long-term housing & cooking

Rastafeyd

Hello everyone,

My wife and I are coming to Varanasi for the first time in early July. We'll both be on 6-month tourist visas which have 5-year validity. We plan on hopping to Bangladesh every 6 months or so to renew the visa, but we'd like to stay in Varanasi for as long as 2-3 years. Are there any problems with foreigners renting apartments on tourist visas? I've seen a few rental ads on the net for apartments/houses in Varanasi, but could anyone give me a rough estimate on moderately furnished (bed, couch, washer, tv) place with one bedroom, one bathroom, kitchen? Thanks in advance.

Also, would hiring a cook be a good way to learn to cook Indian food, or are there any cheap culinary classes in Varanasi?

Mike

delhiwala

No problem in renting places in Varanasi on tourist visa....

I do not think you'll get a house furnished with washer, TV etc. An unfurnished two room set should cost you around Rs. 5000 (USD 100) per month.

You may hire a cook, or may join some cookery classes also...

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Nattusbs

Mike

Give us some back ground bout you & your wife? From which country are you originally from? The reason I ask, is that Indians tend to love foreigners, but, are often concerned about their habits. It is just their way.

Cheers

Nattusbs

Rastafeyd

We're both American citizens. I'm 25 and my wife is 23. We've lived in China for three years. We're both relatively neat people. I don't know how it is in India, but in China most landlords prefer foreigners to locals as they have the belief that foreigners tend to take care of apartments better. Is this a common assumption in India?

dzibead

One thing that's common in connection with long-term leases in India is that landlords often require payment up front for the entire lease term - no paying month by month. Rather than locking yourself into some long-term arrangement because you're assuming that you'll actually want to stay in Varanasi for a long time, I think it might be a good idea if you just try to arrange something a little shorter term at first - maybe only a month or so - especially since you've apparently never even visited Varanasi before. Who knows? You may hate it - or at least find that you'd rather be somewhere else.

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Rastafeyd

Thanks for the responses.

Of course, when we first arrive we'll be staying in a guest house for a month or two to learn the lay of the city and where an appropriate place might be to get an apartment according to our needs and wants. You may be entirely correct in that after a couple of weeks we may want to move to a different city entirely. Who knows.

That's good to know about landlords requring the entire rent up front. Thanks.

justbronwyn

I think Dzibead's suggestion is DEFINITELY a good one. If I could suggest anything, I would say definitely, defintely do not arrange something permanent prior to actually being in the city. In Assi, Nagwa and Lanka neighbourhoods, there is very cheap guesthousing available. Come to the city, stay in a guesthouse for a month or so while you figure out where you might like to live, where your opportunities are...if you even can handle the city. I don't want to discourage, it has just been my experience that people either love Banaras, as I do very much (finding solace in the absurdity of everyday life, having a relationship with uncertainty that allows me to feel free as opposed to terrified) or they hate it, and leave, and never want to come back. It is not always easy to be here! It is always interesting, always beautiful in some way, ugly in some way, etc, etc. Come and see before you make any longterm commitments.
Just my thoughts.

justbronwyn

my bad, your last message didn't appear to me until after I posted! Good thoughts, you will be fine.

violettoulli

hello,

i'm new to this forum.
i'll also be staying long-term from early august(one year, at least - to study hindi at BHU) so this thread is welcome for me too.

i am considering renting a place too so thanks for your tips etc.

my main concern is food and nutritional/dietetary issue. i've been staying in a very traditional family and although the food tastes absolutely gorgeous in india, i'm concerned if i'll be staying for a considerable amount of time in india. vegetables are overcooked, how much oil they use when they cooked (i've *seen* how they cook in the family etc.

the only place on the net where i've found interesting info is here; http://www.fatfreekitchen.com/nutrit...ian-foods.html

are there any other people concerned on here??

so i guess when/if i find a place i'll have to learn and cook myself etc. but i was also wondering is anyone might know more 'nutrition/food aware' places to eat in varanasi..........?

thanks
vio

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reetsdotcoza

My daughter is studying BSC at BHU and she is also trying to find her way in the city. She is cooking at home as she cannot handle the local food. Vegetables are a-plenty, I believe, you just have to prepare them healthily - maybe invest in a good steamer, perhaps?

adonis_blues

I am from Varanasi, Let me know If i can help you in Anyway.

Anyone Can Contact me. For any kind of help and query regarding Varanasi ..

adonis_blues

I am from Varanasi,

Here are the few tips you can try...

Look for nearby "Spencer's" it’s a chain of grocery store in India.

You can find here good quality of

= Brown Bread or whole wheat Bread
= Packed fruit juices (Tropicana & Real are the few good brands)
= All Kind Of Dry Fruits
= All kind of Gains & Pulses like Rice etc.
= Roasted Soya bean Snacks (for protein)

Go for Branded Packed Milk Only, AMUL is a good brand.. other is PARAG
Milk from other sources can be cheap but not safe due to unethical adulteration).

You can choose Milk in 2 or 3 different fat levels like toned, double toned and full cream.

Branded (Amul or Parag) Packed Butter Milk is another good thing for Morning. (due to fast releasing whey protein)

Branded Packed Curd.

Some Milk made healthy mouthwatering sweets are

= Rasgulla, A popular cheese based, syrupy sweet dish.
= Barfi, Made from condensed milk, cooked with sugar until it solidifies.
= Ras malai, consists of sugary, cream to yellow-colored balls (or flattened balls) of cheese soaked in malai (clotted cream).

I recommend only few hygienic air-conditioned Sweet Shops, Like "ANNAPURNA SWEETS" Near Vijaya Talkies, Bhelupur.

Go for Seasonal Fruits like Mango, Banana, Apple, Grapes etc

Before consuming, wash them througly with water . They might be chemically treated.

Learn to make ROTI.. made from wheat flour, cooked on a flat or slightly concave iron griddle called a tawa.

(Good for Complex Carbohydrates and Fiber)

A Roti made of 25 grams of wheat flour has
Carbs 18.80 grams
Protein 2.81 grams
Fat 0.49 grams
Fiber 3.40 grams

Ideally one should take at least 25 gram of fiber per day.
Include 100 gram to 150 gram of wheat flour Rotis in your daily diet.

You Can enjoy Rotis with Cooked Vegetable, Pulses etc

Learn to make SPROUTS

Like Chickpea Sprouts,
http://food.sidkhullar.com/posts/chickpea-sprouts.html

Take sufficient amount of chickpea, rinse chickpeas with water and soak them in water for around 4-6 hours, drain all water and keep them in a wet thick cloth.. in warm environment to let them sprout for 36 hours atleast.

Few other Indian Goodies are which are easily available:

= Til ke Ladoo / Sesame Seeds Jaggery Balls (good fat & natural sweet)
= Layi Channa / Riceflakes and Roasted Chickpeas (iron, fibre and Carbs)


.. Oh I am hungry now ..Contact me for any query

CFPhotoGrafie

awesome info and I look forward to exploring Varanasi myself early in 2010
I plan to be there a month myself and look forward to getting lost in India, so to speak!

adonis_blues

Thanks And Welcome to Varanasi.. My Home Town.

You can contact me for any kind of help in Varanasi.