Moving to Rajasthan - what to expect?

cq1

I will be in Rajasthan and Udaipur this summer. If I had a choice, I would not be traveling during these months; however, it is the only time I will be able to be there. I will be volunteering with a health project.

I am curious about what it is reasonable to expect in terms of housing. I am worried about weathering the heat and the monsoon - I have a hard time during the humidity in the Southeast US, so I may be miserable weather-wise in Rajasthan for the summer.

Is it reasonable for me to think that I would be able to find housing that is air-conditioned?

Thanks for any tips/thoughts/pointers. I will be doing much more exploring of the IM site over the next couple of weeks!

Mod Note

Hi Cq. I've moved this post into a separate thread to get a bit more visibility - so that hopefully you'll get a few more replies (and subsequently I've removed your similar post in the moving to India section). Good Luck.

Aishah

Depends where you are, cq1. If it's in the cities, then yes, air conditioning is possible - it may be that you will have to instal it, but you may find it already installed if you are lucky. In smaller towns/cities, it is most unlikely that you will find a/c already installed in a vacant house. But a good hotel will have it. Desert coolers (a noisy machine working on water cycling over wooden shavings with a fan blowing out) are more often used. Only in the big metros would you expect full air conditioning of a house and this will be in the more expensive areas.
In villages where there may be no power there will be nothing - only a wet chik hung up at the door where the breeze (if you're lucky to have one) will blow through and create some cooler air in the 50'c and more temps.

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camelgirl

I also have a very hard time with heat but if you cannot get an air-con place--you said you are volunteering but don't say if you have to find places on your own or if the organization finds you a place or if they help you find a place--you will have to pace yourself until you acclimate.

I had a very hard in Thailand when we lived there for a few months, which is very hot but also 100% humidity and it took me almost a month to acclimate. I would sweat in an almost abnormal way, it looked like I just stepped out of a shower when I was just sitting still! When you have no choice you have to do whatever you can to be comfortable and definitely take it very slow, drink enough beverages of all kinds, water, tea, even soup (if you can stand hot soup) and don't push yourself.

This only applies if you find you can't get a cool place to stay and you have to make due with a fan (good but just pushes the hot air around).

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cq1

Thanks for the responses - I appreciate them! The folks who I am working with are finding housing for me, and I've let them know that a/c would be great if it's possible to find it. We'll see what happens. Any other tips for living in Udaipur?

anjuli

it depends what do you mean by this summer. Right now it is the hottest time for Rajasthan.
By mid-June the Monsoon will come and cool down things a bit. Especially Udaipur will get quite pleasant, although humidity might be high and there will be days of rainy weather.
Still, I enjoy monsoons in Udaipur, evererything green and fresh and usually not sooo much heavy rain except maybe for 1-2 weeks.
It is my favourite season.

So you will be working in Udaipur ? Seva mandir ?

Don't worry too much, there a lots of opportunity to find adequate housing in Udaipur without spending too much money.