Last year, we wrote a post about the five best retirement cities in India. A post that became one of the most read posts on our blog. While many readers were happy with our picks, some suggested that we should add more to our list. So, we decided to do a series of posts on some of the best places to retire. After all, retirement is where the next great part of life begins.
In this post, we explore the top three cities to spend your golden years in North India.
JAIPUR
The capital city of Rajasthan, Jaipur is the gateway to India’s most colourful state. With buildings that reflect its historical roots, the city has always scored high on India’s tourism map. Wondering what makes it a great place to retire?
Well, for Girish Chandra, a retired scientist, “It has to be the colourful streets of the city. India’s history always fascinated me, and I wanted to spend my retired life in the city with a rich history. And Jaipur just fitted the bill.”
Being situated in an arid, semi-desert region, summers in Jaipur can get harsh. “I am from Delhi. The weather has never been a concern for us,” adds Girish. Having said that, monsoon and winters are great to spend time in the city.
In terms of connectivity, the Pink City does not disappoint at all. It is well connected by road, rail, and air. For travelling within the city, one can take a cab, autorickshaw or cycle-rickshaw. Jaipur also has metro connectivity. The train starts southwest of the Pink City in Mansarovar, travels through Civil Lines, and terminates at Chandpole. Currently, the metro work is in progress along with a 145-km ring road.
The city also hosts the famous annual Jaipur Literature Festival, which attracts book lovers from across the world.
Places of attraction
- City Palace
- Hawa Mahal
- Jantar Mantar
- Central Museum
- Maharaja Sawai Man Singh Museum
Healthcare
Santokba Durlabhji Memorial Hospital and Sawai Mansingh Hospital are the two most famous hospitals in the city.
Property rates
The current property rates in the city vary from Rs 2,000-6,000 per sq. ft. For the rentals, 2BHKs usually command a price of Rs 12,000-20,000 per month.
Residential options
At present, the only retirement community in Jaipur is Ashiana Utsav. Located in Kalwar Road, it offers 1,2 and 3BHK apartments in the price range of Rs 25-63 Lakh. While there are not many options for a typical retirement community, you can find a plethora of options in regular projects.
LUCKNOW
Next, we have a city that rose to prominence as the home of the Nawabs of Avadh – Lucknow. For those looking to enjoy wide boulevards, epic monuments, and rich cuisine, Lucknow is worth considering.
The capital city of Uttar Pradesh boasts of a rich cultural heritage. Over the last decade, the city has witnessed tremendous infrastructure development.
Lucknow enjoys rail, air, and roadways connectivity. There is a plan to upgrade the airport to an international airport. The city already has metro connectivity from Charbagh to Transport Nagar (Red line). The Blue line further connects it to the airport.
It also boasts of robust healthcare facilities. Some popular hospitals include:
- Sahara Hospital
- Apollomedics Super Speciality Hospitals
- Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences
- Mayo Hospital
Places of attraction
- Bara Imambara
- Rumi Darwaza
- Ambedkar Memorial Park
- Victorian Husainabad Clock Tower
Property rates
The current property rates in the city vary from Rs 2,300-5,200 per sq. ft. For the rentals, 2BHKs usually command a price of Rs 8,000-15,000 per month.
Residential options
Aastha Health Resort, Samarpan Varishtha Jan Parisar, and Chhabi Shanti Dham are three most popular retirement communities in Lucknow. Apart from these, one can find a regular apartment society with ample amenities.
CHANDIGARH
At the last spot, we have Chandigarh.
In 1950, a Swiss architect Le Corbusier was commissioned to design Chandigarh from scratch. Using his favourite material – reinforced concrete, he created a city of boulevards, lakes, gardens and grand civic buildings. A city that takes pride in being a people-oriented city.
The first planned city in India after Independence, Chandigarh boasts of several factors that have made it popular among retirees. These include sound infrastructure, good connectivity to Delhi, and ample healthcare facilities.
Each sector of the city is self-contained and pedestrian friendly. For entertainment avenues, one can visit Sector 17 and 22.
PGI Chandigarh, Fortis Mohali, and Max Superspeciality are three prominent hospitals in the city.
Places of attraction
- Rock Garden
- Zakir Hussain Rose Garden
- Sukhna Lake
- Government Museum and Art Gallery
Property rates
The current property rates in Chandigarh are in the range of Rs 2,500-7,200 per sq. ft. For the rentals, 2BHKs usually command a price of Rs 10,000-18,000 per month.
Residential options
There is a plan to build a premium retirement community in Mohali named The Oyster. A project by a Mumbai-based NGO Nana Nani Foundation, it will provide the best facilities based on the three pillars of home, hospitality, and healthcare.
At present, one can find a regular apartment society with round-the-clock security and ample open space.
Now that you know of the cities to retire, do check our detailed checklist here.
Well Said! Chandigarh boasts of several factors that have made it popular among retirees. These include:
• Sound infrastructure
• Good connectivity to Delhi
• Ample healthcare facilities
PGI Chandigarh and Fortis Mohali are two prominent hospitals in the city. Apart from several malls, it is also known for its Rock Garden and Zakir Hussain Rose Garden, the largest of its kind in Asia.
Would have loved seeing Indore in the list, It may not qualify under all the parameters but is currently the cleanest city of India
This is great article to read. Very useful content. People like good places to visit after retirement and enjoy their life.
The tri-city-Chandigarh, Mohali (Punjab) and Panchkula (Haryana)-has the highest per capita income and the best infrastructure in the country. It’s proximity to Delhi is an added advantage.
The first planned city in India after independence is well-connected by road, rail and a domestic airport. An international terminal is also under construction.
great article. lots of information. thank you for sharing wonderful post.