"That's the thing about books. They let you travel without moving your feet..." - Jhumpa Lahiri
But what if the bibliophile in you gets to meet the travel enthusiast in you?
The answer would be my friend, a heart beaming with joy, a memory card with a gazillion pictures and a promise to reread the book that inspired you on the first place to travel to that particular city, hill station or even a new country!
Growing up in the 90s with no OTT or internet and very limited options to choose from the Television Box, books had been my greatest influence in selecting many of my travel destinations, a habit I happily indulge into even now. My fascination with the Golden Fort in Jaisalmer, western part of Rajasthan began very early when I got my hands on my elder brother's copy of Satyajit Ray's "Sonar Kella" and many years later, when I started planning my Rajasthan trip, I made sure Golden Fort was very much part of my itinerary.
With the advent of technology and easy access to internet, travel planning and choosing destinations have become a whole new process. You can actually check out a number of good quality videos to get an idea of the places you are wish listing to include in your trip. However, although I have often found this to be extremely helpful in avoiding destinations that didn't appeal to me or even helped in saving some time when I am on a tight schedule but I had realized that I had started losing the sense of thrill on finally reaching my destination after watching these videos. It is then that I had promised to make use of both the worlds - reading as well as watching limited videos while planning my trips.
Over the years, I have come across so many books that are not only great reads but have been major decision makers for choosing my travel destinations and most of them have not let me down.
But we always have a few that stand out of the crowd and tend to leave an everlasting effect. I will share names of few such books and novels that have really been the inspiration in visiting some interesting places in India.
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy - Kerala
Kerala with it backwaters, beaches, wildlife, Western Ghats and coffee, tea and spice plantations, hardly need any extra motivation or advocating.
But what if I tell you that in spite of all these, it was Arundhati Roy's debut novel, The God of Small Things that actually made me run to my father, requesting him for a family trip to Kerala? The God of Small Things reflects on aspects like love, cruelty of casteism and things, especially trivial and small things that can change the course of one's life but the book set in Ayemenem, currently part of Kottayam district in Kerala, with its story telling will certainly leave you intrigued with Kerala if not with this small, quaint town of Ayemenem, so much so that you would be tempted to visit Kerela once in your lifetime.
The book might reflect upon Kottayam and Kochi only but if you are in Kerala, do not miss the backwaters of Alleppey, the pristine beaches of Varkala or Kovalam, Chinese Fishing nets in Kochi, the mesmerizing view at Arthirapilly Falls, wildlife and National Parks at Wayanad, Periyar or Eravikulam.
Kerala is truly God's Own Country!
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts - Mumbai (erstwhile Bombay)
Can you ever imagine a stopover at a city or a country changing your entire life?
That's what happened to the protagonist in Gregory David Roberts's 2003 novel, Shantaram.
There are many books that have time and again tried to capture the various shades of 'Aamchi Mumbai' but if there is ever a book that had portrayed the true spirit of 'Yeh Hain Bombay Meri Jaan', it has to be through the world of Lin Baba aka Shantaram.
Mumbai, the city of dreams has always been a vibrant city and has stood the test of time.
Thousands and thousands of people travel to this city for various reasons, tourism being one of them. Mumbai has a vast range of tourists spots ranging from the Marine Drive to Worli SeaFace, Siddhivinayak Temple to Haji Ali, Gateway of India to Elephanta Caves, Juhu Beach to Versova Beach, Chhatrapaji Shivaji Terminus to Bandra Bandstand, to name a few.
However, Gregory David Roberts's Shantaram lures you into visiting Lin Baba's Colaba : The famous Leopold Cafe and Bar, Colaba Causeway, India Guest House (the protagonist's first lodging) Sassoon Docks, Cafe Mondegar are some of the popular spots which you definitely want to visit after reading this novel. In other words, exploring South Bombay through the eyes of our very own Shantaram.
Hungry Tide by Amitav Ghosh - Sundarbans
Where do you get to meet the majestic Royal Bengal Tiger as well as enjoy the ebb and flow of tides while streaming through the Bay of Bengal amidst mangrove forests?
Well, the answer is as simple as it can be, the Sundarbans.
Sundarbans is located in the southern most part of West Bengal and have been enlisted under the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
A boat ride through the tidal streams and channels while chasing a sunset is an experience you would certainly want to enjoy.
And if you are lucky, you might just spot the pride of this region, the Royal Bengal Tiger casually crossing the tidal stream.
But let me tell you a secret. It was for the first time that a book didn't inspire me to travel to a particular destination, rather it was the other way round. I had spent many a school break and even weekends in the Sundarbans, thanks to my father's job and it was this time spent in the Sundarbans with him and the family that inspired me to read Amitav Ghosh's The Hungry Tide.
This novel explores a lot of topics ranging from Marichjhapi massacre to the ever tumultuous lives of the islanders, continuous threats of evictions, attacks by the tigers and other animals, and the cruel tides washing away their homes years after years. But what Piyali Roy, Fokir and Kanai Dutt, the three main characters of this novel successfully manage is to paint a poignant yet beautiful picture of the Sundarbans which is enough to melt your heart and head straight down to this famous delta region.
The Night Train at Deoli and Other Stories by Ruskin Bond - Mussoorie/Dehradun
The one book that must have been the inspiration for many, like yours truly, for visiting Mussoorie or Dehradun has to be undoubtedly Ruskin Bond's The Night Train at Deoli and Other Stories.
True to his signature style, this book is simple yet heartwarming and will definitely leave you longing for a trip to the valleys and mountains of Dehradun and Mussoorie in the middle of your mundane life.
Over the years, unlike the book, technology and development has been introduced to the peaceful hills of Mussoorie and Dehradun but it has still managed to survive its charm so far and is quite popular amongst tourists of all age.
The Palace of Illusion by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni - City Palace, Jaipur
Don't judge a book by it's cover.
But once in a while it's the cover that attracts you to head off to a beautiful city or in this case a palace. I will have to lie if I don't admit that the moment I saw Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's novel, The Palace of Illusions, I was instantly in love with its cover. The book however is a beautiful take on Hindu epic Mahabharata, from Draupadi's viewpoint, making it a very interesting read.
But the cover of the book gives you instant travel goals!
The Green Gate or Leheriya Gate of the Jaipur's City Palace, Pritam Niwas Chowk has been featured on the cover of The Palace of Illusions.
Jaipur's City Palace, located at the heart of the city and built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II has been a favorite tourist attraction for many, many years now and I must admit it does live up to all the hype around it. This palace was built almost at the time the city of Jaipur was developed and is closely interlinked with the history of the city. In recent times, it has even opened up for a unique Airbnb experience for everyone.
City of Djinns by William Dalrymple - Delhi
If there is ever an Indian city that will remind you of your history classes yet will leave you speechless with its urbanization, it has to be unanimously Delhi.
Every corner of this city has something to offer keeping its visitors always engaged.
Home to three UNESCO World Heritage sites, the tourists can choose from Red Fort, Qutub Minar, India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhawan, Jama Masjid, Connaught Place and many more.
For shopaholics this city is paradise when it comes to shopping as one can choose from various markets like Dilli Haat, Sarojini Nagar Market, Janpath Market, Khan Market and many more. Also, no one does high end fashion like Delhi.
But if you are still not convinced, then here's my two cents of unsolicited advice - you must read William Dalrymple's City of Djinns.
His travelogue has described this old yet ever growing city with so much honesty and diligence making it such a compulsive read that you are bound to start planning your trip to Delhi as soon as possible.
Three Thousand Stitches by Sudha Murthy - Karnataka
I have been to various tourist places in Karnataka at different stages of my life with different sets of people and every single time I have been equally enthusiastic with everything I saw.
From conducted tours in and around Bangalore City to enjoying homestays at Coorg, chasing a beautiful sunset at Chamundi Hills to enjoying the sound and light show at Mysore Palace, exploring wildlife in the Nagarhole National Park and Tiger Reserve to witnessing a beautiful sunrise in Gokarna, it's never been a dull moment when it came to travelling in Karnataka. The list goes on along with the assurance that you won't be disappointed with your trip to Karnataka.
Karnataka is definitely more than the 'Silicon Valley' of India.
But it was only after reading Sudha Murthy's Three Thousand Stitches that I finally fell in love with Karnataka. This book might not be your usual travelogue or even entirely based on Karnataka but for the first time it was the author, her background and her story telling that did the magic for me.
Sudha Murthy, native of Karnataka needs no introduction just like her books. It was the was love for her birth state in the form of all her philanthropic activities that made me love the state of Karnataka even more.
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri - Calcutta/Kolkata
I had once read an interview of a famous Indian actor where he says that if you ever feel sad or low in your life then you must visit Kolkata.
Well, this might be debatable but there must be some truth to it or why would this city be known as the 'City of Joy' to the rest of the world?
Kolkata, erstwhile Calcutta is probably one of the best amalgamations of the old with the new.
Just when you might think that this city is still trying to get over with the hangover of the yesteryears, especially that of the British Raj you will stumble upon swanky buildings and contemporary eateries.
Victoria Memorial, Princep Ghat, Belur Math, New Market, Howrah Bridge, Park Street will surely leave you longing for more.
I would suggest go ahead and plan your trip to Kolkata during India's Cricket tournaments to catch up a game of cricket at Eden Garden and cheer for Team India with your lungs out! I can guarantee you it will be one of kind experience!
But, nothing can beat the experience you will have during the auspicious months of Autumn. In simple words, the city is a sight to behold during the festive season aka Durga Pujo and the vibe it offers is unparalleled to anything one might experience.
But it is Jhumpa Lahiri's The Namesake that will make you realize Kolkata is more than Mishti doi and Rosogollas.
All of us who have travelled far from home for either higher studies or work, are bound to relate to the journey of Ashoke or Ashima Ganguly. On some days even with Gogol. The protagonists of the novel.
Lahiri has beautifully and at times poignantly captured the nuances involved with cultural identity, conflicts of searching for an anchor yet feeling uprooted all the time, plights of chasing adaptability, pangs of breaking free from familial traditions and worse of all, feeling homesick.
Though this novel travels between Calcutta (yes, not Kolkata), Boston and New York, it subtly leaves you biased for the city Kolkata (yes, not Calcutta).
There are quite a lot of such books that have and still continue to inspire me to travel to different cities, spectacular monuments, peaceful mountains, pristine beaches, sometimes eat at a particular restaurant while travelling or even visit a souvenir shop for the sole reason that I have read about them in books.
Do you also feel the same and visit a city or country just because you came across them in a book that you had read? Did it live up to the expectation or have let you down?
Let me know in the comments.
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