I love travel but for a long time, I remained an armchair traveler. I spent days reading travelogues and relishing the written word. Here is a list of five books that kindled in me a passion to travel through my own country before setting my foot abroad. From misty mountains to dancing streams, from toddy stalls to high end restaurants, and from crowded pavements to bustling railways, India has it all. Now, I welcome you to relish India and its stories through these books. Grab a book and go ahead. Oh wait, don’t forget a cup of chai!
1
Life in India is not just about the metropolitan cities. There is much more in the narrow lanes and hidden streets. In Chai Chai, the author takes the reader on a journey into what life is like in small town railway junctions. Many travelers would have got down at these stations for a cup of chai or a small stroll during long train journeys. But that's not it. There is history and culture behind even the small towns. The book is witty and filled with interactions that the author had during his travels.
2
This is one of the few books that I did not want to end. With full justice to the title, this book is about fish and the myriad stories that surrounds it. Written in about nine essays, the author journeys about the coast of India, from West Bengal to Gujrat. Fish is not just a delicacy in India. For some, it is medicine. For some, a source of living. It is a center-point around which communities are built. The book is written in a journalistic style but would appeal to anyone.
3
Days would be dry and sunny and suddenly, clouds would come and gobble up the sun. All that follows is rain. A rain so thick and dark. The monsoon has arrived. From Kerala to Cherrapunji, the author goes an odyssey following the rain. It is evident how the author had grown to love the arrival and progress of monsoon in the country. But in due course, he also narrates the little trouble that the rain brings. That's not much compared to the joy of witnessing the rainfall. A lovely book.
4
Food, food and more food. The author takes the reader on a culinary road trip in old Delhi. There is so much enthusiasm in the book - both in its style and its stories. I have gone to bed, craving for food almost every time I read this book at night. A great food adventure and a brilliant trip through the streets of old Delhi.
5
As soon as I finished this book, I grabbed all the other books by Dervla Murphy. The writing was clear and made me want more. The book is in diary style and is filled with heart warming stories about the joy of travel and how, sometimes, the people we meet stay in our hearts forever. Beautifully written and a must for any travel writing lover.
1
Life in India is not just about the metropolitan cities. There is much more in the narrow lanes and hidden streets. In Chai Chai, the author takes the reader on a journey into what life is like in small town railway junctions. Many travelers would have got down at these stations for a cup of chai or a small stroll during long train journeys. But that's not it. There is history and culture behind even the small towns. The book is witty and filled with interactions that the author had during his travels.
2
This is one of the few books that I did not want to end. With full justice to the title, this book is about fish and the myriad stories that surrounds it. Written in about nine essays, the author journeys about the coast of India, from West Bengal to Gujrat. Fish is not just a delicacy in India. For some, it is medicine. For some, a source of living. It is a center-point around which communities are built. The book is written in a journalistic style but would appeal to anyone.
3
Days would be dry and sunny and suddenly, clouds would come and gobble up the sun. All that follows is rain. A rain so thick and dark. The monsoon has arrived. From Kerala to Cherrapunji, the author goes an odyssey following the rain. It is evident how the author had grown to love the arrival and progress of monsoon in the country. But in due course, he also narrates the little trouble that the rain brings. That's not much compared to the joy of witnessing the rainfall. A lovely book.
4
Food, food and more food. The author takes the reader on a culinary road trip in old Delhi. There is so much enthusiasm in the book - both in its style and its stories. I have gone to bed, craving for food almost every time I read this book at night. A great food adventure and a brilliant trip through the streets of old Delhi.
5
As soon as I finished this book, I grabbed all the other books by Dervla Murphy. The writing was clear and made me want more. The book is in diary style and is filled with heart warming stories about the joy of travel and how, sometimes, the people we meet stay in our hearts forever. Beautifully written and a must for any travel writing lover.
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