10 Best Places to Retire in India

One question that I have received several times since I started this blog is about the best retirement destinations in India.

For most Indian retirees, the notion of finding a place to retire is a strange one. Most of them want to live close to their children and other family, and will never consider moving elsewhere. However, with an increasingly mobile and affluent population in India, more people are taking an active role in planning their retirement. Many people are buying retirement homes in desirable locations, sometimes as investment property. There are also more older people from abroad, Indians and non-Indians alike, who are considering long-term stays in India. As a result, this question is likely to come up more often.

To help answer this question, I have tried to list a number of good places for a retiree in India. Any such list is sure to be very subjective for a country as vast as India. I used the following guidelines to select places for this list:

• Good location with interesting local activities and places to explore.
• Good infrastructure, including medical facilities. A significant retiree population is a plus. This eliminates some of the more exotic locations.
• Not excessively crowded. This rules out most of the bigger cities in India.
• Safe, with a cosmopolitan outlook and open to outsiders. A sizable expatriate population is a plus.

Here's my list of best places for retirees in India, in alphabetical order:

1. Chandigarh

Chandigarh, capital of the northern Indian states of Punjab and Haryana, has always been different from most of urban India. With pedestrian plazas, fountains and streets arranged on a grid, the city always felt modern. Chandigarh today is a booming town with the country's highest per capita income, and is favored by Indian yuppies and medical tourists alike.

2. Coimbatore

Coimbatore is located in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. It has been attracting many Indian retirees in recent years. The city is surrounded by mountains including the Nilgiris and is close to the popular hill station of Ooty. The city is also known for good hospitals.

3. Dehradun

Dehradun is located between two of the most important rivers in India, the Ganges and Yamuna, with the Himalayan mountains in the north. It offers beautiful scenery and a moderate climate in summer. The town also serves as a convenient base for visiting the area's many tourist sites.

Neighboring towns include Haridwar and Rishikesh, known for their religious connections, and the hill station Mussoorie.

4. Goa

The former Portuguese colony of Goa is known for a fine climate and a cosmopolitan culture. Renowned for its beaches, Goa is visited by hundreds of thousands of international and domestic tourists each year. Located on the west coast of India in the region known as the Konkan coast, Goa is home to a growing number of Europeans and Indian expats from abroad.

5. Himachal Pradesh 

Himachal Pradesh, a state in northwestern India, is known as the destination for those looking to experience the Himalayas, espcially the remote valleys of Lahaul and Spiti popular with trekkers. The state also offers much for those looking to settle down.

Popular cities and towns include Shimla, the state capital; Dalhousie, a charming resort town; Dharamsala, the exiled home of the Dalai Lama; and Manali, a ski resort.

6. Kerala

Kerala has been a popular stop for visitors to India for many years. Located in southern India along the Arabian sea, Kerala is known for tropical forests, a fertile coastal plain, and its backwaters.

Besides the two bigger cities of Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) and Kochi (Cochin), there are many other popular towns including Kozhikode (Calicut), Munnarand Varkala. A large number of people from Kerala who worked outside the country are now retiring and coming back to live in their home state.

7. Mangalore

Mangalore is the main port city of the state of Karnataka. It is located on the west coast of India on the Arabian Sea.

A growing city with a diverse population, Mangalore is known for its beaches and temples, and a landscape dotted with coconut palms along rolling hills and rivers.

Nearby cities include Manipal and Udipi.

8. Mysore

Mysore has been a popular destination for travelers, particularly for its palaces and temples, and as a base to explore nearby locations.

Mysore has a reputation for being a quiet and sleepy city, but in recent years it has become an active location for IT companies employing large number of young people, while still remaining attractive for older people.

9. Pondicherry

Pondicherry (Puducherry) is a former French colony, known for a laid-back lifestyle and a slow pace of life. A remarkable degree of French influence still exists here and the place has been especially popular with French-speaking visitors and expatriates.

Pondicherry is known for its spiritual connections (Auroville is a popular destination), good infrastructure and medical facilities.

10. Pune

Pune is located in the western Indian state of Maharashtra. With a population of over 4 million, it is the largest city in this list. It is now home to many software and IT companies, and has a diverse population.

Nearby places include the popular hill stations of Lonavala, Khandala and Panchgani.

All Flickr images used per Creative commons.

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