Retiring to Mussoorie?

SS7

I lived in USA for 35 years, moved slightly away from Mussoorie to Landour cantt.(it's 4 miles or so), that's a nice, quiet place, no honking, noise etc.Mussoorie is too noisy, i lived in suburbs in USA, not used to constant honking, won't be able to live in Mussoorie.
instead of PIO, try for OCI (overaseas citizens of India), this is valid for life long, as far as i know you can buy property in most parts of India (not agricultural land). if you don't like cold weather (there is no central heating here and taking a bath in winters is a chore), Coorg may be a better option.
SS7

Desipardeshi

Question for Namita, Did you make more inquiries into Mussoorie living? Cost of living, rent, real estate value etc., if you did, I would really appreciate it if you can share it with me. I am also planning to retire in those hills in near future.


To SS7

Is Dhobi Ghat residential area, and are there any houses to rent or purchase around that area? If I can add, could you tell me the going real estate value (rate) there?

Desipardeshi

Aishah

Namita put her question in February and we haven't heard from her since - I wonder how she went too.
Landour Cantt is delightful - if I had my choice, that would be the place for me permanently too! Unfortunately, Mr K was born here, not there, so not a possibility. Now I go there for escaping the heat - next year will be there probably 4 months and this will be my 4th year in a row, going to Mussoorie the first year, and then already the last two years to Landour. I will now go only to here, of all hill station areas, I like this the best.
I've never been to Dobi Ghat but knew someone who was living there. I don't know how 'residential' it is however.

__________________
"Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

SS7

Dear deshpardeshi,
I have walked down to dhobi ghat, only property I saw besides "woodstock school" was "sagar estate', I don't think there is anything available. as far as landour cantt. is concerned, I have heard prices in range of Rs.4 crores etc. (still can't narrate in crores, you can use a calculator to figure it out, I can narrate to millions etc.).
Hope this helps

Desipardeshi

Thank you SS7. It is a bit dissapointing about Dhobi Ghat. My main reason was to send my daughter to the Wynberg allen school as a dayscholar. I never liked sending my kids to boarding school because of my own experience as a boarder student. Good education by day and loving family at night makes a stable child.
Dhobi ghat was just a walking distance from the school.

Thank you again SS7. If you have any information on any other part of Musoorie I would be very grateful to you.

Desipardeshi

fleur08

Hi... you can try in the north eastern Himalayas also. Like for example Darjeeling, Kalimpong.

Desipardeshi

Hi Fleur,

Yes I know, Darjeeling, Kalimpong and kursheong. These are wonderful places. Beautiful as Switzerland and wonderful schools, friendly people. But.... Political situation is not great. I would rather have my kid attend full year schooling than 6 months because of strikes and so on. Not to mention the danger.

Thanks anyway. Desipardeshi

SS7

Dear Desipardesi,
i think you are confusing "Dhobi Ghat's location" , with "woodstock school",wynberg allen is a a bit of a hike from Dhobi Ghat.
Are you planning to rent a place and stay with your daughter??, Or you are set on buying a house??you can rent out some nice places for long term rentals. send some more details, of where you want to rent, I can look around
SS7.

Desipardeshi

You really are a very good friend. Though I have not met you but your outgoing nature and willingness to help out an expatriat to relocate make you seem like an old lost friend. Most commendable. Thanks.

The truth is I have never been in that part of India. The nearest place I have come to in the west is Delhi. I came from Darjeeling and been in the States over thirty years. I love North Bengal, but the situations there is not very friendly to a peace loving guy like me. My friends there says that there could be another political upheaval and this is not the time to settle there. As you know, time and tides waits for no man. I am getting on my years. Retirement is beckoning and I am to obey. The question is where? Somewhere similar, cool, polution free and good education for my five years old daughter.

The only place that fits seems to be Mussoorie. Now according to the maps in google, I came to the conclusion that wynberg allen school was about a mile and a half from Dhobi ghat. What a wonderful walk in the morning. But if you say that it is quite a big trek then it must be so. Can you recommend somewhere else nearby? I aim to rent the first year just to get the feel of the place and get to know the surrounding neighbourhood. Perhaps invest in a small bunglow type house with 3 bedrooms depending on what I can afford at the time I retire(in 2 years or less. I might make a trip with my wife next year to Mussoorie.

There is another request to you if you do not mind. Could you give me a little breakdown of expenses living out there? Just to plan my budget? that is; if it is not asking too much.

Thank you again

Desipardeshi

Dilliwala

Dhobi Ghat IS a long way from Wynberg Allen, nor is there anything available other than the 1 or 2 houses that are not up for sale or rent.

There are houses/flats practically at WA's doorstep, but I don't know if anything is available. A personal trip will be a good idea.

Desipardeshi

Dilliwala I believe that you are an ex Woodstock. Heard a lot of good things about Woodstock, good rave. Sad to say, maybe too expensive for my pocketbook. It would have been ideal if I could afford it for my girl, she wouldn't be out of place there.
up rooting from NY to Mussoorie will be a difficult time for her.

Would love to hear more of your time in Mussoorie though.

Desipardeshi

Dilliwala

Never studied at Woodstock in my life.

Spent a lot of summer hols in Muss though.

Desipardeshi

Must have mistaken you for someother member on this site. It does not matter. What does matter is that yu are an expert as far as I am concerned about living in Muss. So let me put the question to you. In order to live comfortably with all conveniences how much would you say it will cost to live there?
Maid, rent (3bedrooms) phone, internet, food and so on? And where would I most probably find a good location to rent? Thanks

Desipardeshi

SS7

Dear desipardesi,
I wil take a walk by weinberg allen, I know they have some apartment buildings close to the school, will check it out. Questions:-
1. How long are you planning to rent the place for?/
2. how many bedrooms are you looking for?/
3. need it fully furnished or not?/
4.Approximate idea for monthly rents?/
once I know, I will speak to the locals and hopefully can be of some help to you.
Regards
SS7


Dear Desipardesi,
If you move here, are you planning to buy a car and have a driver etc., if that's your plan, I can look for a place in bigger area. also have you checked with wienberg allen if they have admissions for a 5 years old (I think that's you had mentioned about your daughter's age).
SS7

Desipardeshi

Don't worry about the school. I am going to visit it myself when I am there. Perhaps next year around july. About the rental place, I will need it only after I retire in 2010 around August. I would stay in a hotel when I come next year and look around. At present I am living in a house with 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. We call it Ranch type house. I guess in India it is more like a bunglow type. When I retire, I will not be making a lot, but if the rental is not high, I can not say if I can or can not afford it because I do not have any idea at all how much the rental in Mussoorie is.

A maid and car would be quite excellent but how much do they cost? Could you atleast give me ball park figure of how much we are talking about?

I guess it is not much different where I live in India the cost of living would probably be very similar around all hill station type places.

Would it be too much to ask from you a list of items required for every day living? ie, food, petrol, electricity, phone, internet, rent, maid, driver. What would be the expense be without entertainment ie cinema, restuarant etc. Just the basic. RS 50,000? more or less?


You know how serious I am about retiring in Mussoorie right? It the reason I am asking all these questions. Also I greatly appreciate the kindness you are showing by showing interest in my problems. Thank you for taking time to look around the place for me.

Desipardeshi