BOOKS FOR THE BACKPACK
Journey across India through these books that shed light on the intriguing history and vibrant culture of the country.
TEMPLES OF SOUTH INDIA Surendar Sahai
Temples of South India by Surendar Sahai is a comprehensive piece of work that documents the temples in the peninsula, especially the ones in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The book holds within it some extraordinary research and inspiring photography, and takes you through the history and evolution of towns like Pattadakal, Kanchipuram, Chidambaram, Srirangam, Madurai, and Rameshwaram.
PRICE ` 1,299/USD18 AVAILABLE ON flipkart.com
MASALA LAB: THE SCIENCE OF INDIAN COOKING Krish Ashok
This book is based on the idea that following a recipe without knowing its rationale can be a sub-optimal way of learning how to cook. Krish Ashok breaks down the physics, chemistry, and cultural context of Indian cooking, and decodes the science of spices and age-old Indian kitchen hacks. His aim? To make every reader better at cooking Indian dishes with this exhaustively researched work.
PRICE ` 249/USD3 AVAILABLE ON amazon.in
THE BEGUM AND THE DASTAN Tarana Husain Khan
Set in 1897, The Begum and the Dastan offers an insight into the lives of the nawabs in the princely state of Sherpur. The book borrows generously and evocatively from real-life characters and events to deal with themes of gender and sectarianism. It transports you to the feudal past of India—a past rife with love, war, and tragedy.
PRICE ` 364/USD5 AVAILABLE ON flipkart.com
LEOPARD DIARIES: THE ROSETTE IN INDIA Sanjay Gubbi
Sanjay Gubbi in his book Leopard Diaries: The Rosette in India paints a fascinating portrait of the leopard, a creature that is the poster boy of the fight to preserve wildlife in India, and a species facing extinction in many countries. Right from outlining its food habits, to highlighting the ecological significance of these large cats and offering solutions to curb the human-wildlife conflict, this book covers it all.
PRICE ` 390/USD5.2 AVAILABLE ON amazon.in
INDIANS: A BRIEF HISTORY OF A CIVILIZATION Namit Arora
In this book, Namit Arora retraces the unforgettable journey of Indians through 5,000 years of history. The book paints a vivid picture of the bygone days through six major pit stops, namely the Dholavira, Nagarjunakonda, Nalanda, Khajuraho, Hampi, and Varanasi. The book comes across as a very well-researched and immensely engaging piece of work.
PRICE ` 550/USD7.5 AVAILABLE ON flipkart.com