What do you think?
Rate this book
Rain in the Mountains: Notes from the Himalayas
Rain In The Mountains: Notes From The Himalayas is a collection of semi-autobiographical writings of the eminent writer Ruskin Bond about his life at home in Mussoorie.
Summary Of The Book
Rain In The Mountains: Notes From The Himalayas brings together some of Ruskin Bond’s most beautiful works from his years spent at the foothills of the Himalayas in the town of Mussoorie.
These are musings on his natural habitat, scenes from his daily life, in both prose and poetry. Though written in a simple language, they manage to create vivid imagery and capture the essence of mountain life. Some of his writings that are featured in the book are Once Upon A Mountain Time, Sounds I Like To Hear, How Far Is The River, and After The Monsoon.
Rain In The Mountains: Notes From The Himalayas covers the everyday life of the author with descriptive words and lucid writing.
CONTENTS
SECTION I - ONCE UPON A MOUNTAIN TIME
Once Upon A Mountain Time
Voting at Barlowganj
Miss Bun and Others
A Station for Scandal
It Must be the Mountains (Play)
SECTION II - MOUNTAINS IN MY BLOOD
How Far is the River
Four Boys on a Glacier
Growing up with Trees
Mountains in my Blood
A Mountain Stream
A Lime Tree in the Hills
A New Flower
The Joy of Flower
Sounds I like to Hear
Dragon in the Tunnel
Hill of the Fairies
The Open Road
These I Have Loved
A Dream of Gardens
A Sweet Savour
Great Trees I Have Known
Picninc at Fox-Burn
A Wayside Teashop
All About my Walkabouts
Great Spirits of the Trees
Birdsong in the Mountains
Meetings on the Tehri Road
Guests who Fly in from the Forest
Up at Sisters Bazaar
SECTION III - NOTES BY THE WAYSIDE
SECTION IV - MOUNTAINS ARE KIND TO WRITERS
In Search of a Winter Garden
The Old Lama
The Night Roof Blew Off
Mountains are Kind to Writers
Best of All Windows
A Knock at the Door
Sounds of the Sea
All My Writing Days
The Trail to the Bank
Where the Grass Grows Greener
Better to Have a Bird in a Bush
Coaxing a Garden from Himalyan Soil
Where Rivers Meet
After the Monsoon
The Road to Anjani Sain
SECTION V - TIME TO CLOSE THE WINDOW
Epilogue
Summary Of The Book
Rain In The Mountains: Notes From The Himalayas brings together some of Ruskin Bond’s most beautiful works from his years spent at the foothills of the Himalayas in the town of Mussoorie.
These are musings on his natural habitat, scenes from his daily life, in both prose and poetry. Though written in a simple language, they manage to create vivid imagery and capture the essence of mountain life. Some of his writings that are featured in the book are Once Upon A Mountain Time, Sounds I Like To Hear, How Far Is The River, and After The Monsoon.
Rain In The Mountains: Notes From The Himalayas covers the everyday life of the author with descriptive words and lucid writing.
CONTENTS
SECTION I - ONCE UPON A MOUNTAIN TIME
Once Upon A Mountain Time
Voting at Barlowganj
Miss Bun and Others
A Station for Scandal
It Must be the Mountains (Play)
SECTION II - MOUNTAINS IN MY BLOOD
How Far is the River
Four Boys on a Glacier
Growing up with Trees
Mountains in my Blood
A Mountain Stream
A Lime Tree in the Hills
A New Flower
The Joy of Flower
Sounds I like to Hear
Dragon in the Tunnel
Hill of the Fairies
The Open Road
These I Have Loved
A Dream of Gardens
A Sweet Savour
Great Trees I Have Known
Picninc at Fox-Burn
A Wayside Teashop
All About my Walkabouts
Great Spirits of the Trees
Birdsong in the Mountains
Meetings on the Tehri Road
Guests who Fly in from the Forest
Up at Sisters Bazaar
SECTION III - NOTES BY THE WAYSIDE
SECTION IV - MOUNTAINS ARE KIND TO WRITERS
In Search of a Winter Garden
The Old Lama
The Night Roof Blew Off
Mountains are Kind to Writers
Best of All Windows
A Knock at the Door
Sounds of the Sea
All My Writing Days
The Trail to the Bank
Where the Grass Grows Greener
Better to Have a Bird in a Bush
Coaxing a Garden from Himalyan Soil
Where Rivers Meet
After the Monsoon
The Road to Anjani Sain
SECTION V - TIME TO CLOSE THE WINDOW
Epilogue
251 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
164 people are currently reading
2222 people want to read
About the author
Ruskin Bond
680 books3,563 followersRuskin Bond is an Indian author of British descent. He is considered to be an icon among Indian writers and children's authors and a top novelist. He wrote his first novel, The Room on the Roof, when he was seventeen which won John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize in 1957. Since then he has written several novellas, over 500 short stories, as well as various essays and poems, all of which have established him as one of the best-loved and most admired chroniclers of contemporary India. In 1992 he received the Sahitya Akademi award for English writing, for his short stories collection, "Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra", by the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters in India. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1999 for contributions to children's literature. He now lives with his adopted family in Landour near Mussoorie.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
June 16, 2020
"And this shall be for music when no one else is near,
The fine song for singing, the rare song to hear!
That only I remember, that only you admire.
Of the broad road that stretches, and the roadside fire."
- R.L.Stevenson
I remember reading an excerpt from the book around ten years before, in my school text book. I still remember the fragment:
"I must have been eight or nine when my father gave me a small diary, and I began my first tentative forays as a writer- or a wordsmith, as I have sometimes described my calling..."
And I was of the same age, and quite inevitably it did strike a chord and I scrawled the name of the book down to buy, someday. It has been a long time before I did, but well, better late than never.
The book is a semi-autobiographical novel, and like many of the author's books is centered around the hill-station of Mussoorie and Landour. The book may partly remind you of Bibhutibhusan's 'Aranyak' : the best parts of the line evokes the simple daily chronicles of the author, made wonderfully lively through the delineation of Nature. To me the best aspect of the book is, you can simply live through the narration and don't need to delve to try to find any deeper significance if you don't feel like it, Bond has stirred it up such that you can still savour the essence without thinking whether the author has tried to tell you apparently something else.
I think I can safely infer that it is one of the best books on solitude. Also bound to make you nostalgic at some point, irrespective of decrepitude ( I'm only 18!).
Somehow it did to me what 'Meditations' and 'Walden' had done earlier, but still there's some distinction ought to be pointed out. I think sometimes books should also be evaluated in respect of there readability. Now you can't definitely say 'Walden' an easy read, whereas Bond, I'd definitely recommend also as a breezy read. There are times when you need a break from everything, including serious reading. It is perfect for that time. As Democritus said: "If you want to be happy, do little."
Not that it doesn't give you any lesson though.The simplest way it can be retold: Self-reflection is an essential thing, and one of the most simple, inexpensive yet aesthetic habit you can develop is to find beauty in Nature. Well, that sounds too simple...but maybe because it should.
PS: Ruskin Bond is not generally recognized as a poet, but I daresay I found his poems quite captivating.
The fine song for singing, the rare song to hear!
That only I remember, that only you admire.
Of the broad road that stretches, and the roadside fire."
- R.L.Stevenson
I remember reading an excerpt from the book around ten years before, in my school text book. I still remember the fragment:
"I must have been eight or nine when my father gave me a small diary, and I began my first tentative forays as a writer- or a wordsmith, as I have sometimes described my calling..."
And I was of the same age, and quite inevitably it did strike a chord and I scrawled the name of the book down to buy, someday. It has been a long time before I did, but well, better late than never.
The book is a semi-autobiographical novel, and like many of the author's books is centered around the hill-station of Mussoorie and Landour. The book may partly remind you of Bibhutibhusan's 'Aranyak' : the best parts of the line evokes the simple daily chronicles of the author, made wonderfully lively through the delineation of Nature. To me the best aspect of the book is, you can simply live through the narration and don't need to delve to try to find any deeper significance if you don't feel like it, Bond has stirred it up such that you can still savour the essence without thinking whether the author has tried to tell you apparently something else.
I think I can safely infer that it is one of the best books on solitude. Also bound to make you nostalgic at some point, irrespective of decrepitude ( I'm only 18!).
Somehow it did to me what 'Meditations' and 'Walden' had done earlier, but still there's some distinction ought to be pointed out. I think sometimes books should also be evaluated in respect of there readability. Now you can't definitely say 'Walden' an easy read, whereas Bond, I'd definitely recommend also as a breezy read. There are times when you need a break from everything, including serious reading. It is perfect for that time. As Democritus said: "If you want to be happy, do little."
Not that it doesn't give you any lesson though.The simplest way it can be retold: Self-reflection is an essential thing, and one of the most simple, inexpensive yet aesthetic habit you can develop is to find beauty in Nature. Well, that sounds too simple...but maybe because it should.
PS: Ruskin Bond is not generally recognized as a poet, but I daresay I found his poems quite captivating.
March 26, 2015
It was a fabulous read. As the title states, it's a collection of anecdotes, snippets, poems,essays and ruminations of the writer's life spend in the various hamlets of the Himalayas. It was beautifully written, so much so that it converted me, a robust admirer of modern technology and modern way of life into a nature lover. For the past couple of days I have grown into the habit of starin out into the surrounding wilderness, keenly observing birds, squirrels, vegetation, the sky and the moving clouds. I am also becoming adept at listening to the various sounds of nature.
I fell in love with Ruskin Bond too. :P
Initially started marking the quotes I liked, but gave up as I am afraid of desecrating the whole book. This surely will be a reread, especially during times of loneliness or self contemplation.
Ode to Bond (stealing his own words)
Enough for me that you are beautiful
Beauty possessed diminishes
Better a dream of love
Than love's dream broken
Better a look exchanged
Than love's word spoken
Enough for me that you walk past,
A firefly dashing in the dark
I fell in love with Ruskin Bond too. :P
Initially started marking the quotes I liked, but gave up as I am afraid of desecrating the whole book. This surely will be a reread, especially during times of loneliness or self contemplation.
Ode to Bond (stealing his own words)
Enough for me that you are beautiful
Beauty possessed diminishes
Better a dream of love
Than love's dream broken
Better a look exchanged
Than love's word spoken
Enough for me that you walk past,
A firefly dashing in the dark
May 28, 2017
This morning when I was out for a walk I was looking at the roadside rather intently. A bed of bright purple flowers born with the dew greeted me. Ruskin Bond was right, wild flowers are indeed rewarding, the best ones are the most difficult to find. Such is the influence of his books, one starts noticing and appreciating the little joys of life. And this one ‘Rain in the Mountains-A Note From Himalayas’ is just like the song of his favourite bird, the whistling thrush; like a dark sweet secret from the depth of a ravine speaking to your soul. For me this was more like a conversation with Ruskin Bond himself.
My personal favourites are the parts where he writes about trees like they are humans ‘from the foliage comes a deep sigh’ and talks about humans like we are but a part of the world’s flora and fauna, especially when he calls Prem's sister ‘a friendly little gazelle’. Only he can come up with something as beautiful as that. Also this one was nothing short of a birding book; scarlet minivets, drongos, tits, night jars, mynahs, king crows, barbets, bulbuls, babblers and of course his whistling thrush, he cites them all. He also made me listen to some of the classics he mentions in his musings like the 'Mule Train' and 'The Desert Song' and I must say they add to the music of the whistling thrush.
This book is going to ‘My Favourites’ Shelf for a hundred other moments of absolute ‘Joie De Vivre’, exactly in the way he delightfully puts it across.
My personal favourites are the parts where he writes about trees like they are humans ‘from the foliage comes a deep sigh’ and talks about humans like we are but a part of the world’s flora and fauna, especially when he calls Prem's sister ‘a friendly little gazelle’. Only he can come up with something as beautiful as that. Also this one was nothing short of a birding book; scarlet minivets, drongos, tits, night jars, mynahs, king crows, barbets, bulbuls, babblers and of course his whistling thrush, he cites them all. He also made me listen to some of the classics he mentions in his musings like the 'Mule Train' and 'The Desert Song' and I must say they add to the music of the whistling thrush.
This book is going to ‘My Favourites’ Shelf for a hundred other moments of absolute ‘Joie De Vivre’, exactly in the way he delightfully puts it across.
February 16, 2014
There's something therapeutic about reading Ruskin Bond. Simple, unpretentious, down-to-earth writing, laced with subtle humour. Last summer, I came across this lovely book while browsing through a quaint little bookshop in Kochi's Jew Town. It's a collection of essays, stories, poems, and personal journal entries, dating back to the late fifties. A wonderful read, it reminded me of my childhood days in the Nilgiri Hills and the Doon Valley. I loved reading about interesting characters like Miss Bun (whom he once considered marrying), Sir Edmund Gibson ("I don't mind being dead, but I shall miss being alive!"), the old Tibetan lama slowly trudging along the stubborn mountain path, and a lone tea-shop owner scrambling for a livelihood in the Jaunpur range of the Garhwal Himalayas ("Hillman or plainsman, we have only our hopes to keep us going".)
Ruskin Bond clearly loves the mountains- there's warmth and tenderness in his writing when he describes the deodars and the oaks, the song of the whistle-thrush, and the music of hillside crickets and cicadas. I found his humility striking; we rarely come across people of his kind, who have accomplished so much, and yet are so unassuming! On pride, he has this to say- "Be proud. Be proud of what you are, and what you've done. But be proud within. Don't flaunt it, you will only offend. There's something obscene about a braggart". Truer words have never been written! Indeed, Bond is so modest, he states that even after 35 years, he's still trying as a writer.
He also writes about a boy he met late one night, on the deserted Tehri road, huddling in a recess, seeking some warmth against the bitter cold. As he is about to leave him, tempted by the prospect of a warm bed waiting for him at home, he is reminded of the wise words of an old sage:
If I am not for myself,
Who will be for me?
And if I am not for others,
What am I
And if not now, when?
And so, he takes the boy home, and offers him a place to stay for the night, the very least he could do to help somebody else. This humane element is what makes the book so special to me.
And yet, what struck me the most in this splendid book, was a little poem titled The Words. At the time I read it, I had just lost my grandfather. It's still hard to believe he's no longer with us! The first few days were the most difficult, but even today, we all feel his absence. As the entire family traveled to Tiruvilvamala, where we performed the final rites for my dearest Muthacha on the banks of the sacred Bharathapuzha, I thought it was all rather funny. We struggle every day for happiness, success, little joys, and triumphs; and yet in the final analysis, each one of us is reduced to a pot of ashes, a bag of memories. The profound truth of this poem hit me hard:
Observing Ananda weeping, Gautama said,
'O Ananda, do not weep. This body of ours
contains within itself the powers which renew
its strength for a time, but also the causes which
lead to its destruction. Is there anything put
together which shall not dissolve?'
Then, turning to his disciples, he said, 'When
I am passed away and am no longer with you,
do not think the Buddha has left you, and is not
still in your midst. You have my words, my
explanations, my laws...' And again, 'Beloved
disciples, if you love my memory, love one another.'
And after another pause, he said, 'Beloved,
that which causes life causes also decay
and death. Never forget this. I called you to tell you this.'
These were the last words of Gautama
Buddha, as he stretched himself out and died
under the great sal tree, at Kasinagara.
Ruskin Bond clearly loves the mountains- there's warmth and tenderness in his writing when he describes the deodars and the oaks, the song of the whistle-thrush, and the music of hillside crickets and cicadas. I found his humility striking; we rarely come across people of his kind, who have accomplished so much, and yet are so unassuming! On pride, he has this to say- "Be proud. Be proud of what you are, and what you've done. But be proud within. Don't flaunt it, you will only offend. There's something obscene about a braggart". Truer words have never been written! Indeed, Bond is so modest, he states that even after 35 years, he's still trying as a writer.
He also writes about a boy he met late one night, on the deserted Tehri road, huddling in a recess, seeking some warmth against the bitter cold. As he is about to leave him, tempted by the prospect of a warm bed waiting for him at home, he is reminded of the wise words of an old sage:
If I am not for myself,
Who will be for me?
And if I am not for others,
What am I
And if not now, when?
And so, he takes the boy home, and offers him a place to stay for the night, the very least he could do to help somebody else. This humane element is what makes the book so special to me.
And yet, what struck me the most in this splendid book, was a little poem titled The Words. At the time I read it, I had just lost my grandfather. It's still hard to believe he's no longer with us! The first few days were the most difficult, but even today, we all feel his absence. As the entire family traveled to Tiruvilvamala, where we performed the final rites for my dearest Muthacha on the banks of the sacred Bharathapuzha, I thought it was all rather funny. We struggle every day for happiness, success, little joys, and triumphs; and yet in the final analysis, each one of us is reduced to a pot of ashes, a bag of memories. The profound truth of this poem hit me hard:
Observing Ananda weeping, Gautama said,
'O Ananda, do not weep. This body of ours
contains within itself the powers which renew
its strength for a time, but also the causes which
lead to its destruction. Is there anything put
together which shall not dissolve?'
Then, turning to his disciples, he said, 'When
I am passed away and am no longer with you,
do not think the Buddha has left you, and is not
still in your midst. You have my words, my
explanations, my laws...' And again, 'Beloved
disciples, if you love my memory, love one another.'
And after another pause, he said, 'Beloved,
that which causes life causes also decay
and death. Never forget this. I called you to tell you this.'
These were the last words of Gautama
Buddha, as he stretched himself out and died
under the great sal tree, at Kasinagara.
February 1, 2017
Format:paperback
my rating : 3 jhil mila ti timtima ti tare aur adha tukda chand ka :)
some lines from past :
About Rain
I love Rain
my friends think it's a girly thing
What I think ?
I think my friends are idiots and loving rain is an unisex thing :P
About the mountain :
From the top of the hill
I saw a valley so naked and beautiful
as I sat mesmerized
whole of my past was reflected before my eyes
A past with memories nostalgic
sweet funny and those tear rolled moments of silent cries
I was numb for seconds a few
but in those brief moments of silence discreet
all I could remember was you , only you
About Ruskin Bond :
I like people who read books
I like people, a little more, who love to read Ruskin Bond .
But the thing I like most is to sit near my apartment Window and read a Ruskin Bond book myself and feel nostalgic , remembering all those time I spent with my friends and remember my beautiful village near the sea
And if there is a milkshake to go by Its Christmas :D
About the book
so you can anticipate my expectation when I picked the book "Rain in the mountain" by "Ruskin Bond" . A book talking about two of my favorite elements by one of my favorite author .Add to that a signed copy and the expectation was Huge :)
How was the book .what I liked about the book ? why ?
why ?
I don't know .
I only know I liked the book :)
'Why' is a very difficult and complicated Q to analyse a bond book
For his books only your heart knows what it feels.So any Bond fan go for it Bindass and any newbie , read the caution carefully :P
Caution : (Imagine that bone and skull "danger" picture )
This book ,though beautiful and very diverse (with stories ,a play ,notes from bond's journals & his poems ) is not an Ideal book to begin your journey with Bond .My suggestion would still be one from 'our tree still grows in Dehra','time stops at Shamli 'or 'room on the roof ':)
my rating : 3 jhil mila ti timtima ti tare aur adha tukda chand ka :)
some lines from past :
About Rain
I love Rain
my friends think it's a girly thing
What I think ?
I think my friends are idiots and loving rain is an unisex thing :P
About the mountain :
From the top of the hill
I saw a valley so naked and beautiful
as I sat mesmerized
whole of my past was reflected before my eyes
A past with memories nostalgic
sweet funny and those tear rolled moments of silent cries
I was numb for seconds a few
but in those brief moments of silence discreet
all I could remember was you , only you
About Ruskin Bond :
I like people who read books
I like people, a little more, who love to read Ruskin Bond .
But the thing I like most is to sit near my apartment Window and read a Ruskin Bond book myself and feel nostalgic , remembering all those time I spent with my friends and remember my beautiful village near the sea
And if there is a milkshake to go by Its Christmas :D
About the book
so you can anticipate my expectation when I picked the book "Rain in the mountain" by "Ruskin Bond" . A book talking about two of my favorite elements by one of my favorite author .Add to that a signed copy and the expectation was Huge :)
How was the book .what I liked about the book ? why ?
why ?
I don't know .
I only know I liked the book :)
'Why' is a very difficult and complicated Q to analyse a bond book
For his books only your heart knows what it feels.So any Bond fan go for it Bindass and any newbie , read the caution carefully :P
Caution : (Imagine that bone and skull "danger" picture )
This book ,though beautiful and very diverse (with stories ,a play ,notes from bond's journals & his poems ) is not an Ideal book to begin your journey with Bond .My suggestion would still be one from 'our tree still grows in Dehra','time stops at Shamli 'or 'room on the roof ':)
May 12, 2020
The rain has been rather incessant at my place for the last three days. It might be a sunny and bright day to begin with but early afternoon brings the first dark clouds and as the day progresses, more clouds roll in. The downpour begin by evening and lasts well into the night and it is not a silent or quiet kind of a rain. This is the perfect kind of weather to be reading this book in. I would pause after every essay/poem and sit back listening to the rain outside while I could imagine the beautiful vistas that Ruskin Bond outlines. Today seems to be a tad better and as I sit here keying in this review, the rain is only a mild patter on the windowpanes.
As the title outlines, the whole of this little book is packed to the rafters with writings about the Himalayas and of life in the mountains. Ruskin Bond was not a nature enthusiast who dashed in and out of the mountains but dropped anchor in a remote little town bordering the Himalayas for a major part of his life. After having lived for a bit of time in London and later in Delhi, Bond developed restless feet and an overpowering nostalgia for a life near the mountains. He found a rather dilapidated house for lodging and rents out the third floor with a window that opens to trees, a forest and the mountains beyond. Taking his seat near the window and with his trusted typewriter in attendance, Bond regales the reader about the little pleasures of life. Nothing is insignificant for this writer, he views all forms of life to be amusing and interesting to talk about. He speaks with the same amusement about a ladybug and a bank manager of the town. He is excited about birdsong, the leaves changing colour with the seasons, a conversation with a little child etc. This same innocence and amusement reflects in his writing too which is all about short, simple sentences that give way to easy understanding.
What made the whole book endearing ? I have lately developed this habit of going up to the terrace of my house in the evening as the sun is setting (on days when there are no rains). It is blissful to stay there watching the last light of the day give way to twilight and later to the night. The orchestra of the birds wind down gently and I can tirelessly watch the crows, mynas, storks, parakeets and countless other birds flying away to their roosts while the bats, owls and other night birds slowly become active. The essays and poems from Bond captured in words what I could feel in those little moments and it was this personalization that made me adore what he has written.
There is little doubt that Bond romanticizes the mountains and the life therein but there is a certain charm to his words that is unshakeable. A feeling that slowing down your life and paying attention to what goes on around you will be surprisingly more rewarding than the rat-race of life. Here he picks a few lines from R.L. Stevenson to illustrate his point :
And this shall be for music when no one else is near,
The fine song for singing, the rare song to hear !
That only I remember, that only you admire,
Of the broad road that stretches, and the roadside fire.
So if you are someone who thinks that the journey is as important as the destination, if you love your greenery, trees, birds and animals, if you have mountains in your blood then hesitate no more before you pick this up to read. Recommended !
And yes, Bond also highlights this beautiful quote from Virginia Woolf which made me smile :
“I have sometimes dreamt ... that when the Day of Judgment dawns and the great conquerors and lawyers and statesmen come to receive their rewards -- their crowns, their laurels, their names carved indelibly upon imperishable marble -- the Almighty will turn to Peter and will say, not without a certain envy when He sees us coming with our books under our arms, "Look, these need no reward. We have nothing to give them here. They have loved reading.”
As the title outlines, the whole of this little book is packed to the rafters with writings about the Himalayas and of life in the mountains. Ruskin Bond was not a nature enthusiast who dashed in and out of the mountains but dropped anchor in a remote little town bordering the Himalayas for a major part of his life. After having lived for a bit of time in London and later in Delhi, Bond developed restless feet and an overpowering nostalgia for a life near the mountains. He found a rather dilapidated house for lodging and rents out the third floor with a window that opens to trees, a forest and the mountains beyond. Taking his seat near the window and with his trusted typewriter in attendance, Bond regales the reader about the little pleasures of life. Nothing is insignificant for this writer, he views all forms of life to be amusing and interesting to talk about. He speaks with the same amusement about a ladybug and a bank manager of the town. He is excited about birdsong, the leaves changing colour with the seasons, a conversation with a little child etc. This same innocence and amusement reflects in his writing too which is all about short, simple sentences that give way to easy understanding.
What made the whole book endearing ? I have lately developed this habit of going up to the terrace of my house in the evening as the sun is setting (on days when there are no rains). It is blissful to stay there watching the last light of the day give way to twilight and later to the night. The orchestra of the birds wind down gently and I can tirelessly watch the crows, mynas, storks, parakeets and countless other birds flying away to their roosts while the bats, owls and other night birds slowly become active. The essays and poems from Bond captured in words what I could feel in those little moments and it was this personalization that made me adore what he has written.
There is little doubt that Bond romanticizes the mountains and the life therein but there is a certain charm to his words that is unshakeable. A feeling that slowing down your life and paying attention to what goes on around you will be surprisingly more rewarding than the rat-race of life. Here he picks a few lines from R.L. Stevenson to illustrate his point :
And this shall be for music when no one else is near,
The fine song for singing, the rare song to hear !
That only I remember, that only you admire,
Of the broad road that stretches, and the roadside fire.
So if you are someone who thinks that the journey is as important as the destination, if you love your greenery, trees, birds and animals, if you have mountains in your blood then hesitate no more before you pick this up to read. Recommended !
And yes, Bond also highlights this beautiful quote from Virginia Woolf which made me smile :
“I have sometimes dreamt ... that when the Day of Judgment dawns and the great conquerors and lawyers and statesmen come to receive their rewards -- their crowns, their laurels, their names carved indelibly upon imperishable marble -- the Almighty will turn to Peter and will say, not without a certain envy when He sees us coming with our books under our arms, "Look, these need no reward. We have nothing to give them here. They have loved reading.”
February 28, 2022
There are books and authors which you're sure would delight you. Lift you up from that slump. To take you back to your comfort zone, where you can relish and nurture your relation back to the words and pages.
Ruskin Bond is one such author for me. More than half his books are autobiographies, published at different times under numerous titles and publications.
I still love reading all of them :) Because they feel like reading for the first time... in fact, better than first time for they are familiar and yet new!
What I loved most in this one was:
- Interactions and relationship with Miss Bun.
- The writings on mountains.
- Lovely encounter with people - Tibetan Lama, strangers he used to invite, the ever forgetful Mr... what's his name?
- That epic Epilogue! Brutally honest!
What I didn't like:
- Poetry sections. Didn't feel like poetry at all. Though I'm a novice at poetry and rarely pic poetic books.
Overall: Yet another gem of a book!
Ruskin Bond is one such author for me. More than half his books are autobiographies, published at different times under numerous titles and publications.
I still love reading all of them :) Because they feel like reading for the first time... in fact, better than first time for they are familiar and yet new!
What I loved most in this one was:
- Interactions and relationship with Miss Bun.
- The writings on mountains.
- Lovely encounter with people - Tibetan Lama, strangers he used to invite, the ever forgetful Mr... what's his name?
- That epic Epilogue! Brutally honest!
What I didn't like:
- Poetry sections. Didn't feel like poetry at all. Though I'm a novice at poetry and rarely pic poetic books.
Overall: Yet another gem of a book!
Want to read
June 7, 2012I am going to Darmasala for a 10 day trek in the Himalayan mountains. I think this would be the perfect companion during my train journey from Bangalore to Delhi. Very excited to deepdive into the book. Ruskin is a writer for the soul.
March 25, 2017
The review by India Today on the front cover said "Reading this collection of short stories, essays, poems and articles is literally like inhaling a lungful of fresh mountain air", and it couldn't be more right. Here is the review by India Today (Year: 1992) http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/bo...
The author, Ruskin Bond is a simple man with simple dreams, a very down-to-earth soul (not literally, because he's still on the hills). His writing is simplistic, as well as his thoughts. He's the kind of observer that God would have wanted to see strolling about, for the praise he has for nature and creation is something that the creator wouldn't want to miss hearing.
His friends are the whistle thrushes and the flycatchers. He'd protect a moth from injuring itself by the flame of the candle that he has lighted. He wouldn't hurt an insect, in fact, he'd wait for the first ladybugs of the summer to arrive.
My first read on nature. My first Ruskin Bond. I'm already in love with it.
The author, Ruskin Bond is a simple man with simple dreams, a very down-to-earth soul (not literally, because he's still on the hills). His writing is simplistic, as well as his thoughts. He's the kind of observer that God would have wanted to see strolling about, for the praise he has for nature and creation is something that the creator wouldn't want to miss hearing.
His friends are the whistle thrushes and the flycatchers. He'd protect a moth from injuring itself by the flame of the candle that he has lighted. He wouldn't hurt an insect, in fact, he'd wait for the first ladybugs of the summer to arrive.
My first read on nature. My first Ruskin Bond. I'm already in love with it.
November 18, 2015
An innocent form of writing, it is suited to pick up if you are looking for some simplicity in words around you. Undoubtedly, it takes you in the lap of nature, but beware it can make you sad that you are not the one who created these notes. I feel it is a very natural way of reporting about one's life, especially when the events are so peaceful. There is no drama, no melodrama, no intelligence, only sharpness of the brain and the simplistic description. If I had to write an autobiography, I would seek inspiration from this. Also, if I had to choose a way of reading this book, I would say - choose a bright sunny winter afternoon, visit a garden with a friend and read him aloud the phrases that you like the most. You would know, that life is found in those tiny little moments.
October 4, 2016
Soulful soakness into nature!!
Once you have started the journey with Bond, you don't want to come out of it.
Few favorites -
Be like water, soft and limpid, it finds its way through, over or under any obstacle. It does not quarrel; it simply moves on.
And
Lord, give me a quiet mind,
That I might listen;
A gentle tone of voice,
That I might comfort others;
A sound and healthy body,
That i might share
In the joy of walking
And leaping and running;
A good sense of direction
So I might know just where I'm going!
Once you have started the journey with Bond, you don't want to come out of it.
Few favorites -
Be like water, soft and limpid, it finds its way through, over or under any obstacle. It does not quarrel; it simply moves on.
And
Lord, give me a quiet mind,
That I might listen;
A gentle tone of voice,
That I might comfort others;
A sound and healthy body,
That i might share
In the joy of walking
And leaping and running;
A good sense of direction
So I might know just where I'm going!
January 20, 2022
Loved it. Musings about rivers, hills, valleys, birds, a lot of ramblings on this and that. But I could connect with the author and his musings and that's what reading a book is all about isn't it? Hopefully will read his autobiography soon.
June 25, 2013
I fell in love with mr bonds writing after reading this. Poignant, deeply observed, simply felt.. The book takes you on a journey, which you feel soothing your soul. Nature, colours, trees and life truly come alive. My favorite, anytym book!
February 15, 2023
i've been slow reading this book for the last two years, picking it up everytime i was homesick. Ruskin Bond is such a big part of my childhood, and sometimes reading about his life in the himalayan foothills is all i need for a slice of home <3
December 10, 2025
With Ruskin Bond. The Man who gave me so much,,,,
Rain in the Mountains is perhaps one of the most intimate works Ruskin Bond has ever written—a collection of essays, diary entries, and reflections that chronicle his life in the Himalayan foothills.
More than a book, it feels like a quiet companionship, as if Bond has opened a window into his thoughts and gently invited the reader to sit beside him on his Mussoorie balcony, listening to the rain.
The book’s structure is fragmentary—a blend of descriptions, observations, memories, stories, and philosophical musings.
This mosaic form mirrors the rhythm of hill life itself: slow, irregular, and quietly rich. What binds the pieces together is Bond’s deep-rootedness in nature. His descriptions of the mountains are lyrical but never overwrought.
He writes of mist drifting through deodars, of the first monsoon showers, of birds perched on rooftops, and of sunlight filtering through pines. Each image emerges with crystalline clarity.
One of the most striking qualities of the book is its mood of solitude. Bond writes often about his solitary walks, his hermit-like existence, and the peace he finds in silence.
But this solitude is not loneliness; it is a chosen stillness, a space for reflection and observation.
Readers feel the quiet pulse of the hills through his words. He shows how the natural world can become both refuge and teacher.
Bond’s reflections on writing and creativity are among the most insightful sections.
He speaks about the importance of staying rooted, listening to one’s inner voice, and drawing inspiration from small moments—a leaf falling, a child laughing, an old villager telling a story.
His advice is subtle but powerful, emerging naturally from his experiences rather than through didactic instruction.
The diary entries in the book provide glimpses of Bond’s daily life: visits from friends, playful encounters with local wildlife, notes on changing seasons, and thoughtful musings triggered by chance conversations.
Through these entries, the reader sees not only the writer but also the human being—gentle, humorous, quietly philosophical.
Another central thread in the book is Bond’s affection for the people of the hills.
He writes lovingly of shopkeepers, children, old women knitting by doorways, and travellers passing through.
His empathy is unmistakable; he sees stories in every face, dignity in every life. The Himalayas are not just landscapes but communities.
One of the most beautiful essays in the collection reflects on the sound of rain—its rhythms, its memories, and its power to soothe.
Bond uses rain as a metaphor for renewal, continuity, and emotional cleansing. These reflections create an almost meditative effect, encouraging readers to slow down and truly observe the world.
The book is also rich with Bond’s characteristic humour—gentle, self-deprecating, and warm.
Whether he is describing monkeys who raid his kitchen or recalling a boy who stole his typewriter ribbon, he brings a smile through his storytelling ease.
The overarching message of Rain in the Mountains is simple yet profound: that beauty lies in small things, that nature heals, and that a life lived with awareness—no matter how ordinary—can be deeply fulfilling.
Bond’s voice offers reassurance in a fast-paced world.
This book is essential reading for anyone who seeks peace, introspection, or a deeper connection with nature.
It reveals not only the soul of the mountains but also the quiet glow of Bond’s own spirit.
Most recommended.
Rain in the Mountains is perhaps one of the most intimate works Ruskin Bond has ever written—a collection of essays, diary entries, and reflections that chronicle his life in the Himalayan foothills.
More than a book, it feels like a quiet companionship, as if Bond has opened a window into his thoughts and gently invited the reader to sit beside him on his Mussoorie balcony, listening to the rain.
The book’s structure is fragmentary—a blend of descriptions, observations, memories, stories, and philosophical musings.
This mosaic form mirrors the rhythm of hill life itself: slow, irregular, and quietly rich. What binds the pieces together is Bond’s deep-rootedness in nature. His descriptions of the mountains are lyrical but never overwrought.
He writes of mist drifting through deodars, of the first monsoon showers, of birds perched on rooftops, and of sunlight filtering through pines. Each image emerges with crystalline clarity.
One of the most striking qualities of the book is its mood of solitude. Bond writes often about his solitary walks, his hermit-like existence, and the peace he finds in silence.
But this solitude is not loneliness; it is a chosen stillness, a space for reflection and observation.
Readers feel the quiet pulse of the hills through his words. He shows how the natural world can become both refuge and teacher.
Bond’s reflections on writing and creativity are among the most insightful sections.
He speaks about the importance of staying rooted, listening to one’s inner voice, and drawing inspiration from small moments—a leaf falling, a child laughing, an old villager telling a story.
His advice is subtle but powerful, emerging naturally from his experiences rather than through didactic instruction.
The diary entries in the book provide glimpses of Bond’s daily life: visits from friends, playful encounters with local wildlife, notes on changing seasons, and thoughtful musings triggered by chance conversations.
Through these entries, the reader sees not only the writer but also the human being—gentle, humorous, quietly philosophical.
Another central thread in the book is Bond’s affection for the people of the hills.
He writes lovingly of shopkeepers, children, old women knitting by doorways, and travellers passing through.
His empathy is unmistakable; he sees stories in every face, dignity in every life. The Himalayas are not just landscapes but communities.
One of the most beautiful essays in the collection reflects on the sound of rain—its rhythms, its memories, and its power to soothe.
Bond uses rain as a metaphor for renewal, continuity, and emotional cleansing. These reflections create an almost meditative effect, encouraging readers to slow down and truly observe the world.
The book is also rich with Bond’s characteristic humour—gentle, self-deprecating, and warm.
Whether he is describing monkeys who raid his kitchen or recalling a boy who stole his typewriter ribbon, he brings a smile through his storytelling ease.
The overarching message of Rain in the Mountains is simple yet profound: that beauty lies in small things, that nature heals, and that a life lived with awareness—no matter how ordinary—can be deeply fulfilling.
Bond’s voice offers reassurance in a fast-paced world.
This book is essential reading for anyone who seeks peace, introspection, or a deeper connection with nature.
It reveals not only the soul of the mountains but also the quiet glow of Bond’s own spirit.
Most recommended.
October 25, 2020
Reading this book was like going for a vacation in the mountains. It was a much needed vacation admist the pandemic. Locked up at home and yet enjoying the birds singing, flowers blossoming, waters trickling and majestic tress swaying with the wind. All this with humourous encounters with interesting beings. Probably the word 'vacation' does not do the justice. I have 'lived' in the mountains. I have 'lived' the writer's life. This book makes this world a much better place or probably it shows the better side of the world which I fail to notice. Who knows? But anyway, I am all set for a trip. Even though a small trip will never be enough but it will aid my imagination while I read more of the mountains.
It's an amazing read for nature lovers.
Thank you Ruskin Bond!
It's an amazing read for nature lovers.
Thank you Ruskin Bond!
October 12, 2009
A few chapters from Ruskin Bond's life through his essays and excerpts from his journals. If there is a writer I truly connect to, its him. This is not a story book, and I loved it even more for that reason.
February 7, 2017
If you have ever romanticised living in the mountains, you'll love this one !!
July 28, 2019
Ruskin Bond made me feel so many things. I'll take this time to feel them and, perhaps, cherish them.
August 15, 2015
Ruskin Bond is more known for his novels and stories than his non-fiction writings. This should change. His essays and observations are so vivid and deeply observed and beautifully written. I have read most of his stories during my younger days, but it is only recently I started reading his non-fiction. This was my second non-fiction book and I think I'm going to read all of them.
Rain in the Mountains is a collection of essays, poems and journal entries. It has keen observations about lives in a small hill town, its people, surroundings, trees, birds, sounds, water and nature. His writing is simple, poignant and laced with subtle humour. People of North India will specially recognise the way of life described in the book. This was less of a book and more of a journey for me. It made me want to go and live in the hills surrounded by nature. Reading Ruskin Bond is like going back home.
Rain in the Mountains is a collection of essays, poems and journal entries. It has keen observations about lives in a small hill town, its people, surroundings, trees, birds, sounds, water and nature. His writing is simple, poignant and laced with subtle humour. People of North India will specially recognise the way of life described in the book. This was less of a book and more of a journey for me. It made me want to go and live in the hills surrounded by nature. Reading Ruskin Bond is like going back home.
September 26, 2016
It's the kind of book that makes you want to pack up and move to the hills right away. It's a paean to the mountains, to simple living, to walking, to the rain and to all things that abound in the Himalayas - the birds and their songs, the trees, the flowers, the flowing water. In a journal form, this collection of writing spans decades, and is a mix of essays, poetry, stories. Bond is a contemporary Wordsworth, with a sense of humour (especially when he writes about the people he encounters). His descriptions of rain on the mountains can brighten many a weary day for the city-numbed soul. Precious.
August 26, 2019
#2019 #YearInBooks Book 71
Ruskin Bond is an author I love to read. This book is a collection of journal entries, essays, diary extracts and even a few poems thrown in. I quite enjoyed the read. It's non fiction but observational. There was this poem titled The Wind and The Rain which I liked. Five lines but it brought a smile. The poem Boy in a Blue Pullover also had a similar effect with its character and its ending. A simple but beautiful book.
Ruskin Bond is an author I love to read. This book is a collection of journal entries, essays, diary extracts and even a few poems thrown in. I quite enjoyed the read. It's non fiction but observational. There was this poem titled The Wind and The Rain which I liked. Five lines but it brought a smile. The poem Boy in a Blue Pullover also had a similar effect with its character and its ending. A simple but beautiful book.
May 21, 2020
'Rain in the Mountains' is a book which has definitely got me closer to nature. It has given me perspective and outlook towards observing nature. Ruskin Bond has done a fabulous job in jotting down experiences related to nature, specifically rain, trees and mountains.
This book introduces us to different trees, birds and the sound they make, how beautiful Himalayas is and how staying surrounded by nature feels like.
This book introduces us to different trees, birds and the sound they make, how beautiful Himalayas is and how staying surrounded by nature feels like.
April 1, 2015
One of my all time favorite books. Don't know how many times I have read the stories in this book ! The cover page has a quote from India Today which says that "reading this book is like inhaling a lungful of fresh mountain air". Nothing else can be said in a more appropriate way about this book. Every time it takes you back to the mountains...what a fabulous writer !
January 13, 2016
Incredible that it took a while for me to read the book. Perhaps because this was like a love affair with mountains, nature which I didn't want to end so soon. Such an indulgence, such a delightful book! Ruskin Bond and his disarming charm makes this a memorable book. Maybe, someday I can also spend some time in the mountains and experience what Mr. Bond has given a glimpse of through this book.
August 21, 2016
A real pleasure in reading Ruskin Bond's Rain in the Mountains. The book captures the freshness of Himalayan mountains, trees, people and the simplicity with which these natural resources make a man happy. The streams, the birds, the roads where he takes his walks and the rain that destroy his roof. Everything about the book is so beautiful and so real. Thank you, Sir for this beautiful read.
June 29, 2016
I loved this book. Had the feeling of being in the mountains and close to nature. It had the magical effect of transporting you next to MR. bond on his interesting interactions with nature and people. A joyful and soulful book. The poems,journal entries,notes and essays are oh so captivating. This will be the first of many more books in the Ruskin Bond journey for me.
September 2, 2016
Read this beautiful book if you love mountains, nature and Ruskin bond. You will get to know Mr. Bond through this book for sure. It has poems and write-ups and few old diary entries. It is a must read to escape from the reality and land to mountains with Mr. Bond.
June 4, 2017
Exquisite, mesmerizing, therapeutic and takes you on a virtual journey through the Himalayas. This won't be the last time I'd read this. Ruskin is the best Bond. And real.
July 5, 2017
Finished reading. Loved it in parts. Detailed review would follow.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews