Santa Cruz - what is it like?

Hi, all:

Hubby is checking out places in Santa Cruz. Don't know if in East or West but I'll ask him.

1) Is this doable area with my son going to ASB or will he have a terrible commute to Bandra?

The DH has been seeing apts in Bandra, but prices are super high for not so great apts. He saw 4 today in Santa Cruz with much more potential.

Any thoughts? What kind of place is Santa Cruz? Is this a Christian area (not that it matters, just wondering because of the name)? I see there is a good market there from searching the India Mike forums. We will be joining a club called Waterstone. He thought it'd be closer to the club than Bandra, but I am more worried about my son and the long bus ride to school. Is this a more local area or ex-pat?

Thanks for any information!

We're coming next Saturday barring delays on the visa. Keep your fingers crossed for us.

edit: to add he's working in Parel (west) and didn't think Santa Cruz would add more than 10-15 minutes to the drive.

Santacruz is better in the west than in the east. It has a sizeable Christian population but only in some pockets near the Railway station in the West where there are a lot of old bungalows near the Churches and Convent schools. The area is also pretty close to Bandra but I think the school is in the BKC area which is not very close but on the Bandra (East) side so it may be a slightly long commute. Also getting to Parel is not going to be a 10 - 15 minute commute by any chance especially not during office or peak hours when it could take about 45 minutes most of the times. Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Aadil.

If you husband is working in Parel, Santa Cruz is a commute for a non-experienced in Mumbai Rush hours expat, their are some decent housing in Lower Parel as well as some great shopping...

sthakur

Hi, thanks for the info. I meant to write that he's now going from the Taj Land's End hotel to Parel and thought the commute from Santa Cruz would take him 15 min longer than it's taking now (so probably 45min-1hr or so total). We did that in Chicago so we're used to that.

What is the commute time from Santa Cruz to BKC? 30min? 45min? 1hr?

Hi, thought Parel was out because my son will be going to school in Bandra. I heard that commute would be worse. Are we mistaken?

You did not mention Taj Land's End in the previous post so I did not know about that. Anyway it should be different from Chicago as the traffic is not as orderly and the autorickshaws weaving in and out of the lanes (in the suburbs) besides the bad practices most drivers are used to in Mumbai will drive you crazy pretty soon till you get kind of used to it out here!!! You are quite right about the timings you mention for that extra ride. Time from Santacruz to BKC will be roughly about 30 minutes depending on where exactly in the area you wish to go. I am not sure where the school is in Bandra so if you have an address then maybe it could be helpful for others to guide you.

Cheers,
Aadil.

hi Renwaa,

Santacruz east ( AKA Vakola) backs into BKC. although mainly middle class there have been some new housing projects in this area which may suit you. From here ASB should be 10-15 min drive max.

Santacruz west is more posh and drive to ASB will be 20-30 mins depending on traffic & yur actuall location.

& you are correct that this will add 10-15 mins to your husbands travelling time.

Hope this is of help
mani

Hi, Mani: One of the apartments (the one we like best) I just found out was actually in Khar. What do you think/know about that? Is there shopping and other things close by? Is this also a good place to be?

What about airport noise in Santa Cruz or Khar from the domestic airport? Should we be concerned?

Thanks!

Hi,
I'm not a local, but I have stayed in Santacruz before, and will be staying there again next week. I find the airport noise quite bad, especially at night, so am packing my earplugs.

Khar East / West?

Khar west sort of flows into bandra on one side and santacruz on the other & is a good location from your shopping / supplies point of view.

Khar east - may be actually around Vakola area so again not mucah change.

Airport Noise :- geographically speaking the airport is in Vileparle the flight path is usually over vileparle onto juhu over the sea and finally in the direction of its destination. so the most noise during takeoff is in vileparle near the airport and then according to the am flightpath. most buildings in santacuz/ khar vileparle are not tall & therefore to some extent are protected unless in the direct flight path. Khar is less problematic then vileparle/ santacruz as it is futher away from the airport.

But this is still a decesion that you make after you have spent an hour or two at the apartment that you choose to rent.

hope this is of help.

mani

Hi, absolutely all the responses help especially with details like yours above. It is so difficult to move into a city without knowing where to live--especially with the size and complexity of Mumbai. Have to say, I'm quite shocked at the prices for apartments. Holy cow! Ha! is that my first Indian joke?!!

Anyway, we've seen (me only internet pics) a real nice apt in Khar (no word on east vs west) and the big boss is putting pressure on to pick something so we limit time in a hotel. Our stuff doesn't even arrive until mid-May from Panama but have heard it may take some weeks to get the apts set up the way you want. I can understand the company not wanting to shell out hotel $$, but that also means my husband wants to get the apt before I get there to hurry things along.

Am also surprised to hear ovens aren't common (none in the apts so far)? Does that mean they are not normally supplied (i.e. we buy it) or that Indian people don't use ovens?

Lots of questions. Can't wait to get there and start seeing things for myself. 9 more days to go!!! Wish there was more stuff on the internet describing the suburbs. Bandra has a bit, same with Worli, but not the others so much.

There is not much difference between Bandra West, Khar West and Santa Cruz West, except maybe, for the prices. Bandra is a wee bit higher than the other two. But all are similar where it comes to eating out, clubs, schools and markets. Bandra is closest to both Lower Parel and BKC. In case you are interested there is a two bedroom apartment going for rent in my building in Bandra West. But you need to see and decide pretty quick. There have been several interested parties coming to view the place. It is not too far from the Taj Land's end.

The airport noise should not be a big concern to you since there will be many more local noises that will be heard more than the aircraft noise!!! Mumbai city drivers usually honk a lot sometimes even without any reason so you will need to get used to that more than the aircraft noise which will be nothing in comparison to all the honking vehicles near your home.

Area wise it is best to be nearer to Bandra than Santacruz and the west is the place to be if you want anything nice. Most of the places in the east are not so upmarket. Also most facilities would be easily available in the west than in the east. The best restaurants are in the Bandra West area with some even extending into the Khar west area. Property prices are the highest in Mumbai when compared to other metro cities in India and also around most of the world so it is going to be pretty expensive wherever you buy your apartment in Mumbai.

Ovens or any other appliances are usually not found even in homes which are given out on rent. If you are going to buy a house then it is definitely going to be unfurnished. Even if it is rented with furniture then you will generally not find such appliances unless it is really highly priced. Most people in India would not want to use somebody else's kitchen appliances and would want their own or new appliances and utensils.

Cheers,
Aadil.

Finding something good from the internet will be tough. Small details make a big difference to your standard of living.

As well as the possible noise from flights, there's the different volumes of noise from the traffic. an apartment in a good position on a side street will only have moderately loud traffic noise. Something on a main road will have a deafening din.

Although the trip to the Americian school should only take 30 mins, there's a few congested underpases from Ssnta Cruz West and Khar that could add another 30 minutes. The alternative route of Linking road is also slow at peak times. Depending on age, a 30 minute commute to school can add significantly to the strain on the kids.

I recommend you only look at apartments with newly fitted out bathrooms and kitchens. Older fittings will be in poor condition and having something refitted is only worthwhile if you have a couple of years to spare.

Bandra to BKC is about the same as Santa Cruz to BKC time wise, and you could also look at Juhu. Longer commute but nicer area.

Good luck.

Ok, now the husband is talking to colleagues who live in Powai. He also met an American woman at the club I guess we are joining, who sends her kids to ASB from Powai. I looked at the map and it is far, but that colleague told my husband he leaves for work at 7:30 and it takes about 45min to get to Parel (west). Ugh, this is so confusing. I can see from searching the regular internet that Powai is very nice in the pictures, and money gets you more out there, but then there is a BBC story from 2003 about leopards attacking people! My brain hurts from all this. Can't wait until it is over and we are settled. Now, I'll try and figure out Powai and what it has to offer.