV

Regarding electricity..it is usually not a prblem bt it is always good to have a invetor/genset depending on your requirement.. mostly the owners wont provide it ....

regarding water.. it is not a major prblem if the house u wil b livin in have a boring...bt if the boring is not done.. u will have to look for water tankers...

incase u need any information specific to VV.. let me knw.. i live there(though i m in pune dese days.. bt my home is dere)..wud b glad to help

puchoo · Jul 17th, 2008, 13:21

Hee Hee , i know , with the number of guards around even in Def col i will never need to hire one personally....there are like 4 for the houses touching ours and they by default end up keeping an eye out for us as well..!

Quote:

Originally Posted by kammaldeep

that u can hire a guard.. which i would say there is in most of the houses in VV

kammaldeep · Jul 17th, 2008, 13:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by puchoo

Hee Hee , i know , with the number of guards around even in Def col i will never need to hire one personally....there are like 4 for the houses touching ours and they by default end up keeping an eye out for us as well..!

ha ha ha .. yeah .. that actually happens.. though we have a guard.. bt he is not only ours.. bt our neighbours too

puchoo · Jul 17th, 2008, 16:16

and are more than willing to double up as the car cleaner, dog walker, quick errand guy for fee as well...

always tend to give them something during Diwali and stuff...

Jul 10th, 2008, 02:31	#1
boomaye Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Singapore Posts: 2	South Delhi vs. Gurgaon Hello everyone, I've spent quite a bit of time going through the various posts and am interested in getting the group's thoughts. I am planning on moving to Delhi in September with my wife and infant son. I left India for the US at a very early age, but have visited enough times to feel comfortable in the country. However, living in Delhi and visiting Delhi are two different things. My office will be in Khan Market area and I want to minimize my commute and as such am thinking about Def Col or VV as possible rental options. Other suggestions are welcome. However, my wife is not Indian and has only seen India from a tourist standpoint. Although we'd probably prefer South Delhi, I've been told that G'gaon is probably an easier option for us. My assumption is that we can get a (i) western standard flat with modern fixtures, (ii) a sense of security within the complex, and (iii) not have to deal with water/power issues as the complex takes care of these things. I guess my question is, can I get these things in South Delhi as well, i.e. can my wife hangout in a local park with our son without worrying about her safety (any more than she would in NY)? can we get a responsive landlord and have 24hr access to water/power? can we get a flat that's newly done, but not ridiculously priced?and is a builder flat as safe as a condo in g'gaon? And is all this possible for 1 lac/mo? If not, how bad is it commuting from g'gaon to khan market? Also, can anyone suggest a good broker? I'll probably be travelling 10 days/mo for work and want to minimize any hassles that my wife will face in maintaining the flat, adjusting to a new environment/culture, and taking care of our newborn son. Thanks so much.

Jul 10th, 2008, 12:55	#2
puchoo Maha Guru Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: New Delhi & Himachal Pradesh (Shimla) Posts: 3,409	Hi Boomaye and welcome to Indiamike. Gurgaon is coming up really fast but i still prefer Delhi for a host of reasons from infrastructure to public transport (Gurgaon hs none) to power and water issues as well. Gurgaon to Khan market is quite a drive and you would be looking at spending anything between 1.5-2 Hours on the road each way. A lot depends on when you leave Gurgaon in the morning and Delhi in the evening. Avoiding peak traffic hours can easily cut as much as 30 - 40 minutes off the driving time but this strategy seems to be failing a bit now thanks to the increasing traffic in general. The rains dont help either , a 10 minute downpour and everything goes out of whack. Defence Colony (which is where i stay by the way) is an excellent option. Its only about 6 odd Km's to Khan market i.e a 15 minute drive or so. I love the colony , its one of the few remaining neighborhoods in Delhi which is still very spacious. Almost each block has a big garden , a local grocery shop , roads are safe and empty enough for jobs and walks. Defence Colony also has one of the best markets for food in Delhi with some of the most popular restaurants such as Sagar , Moets , Colonel Kababs, Swagath. Its considered one of the poshest colonies in Delhi and the layout , greenery and space are some of the reasons for this. VV again is fine but the distance increase substantially and you would be looking at a 1 hour drive each way. In terms of apartments 1 lac a month is a good budget. Finding places in any of these areas will not be a problem. A little luck goes a long way as well. Def col has a lot of houses which have been re-built in accordance with what expats would expect (It has a very high population of expats). Keep in mind that a typical broker fee is 1 months rent and landlords can ask for a security deposit equivalent to the rent of 1-3 months. You can haggle on both! A budget of 1 Lac a month should easily see you getting a 3 bedroom , Drawing, dining, study kind of a place. If you can secure a ground floor then you might get a small garden as well. Electricity and water is not an issue , power cuts happen but they are very seldom now. In the last 3 months or so i just remember 2 which lasted for about 45 minutes each, if you have an inverter then even this will not be a bother. In addition Def col is also a very safe area. There is a active Resident Welfare Association at work and the evening see's a deployment of guards everywhere within the colony. In addition , given its high profile status, there is substantial patrolling done by the police as well. In terms of landlords best to clear all doubts and ask whatever , even if you think its silly, that you want to. Members here have faced problems with their landlords on small and big issues post moving in but a lot of them because they were not discussed beforehand. I'll leave someone else to recommend a broker but in the interim you can look at the following 2 sites for some leads on houses as well as brokers. 99acres.com magicbricks.com Hope that helped! Edit - Just wanted to add that there are some other colonies as well you can look at which are very close to Khan Market in particular Jorbagh and Golf Links , though i dont find either as attractive as Def Col but both are only a 5 minute drive from Khan. __________________ Cheers! Sidharth puchoo.wordpress.com

Jul 11th, 2008, 00:20	#5
Tapatio Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New Delhi Posts: 52	having lived in gurgaon, south delhi wins hands down (my humble opinion). check out G.K. 1 area lots of nice places around and green areas. its takes a little bit of patience (and luck) but, you should have no problem finding something in your price range. good luck! Last edited by Tapatio : Jul 11th, 2008 at 02:23.

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Jul 10th, 2008, 22:17	#3
onajourney Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 67	I agree with the post above. If I had the money, Defence Colony is where I would choose to live - great amenities with the parks and markets, as well as very good proximity to Khan Market.

Jul 10th, 2008, 22:37	#4
ronsaik Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 155	Ummmm...IMO Jor Bagh and Golf Links would both be more attractive, more exclusive, and more convenient addresses than Def Col, but I wouldn't know how liquid the rental market there is.

Jul 11th, 2008, 00:28	#6
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 9,752	Not a Delhi fan, but would prefer to live there than in Gurgaon anyday. Besides location, infrastructure, lower entertainment options and almost zero history and sightseeing, Gurgaon is another city, I don't class it as a suburb of Delhi. Amongst the options being mentioned here, Defence Colony may well be close to the cheapest- if that is a word one can use in the context of South Delhi.

Jul 11th, 2008, 02:09	#8
boomaye Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Singapore Posts: 2	Thanks to everyone for their advice. Would VV be as safe as def col? Also, do builder flats have back up generators and 24 hour access to water? Any suggestions on brokers?

Jul 11th, 2008, 09:40	#9
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 9,752	Yes, it would be as safe. Yes to backup generators, but you have to check what they back up. Within Delhi, they probably will not have backups for all lighting, airconditioning etc, but maybe just a couple of fans and lights per apartment. 24 hour access to water in VV depends on how much storage capacity there is. Should not be a problem.

Jul 17th, 2008, 08:29	#10
Shaily Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Washington DC Posts: 1	boomaye, I am in the exact same predicament as you. We are possibly moving to Delhi in a couple of months and have an infant son. Only difference is that my husband is the one that is not Indian. While I have been to India many times, I have never lived there (past the age of 4). I have some of the same questions as you. Would love to hear what you and your wife think of living there (as you will likely get there before us!).

Jul 17th, 2008, 16:16	#15
puchoo Maha Guru Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: New Delhi & Himachal Pradesh (Shimla) Posts: 3,409	and are more than willing to double up as the car cleaner, dog walker, quick errand guy for fee as well... always tend to give them something during Diwali and stuff...

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