“Falling in love again” with places in Rusty’s books
Visit these places mentioned in Ruskin Bond's books
Updated: Jun 24th, 2023
Passing leisure days of summer breaks reading ‘Rusty’ aka Ruskin Bond’s magical books is a childhood nostalgia almost every Indian has. One of the most celebrated Indian authors, Bond, also known as ‘Indian William Wordsworth’ has authored around 500 short stories, essays, and novels.
One of the most prolific writers of our times, 89-year-old Bond known for his lucid writing is hugely popular among the younger audience as well. A prominent character of his books, apart from Rusty, Uncle Ken, Binya, Sita, are the places he describes! A Rusty fan will have definitely lived in the Doon valley, at least in their imaginations, with the vivid description that Bond paints for his readers. You cannot separate Dehradun/Doon valley, Mussoorie or the other places of the Himalaya-clad Uttarakhand from his books. Here is a quick guide to some places mentioned in his many books.
1) Shamli
In the book 'A Book of Simple Living: Brief Notes from the Hills’, he quotes, "I am most at home in small places- Shamli and Saharanpur…" In the chapter ‘Time Stops at Shamli’ of the book 'Falling in Love Again', he pens down a slow and heartwarming tale of his love. Shamli, a city in UP, has museums, tombs, and temples where you can spend some time in silence. It is a town for those who enjoy ‘slow travel’.
2) Roshanara Bagh
Roshanara Bagh, Delhi |
One of the stories from the book ‘Falling in Love Again’ is mysterious, dark, and scary, called ‘Susanna’s Seven Husband’. The book also inspired a Vishal Bhardwaj movie ‘‘Saat Khoon Maaf’. Rusty here mentions a Mughal-era garden built by Roshanara Begum called Roshanara Bagh. It is a peaceful garden with an artistic tomb of Princess Roshanara. Bhardwaj, a Bond fan, also went on to direct ‘The Blue Umbrella’ inspired by Bond’s book by the same name and went on to win a National award for it too.
3) Pari Tibba
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As mentioned in the chapter ‘On Fairy Hill’ in the book ‘Falling in Love Again: Stories of Love and Romance’ you can see or hear many mysterious and irrational things at ‘Pari Tibba’, located near Landour. From a tiny village named ‘Dhobi Gaon’, you can actually trek all the way to ‘Pari Tibba’ in an hour. The stroll will be across a damp jungle, across many ruins of abandoned old houses, giving the trek a thrill. Who knows, if you are lucky, you may come across those fairies just like Rusty did?
4) Landour
Image courtesy: Facebook |
A small cantonment town in Mussoorie, about 35 km from the city of Dehradun, is where Bond lives in the Ivy Cottage. In his book ‘Landour Days’, Bond explored his writing career and talked about the natural beauty of the town. The small town is famous for its colonial-style architecture and high-altitude points. Snuggled in a canopy of dense deodar trees, you can also trek from Mussoorie to Landour as a beginner.
5) The Mall
The Mall, Mussoorie |
Rusty often visits ‘The Mall’ in his books. You can also find Ruskin Bond in real life, as he shows up at a book depot in Mussoorie. This ‘Mall’ is a colonial relic and hotspot for shopping.
Even if you are not a Ruskin Bond fan or not a reader, these picturesque places are worth a visit!
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