A Writer's Retreat

We meet children’s author (and saree enthusiast!) Bhakti Mathur at her peaceful home on the Peak.

Who lives here: Bhakti, husband Anurag, their two boys, Shiv (13) and Veer (11), two dogs, Rafa (from Hong Kong Dog Rescue) and Sam (a Golden Labrador from a breeder in Australia), and helper Dolores.

Where is it: The Peak

Style of home: “Warm, colourful and homely!”

Where are you originally from? What do you miss about it?

I grew up in Delhi. It can be a tough city for a girl from a middle-class family, but it’s a city that makes you strong and independent. I think that’s what I got out of growing up there. That apart, when I think about Delhi, the images that flash across my mind are the changing seasons – the nip in the air in October, the smell of the flowers in spring and eating golgappas (a kind of street food) from a road-side eatery. And, of course, spending time with friends and family.

When did you come here and what brought you here?

My husband and I came to Hong Kong in 2000. Prior to this we were in San Francisco for a year, and Mumbai before that. My husband’s work brought us here. I worked as a relationship manager in private banking from 2001 to 2017 with ING, Bank of Singapore and J Safra Sarasin.

Before we ask about your lovely home, tell us what do you do in Hong Kong now.

I left the banking industry in 2017 to focus on writing and to spend more time with my children. I write books for children on Indian mythology; I have 16 published titles, with the 17th slated for release in June. And I have two series – Amma Tell Me (self-published) and Amma Take Me (published by Penguin India). I also freelance as a feature writer, writing on culture, life and fitness for the South China Morning Post.