Moving to Hyderabad

Peregrine

My husband will be moving from Bombay to Hyderabad within the next month. I have done some general searches for housing and am at a loss. We are looking for a 5 bedroom house in a gated community with a pool and a nice playground. My husband will be working out of the new airport. I have seen references to Jubilee Hills, Banjara Hills and Lancohills. Are any of these close to the airport or have the gated communities or would some other area be better? His company is paying for housing and a car. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Peregrine

capt_mahajan

None of these are close to the new airport, but will not be too far, timewise after the new expressway is built

And therein lies the rub. At the moment, it will probably take you one and a half hours, easy, one way from any decent residential area in the city, or even from the outskirts. Well, not all of them, but some are so isolated you will not want to live there.

I would look at Madhapur, Gachibowli and surroundings, even though some of the surroundings are not too heavily populated and lack some amenities- also greater security issues there.

This is because when the expressway is completed (6 months? 1 year? Till hell freezes over?) these places will be better/faster connected.

Good luck

chAos

What do you mean by this? Less secure?

capt_mahajan

Yes. Not the more heavily populated areas around Hitec City but further out.

Not that there is much higher crime there, but I would hate my family staying that far out and/or isolated if I was, say, travelling on work. The chances of crime are higher, in my view, whether that is borne by numbers or not.

And some of the arterial roads have a higher proportion of drunks and brainless daredevils racing each other late night.

Peregrine

I have not heard of the places you mentioned but am not so sure I want to be to far out with my children when my husband is on a flight. Do they have any established gated neighborhoods? We have 5 children so I would like some place where the kids can play outside in a playground or a swimming pool with me worrying all the time.

Thanks Peregrine

capt_mahajan

Like I said, look at Madhapur and Gachibowli, you should get something there.

Jubilee hills is well populated, but has very limited gated communities.

Swimming pools will be available at some of these, but they may not be too well maintained and you may have to resort to hotels or clubs.

PS: Go to www.99acres.com
www.indiaproperties.com

and search for a flavour. Prices will probably be exaggerated.

Peregrine

Thank you.
Peregrine

chAos

Do you think this is true even in a gated community?

capt_mahajan

Umm, depends.

It seems to me that at least some of these are not greatly habitated right now- as is true even for apartments in some of the 'newer' parts of the city. But I am not an expert, and there may well be gated communities which have a higher percentage of occupants.

It also appears to me that at least some of the dwellings have been bought and locked up as investments.

So, yes, in these kinds of places chances of crime are higher.

If I wanted to live in a far flung gated community, I would find out what percentage of dwellings were habitated, how many families were staying there, how secure they felt, how good the security was- and make a couple of trips there at midnight to see how secure it looked. Stuff like that.

Not to overplay the security thing, Hyderabad is not a crime infested city (so far), but you did ask

The other thing to remember is that a suburb in Hyderabad is different from a suburb in eg Mumbai, in terms of facilities, infrastructure, entertainment etc- and commuting times into the heart of the city are rising with crazy traffic.

Living in some of these areas is more peaceful than the city, sure, but every rose has it's thorn.


PS: I would look at Jubilee hills too. Not many gated communities, but, budget permitting, you can get a bungalow. Well populated, closer to town, but another 10/13km to the airport.

Peregrine

Some of the larger bungalows in Jubilee Hills did sound really nice. I have forwarded the info to my hubby in Bombay.

Thanks Again
Peregrine

Hyderabadi

Captain is as usual correct.

There seem to be sudden spikes in random burglaries at lonely farmhouses etc., in the suburbs, reported by the local newspapers. Then nothing is reported for a while. Some spurts of 'chain snatching' - youngsters on motorbikes snatching gold chains/mangalsutras/necklaces from women... Some high profile heists at fancy jewellery and electronic stores... Some of the crime is attributed to out of town gangs of pro thieves.

If one leaves aside the land mafia, murder for vengeance and similar stuff which most likely won't affect you, most of the common, everyday crime, (if one can describe it that way) by locals is commited by two types, at the risk of broad generalization, as exceptions are many:

1. Dropouts / youngsters looking for easy money to have a good time (as elsewhere in the world)
2. New migrants from the villages looking for work and then resorting to crime to support the family or some habit.

Important to remember also is to screen the household help before you hire and register them along with photographs at the local police station.I think this was discussed elsewhere on IM, hiring help in Delhi or some other city.

chAos

I didn't even think of it Capt until you brought it up.
Thanks for your take on it.

Anna_N

Peregrine are you here in Hyderabad yet?

New gated communities are popping up every month. There are several in good positions for you. The best established and by far the most popular one with expats is WHISPER VALLEY. Houses start from 1 to 1.5 lakh though... not sure of your budget but with 5 kids you are probably used to it! This has pool, clubhouse, green areas etc.

There are several newer ones in and around Hi-tec city and Gachibowli - both suburbs are near each other and in good positions for going to airport and for proximity to Jubilee Hills/Banjarra Hills area.

Hill Ridge Villas is at Gachibowli. This is really new and therefore a bit sterile, but the houses are nice and large and new. I don't even know the names of the other ones but I can find out for you if you still need it. Let me know.

Best to join the TEA expats club here as soon as possible. Go to: http://www.hytea.org/ for info and how to join. Then you are linked to heaps of people who can help you with these questions, and the weekly email newsletter has lots of good info for expats such as social events, houses for rent and used furniture/appliances for sale as people come and go a lot (large IT community on short contracts).

Last piece of advice from me while I am doling it out is: it is not necessary to bring a maid/Aya from Mumbai. The whole situation sounds dodgy to me, esp when it involves a love "engagement". Living together before marriage is not accepted here, so not sure what is going on there. But my point really is that it is better to have someone who can speak Telugu (local language) for practical and social reasons, and someone who has family support here, etc. There is plenty of lovely women and men here who can work for you without such an upheaval and without you making a big commitment to them (such as moving them). Lots of such staff are passed around the expat community (and now is a good time to pick up staff as everyone leaves in the summer and new people come over the next 1-2 months), and these staff also speak English and are well accustomed to expat requirements/expectations.

You may find the "live-in" servant quickly becomes part of the frey and wonder how you ever lived with out her/him. I too like my privacy and avoided any domestic help for 2 years. Now for the last 6 months I have had a great lady who cooks/cleans/takes care of the baby, and I am soooooo happy. With 5 children, I wouldn't think twice. I am willing to bet your staff numbers increase very quickly once you are used to the idea.

Recommended Eye Clinic - Drishti Eye Centre, Plot#114A, Lane Opp SBI, Srinagar Colony Main Road, Hyderabad. Ph: (040)23742158. Everything you need is here.

Good luck

Anna

Aishah

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