Expat Homes in New Delhi:

South Delhi is an administrative district of the National Capital Territory of Delhi in India.
It is bounded by the Yamuna River to the east, and by the districts of New Delhi to the north, East Delhi to the northeast across the Yamuna, Gautam Buddha Nagar District of Uttar Pradesh state to the east across the Yamuna, Faridabad District of Haryana state to the southeast, Gurgaon District of Haryana to the southwest, and South West Delhi to the west.
South Delhi has a population of approximately 30,58,367 , and an area of 250 km², with a population density of 9,034 persons per km².
Administratively, the district is divided into three subdivisions, Defence Colony, Hauz Khas, and Kalkaji.

South Delhi has come to be The Preferred area for Expat Community, however, within the South Delhi Region, there are a lot of colonies which have now become better preferences of the Expat Community. As we go along you will be able to understand more about each Colony and accomodations available within each one of them.

Colonies in South Delhi:

Vasant Vihar:

Vasant-Vihar is an upmarket, exclusive neighborhood located in South Delhi. It is located south of R. K. Puram and is relatively close to the international airport. Premier higher educational institutes like JNU, IIT and IIFT are situated in the neighbourhood of Vasant Vihar. Vasant Vihar is a relatively modern addition to Delhi as it came into existence in the late 1960s. At that time, the surrounding area was deserted and Vasant Vihar was considered to be on the outskirts of the city and was hard to get to using public transport. As Delhi has grown, that has changed and it is now one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the city. Prices for a newly built 3500sqft 4 bedroom apartment in Vasant Vihar were reported to be around US$2.5 million in April 2008.
The two main streets in Vasant-Vihar are Poorvi Marg and Paschimi Marg, literally Eastern and Western Street, that along with the Outer Ring Road {Palam Marg} form a rough triangle that encloses much of the neighbourhood. The neighbourhood is primarily residential and when first planned consisted of six blocks named A to F, with each block having its own local market. Houses are also located on the Outer Ring Road {Palam Marg} and consists of some of the most expensive real estate in the NCR region. It also contains the residential colonies for employees of Air India, Indian Airlines, Central Bureau of Investigation, Parliament of India, CPWD, Central Government and the Reserve Bank of India. There are several secondary schools in Vasant Vihar.
Vasant Vihar (or VV as it is colloquially called) also includes the Basant Lok market which now has many multi-national chain stores, restaurants and newly-opened lounges. The market also contains a large movie theater called PVR Priya. It used to be one of the two or three theaters in Delhi that used to screen English language films before the late 1990s. Vasant Continental five star hotel is a landmark in this area.
Vasant Vihar also has few leading schools such as Modern School, Guru Harksrihan Public School,Holy Child Auxilium School(Senior branch), DPS junior branch, DAV.

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Anand Niketan:

About the Colony:
Anand Niketan is one of the posh colonies of South Delhi, It has close proximity to the Diplomatic Enclave and the Embassy area. Preferred Area for finding  houses. All budgets can be met here. Apartments, independent  houses, high quality living accommodation, furnished homes - all types of real estate is available. Most of the diplomats and ex-pats like to stay here. American school and British school, both in Chanakyapuri are mere 5 to 7 minutes driving distance. Most of the Embassies are located in Chanakyapuri. Anand Niketan is situated on Rao Tula Ram marg - on the way to Delhi Airport. Considered to be Diplomatic Enclave, its neighbourhood colonies are Vasant Vihar, Westend and Shanti Niketan. After Vasant Vihar, this is the largest colony in this neighbourhood. The colony has its own market, there are few parks and is relatively clean. Generators are required. The colony does not offer much by way of greenery. It is the location of its, which makes it going.

Key Distances:

The IG International airport is around 5 kms
The Railway station is round 10 kms
American school and British school, both in Chanakyapuri are mere 5 to 7 minutes driving distance

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Chanakya Puri:

Chanakyapuri is an affluent neighborhood in Central Delhi, located about 14 km. from Delhi Airport.
Chanakyapuri plays host to a majority of foreign embassies in India, and is home to a number of their staffs. Chanakyapuri was also developed as official residences for both politicians and civil servants to the Union Government. As such, it has numerous parks and open spaces, and suffers few utility disruptions.

Location:
Major roads in Chanakyapuri include Shanti Path, as well as Nyaya Marg, Niti Marg, and Panscheel Marg. In addition, the Ring Road traverses immediately south of the neighborhood and intersects with National Highway 8 on the border of Chanakyapuri and neighboring Dhaula Kuan.

Chanakyapuri is also home to:
    * The American Embassy School, primarily serving American and other expatriates located in Delhi.
    * The British School that offers the English National Curriculum.
    * The Jesus and Mary College, part of the University of Delhi.
    * The National Rose Garden, open in December and January each year.
    * The National Rail Museum, focusing on the rail heritage of India.
    * Nehru Park, established in 1969.

Chanakyapuri also has a number of hotels and services catering to both foreign and affluent domestic visitors to Delhi. Some of these include the Hotel Ashok, Hotel Samrat, Maurya Sheraton, Taj Palace, Claridges and Diplomat. Apollo Hospitals also operates the International Hospital, located on the western side of Chanakyapuri.

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Westend:

Westend colony is a small residential colony comprising of 150 odd houses. The colony has wide roads and many parks. The unique aspect of this colony is that the back sides of almost all the houses touch or have access to the public parks. 

The colony has only three points which are manned during the night. The houses are elegant and stately. Roads are wide with mature trees. It is in the same pocket where Anand Niketan, Shanti Niketan are there. Generators are required in case of power failure. 

There is a very small market which does not offer much. However, within a very short walking distance there are other markets which offer most of the things required in a house on daily basis. It is a much preferred area and houses over here again fetch a premium.

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Shanti Niketan:

Shanti Niketan is a quiet colony. A mix of small and large plots. Fairly new construction. Both independent houses and apartments available here. Wide streets, trees, elegance - all available here. Power cuts are there. Generators will have to be bought. It has its own small market. It is a preferred area by expat and is very centrally located and close to The IG International Airport and British and American Schools.

ShantiNiketan is the name of the famous Rabindarnath Tagore's ashram in West Bengal. The colony's name is inspired by it.

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Defence Colony:

Defence Colony is an upscale neighborhood in South Delhi. The advantage is the quick access to Central Delhi, which happens to be the most prominent business districts.
It is a desirable residential location for expats because of its leafy properties, its well-regarded market, and its proximity to other South Delhi neighborhoods. The neighborhood gets its name for being the home to large numbers of retired officers in the Indian military.

Various Restaurants in Defence Colony Market include Swagath, a South Indian fish restaurant, and a vegetarian branch, the Colonel Kebab's restaurant famed for its broiled meats, and Sagar, which serves quick and inexpensive dosas, idli, thalis, and other specialties. There are several bakeries, including the Defence Colony Bakery, and a number of well-stocked grocery stores. The neighborhood is home to a Baskin-Robbins icecream parlour and a Subway outlet, as well as a branch of India's Barista coffee chain.
Not to forget and discount the various other cuisine choices that are available, like Chinese at 4s and Aka-Saka and Moets. Sizzlers at Moets and Gola Sizzlers. Most of the restaurants have a bar and there are few Restro Bars, like RPM and Moets. And for a cup of coffee we have Barista and Angels in my Kitchen, an amazing bakery. Dotted along the length are a few fashion stores having at the latest trends in fashion and clothing. Special mention to a basement shop having an amazing collection of lingerie and UniSeXX, a store having the latest collection of party wear.

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Mayfair Gardens:

Its a peaceful colony filled with mostly the sindhi community. It has few beautiful parks where children enjoy playing all kind soft sports. It is located near hauz khas. The Colony is located close to the Asian Games Village. Quite surroundings and peaceful lifestyle makes this colony as one of the options for the Expat Community.

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Jor Bagh:

Jor Bagh is a quiet, older residential area of the posh South Delhi with regular style houses. The colony has its own market. lots of green areas (parks) around which the houses are built. Lodhi Gardens, a delightful garden, is just across the road. Old mature trees line almost all the avenues. The colony consists of 220 odd houses. Very dignified and very charming. Very few independent houses available. Most of the places available are apartments. Again a mix of small and large plots. Generally constructed in the years of late 1960’s. Clubs nearest are Delhi Gymkhana Club, Golf Club. Hotels nearest are Claridges, Oberoi Intercontinental, Ashok, Samrat.

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Golf Links:

Golf links is located near the Delhi Golf Club, south of India Gate. It is a colony of 220 odd houses. Quiet and elegant neighbourhood. Mature trees, well maintained parks, most of the houses face park, very dignified and posh area. A mix of large and small plots. Construction is generally old with few houses having been recently renovated. Some are very stylish and spacious houses. Khan Market, a market that offers practically everything to the ex-patriate, is the closest to this colony. 

Few individual houses but more apartments available. A mix of small and large plots. Generally constructed in the years of late 1960’s. Nearest five star Hotels are Oberoi Intercontinental, The Taj Mahal, Ambassador and Claridges. Plenty of restaurants around. Especially popular with persons who play Golf. Negligible power cuts. No Water problem. Fairly clean air. Very central. French school is the closest from here.  

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Farm Houses/Large Homes:

Vasant Kunj Farms:

Vasant Kunj is an upscale residential colony located in South West Delhi, India, with well over 100,000 residents. It is divided into 4 large sectors A, B, C and D - each of which is divided into several different pockets (ie. 1, 2, etc.). Sector A, being the oldest sector of Vasant kunj has pockets named as Pocket A,B and C. Rest of the sectors in Vasant kunj have pockets named in numeric value. One extreme of Vasant Kunj (Sector A Pocket C/ Sector D Pocket 1) is around 3 km from Qutub Minar/Mehrauli. The other extreme (Sector C Pocket 8) is approximately 5 km from the Indira Gandhi International Airport. Munirka is about 3 km from Sector B Pocket 1, which marks (approximately) the mid-point of Vasant Kunj along the arterial road.

It is a well organized colony with special market places. You can watch a movie, sit in a restaurant, play pool or sip wine in a pub here. If you are a night animal, discotheques here welcome you till late in night.

Apart from the normal homes in Vasant Kunj mentioned above, there are some exclusive farms which are preffered by the Expat Community, considering the fact that it is very close to both the airport and the diplomatic areas. These farm houses are typically large mansions actually spread on larger peices of land like 3 Acres or 5 Acres etc with large green areas and a large built up home, most of them have private swimming pools, tennis courts etc.

Vasant Kunj has fast grown as a commercial center in South Delhi. There are several malls under construction in this part of the city. These malls are expected to be the biggest shopping hubs in South Delhi.

Education:

Some of the famous schools of the region are Delhi Public School, Vasant Valley, Ryan Public School, G.D Goenka, Bhatnagar Public School. Apart from this, the area houses cinema halls, hospitals, health clubs that are of much importance.

Commercial area:

The current commercial hub of Vasant Kunj is the adjoining Masoodpur village, though this is expected to change after the many malls announced in the area are completed. These malls along with the malls in Saket are expected to be the biggest shopping hubs in South Delhi. These malls will include the Emporio Mall, which will be the most expensive mall in the country. These malls will have a huge impact on rocketing real estate prices.
There is an automotive market near the Sector A.

Hospitals:

Lately many hospitals have come up in the locality, the latest being the Fortis Hospital adjoinining Sector B1. An Apollo Clinic is located in the B11 Shopping Complex. And there is also the super speciality Indian Spinal Injuries Centre.

Distances to important locations:
- ISBT Kashmiri gate : 24 Km
- New Delhi railway Station : 22 Km
- Nizamuddin railway Station : 17 Km
- IGI Domestic Airport : 8 Km
- IGI International Airport : 5 Km
- AIIMS : 10 Km
- Qutub Minar : 3 Km

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Chattarpur Farms:

This area in South Delhi is actually located on the way to Gurgaon, which is the new suburb of New Delhi. These farm houses are typically large mansions actually spread on larger peices of land like 3 Acres or 5 Acres etc with large green areas and a large built up home, most of them have private swimming pools, tennis courts etc.

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Westend Greens:

This area in South Delhi is actually located on the way to Gurgaon which is the new suburb of New Delhi. Strategically located on the National Highway 8, very close to the IG International Airport. These farm houses are typically large mansions actually spread on larger peices of land like 3 Acres or 5 Acres etc with large green areas and a large built up home, most of them have private swimming pools, tennis courts etc.

This is the most preffered Farm House Colony in New Delhi by the Expat Community, considering the closeness to the Airport and the Clanliness, broad roads and well planned homes.

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Bijwasan Farms:

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Community Living (Suburbs):

Although New Delhi per se does not have much of Community Living in High Rise Apartments, but new suburbs like Gurgaon and Noida, both offer good quality living at more reasonable costs. Considering the developments in infrastructure and Multinational Businesses expanding into these suburbs, both these towns have attracted a fair bit of attention from the expat community. As we go along, when you read more about these, you will also be able to view some of the preferred choices of Expats in these suburbs are mentioned here for your convinience.

Gurgaon: about gurgaon....read more...