Remember when we thought quarantine would last only a few weeks? LOL. From wedding celebrations to travel plans, this year (okay, January and February excluded) has proved to be quite a bummer. However, as the world gradually opens its doors to tourism, travelling again (without the crippling paranoia) might be a reality soon. Until then, how about transporting yourself to picturesque locations through books? Here are a few recommendations for the armchair traveller:
1. Wanderlust by Moon Travel Guides
Haven’t shortlisted your next travel destination? Well, let us help you. Wanderlust offers stunning pictures of destinations around the world. It also comprises illustrations for an unforgettable experience. Land on any page and be prepared to be blown away!
2. Secret Tokyo by Zoe de Las Cases
If Japan is on your travel bucket list, how about getting a colouring book? Not only will it offer some calm and peace, which is the need of the hour, it is an interesting way to take a look at what the culture and sights are all about.
3. The Far Field by Madhuri Vijay
Madhuri’s debut novel is set in Bangalore and a certain village in the Himalayan region. It chronicles the journey of Bashir Ahmed, a Kashmiri salesman, who visits Shalini and her mother in Bangalore, but things go downhill when he suddenly disappears. Post her mother's death, Shalini embarks on a journey to look for Bashir Ahmed all alone. This book brings the unknown stories from the Himalayan Mountains to the fore, and highlights their lives with great detail. It also weaves in the political dynamic in the region and the effects it had on the locals.
4. In An Antique Land by Amitav Ghosh
“But now, travelling down that road after so many years I felt no excitement at all, only an old, familiar sensation, one that had always accompanied me on my way back from Damanhour, no matter whether I’d been away an hour or a week: the lassitude of homecoming mixed with a quiet sense of dread.” Regarded as one of his best works, Ghosh takes the reader on a journey from England to Egypt as he looks for a nameless slave from the 12th century. Brace yourself for a detailed account of the sights and sounds, so much so it seems as if you are walking alongside the author.
5. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
This one’s a delight if you are looking to press that reset button on your life. It is centred on Elizabeth, who after her divorce sets out to travel and explores India, Indonesia, and Italy. As she becomes one with each culture, the reader is taken on not just a ride across continents but also on a journey of self-discovery.