14 Comments
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Rohan Banerjee's avatar

I absolutely adore Vikram Seth. From Heaven Lake is one of my favourite travelogues.

And this essay makes me wish - insist, demand - that the Vikram writing it, would write here more often.

Vikram Shah's avatar

The way you describe landscapes, I'm not surprised at all! Thanks for reading Rohan!

A stream of consciousness's avatar

What a charming review! And how delightful to have found it just weeks after I read the book! You've described it so well, now I can share it and tell people: see this is why you need to read it.

Vikram Shah's avatar

Haha glad to be of service, thank you for reading!

Sita Naik's avatar

Has been my favorite ‘travel’ read for ages, and this inspires me to re-read it

Aditi Surendra's avatar

If thoughts are butterflies, what a neat way to net the sensation of a liquor-induced stupor. 🤌🏽

Furqan's avatar

Beautiful review.

Vikram Shah's avatar

Thank you for reading Furqan!

Sankhadeep's avatar

I am also a repeat commenter. Loved this. Keep them coming <3

Vikram Shah's avatar

Lovely to be read by the king of ‘keeping them coming’ 🫡🫡

Hrishikesh Kayshap's avatar

i am a repeat commenter. met your namesake last year when he was touring the north east. i have had the golden gate (got it signed) for about 3 years now and have been unable to gulp down the last 50-60 odd pages because i have been at odds with it. thank you, will pick up heaven’s gate after this fr, as i am in the process of planning a trip to china.

Vikram Shah's avatar

Oh wow, yes do pick it up! I’m suddenly interested in all things western China. I wish he wrote a travelogue about the northeast. He does say in an interview that he has written up his jeep journey to the Char Dhams, maybe that will finally turn me religious haha

Hrishikesh Kayshap's avatar

haha i made a rather nice travel itinerary into the non-major cities (except beijing) of china just this week. maybe he will definitely come up with NE writing based on his last year trip or is enjoying his scotch retirement haha