Moving to Varanasi

MaggieMae

I'll be moving to India with my family for a year, sometime in the next 3 to 9 months. My husband has a fellowship to do research for his PhD and will be working mostly in Sarnath.

At this point we're planning to live in Varanasi, but Sarnath is an option too.

I'm a bit floored by this whole project and hoping to gather some information about what to expect. I've done a fair bit of reading about Varanasi, but its mostly all been about visiting, not living there. I've never been to India, but my husband has lived there for a total of 2.5 yrs (but not in or near Varanasi).

In particular I'm eager to hear about living in/extended visits to Varanasi/Sarnath.

And if anyone has done this sort of thing with kids, I'd love to hear how that worked out. Mine are 9(girl) and 3(boy), and homeschooled.

Looking forward to hearing your ideas!

Khak

Hi
I am not in position to comment about expat population staying in Varansi or Sarnath. However regarding basic amenities like decent school, hospital, shopping malls etc you will everything in Varanasi.
Sarnath does not have much facilities and its more of a tourist place. However my observations of Sarnath are what I saw 3 years back........someone may correct me.

__________________
~Khak~

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover

atala

With kids I'd opt for the countryside rather than the city. Sarnath or somewhere else outside of Varanasi would be more suitable in my view.

I hope your kids do not have blond hair, which would attract everyone to touch them...

Khak

Indian countryside is nowhere near to europe/US countryside - (1)very few amenties (e.g. electricity, water, medical facilitie )(2)not safe either specially in UP countryside.

Stay in a posh locality in Varanasi

atala

With countryside I mean suburb rather than city. Where will the children play?

Khak

Varanssi is a small city and does not have a suburb like metros have. Playground for children is not a major concern in Varanasi rather safety, security and basic amenities

atala

Yes, you say it: safety is an issue in Varanasi. Living there with small "European" kids is positively dangerous.

MaggieMae

Can you give me some more specifics? What sort of safety issues are we looking at? What are the different risks in the city v. countryside?

I imagine certain parts of Varanasi are safer than others, and with reasonable precautions we could be alright there. Just like anywhere else in the world... places can be dangerous but if you know what you're getting into and can prepare, you can be reasonably safe. Can anyone point me toward better areas?

My kids do look pretty "European" - not bright blond, but they're fair and blue eyed and get sort of sun-bleached in the summer. Aside from attracting attention, what's the issue? Am I missing something?

Thanks for the input guys.

nayan

hi maggiemae
dont get too discouraged.
actually Varanasi is a part of uttar pradesh state which is not a very well administered state even in indian terms. As long as you stay with varanasi city limits you should not have much problems with regards to civil amenities like electricity, water supply, medical facilities, shopping, safe neighbourhood etc.

Once you are outside the city limits none of this are available any more.Eastern UP is also quite a lawless area and without having a local support system it will be difficult for you to adjust. It has nothing to do whether you look Indian or european. Non local Indians will also face the same problems.

Khak

Hi
As you rightly pointed out "Just like anywhere else in the world... places can be dangerous but if you know what you're getting into and can prepare, you can be reasonably safe", all I wanted to say is that stay in a good area of Varansi where you will get all the basic amentities.

If you take normal precautions, there is nothing to worry about.