Around India in 80 Trains
Monisha Rajesh returns to a country that once rejected her family. In 1991, her parents made the bold leap from Sheffield to Madras, only to abandon the dream two years later, beaten down by everyday chaos and eccentric neighbours. Two decades on, she's back. This time, she'll traverse the Indian subcontinent by train, covering 40,000 kilometres across 80 different services. From opulent heritage coaches to humble local carriages, from Mumbai's chaotic commuter networks to a medical facility that travels on tracks, Indian Railways becomes her unlikely companion and guide. What emerges is far more than a travelogue. She encounters an astonishing array of passengers, each carrying their own extraordinary narrative. Yet there's friction too. Her photographer, a committed non-believer, clashes with a nation where spirituality permeates everything. The result is a book fizzing with unexpected tensions, genuine humour and the complicated feelings of someone searching for roots in a place that no longer quite feels like home. It's adventure shot through with comedy, awkwardness and raw honesty about belonging.
- Author: Monisha Rajesh
- Publisher: Lotus
- Genre: Travel Writing & Guides
- ISBN: 978-8174369130
- Pages: 264 pages