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Are you relocating to India? We can help you to plan your move to a country rich in various cultural and regional tradition.

General Information :

India is an ancient land with long cultural and commercial history. It is no surprise that this country still radiate an air of allure that attracts many foreigners to relocate to India. Today, India is the second-most populous country in the world, a democracy consisting of 28 federal states and seven union territories. It has no national language, but Hindi is the official language. Expats-to-be should not be deterred by their lack of Hindi skills: English, the subsidiary official language, is spoken widely, especially among the educated urban population. People moving to India will find an ancient country rich in culture and diversity, and those willing to step out of their comfort zone will find a nation ideal for exploring. For expats, the cost of living in India remains low, especially if one is paying and playing in a strong foreign currency. The most visited area of India is known as the Golden Triangle which includes Delhi, Jaipur and Agra. Many expats settle in New Delhi, the capital of India which is one of the largest cities in the world with an estimated three hundred thousand inhabitants. Mumbai is another thriving city in India offering expats opportunities in many different industries including Banking and IT which are expanding rapidly Overall, India can provide a welcome mixture of quality lifestyle with rough adventure and cultural exploration, making it an expat destination with much to offer.

Climate of India :

The climate you need to prepare for also depends on the part of the country you are planning to live in. While the very north of the country and some highland regions in the northeast have an alpine climate, people in other northern parts will mostly find themselves in subtropical climes. Expatriates moving to India’s southern half can expect a tropical climate. Most of the country experiences heavy rainfall during the monsoon season (June – September). The southern regions are tropical so the temperature is relatively warm year-round. The North is another story—and while homes in the West are designed to keep you warm and cozy, Indian homes are constructed to keep you cool. It’s usually cooler inside than it is outside, and people sometimes find themselves going outside in the winter just to stand in the sun and warm up!

International Schools & Pre Schools :

We face a very tough time in deciding a good school for our kinds in new city. PM Relocations can assist you finding a suitable school for your kids. With so many choices, India has lots of good and reputed international schools and pre-schools with excellent facilities and groomed teachers. School sessions begin in April in India. Only thing is that you have to pay total fee since April if you seek admission in between the session. There are many best Indian and International schools in almost all metropolitan & Urban Cities. For more details, you may write to us at info@pmrelocations.com

Immigration :

Are you coming to India to stay on a long term (for more than six months)? If yes, it is compulsory for every expat to register with the FRRO office within 14 days of your arrival. If registration not done within 14 days of arrival, it may attract penalty. For FRRO assistance feel free to write to us at info@pmrelocations.com

Look See :

India is a vast country with an abundance of appealing attractions -- mountains, desert, beaches, nature, temples, and history -- scattered from one side of its soil to the other. Therefore, planning an India vacation requires considerable thought as to the top places to visit. There are so many different things see and do, it's easy to want to fit as much as possible into one trip. However, traveling in India can be exhausting, particularly with the culture shock to deal with as well, and many people find themselves wishing for more relaxation time. That's why it's common for people to end up spending months at a time roaming around and exploring the country.

Fortunately, each region usually offers a range of different sights. For example, one of India's most popular tourist circuits, the Golden Triangle, covers Delhi, the Taj Mahal in Agra, and Jaipur in the Rajasthan desert. Those who also want to spend time amongst nature can take a short detour and visit Ranthambore National Park, also in Rajasthan. As well as backwaters, Kerala has some wonderful clean beaches, ancient temple complexes, and national parks that are home to large herds of elephants. For a dose of spirituality and history, Varanasi is one city that's high on visitors' lists. Some important historical and architectural sites such as the Khajuraho erotic temples, and national parks are also not too far away from there. The mountains in India are popular with visitors for their crisp fresh air, spiritual influences, and exciting adventure travel opportunities. Those who enjoy being amongst nature shall love a refreshing escape. Many have picturesque focal point, making them excellent places for adventure activities.

Shopping Area :

India has a very colorful shopping trend. From High end Shopping malls to typical open-air street-side shopping almost all Urban & Sub Urban city experience this diversity. Designer labels boutiques, haute couture, fashion houses and purveyors of specialty and/or luxury goods usually characterize these locations. They may be located along a designated street or clustered in mixed-use commercial area within the city. Each region in India tends to specialize in a particular industry that's been handed down over generations. The unique items that are produced all have their own individual appeal

Rajashtan, India's desert state produces an eye-catching array of goods to delight the shopper. Colorful textiles embroidered with mirror work are a Rajasthani specialty. To buy precious and semi-precious gemstones, one can head to Jaipur, Rajashtan's pink city.

Uttar Pradesh produces a great range of copper and brass items. Marble items, obviously inspired by the Taj Mahal, abound in Agra. Some of them are made in exquisite detail, inlaid with semi-precious stones. For leather work, India's main production center is in the Kanpur area. Varanasi is a popular place to buy silk and saris.

A wide range of traditional woolen shawls and caps are produced in the Kullu Valley. These are very warm due to the cold winter climate so close to the Himalaya Mountains. The influence of the Tibetan community can be widely felt in places such as McLeod Ganj and Dharamsala.

Up North, Kashmir is most renowned for its carpets, with production techniques imported long ago from Persia. Other items originating from Kashmir include paper mache articles, leather boots and shoes, and intricately carved wooden furniture, including screens and tables.

Kolkata specializes in the production of terracotta wares, including bowls, figurines, and wall hangings. Moving to the Cost of Arabian Sea the production of fenni (traditional locally made alcohol) is a boom in Goa. It comes in two types - cashew and coconut - and can be bought in decorative bottles to take home. Goa is also renowned for its markets overflowing with colorful hippie clothes.

Footwear is a good buy in Maharashtra. India's prevalent leather chappals (sandals) are made down south, around Kolhapur and Pune. Shoes can be found all through the markets of Mumbai, but particularly in Bandra. Stunning silk and gold thread saris are made in Paithan, near Aurangabad. The workmanship is carried out in painstaking detail, with price tags to match.

Going down south, Karnataka is known for its fragrant sandalwood industry. Plenty of sandalwood carvings and incense can be found, especially around Mysore. Silk saris from Kanchipuram (Kanjeevaram), near Chennai, are amongst the finest saris in India.

Indian Shopping is a can be a paradise to all shopaholics. All you have to do is let loose your wallet!!

Tips for living in India :

Register at the FRRO : Within the first 14 days of your arrival you need to register at the Foreigners' Regional Registration Office (FRRO). Usually, your employer helps you with that. If not, try to find a reliable Indian person, who can help you out with the language spoken in the area you live in, as nobody in the FRRO will speak enough English to understand you. Do not forget to fill the simple form with your address and other details. And take passport pictures. In India passport pictures are needed for everything, so make it a habit to carry at least 5 with you at all times.

Get a residency permit : Once the FRRO has worked on your registration, you (or somebody in the company you work for) will be asked to pick up your 'residency permit' (stamped form). This paper is very important. Do not lose it and carry it with you when you are traveling, as it is proof that you are an Indian Resident and will give you discounts at many tourist sites (Humayun's Tomb in Delhi, Qutab Minar in Delhi, Amber Fort in Jaipur and many more). It also proofs that you are in India legally. The process for your permit to be approved can take anything between 5 days and 2 months.

Get a telephone : Every Indian owns a mobile phone. Getting one takes some patience, but is quite easy. Identify the most reliable mobile provider in your region. Common ones are: Airtel, Hutch (now Vodafone), Idea. Usually you need your residency permit and passport as well as 1-2 passport pictures. You can use your European telephone or a U.S. one (although India providers are mostly using the GSM network -- same as AT&T and T-Mobile in USA). But simple mobile phones can be bought starting from 30 USD.

Get a PAN card : Your employer will pay taxes for you or you will pay your own taxes. In any case you will receive a PAN card that shows that you are 1. an Indian Resident and 2. paying your taxes in India. This card you can carry with you instead of the residency permit, as it serves the same purpose and is accepted by most people and institutions as a means of identification.

Obtain health insurance : either you have taken up a private health insurance in your home country or your employer offers you a certain health insurance package with your contract. Bigger cities in India have good private hospitals and doctors at prices that are affordable.

Learn about transport : If you are not lucky enough to live in one of the cities that has a metro, you will have to rely on the following methods of transport:

• Bike Rikshaw : slow, unreliable and usually the drivers do not know their way around. Not advisable after dark for single women. Price: bargain, bargain, bargain! It is cheaper than you think and foreign people pay a higher price than Indians in any case.
• Auto Rikshaw : They do have meters, but those never work. If they do, in many cities the drivers have lists that show the rates you have to pay according to the meter. If the meter does not work: bargain, bargain, bargain!
• Taxis : same as for auto rikshaws. There are also taxis that have fixed prices which can be booked for a certain number of hours and kilometres with the driver. Ask your Indian colleagues for the local prices for these (and everything else).

Experiment with eating out : Restaurants are quite cheap and usually the food is fine. Indian food is very spicy and contains a lot of beans. In most of the bigger cities, there is a good variety of Western food available (at higher cost though). Hygiene is a very sensitive topic. Mostly the plates and cutlery are clean.It is only a myth that the food is not cooked in hygenic conditions. Today maximum Indian restaurants observe the hygiene standards laid down by the central board. Indian chefs work very hard to give you the right quality food. If your concern about hygiene is genuine we suggest you eat at a good restaurant and not at road side. Nobody can assure healthy food at road side whether in India or in New York.

Buy food in a market : Fruit and vegetables are widely available on markets. They usually weigh what you buy, so if they don't, insist on it, otherwise they will definitely overcharge you. There are good supermarkets as well, which sell imported products at the same prices as in your home country or slightly more expensive.

Power Backup : When living in India you will experience very irregular voltages and frequent power cuts. You need to buy voltage stabilizers for electronic appliances and UPS for your computer.

Adjust to the manners : In some parts of India snorting is ok, spitting is ok, shouting is ok. The manners of many Indians take time to get used to.

Most of the people you deal with in everyday life (vendors, waiters, cleaning people, cab drivers etc.) will not speak English, so learn your share of Hindi or whichever language/dialect is spoken where you live. Most important words: namaste = hello, seedha = straight (for the cab drivers, they do know left and right), ye bas = stop here, achhha = good, nahi = no, han or hanji = yes, nahi = no, nahi chahiye = no, I don't want and the numbers, so that you can negotiate for prices ; Kya hua= What happen? ; Seb = Apple. Dukaan= shop; Chai= Tea; Bhai= Brother; Kal= Tomorrow. Chutti= holiday;

You will be stared at! Find your own way to deal with it.