“Having lived through an age of darkness, humanity is surfacing to witness the light of our existence.”
In Life Unknown – A Passage through India, the author returns to his motherland, India, and sets out to face the depths of his being as he continues the adventure begun in his previous bestselling book, Dream Beyond Shadows.
His heartfelt desire to find a way to live beyond the shadows of existence takes him to Ladakh, Dharamsala, and remote regions of India’s far north, deep within the powerful energy of the Himalayan Mountains. It takes him to the sacred waters of the Ganges River, and ultimately on a 1000 km pilgrimage by foot across South India, following the echoes of a cryptic message.
This story speaks directly from the author’s heart to an audience considering the idea of leaving everything they know behind to embrace life in its raw and untamed magnitude and search for understanding and meaning.
Dangling between a life full of opportunities and worldy charms somewhere we lack the actual purpose of life. Ever asked to yourself why we're actually running, why we need to run, when we can just slow down and live in the moment while we still have the power to control our present? Is it just to satisfy the prejudiced framework of our society where our success is measured by how much money we possess or is it something beyond our control? Life Unknown is more than a travelogue. This is a story of dwelling deeper into the author's mind and asking ourselves is this what I want in life?
The entire book is devided into three parts, every part taking us through the remote regions of Ladakh to the Dharmashalas of Rishikesh as the author travels through India.
This book speaks the internal battle of the author and at the same time his desire to break free. The desire he is nurturing to come out of his inescapable prison of mind. While traveling he met some amazing people and shared his diverse experience with us in this book. As the author starts pouring his mind into the pages, he comes unraveled and vulnerable. Every day brought a new day to him and he learned to leave his shell behind and hatch out with a regenerated mindset which is far beyond the survival mindset of this 'I' centric world.
I was taken aback by the writing style at first, it started resonating from the very beginning. The engaging writing style with thought provoking lines really kept me thinking. His words are in sharp contrast with this materialistic world's mindset. Deep within I can relate to his writing and it stirred a strong sense of self-exploration. However some parts are streched a bit. A good book to read and ponder over our redundant rules of society.
This book is essentially a heartfelt reflection of the author's experiences when he returns to his homeland India and confronts the dimensions of his being. He was guided to Ladakh, Dharamsala and the far north of India by his profound quest to seek ways to survive in the shadows of the world. His story conveys the concept of putting aside everything and anything that they know to accept life directly as it is and hence, all the words here flow from the heart of the author to its readers.
There are a lot of takeaways from this book. I would say there is a lot to learn, a lot to relate with and a lot to know about life in general, from this book. That is what a good memoir is all about, where after reading it, we change for better. The way he documents his journey is just absolutely beautiful. I would say it felt enlightening and towards the end it felt oddly euphoric. As Indian youth we are raised with certain set of limits and inhibitions but we do need to explore on our own and I truly feel that experience is priceless and probably the best teacher that teaches countless unforgettable lessons.
Personally travelling is something that I am quite passionate about and I think that is another reason why I liked reading this book, because even though I am at home, thanks to the vivid narration, I saw India through the eyes of the author and the experience was very enthralling. Ultimately yes, I recommend this book because I am sure that you will find a part of yourself in its pages and trust me it is totally worth the time invested.
Refreshingly eye-opening towards the mysticism of life & the harsh truth of the deep rooted capitalism taking its precedence in our lives. This narrative here is the authors take on his journey inward & outward after coming back to his homeland & his calling to Leh.
Life is more than what we are conditioned to deduce and the author here shares his uncut life lessons without mincing any words or giving thought to any societal norms or taboos. There are so many things in the book that have always intrigued me like the practice of Vipassana, the diverse interactions in Leh a tourist hub (its on my must visit places in India Wishlist), the joys of simple palatable food, engaging with people where you don’t need to be on first name basis but still be connected and so much more. The most extraordinary part is the authors journey to South India on foot, I must say he does practice what he preaches.
The fast paced changing dynamics that seem to have over taken the world by a storm this book somehow made me relish the thought of taking a step back and reel into so many conflicting thoughts that seem “hippie” to the world but deep down we all know thats the right approach towards this life. The author does not advocate that we need to leave everything and be a monk but thorough his book he has presented some beautiful aspects of life, mind & body which is surely titillating & soul-stirring. I always have a thing for history,travelling,mountains & spirituality, highly recommend this awe-inspiring travelogue. Also am a tad bit jealous of the author to achieve this carefree state of mind so early in life.
Life Unknown: A Passage Through India by Kartikeya Ladha is the second book by the author. I had to pick this one up since I absolutely loved and enjoyed reading his first book 'Dreams Beyond Shadows'.
In this book, the author returns to India and tries to find meaning and different paths of the country. He starts his journey through Leh and goes further north into the remote places. The book majorly covers hidden and remove places of Northern India.
He meets two of fellow travelers along the way - Dan and Shira, whom he again wishes to continue his journey with at Phuket. He visits the monastery over there. The book also consists of some of his journey's picture attached in between. The journey experienced is just purely beautiful.
It just makes me feel a different kind of Joy by reading both his books. The author narration is so vivid, it makes you feel like you are on his journey with him, and I am practically traveling the world merely sitting at home while reading this book. I enjoyed reading this book and would highly recommend for a wanderlust soul like me.
'Life Unknown' is a travelogue of a man, who escaped from the confines of the rat race of this mortal world and went not on vacation, but to a nomadic life. Yes, people like them exist, on a quest to go through new experiences in an unplanned fashion. Kinda gives you 'Into the Wild' vibes.
After living materialistic & superficial life in one of the developed nations, the author of “Life Unknown” comes back to India to explore the meaning of life in-depth as well as its true essence. As its name suggests “Life Unknown: A passage through India”, is a travelogue/memoir where the author beautifully describes his memories as he travels from North to South of India.
The book talks about the serene beauty of the places, the culture, the different kinds of people, and new friends. This journey is not about exploring places but an author exploring his true self.
If you love travelogues then you’ll surely enjoy this one. If you like books on spirituality and looking to seek your true self or you like memoirs then i would suggest you to go for this one.
Name of the book- Life Unknown-A passage through India by Kartikeya Ladha. Stars given- 5 on 5 stars. My take on the book- Remember when you were young, like really really young and used to choose the prettiest covered books to be read as your bed time stories? Did you ever ask why that pretty book always got read and reread? Well, simple cause it made you happy! Now this book too looks like tons of fun and laughter all rolled into one and boy did it deliver it all. A travel journal that's a lot more than just that, it's like having a chat with an old friend about his travels. There were times when I could almost smell the cold, thinning mountain air or even the salty spray of the ocean. My parents are avid travellers and I, though a proud home body, have had her share of travelling and tons of stories as well. Finishing this book made me want to have a chat with the author and share my stories. Read it for the travel stories, Read it for the journey glories, Read it for the charming lines and there are a ton And it's guaranteed that you will have fun.
Well, this was an interesting read considering how travel in this time is nearly impossible and quite risky, Life Unknown is a mixture of travelogue, memoir as well as nature writing all done very well. Previously I read his Dreams Beyond Shadows which was an account of his time in Peru but in this, he returns to India and we follow as he travels through India particularly, north and south.
The first part (Return To The Motherland) of this book which recounts his experiences in Ladakh, is my favorite section in this whole book and that’s simply because I have been to Ladakh and I really did feel myself to be there once again. I kept nodding as he describes the landscape and the Buddhist monasteries and the people there because everything left so tangible and so relate and now I totally believe in what they say- nostalgia is the most powerful feeling indeed.
The other two parts were just as good as the first one ( minus the nostalgic element of course). The second section ( A Time Of Anonymity) which is all about Ganga and Dharamshalas and I did find it a little bit stretched out and in my opinion it could have benefited if some sections were chopped off. The last part (The Nameless Walk) which is a 1000 km pilgrimage/trekking across the southern part of India.
I really enjoyed my time with this book and I read it in between other books and I think that’s the best way to approach it. Also there are pictures here as well just as his first book.
As promised, the book surely took me on a tour of India! It was beautiful. I could visualise all the scenes as the author were describing them and at the end, I was left with a strong desire to travel!
The travel part was indeed very interesting. But the author very frequently wrote his thoughts on certain topics and though these thoughts were very enlightening and thought-provoking, they did made my mind wander a lot and because of this I couldn't get into a reading flow. A proper distinction between the author's thoughts and his journey would have been better.
In today's rat race, it takes a lot of introspection on the part of people, relentless thoughts and constant mulling over even if someone wants to just make an excursion to some faraway land to find ultimate peace within oneself. And after recently completing a trip myself post a really hard year personally, this book served as a great reminder to keep going and travelling across the length and breadth of the nation.
'Life Unknown' is not just a travelogue through the lanes of our country. It inculcates deep sense of wisdom too at every juncture. While experiencing enormous tranquillity and a wave of serenity hovering over the soul while skimming through the pages, it imbibes the priceless feeling of being grateful to nature and at the same time with a settling vibe of missing out on a lot which is there to explore in our nation.
Author has narrated all the incidents of his voyage in a highly relatable and visual manner. The way he starts his journey towards the Himalaya, finds a sense of attachment to the oceans, seas, rivers and the mountains and develops a penchant for South India too in the final part of the book shows his calm demeanor and the will to keep aside the materialistic joys and aim for spirituality. The surreal reading experience is well complemented by some of the most beautiful pictures added in the book and a lovely cover which was so essential for a book of this genre.
All in all, a must read memoir for all the solo travellers out there and also the ones who are in a dilemma whether to stay stuck to their loop of 9-5 job or take some time out of their busy schedule to reflect and derive some joyful moments basking in glory.
Kartikeya Ladha's new book 'Life Unknown: A passage through India' takes the author on a spiritual and fearless journey across different parts of India- Ladakh, Dharamsala, South India, and other remote areas in the country. In his latest book, the author has continued the adventurous journey that he undertook in the previous book 'Dream Beyond Shadows'. The first part of the book that is titled 'Return to Motherland', describes his travel journey in Leh-Ladakh. While traveling in Peru, the author found a reason to return to his homeland India. Hence, after setting foot in India, he visited his parents in Delhi and then set out for a nameless quest to Leh-Ladakh. During his stay in Ladakh, the author has given intricate details about his lifestyle, the culture of the Ladakhi people, and how he explored different places over there. In the second part of the book titled 'A time of anonymity', the author returned to his hometown Gwalior to visit his sick grandmother and talked about Indian family dynamics. After meeting his grandmother, he again started his travel journey and explored places like Rishikesh and Dharamsala. In the third and final part of the book (titled 'The Nameless Walk'), the author provides details of his journey to South India. While traveling, the author also speaks about his inner struggles and how he intends to fight them. I was amazed by the writing style of the author as well as the intriguing narration. The way he has described the scenic beauty of each place he traveled is noteworthy. In the book, he has bared his heart out about his raw emotions and why he chose a different path that is not guided by materialistic needs. Not only does he takes the readers to different places in the book, but also gives them a lot of healthy life lessons. All in all, I enjoyed reading 'Life Unknown: A Passage Through India' and will recommend the book to all readers. This book is bound to take the readers to some beautiful places in our land while sitting at home.
How can a book help you in self realisation? Kartikeya Ladha's 'Life Unknown' is such a nonfiction book beyond my words. Seriously talking, I was already impressed with its diversified and beautiful cover. As soon as I began reading I found myself lost in the journey that the book offered. Although not a fan of detailing, this book caught my attention due to its flawless description of the gerography and the emotional track of the lone traveller (even if it bored me a little in te begining). Yes, the book is a collection of aesthetic and emotional experiences of a traveller who has returned to his motherland in search of himself/ his purpose in life. This voyage and its impacts are depicted in the most subtle yet detailed manner that would end up in making you think in a broader manner.
The protagonist is swinging between the harsh realities of materilistic life and his will to fly beyond them. And yes, even before I got convinced with the book, I was agreeing with the author. Some lines just make you re read them and think. (sharing one such excerpt that pierced into my mind, swipe to see it) I don't want to spill the beans more as spiritual journey of self discovery and its essence is something to be felt and enjoyed by one themselves.
I'm not a non fiction kind of person but yet this book held me for so long and due to its length it took sometime for me to read and digest the content- not due to its complex language or themes but due to its power. As more you deep the more you question and the more you realise and the more you feel. The best part about the book is the journey, description about the places like Himalaya, Ladakh and my own Kerala. Read that this is author's second book and now I want to read his first one too. As it's quiet rare to find people who talk about complex things in the most subtle and convincing manner. If you are a travel sucker, u doubtedly go for this. If you are an aesthetic freak, go for this. If you are a spiritual person, definitely go for this and if you want to try something other than fiction, crime thriller and sci-fi, undoubtedly go for this!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
At least for one and a half years, I haven't traveled anywhere. Reading a book is far away from visiting a place. But if the narrator knows how to represent his imagination, then the creation can give an enthralling experience.
Kartikeya Ladha's narrative is captivating and fascinates till the last page. I read Dream Beyond Shadows, his debut novel last year. That encounter boosted my expectation level for his works.
A profound reflection of his journey in the hinterlands of North India has been painted on the pages.
It’s a huge book so it took me a while to complete it. I will try to summarise the blurb as briefly as possible. The tagline of the book “A passage through India” mostly summarise the concept in one line. The protagonist, the author of the book returns to India leaving behind his life in USA. And he chose Leh, Ladakh, Dharamshala, and remote region of India in Himalayan mountain range to stay. The book is divided into parts. The first part is Return to the motherland. That consists of moving part and mostly introduction to the places, connections and spending days. The second part is time of anonymity. That consists if family dynamics mostly like reunion with elders and spending time with swamis. I liked the chapter time to call it quits? The most in that section. The next parts is Thr nameless walk. Mainly that part is written day wise like in sense or comparison to a pilgrim. In that day 71, an illusive wonderland is written too perfectly. Read the book to go into details. This is the most superficially, I have summarise the concept. There is more deeper meaning and details to it. I liked the contemporary touch to it. I liked how author has mentioned smallest details about environment and people. I felt like traveling and feeling that all by myself. This book took me to completely different zone. Author has captivating narration style. It’s almost like travel diary. That genre we have in gujarati language. Author has used good vocabulary and language. I want to go and experience this all by myself now. Indeed a good experience. Recommended from my side.
When I read “Dream beyond shadows” last year, a door to the philosophical world opened which allowed me to see my surroundings in a different way . I remember it was during the time when I was slowly recovering from a heartbreak after losing my friend in an accident and everything around me was giving me nothing but pain. The uncertainty of 2020 was gripping its claws tightly around me and the book came as a savior. This year when I got a chance to read his second book, I knew very well that I was about to receive some raw wisdom. In general, there are either travelers who solely write travelogues to guide others or there are philosophers(the established ones) who travel to various places and share their knowledge to the readers. This book belongs to a rarer category where someone just like us is on a quest to know more deeply about life and as he goes places. He narrates the scenic beauty, the culture and the indigenous wisdom. Most of us, in all honesty work in an autopilot mode, we wake up, get dressed, off to work or studies and come back and eat, sleep and repeat! No one usually takes a pause to reflect our present situation or introspect our past. Here, the author shares openly how haunting the past can be, how uncertain our future is but accepting them as a very part of our life and being conscious about oneself is the key to holistic living.
We do hear of living a life like a monk or live holistically but let’s be honest here. Do we really understand what is it? It’s not just eating vegan food or doing 10 minutes of meditation every single day. There’s nothing wrong in it but these two are just part of the bigger picture. The author himself is on a journey of that living. Questioning and trying to understand everything around him and being mindful. As he travels the length and breadth of the country, he travels deeper into his own mind and rediscovers himself. If anything 2020 taught us was, taking a pause to think and rethink. That’s why maybe the year was a bit uncomfortable for all of us. And here too, as he moves through the alleyways of Leh, Ladakh and unknown villages of Himalayas, he walks through his own mind and gives us a complete picture of a man’s transformation as he comes out of a toxic hustle culture to a more peaceful life.
"Conflicts are made more readily than resolutions are formed. Violence is more promoted than regretted. Peace comes at a cost. Wars cause profits. Power is always in the hands of the corrupt, which we have all become. We willingly tie our wrists to the hands of those who seek to rule and not to serve."
"Life Unknown" is my second read of author Kartikeya Ladha. The already renowned book "dream beyond shadows" had blown my mind! And now "Life Unknown" is a complete package of adventure with non-fictional essence. I really love this unique title as it's a very unique yet attention seeker.
The book consists of numerous places in India with adventurous explanations. The protagonist (author) has returned to the motherland from the USA and he has enclosed the beauty of his country through his words. There are three separate segments of this book and each of them is very unique and different from the other. While reading this, I felt my mind is exactly where the author is talking about. Ladakh to Rajasthan, I really want to experience this by myself!
As always, the author's writing style is very standard and familiar to me. At first, the pages were really slow but after 15,20 pages I was completely into it and with time, It's become very interesting indeed. One thing I should not omit about this book that it's very inspiring and motivational as well. There are many lines that I have noted down and again the author has impressed me with his glorious Supreme work.
Life Unknown by Kartikeya Ladha is a lengthy read. Frankly I didn’t find it very interesting in the beginning but as I proceeded I found this book really intriguing. A heads up here, go past that weariness of the initial pages and trust me you won’t regret and you will love to read it till the last page. The book is a blend of travelogue and self help genre. Author has given some real life experiences.
The book is broadly divided into three sections. The first section Return to the Motherland is about author's return to india after spending many years in US. This section has travel stories of Ladakh and Rajasthan. Visiting Ladakh was his long time wish. The second section is about Dharamshala, Mcleodganj and Rishikesh. The third section is a tour of south India and that author did by foot. Through out the book the interesting travel stories lure you to take a vacation as soon as possible. Various spiritual experiences that the author has written about enrich you. Author has painted a magnificent picture of diverse cultures and geography of India. An ardent traveller myself, it was a great experience to read this book. It made me revisit some of the places I have already visited. I found the last part of the book most interesting in which the author takes a journey of around 1000km on foot. The short write ups at the end of each chapter were absorbing. Overall the book has something for everyone, gripping travel stories as well as the enriching life lessons.
Kartikeya Ladha's latest book, Life Unknown - A Passage Through India narrates the tale of the author's journey across the Indian subcontinent. However, this book is not just a travelogue, it is deeply philosophical and spiritual as well.
The book begins in Ladakh. The author has brilliantly portrayed the untamed beauty of the Himalayan Mountains. The vivid description of the scenic beauty makes the book all the more interesting to read. The book is divided into three sections - describing the author's journey across various parts of northern as well as southern India. Life Unknown - A Passage Through India, is not only about the author's journey across different places in India. It is also about the author's spiritual journey. The way he went on a different path, the path which is greater than materialistic possessions which human beings blindly chase. This really makes us think.
Life Unknown - A Passage Through India is the author's second book after Dream Beyond Shadows. Although I haven't read his first book yet, I enjoyed reading this book so much that I am really eager to read Dream Beyond Shadows sometime soon.
I absolutely loved reading Life Unknown - A Passage Through India by Kartikeya Ladha. If you love reading travelogues/ memoirs, this book is for you.
Life Unkown is a travelogue that highlights in discovering onself. Kartikeya Ladha’s book, Life Unknown, he sets onto an another adventure within his own country. To explore the distant depths that burn bright with his energy and spirit. Life Unknown is a book which talks about humans where they occupy a small place in the world.
The book enlightens many themes such as philosophy, education system, equality, spirituality. The way author describes all these themes are over-whelming.
The writing style is lucid and simple. The narrative technqiue was really interesting in the book. The author has described his journey to each and every place beautifully and in a descriptive manner. Each events were decribed thoroughly which occured during his journey.
The book is divided into parts which will give you insight of his journey throughout. The book took me to some other level of life's journey. Every small detail was so descriptive, be it his journey, be it nature. A very well-written book. The book has philosphy in it which makes it more interesting.
One must definitley try this book. I'll highly recommend this book if you like reading philosophy, travelogue.
The best thing about the book is the flow of language – it is very refined and thought out. The sentences are kept crisp and loaded with the necessary stuff. It feels very organized and gives a sense of calmness to the reader. Along with it comes a lot of detailing, which really made me feel like I was right there on the journey. There are certain photographs through the book that were a great visual aid. However, in some places, it felt overdone and I felt the urge to skin through them a little. Even with a lot of details and the immaculate stuff, there was a sense of philosophy associated with it. Just author’s thoughts as the journey went along. It proved to be a great insight into the whole journey, a twist to the old-fashioned travelogue style and it also helped me stay connected to the book. Within that, the author asks a lot of life questions, ponders over them, and it really made me think on topics I don’t usually notice or give heed to. It’s a great read to satisfy that hunger for travel we’ve all developed due to the pandemic. It is also a great read to know about all the places mentioned in the book.
Adventures are the best way to learn.” . . . Travelling not only gives you a chance to explore different places ,But gives you a chance to become one with the place and connect to it Physically ,Emotionally and Spiritually.
In “Life Unknown - A Passage Through India” the author talks about his journey across the Indian subcontinent.
Spread across 3 parts ,The author covers various places across India that he visited and each story is so soulful and surreal.He tells us to embrace life and what it has to offer rather than getting carried away by the materialistic world which will lead you to discover your real purpose in life .
My only regret right now is that the pandemic situation has still left us with restrictions which leaves us with the inability to travel .
Being someone who loves to travel this book give me a different perspective to it ,Which is really enlightening . This book despite of being a lengthy read is worth all the time you spend to read it !!
Life Unknown - A Passage Through India by Kartikeya Ladha is a memoir of the author himself. In the book, the author returns to India and explores the most remote areas that holds so much importance in the making of India but no one really cares about. The author goes through this adventurous journey and takes us with him.
❤ The book is a spiritual one which you explore through the eyes of the author.
❤ The descriptions and writing are quite vivid and with an imagination of a reader, you can basically live inside it.
❤ The illustrations in the book makes the book more easy and enjoyablw to read.
❤ You'll see a new, and as the title suggests, and an unknown side of India.
💔 It felt too long for a book with about 400 pages. It was a bit slow for my taste.
💔 Although the cover compliments the content, I found it a little childish. It could've been a little better.
This is the 2nd book by the author, I haven't read his first book yet. I choosed this book because I love travelling and because of this situation I haven't travelled anywhere. This book didn't disappointed me at all. This book is divided into 3 parts. 1) Return to Motherland : Kinda slow paced. 2) A Time of Anonymity : Normally paced. 3) The Nameless Walk : Most exciting part , fast paced. So on an average it was normally paced. Quite interesting and exciting book but takes much time to read. I really liked the language which is used in this book. I really liked the fact that everything is written in a detailed manner starting from describing the history of places to the inspiring and motivational quotes. Overall it was a great read!! Highly recommended to the readers who love travelling and want to seek something from the world around us.
‘Life Unknown: A passage through India’ by Kartikeya Ladha is a book wherein we get to read author experiences and his inspirational journey. The book is divided into 3 parts as follows: • Part I: Return to Motherland: In this section author has returned to India after spending many year in US and describes his time in Ladakh and Rajasthan. • Part II: A Time of Anonymity: In this section, the author has come back to his hometown Delhi as his father calls him back and we get to see a glimpse of his personal life and also his time with the Swamis. • Part III: The Nameless Walk: In this section the author travels throughout the Southern India and shares his experience during his stay at Amma’s Ashram. The Pilgrimage through Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka walking for almost 5 hours on the first day was very fascinating. My Thoughts: I must say that this is a compelling travelogue which will keep the readers engaged till the end. Through this book the readers will get to know how along with material well being we need spiritual well being too which will help us throughout this journey called life. What I really liked about the book is the emotions and the experiences that the author has shared which makes it a book which the readers will relate at some point. What I liked in this book: • The illustrations which will help the readers to visualise the places that the author visited. • The poems which the author has included at the end of some chapters will surely touch the readers • I also liked how the author has included the history, culture, tradition, the language of the places he has visited Language is simple and lucid. The narration is done beautifully and the pace of the story is perfect which makes the reading even more pleasant. The book cover is beautiful. The title of the book is also apt to the theme of the book. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and would surely recommend it to all.
Life Unknown: A passage through India By Karthikeya Ladha This is a refreshingly honest and transformative read as the author is out on a adventure, a passage through India while looking for deep sense of purpose, to face the depths of his being. Many beautiful places like Ladakh, Dharamshala, Himalaya mountains, Ganges river, beautiful Southern Indian is explored in this book.
A captivating nonfiction read that shapes your thinking and approach to life, the writing is remarkably candid making it a page turner.The narration is sensible and simple, each chapter brings a new perspective. I loved every minute of it and I wish there's more of this tale, the end felt like an epic beginning to me.
It you love reading travelogues and looking for a book with beautiful Indian backdrop then pick this up.
This book is an experience. A journey which provides inspiration and helps to finds oneself. . This non fiction will be loved by people who love to travel and explore. The book is divided into three parts and every part is pleasing. . The narration is impeccable. The author's writing made me imagine every sentence he wrote. The book certainly has depth and details. . The book asked me a lot of questions, and made me search for answers. The author makes us understand, the way to find our peace through travel. . Overall, a fantastic book for all kinds of readers.
Life Unknown is the second book by Kartikey Ladha. His last book was about his journey to Peru and this one is about his extraordinary travel through India. Book starts from Ladakh, but is mostly about his walk through South India. I've read this author's previous work and he has improved himself a lot as an author. Beginning was really good. The way he explored Ladakh isn't the ideal way, but surely is thrilling. In first 200 pages major portion is covered by philosophy and it bored me a bit. But after 200 pages things get more interesting and book focuses more on his travel, adventure, struggle and challenges than philosophy His travel through South India on foot is unavailable! Right from Kanyakumari to Goa! Over ONE THOUSAND km. on foot! It was the best part.
I believe that when you are alone in the mountains, the mountains do not miss the chance to communicate with you. This might sound scary but trust me, it is then when you feel alive, when your purpose is as clear as a crystal stream and when you understand where you belong. In Kartikeya Ladha’s new book, Life Unknown, he sets out on another adventure, this time within his own country, and explores the distant depths that burn bright with his energy and spirit. Life Unknown is like a travelogue that highlights the importance of discovering oneself and accepting the fact that humans occupy a small place in the world.
I have read the first book by Kartikeya Ladha Dream beyond shadows. It was a beautiful read. This one equally proved to be a wholesome read. So glad to have picked his second book that I feel made my reading time filled with adventurous vibes alongside giving everything a spiritual touch and making my mind understand meaning of life in philosophical light.
Life Unknown A passage through India is a non fiction by the author. Here he describes his extraordinary experiences he gained through ordinary or mundane day to day life that many of us face but don't think deeply enough in his motherland - India.
Ladakh, Dharmasala, different remote places to the Adobe of India Himalaya, he covers by foot over thousands of kms and learns precious lessons. There are few B/W illustration type printed photos included. I only wish they were high quality and colourful.
Reading these travelogue were quite insightful, intriguing and yes profound at times that tells culture of different regions and describes the tourist places and their scenic beauty.
The cover needs a special mention. It definitely adds an X factor to the full experience.
Title - Life Unknown - A Passage Through India Author - Kartikeya Ladha Publisher - Wild Ambro Genre - travelogue Pages - 401 Format - paperback
This book is the second book of the author after Dreams Beyond Shadow. In this, the author returns to his mother land India and travels to the different parts of North and South India - Ladakh, Dharamshala, remote regions of India etc.
This book is divided into 3 parts- 1. Return to the motherland 2. A time of anonymity 3. The nameless walk
And these parts are further divided into many chapters. At the end glossary is provided for Hindi to English translation which is readers friendly. The author has amazingly narrated the stories of different people to whom he met during his journey. Through this book the author has penned down his thoughts about the meaning of life. You live, breathe and dream with the author in his voyage of self discovery. His story telling is marvellous taking you on a journey you wish last forever. Sometime reality is too complex and a great story make it simpler.
Overall, a fun read filled with adventure, excitement, positivity and hope.