TALES OF HAZARIBAGH : AN INTIMATE EXPLORATION OF CHHOTANAGPUR PLATEAU
In early 2017, poet Mihir Vatsa made a bold choice. He abandoned city life and returned to Hazaribagh, the quiet Jharkhand town where he'd grown up, hoping its forested valleys might soothe his restless mind. What followed was a three-year immersion into a landscape both familiar and strange, where history whispers from every ravine and river bend. Vatsa's journey unfolds across sal forests and geological marvels, tracing paths once walked by British colonists and Bengali settlers seeking refuge. He drives his modest car through winding roads, hikes past hidden cascades, and witnesses the collateral damage of industrial extraction. Surajkund's geothermal wonders captivate him; Karanpura Valley's ancient human settlements intrigue him; even an encounter with emus becomes a moment of quiet wonder. Yet this isn't merely a travelogue of scenic spots. Throughout his explorations, Vatsa grapples with harder questions. What transforms raw nature into something we call beautiful? How do our words shape what we see? He challenges the neat administrative borders that governments insist carve up the land, observing how indifferent mountains and rivers are to such human constructs. By rummaging through old records and his own memories, he seeks to understand precisely why this place, this home, holds such power over him. Written with genuine warmth and unhurried reflection, this portrait of the Chhotanagpur Plateau becomes something richer, too. It's ultimately a story about belonging, healing, and what it means to come home to oneself.
- Author: Mihir Vatsa
- Publisher: Speaking Tiger
- Genre: Travel Writing & Guides
- ISBN: 978-9354470387
- Pages: 216 pages