There are countless books about India as this country has always been a source of inspiration for writers and artists. If you don't know where to start, here I recommend some books about India for you to travel from home.
"The world is a book and those who don't travel only read a page."
-St. Augustine of Hippo
Books about India not to be missed
India is an exciting country and unique, a destination that grabs you and leaves you a indelible mark. Visiting India is a sensory experience without limits, its colors, its aromas, the organized chaos of its streets, its flavors and above all its people, who make you feel at home. A land full of history and rituals that year after year attracts thousands of travelers to discover its magic and fall in love with one of the oldest civilizations in the world.
Have you ever dreamed of traveling to India? If the answer is yes, these books about India will take you a little closer to your dream. And if the answer is no, maybe these books will whet your appetite and interest in traveling to one of the world's most incredible destinations.
Here is a selection of some of my favorite books about India and I hope that its pages will make you live exciting adventures in the company of its characters.
INDIAN PASSION - Javier Moro
Anita Delgado, the protagonist of this novel, is a 17-year-old Andalusian girl who falls in love and marries the rich maharaja of Kapurthala, in northern India. A story of unbridled love and continuous betrayals that unfolds over almost two decades in the heart of the country. A novel that makes you travel to the world of "the thousand and one nights", among palaces, jewels, ostentatious tiger hunts and harems in the fabulous world of the maharajas. A very readable book that has inspired many readers to travel to India.
THE GANGES' DAUGHTER - Asha Miró
A very moving novel that tells the story of the adoption of a girl from India, her arrival in Barcelona and her adaptation to a life far removed from what she knew. Once she has become a young and happy woman, Asha tells the story of her return to India, in search of her origins. A story of generosity, love and awareness of adoption.
- Miró Vega, Asha (Author)
EAT, PRAY, LOVE - Elisabeth Gilbert
The story of a western woman who, after a complicated divorce and in the midst of an emotional and spiritual crisis, sets out to find the balance between body, mind and spirit. The protagonist decides to start from scratch and embarks on a journey that will take her to Italy, India and Indonesia, three geographical areas that correspond to three stages of her inner search. Her stay in India is spent in an Ashram and she is initiated in the art of meditation. A book that has inspired thousands of women around the world to visit these three destinations in search of an inner journey to rediscover their essence.
THE RED SARI - Javier Moro
A novel of love and betrayal in the heart of one of the most powerful families in India. The protagonist, Sonia Maino, an Italian woman from a humble family who, following her marriage to Rajiv Gandhi, abandons her world to devote herself to her husband and merge with her new family under the Indian traditions. Her honesty and her dedication to the country and its people made her one of the most beloved women in India. A love story that not even death could break. A biographical book of a family trapped by power and full of the political history of the country.
A ZONE OF DARKNESS - V. S. Naipul
The author travels for the first time to the Indian subcontinent in 1964 to discover the land of his ancestors. The adventures take place in different parts of the country, passing through chaotic Bombay, beautiful Kashmir, a sacred frozen cave in the Himalayas or an abandoned temple in Madras. Naipaul discovers an astonishing variety of people, from modest civil servants to arrogant servants; a sinuous holy man and a fascinated American in search of faith. The author exposes his personal reaction to the caste system, the seemingly serene acceptance of poverty and misery, and the conflict between the desire for self-determination and nostalgia for British rule. A passionate and elegant book about life in India.
- Naipaul, V.S. (Author)
THE WAGON OF WOMEN - Anita Nair
An inspiring book that tells the story of five women who find themselves in a train carriage traveling through the plains of India on their way to Kanyakumari, the land of Vivekananda, the saint who taught the world to wake up and not give up until they have achieved their goals. The five women, very different from each other, share confidences and create a strong bond, each one of them fleeing from a reality. During the journey they whisper secrets, concerns and give answers to everyday questions about love, marriage, happiness, family and work in India. A very entertaining book with a woman's voice.
THE CITY OF JOY - Dominique Lapierre
This book tells the story of an American doctor who leaves his profession due to a depressive crisis and decides to travel to India in search of a deeper meaning to his life; upon arrival, he is the object of a robbery on the outskirts of a Kolkata neighborhood. During his stay, he is fortunate enough to meet good people who help him along the way and he uses his knowledge to help the city's poorest population.
A book that shows the reality of poverty in the suburbs of large cities and the social differences of its population.
THE OTHER INDIA - Ramiro Calle
India is a fascinating but complex country to understand. This book gives a very personal view of the country and deals with various aspects of India that are often not explored in books, go unnoticed or of which very little is known in the West. A reading that will enrich the traveler in his journey through these millenary lands, providing him with other points of view and sharper approaches to the most interesting and complex country on the planet, according to its author.
- Capita Street, Ramiro (Author)
I hope you liked the list of books about India. Hopefully these stories will inspire you to discover the magic of this country and venture out one day to experience India firsthand.
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