Moving to India - which city to request?

omshanti

Hello!

I have been offered a ten month fellowship to work with an NGO in India. I have been given four choices - Delhi, Bhopal, Dehradun and Madurai (all different NGOs with different yet equally interesting issues) - and I have to choose one! Yet as they are all interesting NGOs I am trying to decide which place would be best for me to live in?

I have travelled extensively throughout India - much of the South (lived in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, travelled through the state as well as Kerala, Karnatka, Goa, etc.) and parts of the North (Rajasthan, Uttaranchal, UP).....I have also read some of the threads on life in Delhi and it seems like an interesting choice - while I have been to Delhi several times I know that visiting a place is very different from living there but the threads have given me a good impression of life in Delhi overall. Plus my work there would be in the Nizamuddin Basti and from what I have read that is very intriguing area of Delhi.

My main question is what about Bhopal???? I have never been to Madhya Pradesh and have no idea what it is like or what it would be like to live there as a foreign, single, young, woman? So, any impressions of the city, thoughts, comments, would be very much appreciated.

Dehradun and Madurai are lower on the list simply because Dehradun is too cold! and I want to practice and build on my Hindi - so Madurai is less appealing, although I love South India and Tamil Nadu!!!

Thanks in advance!

PeakXV

Depends what you plan to do on your spare time? Bhopal is a friendly warm city but not alot of expats or tourists there. Night life isn't the best .. even Delhi can drag in that department during the first part of the week. I'd pick Delhi - less chance to stagnate and alot more social options. Btw what's Babylon like these days??

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Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

Jorge Reverter

Hi Omshanti,

To choose between Bhopal and Madurai is not an easy question. Last September I've been in Bhopal for few days and I think I was the only foreigner in town, nevertheless the city is not very big with nice mosques and busy bazaars around Moti Masjid. The weather is not bad compared with other places in central India. Not far from Bhopal you have plenty of places to visit like Sanchi, Vidisha, Raisen, Udaigiri, Bimbethka, Bhojpur, etc.

Madhya Pradesh is for me one of the most interestistates in India, in general you feel like if you were living few decades ago almost everywhere.

omshanti

hhmmm...I don't think I would mind to be the only foreigner/tourist around - perhaps I would be bored at times but I am sure it would also be a rewarding experience. Delhi is notorious for its touts and aggresive nature and I have heard that women in particular can find it very challenging to be there for an extended period of time. That said though there are lots of great things about Delhi as well. I think that out of any of the choices there will be pros and cons....I have a week to decide and so I will continue weighing things out....any information on any of these locations and experiences of living or working there would be appreciated.

thanks everyone.

aadil

If you can possibly choose between Bhopal and New Delhi I would go for Bhopal for the same reasons that the earlier post mentioned all the other sites near Bhopal but then Delhi has more of them within the city itself besides the ones outside the city limits as well as some nearby like the Taj at Agra and maybe even some places in Rajasthan on a weekend trip. I would go for Bhopal as there would be a lot of people opting for Delhi but very few for Bhopal so for a chance to work with people I guess it would be a better place to offer your good services. The city itself has a lot of problems but then which city in India does not have them?!!! I liked my stay in Bhopal the most during my visit there last year and I sure will be back there someday pretty soon too. I missed out a lot in the city itself though I did go to the nearby places like Sanchi, Vidisha, Udaygiri and Bhimbetka for the wonderful sights there!!! I think you will love it there even with all the power cuts and not much night life as well as there are not too many expats out there and life is pretty tough but I am sure you will love it too for the same reasons!!!

Cheers,
Aadil.

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Jorge Reverter

South and west from Bhopal you can visit some of the most impressive places in India: Ujjain, Dhar, Omkareshwar, Maheshwar and above all Mandu (probably with Hampi my favourite site in India).

In town in Bhopal you have close to the railways station a very popular market beside Hamidia Rd, in my gallery you can have a look at some pictures taken there.

I¡m sending two pictures of the mosques and another of the lake.

Jorge

crvlvr

Dehradun would be my choice

omshanti

Thanks everyone for the info and photos - looks like if I choose the NGO in Bhopal I may spend most of my time actually working in Mandsaur, what I hear is a not-so-nice 12hr busride from Bhopal!

Anyone ever been to Mandsaur? I am sure it will be a bit isolated and I will be the only foreigner around but that isn't necessarily so bad. Sometimes too many expats can also have its downside. The work sounds really interesting, I just want to know more about the region/area before committing!

If not I think it will be Delhi.

Thanks again.

aadil

Not been there but would like to know what kind of work you will be doing out there to get a brief idea of what you will be in for during your volunteering period. I am sure it will be a one of a kind experience but then it will also be an isolated world for a foreigner for a long period of time so be willing to risk not getting back from there to a better or more comfortable place with better facilities like a big city. I am sure you will enjoy this place too but maybe a tough job too so be careful in what you do when you pick the place.

Cheers,
Aadil.

edwardseco

Between mega cities and moderate cities I would always go smaller. Are you there for the nightlife or the experience.?

PeakXV

Everyone reacts a little differently in the location department - Some people mix better than others, some stagnate quickly in smaller locals - language might be a factor as well in the smaller towns and villages - better to speak at least conversational hindi to get into the mindset and culture more easily. The big cities offer both Indian and ex-pat social experiences that one can easily alternate between for good balance and variety.

omshanti

So, in the end, I think I have decided on Delhi.

I was put in touch with a current volunteer in Bhopal who I would be taking over from and she stressed the isolation and loneliness she felt in Mandsaur. She also said that her basic Hindi skills were not enough to get by on a day to day basis, let alone to be productive at work.

So, as much as the work there would have been very, very inspiring, interesting, eye-opening, challenging, rewarding, I think I will have to pass on that option - they need someone who is more proficient in Hindi - that is the bottom line.

So now I have to wait until end of June to see if I get placed there - they may end up sending me to Madurai or Dehradun just the same but I least I know what to tell them my preference is!

Thanks everyone for the tips!

aadil

If language is the problem then I guess Delhi would be better or even Madurai for that matter would be easier for you to speak in some simple basic English with the locals. Hope you have a lovely time doing whatever you are supposed to do out here and good luck to you in all your endeavours and travels around the country and wherever else you may go!!!

Cheers,
Aadil.

omshanti

Cheers Aadil - best to you to! And thanks again everyone for the fotos/insight. I am really looking forward to returning to India!

aadil

Do let us know how it goes when you get here after you make your final choice about the place. Hope you will have a great time out here.

Cheers,
Aadil.