FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
GNTO

Books to Read Before You Go To India

by Akhil Kalepu

Mar 21, 2015

City Palace of Udaipur, India © Minyun Zhou | Dreamstime

Destination

India’s rich history and diverse culture provide a rich tapestry for bookworms.From the country in which more than a thousand languages and dialects are spoken, come about a thousand books worthy of being mentioned here. However, for the sake of space, here are the six that will best help you get a grasp of what it means to be Indian.

 

The God of the Small Things – Arundhati Roy

Roy’s debut novel won her the Booker Prize in 1997, coincidentally the same year India celebrated 50 years of independence.

 

Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie © Jason W. Upton | Flickr

Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie © Jason W. Upton | Flickr

 

Midnight’s Children – Salman Rushdie

Rushdie’s most famous work, and one of this century’s finest, is the story of India’s independence from British colonialism. Or, if you want something a little more controversial, try The Satanic Verses, which almost got Rushdie murdered.

 

Kadambari – Bana

India’s answer to The Arabian Nights, this seventh-century text is narrated by a parrot and features stories told within stories to tell the romance between a princess and the moon god.

 

A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry © Arvind Grover | Flickr

A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry © Arvind Grover | Flickr

 

A Fine Balance – Rohinton Mistry

Four strangers are forced to share an apartment in 1975 in Mistry’s moving portrait of India at a critical time during the state of emergency. The novel questions how to move a society from corrupt and festering to healthy and prosperous.

 

The Inheritance of Loss – Kiran Desai

Kiran Desai, daughter of famed novelist Anita Desai, pens her own masterpiece with The Inheritance of Loss. It is look at the consequences of colonialism and modernity upon the individual.

 

For further reading, check out Ahmed Ali’s Twilight in Delhi, Anita Desai’s Fire on the Mountain and, of course, Vatsyayana’s Kama Sutra.

 

#TrazeeTravel

Insta Feed
Destinations
Nov 20, 2024

What Destinations Are Trending in 2025?

Luxury travel company Scott Dunn looks ahead to 2025 with predictions of hot destinations to visit. These focus on under-explored locations, sustainable tourism and exclusive experiences.

Discover Greece’s Tower Towns: A Journey Through History

Greece's tower towns offer a captivating blend of history, architecture and stunning landscapes that make them perfect for curious travelers. These towns, particularly found in the Mani region of the Peloponnese, are defined by stone towers built during the medieval period. Constructed for both defense and as symbols of family pride, the towers stand as a testament to the region's turbulent history and its residents’ resilience.

Destinations / Europe
Nov 20, 2024

Where to Find the Best Stargazing Spots in Ireland

This year, the Northern Lights put on quite the display across Ireland, but don’t think these lights are the only thing you can see in Ireland. In fact, many spots across the country provide some of the best opportunities to stargaze thanks to low levels of light pollution. Ireland has three International Dark Sky Parks and even more spots which, although not accredited, are worth a visit for anyone wishing to see the sky in its unfiltered form.

Hotel
Nov 19, 2024

A New Ritz-Carlton Comes to Cancún

After a hiatus, The Ritz-Carlton brand is coming back to Cancún, with the 2027 opening of The Ritz-Carlton, Cancún, Punta Nizuc.

Seoul: Your Favorite Worldwide City

Seoul is the place for your next bleisure destination.

Hotel
Nov 19, 2024

Hilton, Universal Pictures Debut Suite Inspired by Wicked

Hilton and Universal Pictures invite fans of Wicked to indulge in a spellbinding stay in a new, spectacular themed suite. From Nov. 21–Jan. 5, travelers can ‘Stay Like’ Wicked at New York Hilton Midtown.