LITERARY EXTRAVAGANZA

It's that time of the year again when all travel and literature enthusiasts pack their bags for Thimpu, Bhutan for the Mountain Echoes Literature Festival. In it's 9th edition, the festival is an initiative of the India-Bhutan Foundation and India’s literary agency, Siyahi. Celebrating 50 years of formal diplomatic relations between India and Bhutan, this year's festival will focus on spirituality, philosophy, performing arts and environmental conservation. Some of the prominent speakers during the festival include Buddhist scholar Andrew Quintman, prominent Indian singer Usha Uthup, tiger conservationist Valmik Thapar, veteran theatre actors Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah among others. The 2018 festival will also explore global natural history, travel and poetry, including a tribute to 50 years of the Beatles in India.

ON August 23 to 25 DETAILS mountainechoes.org