Originally from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, Arpita Shrivastava has lived in Jaipur and Kota in Rajasthan to pursue her education. She moved to Pune a year ago and fell in love with the city’s old bazaars like Juna Bazaar and Tulshibaug.

“I love walking, exploring the city on foot. Visiting Pune’s markets and cafes is something I love to do. I fell in love with Juna Bazaar and bought some stuff from there. Tulshibaug is quaint too and so are the other shopping streets. But Juna Bazaar is simply the best,” quips Shrivastava, who is a sock designer by profession.

Shrivastava feels that Jaipur, where she spent four years, has lots of surprises for tourists. “Pune doesn’t have too many touristy sights. But it is a city where you would like to settle down permanently. It gives me that kind of vibe,” she adds. 

Initially, though, Shrivastava felt left out because people around her didn’t speak fluently in Hindi and English. “I found it tough here. I also felt left out because my co-workers and people around me spoke in Marathi and I didn’t know the language. Now, I am learning to speak Marathi and it’s helping me to adjust in the city and make friends,” says the designer. 

On her day offs, Shrivastava is often cafe hopping or visiting art galleries and exploring more of the cultural side of the city. “I think Pune is very happening as compared to the other cities that I have stayed in. There is a lot of buzz and it’s fun going out,” says Shrivastava, who is currently living in Viman Nagar.