Coming back home after years abroad often carries a sense of comfort and belonging. For many NRIs, returning to India feels emotional, closer to family, familiar food, and the idea of raising children among grandparents. But for one NRI couple in their early 30s, the dream of moving back from Europe to Bengaluru turned complicated much sooner than expected.
The couple, currently living in a European capital, shared their experience on Reddit, explaining that they had already made up their minds to return after receiving their passports. With plans to start a family in the next few years, India seemed like the logical choice. Shorter travel time for parents, cultural familiarity, and family support were strong reasons pulling them back.
A reality check in Whitefield
During a recent visit to Bengaluru, the couple stayed near Whitefield, an area that made sense on paper due to office locations along Outer Ring Road. But the on-ground experience left them unsettled.
They described the neighbourhood as crowded and noisy even on weekends, with traffic that never seemed to ease. Simple activities like walking around became stressful due to poor roads, potholes, and lack of footpaths. What they expected to feel familiar instead felt overwhelming. The contrast with European cities, where walking and public transport are integral to daily life, made the adjustment harder than they had imagined.
Home dreams vs daily commute
The couple also visited several residential projects while house-hunting. One premium project stood out, especially for the wife, but practical concerns surfaced. The project is far from the metro, meaning long car commutes. Her office would take close to an hour to reach, while his daily travel to MG Road could stretch to 80 minutes during peak hours.
Other options closer to Marathahalli reduced commute time slightly but came with a different concern, high property prices alongside surrounding slums. Spending nearly Rs.4 crore for a home in such areas felt hard to justify.
how do returnees adjust?, they asked.
Feeling stuck, the couple turned to Reddit for advice, asking how returning Indians manage these challenges while continuing to work full-time. They wondered whether quality of life improves over time, or if people simply learn to ignore broken roads, traffic, and chaotic surroundings.
‘Traffic is brutal, work culture is questionable’
Redditors also posted their opinion on the post. A user noted, ” Don’t think it makes a lot of sense to move if you both are planning to do 9-5. Traffic is brutal, work culture is questionable.” Another claimed, “There is a layer of fine dust due to vehicle movement and construction activities. SG would be a better option over India.”
A netizen added, “Same happened with me when I visited my in laws and mom in Delhi. Thankfully my home is gurugram and peace is there. But I am not sure where I will work. Life outside India is peaceful. But it’s very difficult to raise a kid when you don’t have your village. If you do decide to stay back in Europe. My only advice would be to start building a support system for yourself.”
“Move to older parts of Bangalore (Jayanagar, Basavanagudi, Banashankari, JP Nagar, Rajajinagar, Malleshwaram) and use metro to commute as much as possible. Much better living experience. It might be difficult for your wife if her office is on ORR though,” opined a user.
“Stay in a place walking distance from a metro stop. That will make a huge difference,” noted another netizen.
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