Discover India

BOOKS FOR THE BACKPACK

Journey across India through these books that shed light on the intriguing history and vibrant culture of the country.

- By AMITHA AMEEN

P. Sainath

Although the book is almost two decades old, the issues brought up by the Magsaysay-awardee are still relevant. It is a collection of rural field reports that elaborates on the daily struggles of the poor in India, and the efforts made by authoritie­s to uplift them. It has been prescribed in over 100 universiti­es and colleges around the world.

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William Dalrymple

Dalrymple narrates the real-life love story of James Achilles Kirkpatric­k and Khair un-Nissa that takes place in early 19th-century Hyderabad. It gives a detailed picture of the sociopolit­ical-cultural life in India at the time, documents the interethni­c liaisons between British officers and Indian women, and gives insight into the history of the AngloIndia­n community.

PRICE ` 438/USD6 AVAILABLE ON flipkart.com

also experienci­ng other cultures—getting to know the people and trying local food. We were always interested in Indian culture, so we didn’t have to think twice about a trip to India.

Q.

What was your first impression of India?

Many expat travellers told us they experience­d a cultural shock, but surprising­ly, we did not. We started our trip in Jaipur and couldn’t stop admiring all the colours.

Q.

Which places did you visit in the country? And which one turned out to be your favourite?

During our seven weeks in India, we went to Jaipur, Pushkar, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Ranthambor­e, Amritsar, Rishikesh, Delhi, Agra, and Varanasi. We loved all of them, but if we had to pick a favourite, it would be Jaipur because of the beautiful architectu­re—the Hawa Mahal and Amber Fort were just exquisite.

Q.

Can you narrate one experience that stands out from your holiday?

The sunrise boat trip on the River Ganga in Varanasi, with a view of the ghats, was otherworld­ly. The Ganga aarti is also something we will never forget.

Q.

What is a unique aspect about travelling in India that you have not seen elsewhere?

We have never seen elephants, camels, goats,

and rickshaws using the same street at the same time, anywhere else. It happens only in India!

Q.

A word of advice to internatio­nal travellers visiting India for the first time.

Be open-minded, immerse yourself in the culture, and try all the delicious food.

Q.

How do you suggest internatio­nal travellers plan their visit to India?

India is a huge country, and travelling from one point to another can take a long time, so factor that in when you plan the route. If you plan to travel by train, get the tickets as early as possible, as most trains get fully booked pretty fast.

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