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All Roads Lead to Ganga
The story of the Ganges, from her source to the sea, from old times to new, is the story of India's civilization and culture, of the rise and fall of empires, of great and proud cities, of adventures of man... Jawaharlal Nehru
121 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2008
81 people are currently reading
589 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
December 25, 2021
All roads lead to Ganga is a collection of Ruskin Bond's travels. Ruskin Bond provides such beautiful details and descriptions of the Indian mountainside that I imagined myself with him on this journey. It has this charm that only Ruskin Bond's books have. He captures everything in such a way that his books soothe one's soul.
Beautiful, gripping writing that never fails to put a smile on my face, and his love for the mountains can be seen as well as felt reading this.
4 stars
Beautiful, gripping writing that never fails to put a smile on my face, and his love for the mountains can be seen as well as felt reading this.
4 stars
May 26, 2022
The author writes about Dehradun in his early days. Simple and friendly narration.
September 19, 2010
"All Roads Lead to Ganga" is for all those people who love reading travelogues.
The writer has captured the timeless beauty and simplicity of mountain life so well that it makes a refreshing read specially for those caught in midst of fast urban life.
Apart from giving an account of his personal experiences, writer has done a lot of research regarding the history of a place so we can visualize the development of a place from earlier times to the present times.
At times I found the book a bit boring because personally I am not that interested in the history of a place and also there were repetitions from Ruskin Bond's other book, "Roads to Mussoorie" but overall it was good.
Though all chapters are good (there are 16) my personal favorites are "A village in Gharwal" and "The Dehra I know".
All in all, a good read which not only captures the beauty and simplicity of mountains but also of heart of Ruskin Bond. Blessed is he living a simple life in lap of mountains!
The writer has captured the timeless beauty and simplicity of mountain life so well that it makes a refreshing read specially for those caught in midst of fast urban life.
Apart from giving an account of his personal experiences, writer has done a lot of research regarding the history of a place so we can visualize the development of a place from earlier times to the present times.
At times I found the book a bit boring because personally I am not that interested in the history of a place and also there were repetitions from Ruskin Bond's other book, "Roads to Mussoorie" but overall it was good.
Though all chapters are good (there are 16) my personal favorites are "A village in Gharwal" and "The Dehra I know".
All in all, a good read which not only captures the beauty and simplicity of mountains but also of heart of Ruskin Bond. Blessed is he living a simple life in lap of mountains!
July 14, 2017
Wow it was like finishing a mesmerizing journey in the Himalayas. if you like to visit mountains , this book is not to be missed. I relished reading every chapter . seeing mussorie, char dham with the eyes of ruskin bond is simply amazing. the way he describes the birds , trees , flowers of mountains , open ups your mind your eyes to the natural beauty around you. after reading this book i started observing the trees, listening to the birds song around me . my annual visit to the mountains was cancelled this year and reading this book didn't make me miss it . I generally don't like to re-read books , but this is definitely on my to be read again list
March 1, 2024
Ruskin Bond’s “All Roads Lead to Ganga” is not merely a tribute to the revered mother figure known as Ganga by all Bharatvaasis, but also a heartfelt celebration of the majestic Himalayas, her sacred abode.
From the serene waters of Mandakini to the towering peaks of Tungnath, from the mighty currents of Alaknanda to the pristine flow of Bhagirathi, the book reverently acknowledges the diverse landscapes of Garhwal, Dehra, and Mussoorie. In essence, it is a humble homage to the cherished land that has been the nurturing ground for the author throughout his life.
Read the detailed review - https://www.bookgeeks.in/all-roads-le...
From the serene waters of Mandakini to the towering peaks of Tungnath, from the mighty currents of Alaknanda to the pristine flow of Bhagirathi, the book reverently acknowledges the diverse landscapes of Garhwal, Dehra, and Mussoorie. In essence, it is a humble homage to the cherished land that has been the nurturing ground for the author throughout his life.
Read the detailed review - https://www.bookgeeks.in/all-roads-le...
January 12, 2020
I will share an extract from the book, and say no more than this: I've always loved to read Ruskin Bond; they reflect his inner self, his simple (yet rich) life. This one takes you to the mountains, sleepy towns from older times along pilgrimages, and the source of the Ganges.
Open the window at night and there is usually something to listen to: the mellow whistle of a pigmy owlet, or the cry of a barking deer which has scented the proximity of a panther. Sometimes, if you are lucky, you will see the moon coming up over Nag Tibba and two distant deodars in perfect silhouette.
Some sounds cannot be recognised. They are strange night sounds, the sounds of the trees themselves, stretching their limbs in the dark, shifting a little, flexing their fingers. Great trees of the mountains, they know me well. They know my face in the window; they see me watching them, watching them grow, listening to their secrets, bowing my head before their outstretched arms and seeking their benediction.
Open the window at night and there is usually something to listen to: the mellow whistle of a pigmy owlet, or the cry of a barking deer which has scented the proximity of a panther. Sometimes, if you are lucky, you will see the moon coming up over Nag Tibba and two distant deodars in perfect silhouette.
Some sounds cannot be recognised. They are strange night sounds, the sounds of the trees themselves, stretching their limbs in the dark, shifting a little, flexing their fingers. Great trees of the mountains, they know me well. They know my face in the window; they see me watching them, watching them grow, listening to their secrets, bowing my head before their outstretched arms and seeking their benediction.
May 14, 2019
This anthology consists of various writings of Ruskin Bond,some of them published elsewhere.
April 14, 2021
Once the mountains are in your blood, there is no escape.
Ruskin Bond is of course one of my favorite authors. Whenever I feel sad or tensed I always perefer reading his books. This time too I picked this book because I was little scarred of my exams and studies. This book made me feel better.
In this book Ruskin Bond is explaining about the villages near the river Ganga. The villages he had visited while living in the mountains. Rudraprayag, Tunganath, Badrinath and so many places and their history, terrain features, temples in the bank of holy Ganga, the common people etc are explained in different stories. It was like a, travelling along with Bond through the banks of holy Ganga kind an experience! Now I feel I should visit those places.
Besides the stories about the bank of Ganga, there some other stories about the hills too. His favorite trees, birds, people and about Bibiji, an old woman who helped Ruskin in his younger age as a writer. For me this book was a pleasant light stress free read.
Ruskin Bond is of course one of my favorite authors. Whenever I feel sad or tensed I always perefer reading his books. This time too I picked this book because I was little scarred of my exams and studies. This book made me feel better.
In this book Ruskin Bond is explaining about the villages near the river Ganga. The villages he had visited while living in the mountains. Rudraprayag, Tunganath, Badrinath and so many places and their history, terrain features, temples in the bank of holy Ganga, the common people etc are explained in different stories. It was like a, travelling along with Bond through the banks of holy Ganga kind an experience! Now I feel I should visit those places.
Besides the stories about the bank of Ganga, there some other stories about the hills too. His favorite trees, birds, people and about Bibiji, an old woman who helped Ruskin in his younger age as a writer. For me this book was a pleasant light stress free read.
November 6, 2025
A sweet mystery indeed!
Delightful and serene descriptions of the mountains, I felt as if I had done that pilgrimage myself. I love the fact that Ruskin Bond is so knowledgeable about the fables, traditions and people. His message is loud and clear that we should go for a walk, connect with nature, observe and learn.
Delightful and serene descriptions of the mountains, I felt as if I had done that pilgrimage myself. I love the fact that Ruskin Bond is so knowledgeable about the fables, traditions and people. His message is loud and clear that we should go for a walk, connect with nature, observe and learn.
May 13, 2021
His writing make us see and feel the way he did. Makes our mind relaxed..
July 21, 2020
Exceptional work by Ruskin Bond. Great piece of writing. Each and every sentence is pure magic and bliss for its reader. A book that tells you a story of mountains, rivers, birds, flowers and our Indian culture. I Highly Recommend you to read this book.
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November 1, 2010I got back into time, as I have been to most places mentioned and Mandakini, Alakananda and Bhagirathi came alive again! A good read!
April 4, 2013
Makes u wish u were in the mountains somewhere between dehradun n mussoorie n witnessing the fragrant flower valleys, gushing rivers and all the beautifully described places of pilgrimage.
February 21, 2015
The book makes you travel with the river.
February 6, 2021
All Roads leads to Ganga - Ruskin Bond
I haven't read any of Ruskin's fiction. So I'm pretty vmuch to to his writing style. Nonfiction is a different style of writing. The writer has to know what to include and what not include. When an outsider writes a Nonfiction they will talk about culture, food and so many things. When an Indian talks about they might over describe or under describe the content.
"Chai Chai" was like that only. Gosh has over explained the things which made to finish the book soon, so I can keep that aside. Bond has done the book in wonderful way. He collides history, botany, birds, food and everything.
The book is a collection of essays. They capture the beauty and simplicity of Missouri. From his personal account to the further research the travelogue looks great to me.
What I like:
1. Inclusion of many things in this collection of essays.
2. Literature and history go hand in hand
3. I like the final chapter so much.
What I don't like
1. Chapters explaining Kedrantha looks so dry and slow
I haven't read any of Ruskin's fiction. So I'm pretty vmuch to to his writing style. Nonfiction is a different style of writing. The writer has to know what to include and what not include. When an outsider writes a Nonfiction they will talk about culture, food and so many things. When an Indian talks about they might over describe or under describe the content.
"Chai Chai" was like that only. Gosh has over explained the things which made to finish the book soon, so I can keep that aside. Bond has done the book in wonderful way. He collides history, botany, birds, food and everything.
The book is a collection of essays. They capture the beauty and simplicity of Missouri. From his personal account to the further research the travelogue looks great to me.
What I like:
1. Inclusion of many things in this collection of essays.
2. Literature and history go hand in hand
3. I like the final chapter so much.
What I don't like
1. Chapters explaining Kedrantha looks so dry and slow
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 7, 2023
All the roads lead to Ganga is a travel memoir by Ruskin Bond. The book describes the sheer tranquility of the mountains. Bond spent more than half his life in the mountains. This book is all that you need if you love nature. The author begins by describing the beauty of calmness in nature and ends by making us want to shift to the mountains.
He says that his life in the mountains has by far been the most beautiful time, and he would not choose any other around than to live in the hills. He reminisces about his childhood and his deep love for the trees he grew up with and for the trees that grew up with him. To read about his mornings and the evenings he spent with his beloved banyan tree is a delight to the heart. We can never get enough of nature, can we?
Bond reflects on how mountains are underappreciated compared to the seas.
Ruskin Bond is truly an author like no other.
Read more about the book here
https://theindianbookclub.com/readers...
He says that his life in the mountains has by far been the most beautiful time, and he would not choose any other around than to live in the hills. He reminisces about his childhood and his deep love for the trees he grew up with and for the trees that grew up with him. To read about his mornings and the evenings he spent with his beloved banyan tree is a delight to the heart. We can never get enough of nature, can we?
Bond reflects on how mountains are underappreciated compared to the seas.
Ruskin Bond is truly an author like no other.
Read more about the book here
https://theindianbookclub.com/readers...
August 13, 2019
All Roads lead to Ganga by Ruskin bond is a collection of facts that describes about the in and around cities and their beauty.
Bond has given detailed description about personal experience during his travel to various cities, pilgrimages and shrines. The way he has narrated the details makes us feel heart touching.
Its short and mild read with more facts and little story about his participation in the events is admirable.
A must read for all Ruskin Bond fans.
My rating is 4/5 star for this beautiful read.
Bond has given detailed description about personal experience during his travel to various cities, pilgrimages and shrines. The way he has narrated the details makes us feel heart touching.
Its short and mild read with more facts and little story about his participation in the events is admirable.
A must read for all Ruskin Bond fans.
My rating is 4/5 star for this beautiful read.
April 12, 2020
"All Roads lead to Ganga" is for people who love to read travelogues.
The book is a detailed travelogue of various cities & places in Garwhal Himalayas. The author, true to his style has captured the timeless beauty & simplicity of mountain life in a subtle manner. It is particularly refreshing to read about all this, particularly for an urban mind. The author has done quite a good amount of research and for almost every place mentioned in the book, the author tells a story of the place, straight from the history books.
The book is a bit slow paced, but personally for me, one needs to slow down to enjoy the beauty of Himalayas and the book does exactly the same... It slows you down so that you can really enjoy the beauty of Garwhal Himalayas and the simplicity of mountain life.
Ruskin Bond has always been my favourite author and this time also he has mesmerized me like he has done the last time and time before that and another time before that...
The book is a detailed travelogue of various cities & places in Garwhal Himalayas. The author, true to his style has captured the timeless beauty & simplicity of mountain life in a subtle manner. It is particularly refreshing to read about all this, particularly for an urban mind. The author has done quite a good amount of research and for almost every place mentioned in the book, the author tells a story of the place, straight from the history books.
The book is a bit slow paced, but personally for me, one needs to slow down to enjoy the beauty of Himalayas and the book does exactly the same... It slows you down so that you can really enjoy the beauty of Garwhal Himalayas and the simplicity of mountain life.
Ruskin Bond has always been my favourite author and this time also he has mesmerized me like he has done the last time and time before that and another time before that...
May 17, 2020
Very Beautiful
Rusty is missing but not Dehra. It consists such lovely description of the landscape, history, flora nad fauna of the magnificent Garhwal Himalayas, that I felt being there, looking at the green river, those birch and deodars, throngs of pilgrims, listening to the sunbirds. A must must read, and a would say a must must to visit place. I also felt so proud of living in this beautiful country.
Rusty is missing but not Dehra. It consists such lovely description of the landscape, history, flora nad fauna of the magnificent Garhwal Himalayas, that I felt being there, looking at the green river, those birch and deodars, throngs of pilgrims, listening to the sunbirds. A must must read, and a would say a must must to visit place. I also felt so proud of living in this beautiful country.
May 9, 2023
Ruskin Bond reminds me of staying up till late night to finish reading his books in the summer of 2015. 8 years later, nothing's changed.
In "All Roads Lead To Ganga", Bond's sweet, lucid yet captivating style takes you on a journey of the mountains. The Union of Bhagirathi and Alaknanda, the trying landscapes of Badrinath and Tungnath, the vivid avial life of Dev-Bhoomi and his own connection to Dehra : he leaves the heart with nothing more to be yearned for.
In "All Roads Lead To Ganga", Bond's sweet, lucid yet captivating style takes you on a journey of the mountains. The Union of Bhagirathi and Alaknanda, the trying landscapes of Badrinath and Tungnath, the vivid avial life of Dev-Bhoomi and his own connection to Dehra : he leaves the heart with nothing more to be yearned for.
June 27, 2019
Bond gives a very vivid description of the tributaries of Ganga before the river is its own self. I remember having read his description and then googling pictures of the confluence point of Alakhnanda and Mandakini. I could not help but wonder at the preciseness of his description and the beauty in the beholder's eyes. This lead me to reading more of Bond's creations.
March 26, 2020
The writer has captured the timeless beauty and ease of mountain life so well that it makes a refreshing read especially for those caught within the midst of fast urban life.”All Roads cause Ganga” is for all those people that love reading travelogues. Check this article about 40 Best Ruskin Bond Books!! https://dailybugle.in/ruskin-bond-boo...
June 3, 2022
A quick read.. Again signature writing by Ruskin Bond. Mesmerising discription of moutains creating an urge to visit. The only thing I found was there were some stories repeated from his own book "Roads to Mussoorie". May be I took up to similar books back to back.
Rest easy language and a book you will surely enjoy while you travel.
Rest easy language and a book you will surely enjoy while you travel.
December 13, 2018
Just fine but not amazing.
It was fine but not my favorite. I enjoyed some of the vivid descriptions but it didnt feel like there was much of a point. It didnt leave me feeling full but did remind me I want to travel more.
It was fine but not my favorite. I enjoyed some of the vivid descriptions but it didnt feel like there was much of a point. It didnt leave me feeling full but did remind me I want to travel more.
September 11, 2020
It was a very beautiful journey along with Sir Ruskin Bond, I thoroughly enjoyed every single moment of this book ,it was like being on a jounrey to the Himalayas with him,would love to re read it again.
September 8, 2018
When a great author gets nostalgic, it results in a literary marvel.
June 26, 2019
Ruskin Bond is truly a great story teller. This is a travelogue one would surely enjoy.
February 8, 2020
Fabulous account of the hills
What a beautiful account of hills and the life in hills. Ruskin Bond never goes wrong with a book. Amazing
What a beautiful account of hills and the life in hills. Ruskin Bond never goes wrong with a book. Amazing
June 23, 2020
Calm and soothing!
December 23, 2020
A book descriptively well written, will make one fall in love with the beauty of mountains.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews