Moving to Hyderabad, HELP!

gronkmeister

Hi,

Starting in July, I will be moving to Hyderabad, India, to film a student film project. I have never been to India before, but will be traveling with a long-time friend who has been there many times. However, I need my own place for about a year. Also, starting in January, I will be attending the University of Hyderabad for a few classes, but I don't need to live too close to the university.

Ideally, I am trying to find a good neighborhood to live in, preferably in a downtown area with easy access to transportation around the city, and somewhat close the University of Hyderabad, which is in the western half of the city, in Gachibowli.

If thats too specific, I basically need to find a neighborhood that would be ideal for a student to live in. Nearby Markets and transportation are a necessity.

Also, since I will be staying in a hotel for a week or so upon arrival, what is the best method for finding a place once in the city? Newspapers? Websites? Asking around?

Nick-H

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gronkmeister

Yap, I got a bit excited when I found this site, and posted in the wrong forum, but I still need some help figuring out how to find a place to live in Hyderabad.

Hyderabadi

I can't answer your question, but have a couple of my own..

What is your subject, I mean what aspect/s of Hyderabad do you want to document. The modern Hyderabad or the one one that existed 10 years ago.. or the one before that? I can recommend a couple of books and resources,

PS:
I feel more like an ex-hyderabadi these days, time to change my username/handle whatever you call it to exhyderabadi!
There is already a Hyderabad Ka Sher and Hyderabadi2 or something like that on here... Chalo, I probably will request Nadreg for a rebirth too...

gronkmeister

its actually going to be a collection of shorts, since when I return to the states, I want to have multiple shorts to use for different film festivals/projects for class.

The university I am currently attending promotes experimental film/documentary, so some of the shorts will be along those lines, other shorts will range from eating and public transportation, to learning sitar and tabla. Of course, I've heard filming in temples is strictly prohibited, but I hope to have some luck.

The main part of the project will be me filming my girlfriend's mother (both of whom are Indian) who has lived in the US for over 20 years, raised two daughters and lost a husband, and is finally returning to her home in India (not in Hyderabad). All of her family is still in India, and can't wait to have her back.

capt_mahajan

A 'downtown' area will be about 20 km from the Univ. Not too well connected by public transport either, and autorickshaws are fast overtaking Chennai autos in scamming people.

I would suggest, budget permitting, look at Jubilee Hills, or even beyond, upto Gachibowli itself. Depending on how often you have to attend classes, ie. Not that JH is well connected either, it's just a little closer.

And look at areas like Kukatpally too. Not downtown, really, but your day to day stuff will be available there easily.

Newspapers are the second best way, specially on the weekend, of finding accomodation.

The best way is knowing somebody who knows somebody...

wonderwomanusa

Heaven, no! We will get mixed up about who we thought we were talking with!

edwardseco

Just don't change the Charminar avatar..

nayan

Gronkmeister,
as the captain indicated, the university is very far from downtown (I guess downtown will be punjagutta, Ameerpet etc)

Owing to a lot of IT companies in Gachibowli and Hitec city some decent accomodations options have come up in nearby areas.

you can look into places like gachibowli, Chandanagar, BHEL, kothaguda, kondapur, kukatpally etc. All these places will have shops and public transport.

billyshake

It's funny -- I'm a television writer and novelist by trade and when I put that down as my employment on the Indian visa application, I then had to sign a letter stating that 'I shall not engage in any journalistic activities in India, including any commercial / journalistic / photography / filming work.'

Did you have to sign something similar or was the letter waived since you're a student?

Nick-H

Always avoid anything that make make them think, in the farthest reaches of their imagination, that you are a journalist.

edwardseco

Employment status vs. student, I think..

gronkmeister

Thanks for the info, I'll probably have to use newspapers to find a place.

As far as being a journalist, I will be doing most of the filming myself, without a crew, since it is a student project, so I'm guessing I won't have any problems. Maybe I am wrong?

Anna_N

For rental properties see:
Classified section of the Deccan Chronicle (local rag) is best place to look - I think Fri and Tues are the best days for rental properties.

Best thing to do is join TEA (Twin-cities Expats Association, http://www.hytea.org/)as fast as humanly possible, to receive weekly email newsletter full of all things relevant to expats - including rental properties, used appliances, cars and furniture for sale, domestic staff available for hire, organised social events, etc.

gronkmeister

Been doing some research, and I'm guessing that a lot of University of Hyderabad students do not live on campus. So, is there any specific neighborhoods with an increased number of students living in it?