Anyone living in Pune, India?

[IndiaMaybe]

Hi, we have the opportunity to move to Pune for three years with DHs work. It would mean relocating with our 12 year old son and ten year old daughter.

Has anyone down this, and if so, do you have any thoughts, advice etc?

We are particularly keen to know what the lifestyle is like as Ex-pats, and what your experience has been. I'd also love to know more about the best areas to live in and the school we should be looking at.

TIA

I have visited Pune several times and I love it. It's a very friendly city. There is masses of construction underway, and land prices have shot up. The new metro is great. The traffic is AWFUL and the pollution terrible - not Delhi bad but "taste the fumes" bad. I was there in January and it was 30 degrees and very humid - that's their winter so locals were in jumpers and jackets, kids in bobble hats...

There has been a fair amount of "westernisation" in recent years- in particular, alcohol consumption has shot up, and there are more malls with international stores (and prices). Fewer power cuts and water outages but they do still happen.

Thank-you LordEmsworth.
That's all really helpful information. I'm aware it's very hot and polluted, which is a concern, but I guess something we'll just have to deal with.

I think you sort of acclimatise... But it's definitely a shock at first!

And... Never mind English, not everyone speaks Hindi - the local language is Marathi. You can generally get by with a few words and some sign language/miming. But white people (and indeed Black people) are still unusual enough for locals to ask to have their photo taken with you - especially if you're blonde. That takes some getting used to 😋 (it happens less often as I get older 🤣)