What do you think?
Rate this book
Battlefields & Paradise
Delhi, Pathankot, Jammu, Rajouri, Srinagar, Sonamarg, Drass, Kargil, Leh, Hunder...Turtuk
After a long stint as a journalist, amongst others, with India’s foremost English news channel, Times Now, Sabir Hussain decided to chase his life’s most cherished dream... At forty-eight, going on fifty, he picked up his ‘ordinary’ motorcycle one day, and decided to ride alone from Delhi to Turtuk in Ladakh, India’s northernmost point on the LoC. Travelling on a shoestring budget through the historic Mughal Road, bereft of any fancy travel accoutrement, living in nondescript hotels and homes of friends, this is a passionate saga of a man who takes you on the ride of your life, traversing 3,200 kms on breathtaking and often dangerous roads.
This is the story of a journalist-traveller who not only succeeds in riding to places where few dare to, but also lets you into the politics of Kashmir, straight from the mouths of ordinary people with extraordinary resilience and hope in their hearts. Battlefields & Paradise makes you feel that the most difficult things in life, are simply the least complicated...
After a long stint as a journalist, amongst others, with India’s foremost English news channel, Times Now, Sabir Hussain decided to chase his life’s most cherished dream... At forty-eight, going on fifty, he picked up his ‘ordinary’ motorcycle one day, and decided to ride alone from Delhi to Turtuk in Ladakh, India’s northernmost point on the LoC. Travelling on a shoestring budget through the historic Mughal Road, bereft of any fancy travel accoutrement, living in nondescript hotels and homes of friends, this is a passionate saga of a man who takes you on the ride of your life, traversing 3,200 kms on breathtaking and often dangerous roads.
This is the story of a journalist-traveller who not only succeeds in riding to places where few dare to, but also lets you into the politics of Kashmir, straight from the mouths of ordinary people with extraordinary resilience and hope in their hearts. Battlefields & Paradise makes you feel that the most difficult things in life, are simply the least complicated...
- GenresTravel
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 11, 2017
The best tea and hot noodles!!!
Sabir Hussain is at his best journey across the lands of Jammu and KAshmir.. the place the people and the food described vivid and adds color to the travelogue. An informative piece of the roads to LEh and beyond.One of the best narrative nonfiction. the best book for a non-reader where the words and the descriptions lure them to take the bike and buzz off to the roads of Leh ,Turtuk and Hunder.Some unknown facts penned down into an informative piece of work.
Want to know more just grab the book and start reading...
Sabir Hussain is at his best journey across the lands of Jammu and KAshmir.. the place the people and the food described vivid and adds color to the travelogue. An informative piece of the roads to LEh and beyond.One of the best narrative nonfiction. the best book for a non-reader where the words and the descriptions lure them to take the bike and buzz off to the roads of Leh ,Turtuk and Hunder.Some unknown facts penned down into an informative piece of work.
Want to know more just grab the book and start reading...
Read
February 6, 2017I enjoyed the journey ... revisited my Leh-Ladhakh memories ... It was nice to read how sadbhavna mission.. Rig Bahadur ... It has a different journalism-historic flavor ...
February 6, 2017
Battlefield and Paradise is a travelogue of Sabir Hussain who has a long standing in journalism and the book is his debut novel.
The book illustrates his journey of four weeks, he went on alone in May-June 2013 from his resident place Delhi to Ladakh with his partner of past travels; his 150cc Fiero bike. It is not his first time he went on something like this and probably not his last. It is his long pending dream to scale to the northern most point in India and that dream he brings in reality in 2013.
The book is his journey of 3200 kilometers to Ladakh and back to delhi. The route he chalked out for his travel take him through Ambala, Jalandhar, Pathankot, Jammu, Rajouri, Shopian, Srinagar, Sonamarg and then to Ladakh, to touch Turtuk; northern most point on the line of control (LOC) with Pakistan. He choose to travel in may under scorching heat only because during this time the Zoji La Pass which links Kashmir to Ladakh is thrown open for traffic by the Indian Army which saves a considerable amount of his time.
The language is simple and connecting. He compounds the scenic small towns on the border, a little chat with the local people who he met on his journey. He does not put unnecessary drama to climb the readership charts. His attempt will give the readers a good read. It is not a story; it’s a journey of a life time experience which he shall cherish for rest of his life.
https://thereviewauthor.wordpress.com/
The book illustrates his journey of four weeks, he went on alone in May-June 2013 from his resident place Delhi to Ladakh with his partner of past travels; his 150cc Fiero bike. It is not his first time he went on something like this and probably not his last. It is his long pending dream to scale to the northern most point in India and that dream he brings in reality in 2013.
The book is his journey of 3200 kilometers to Ladakh and back to delhi. The route he chalked out for his travel take him through Ambala, Jalandhar, Pathankot, Jammu, Rajouri, Shopian, Srinagar, Sonamarg and then to Ladakh, to touch Turtuk; northern most point on the line of control (LOC) with Pakistan. He choose to travel in may under scorching heat only because during this time the Zoji La Pass which links Kashmir to Ladakh is thrown open for traffic by the Indian Army which saves a considerable amount of his time.
The language is simple and connecting. He compounds the scenic small towns on the border, a little chat with the local people who he met on his journey. He does not put unnecessary drama to climb the readership charts. His attempt will give the readers a good read. It is not a story; it’s a journey of a life time experience which he shall cherish for rest of his life.
https://thereviewauthor.wordpress.com/
January 29, 2017
A simple, matter of fact account of Sabir's road trip fro. Delhi to Turtuk. He takes the reader on this journey with him via the people and experiences he comes across on the way.
More on the Blog: http://wp.me/p6THg1-eY
More on the Blog: http://wp.me/p6THg1-eY
November 1, 2017
This is a breezy travelogue of Leh and Kashmir... Apart from talking about the places , the author quotes a lot of political talks which he had with the locals . Loved the Turtuk experiences . But I felt the book was not so riveting like the other Kashmir travelogues I have read . However the book did have some good chapters which will stay in memory for some time . A decent read !!
February 5, 2017
Read Battlefields and Paradise if you are a travel enthusiast, or if you are not. You will surely love the experience of being a part of a 3200 km road trip through one of the most dangerous terrains on Earth.
Full review: https://antorjatikbangali.wordpress.c...
Full review: https://antorjatikbangali.wordpress.c...
April 25, 2017
The book is a debut novel by Sabir Hussain and its a travelogue taking you from Delhi to the most remote parts of Ladakh and back. Honestly, this is one book which has been written earnestly and with great detail. The story will take you to various places in the Kashmir valley and will give you insights on the lifestyle of the people over there.
As a layman, I only knew half a dozen places in Kashmir, most obvious being Leh, Ladakh, Sonmarg, Srinagar, Jammu to name a few. But, after reading this book, I certainly realised there’s more to Kashmir than just these touristy places.
Sabir Hussain is a 48 year old ex TV journalist, decides one day that he needs to fulfill his long cherished dream of travelling to the highest points near LOC and he feels this trip has to be now or never. He has written each and every aspect of his journey meticulously and you wouldn’t want to put the book down even for a moment. It will make you visualise his entire journey, his experiences, the people he comes across in the valley.
His journey is exciting, interesting, funny at times and educating. There are political views, cultural ideas and a take on Kashmir governance included in this book which makes it a must read. It does reflect how difficult it is to go solo on a bike ride through these terrains, but still he feels it is one dream he needs to accomplish.
The pace of the narration is good and does not bore you at any instance. Though the end of the journey is predictable, you still would want to know more about it as you flip through its pages.
Overall, a brilliant read, it might be an ideal HOW TO guide if you wish to maintain a journal of any of your travels. Absolutely recommended to avid readers.
As a layman, I only knew half a dozen places in Kashmir, most obvious being Leh, Ladakh, Sonmarg, Srinagar, Jammu to name a few. But, after reading this book, I certainly realised there’s more to Kashmir than just these touristy places.
Sabir Hussain is a 48 year old ex TV journalist, decides one day that he needs to fulfill his long cherished dream of travelling to the highest points near LOC and he feels this trip has to be now or never. He has written each and every aspect of his journey meticulously and you wouldn’t want to put the book down even for a moment. It will make you visualise his entire journey, his experiences, the people he comes across in the valley.
His journey is exciting, interesting, funny at times and educating. There are political views, cultural ideas and a take on Kashmir governance included in this book which makes it a must read. It does reflect how difficult it is to go solo on a bike ride through these terrains, but still he feels it is one dream he needs to accomplish.
The pace of the narration is good and does not bore you at any instance. Though the end of the journey is predictable, you still would want to know more about it as you flip through its pages.
Overall, a brilliant read, it might be an ideal HOW TO guide if you wish to maintain a journal of any of your travels. Absolutely recommended to avid readers.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews