New Delhi Expat Guide
The city of New Delhi was constructed by the British to house government buildings when they decided to shift their capital from Calcutta to Delhi in 1911. Since then the city has been a melting pot of rich and diverse cultures, housing people for all corners of the world. Delhi is home to more than 160 embassies and consulates and a large expat population.
If you’ve decided to move to Delhi and spend your expat life here, the first thing on your mind is to know about the best places to live in the city. You can seek some recommendations about the same from fellow expats or your embassy. Most of the expats prefer to reside in the greener and safer areas of Delhi—Gulmohar Park, Safdarjung Enclave, Panchsheel Park, Hauz Khas, Green Park, Defence Colony, Vasant Kunj, and the like. The slightly pricey Jor Bagh is also a great place to live in.
1. Dining
Indian cuisine encompasses a wide variety of regional cuisines native to India. Given the range of diversity in soil type, climate, and occupations, these cuisines vary significantly from each other and use locally available spices, herbs, vegetables, and fruits. The dishes are served according to individual taste — either mild, medium, or hot. Indian food is also heavily influenced by religious and cultural choices and traditions.
Being a hub of various cultures and ethnicities, Delhi is the perfect city to experience a mixed palate. It is also the answer to all your food choices. If you love spicy Indian food, you can grab it from just about everywhere in the city. Be wary of eating from smaller shops that usually aren’t hygienic. You must try the Mughal dishes served at popular restaurant chains like at the famous Karim’s. For western food options, you can head over to select restaurants in GK, Hauz Khas, Defence Colony, NFC, or Khan Market.
To have a drink, you can again choose decent bar-restaurants or high-end pubs, instead of the government-run wine and beer shops or the smaller bars. You can also look forward to occasional parties hosted by fellow expats to have a drink and make some good friends in the city.
2. Shopping in Delhi
Since ancient times Delhi has been a favored destination for shoppers. From traditional bazaars to modern-day swanky malls, Delhi has everything to offer to all types of customers. Delhi’s lively street markets are reported to provide a greater turnover as compared to malls. Since not everyone can afford to shop at malls or branded stores, most residents swear by the street markets, though the quality of goods varies from market to market.
3. Transportation in Delhi
The city boasts of a well-connected transportation system. However, because of so many people living in Delhi, both the bus network and the Metro Rail network are overcrowded, almost the entire day. Some autorickshaws can take you through the traffic-packed roads of the capital, but if you’re not aware of the exact fare to your destination, they may charge exorbitantly high prices. The trusted Uber services ply their cabs, as does the competitor service, Ola, which also ferries Delhi’s citizens around the city and beyond.
4. Heath System in New Delhi
There are numerous private hospitals in Delhi, but only a few would meet standards that most Westerners are accustomed to. The general perception is that even these hospitals lack the attention to sanitation and hygiene, vital to a medical setting. Although medical treatment is generally inexpensive, it is always best to have health insurance. Costs for complicated or emergency treatment can become very expensive, relatively quickly. To know about healthcare system in Delhi, India check out our healthcare region page.
5. Medical Insurance for Expatriates in New Delhi
Most expatriates will want to obtain international medical coverage if residing in New Delhi. It is better to have a global medical treatment with medical evacuation and reimbursement for medical expenses via a large network of hospitals. Many expats should also obtain global life and disability insurance coverage. Expat Financial can offer certain medical and travel insurance plans to local citizens in India.
Before moving to India, expats are advised to buy a good international health insurance plan from leading companies like Cigna Global and Allianz Care. Through these plans, expats can easily avail treatment from leading hospitals based in Delhi as well as other states.
If you hold an international insurance cover you won’t have to worry about any unplanned additional expense too. The insurance company will take care of it. Sometimes a hospital may require you to pay some amount upfront or may not entertain your international plan, though that seldom happens. But if it does, make sure you maintain all the invoices to claim reimbursement from the insurance company at a later stage.
6. Insurance for Expatriates in New Delhi
Most expatriates will want to obtain international medical coverage if residing in New Delhi. It is better to have a global medical treatment with medical evacuation and reimbursement for medical expenses via a large network of hospitals. Many expats should also obtain global life and disability insurance coverage. Expat Financial can offer some medical and travel insurance plans to local citizens in India.
Here is a list of different types of insurance coverage you will want if you are planning to become an expatriate in India:
International Health Insurance
Expat Life and Disability Insurance
If you require a quote for insurance coverage for expats in India, contact Expat Financial today for a quote and to discuss your Indian expatriate insurance requirements.