Mumbai
A "chawl" is a name for a type of building found in India. They are often 4 to 5 stories with about 10 to 20 tenements, referred to as kholis, which literally means 'rooms', on each floor. Many chawls can be found in Mumbai, where they were constructed in abundance to house the people migrating to the city because of its booming cotton mills and overall strong economy.
A usual tenement in a chawl consists of one all-purpose room which functions both as a living and sleeping space, and a kitchen which also serves as a dining room. A frequent practice is for the kitchen to also serve as a bedroom for a newly married couple, to give them some degree of privacy.
People living in a chawl have little privacy. Due to the close nature of the quarters, gossip travels quickly. On the other hand, this intimate living situation can also lead to a friendly atmosphere, with support networks akin to familial relationships.
Read more about this topic: Tenement, Specific Cities