Rachna Chhabria: Where I Live and Why I Like It

My guest today for my series "Where I Live and Why I Like It" is the writer/blogger Rachna Chhabria. I've been following Rachna for three years now and she has one of the most thought-provoking blogs, always raising questions about the art of writing and its many challenges. Always open to new ideas, she constantly challenges us to be our best.

1.      Geographical Information:

Country: India

State or Province: Karnataka

City or Town: Bangalore

District within City or Town:

Neighborhood:

2.      Is there any place in your area that’s considered a pilgrimage site, such as a religious shrine? If so, have you been there?

A.    I don’t think there is any such pilgrimage site near my house. There is a temple, which I visit sometimes.

3.      Is there a site that has special meaning for you?

A.    Just my school which is five minutes walking distance from my house. I have fond memories of it.

4.      Is this where you were born and/or grew up? If not, how did you come to live here?

A.    I was born in another part of India. My parents shifted to Bangalore when I was small. I have spent most of my life in this place.

5.     What do you like best about where you live?

A.    Its centrally located. All the major shopping areas are within very easy reach. There is a market and a hospital nearby. There are also three clubs close to my house.

6.      Do you plan on living here the rest of your life?

A.     No idea. I can’t say much about the future.

7.      Do you have family in the area, or have you ventured out on your own?

A.     My aunts and cousins stay just a few minutes away.

8.      Are you happy where you live?

A.     Most of the time yes, but due to the schools nearby (there are atleast 7 schools within walking distance from my house), there is heavy traffic during the school hours which makes my street very congested. And as most of the roads in Bangalore have become one-way, all the traffic is diverted down my street. This is a big nuisance.

9.      For tourists, what would you recommend seeing?

A.      For the tourists, there is the famous Cubbon Park (nearly 300 acres of greenery), Lal Bagh Botanical Gardens (with its glasshouse and its flower shows which attracts visitors and tourists), the U.B city mall (which every visitor to Bangalore wants to see).

10.   What do you do for entertainment where you live? Sporting events, theater, concerts, so on and so forth.

A.    I have plenty of malls and restaurants near my house. And the mall rat I am, I love browsing in the malls and catching movies at the multiplexes. The Cricket Stadium where all the cricket matches are played is also near my house.

11.   If you’re a writer, have you included where you live in the settings of any of your stories? If you’re a painter, have you painted any of your area’s features?

A.    Yes. My settings have been included in my stories. Infact, in my current WIP: Scavage, Bangalore: the place I live in, is a major part of the setting.

12.  Would you recommend others to move to where you live? Why?

A.   Yes, I would recommend others to move to Bangalore. It’s a vibrant city, which has something for everyone. Most Indians envy us Bangaloreans our amazing climate. Once upon a time, it was called Pensioner’s Paradise and also the Garden City. But, I would also tell them that as Bangalore is getting too crowded they should turn their attention to other cities.

By Rachna Chhabria

Rachna lives in a part of the world that many of us would like to visit. You can visit her at her blog Rachna's Scriptorium. Thank you for letting us visit your world.