A new book by Lokesh Ohri, celebrating the spiritual and cultural landscape of Uttarakhand, titled Ambles Across Godland, was recently launched at the museum at Humayun’s Tomb World Heritage Site. The book is a reflective travel narrative that captures the beauty, mythology, and living traditions of Uttarakhand – revered for centuries as Devbhoomi, or the Land of the Gods, which the author refers to as “Godland.”
Ambles Across Godland takes readers on an evocative journey through the mountains, rivers, villages, and sacred spaces of the region. Through a series of reflective walks and encounters, it brings together stories of pilgrimage, folklore, local culture, and the deep relationship between people and nature in the Himalayan landscape.
Blending travel writing with mythology, history, and cultural reflection, the book explores a simple yet profound question: what makes a landscape sacred? Through journeys across temples, forest trails, rivers, and mountain villages, it traces the traditions, beliefs, and everyday experiences that have shaped the spiritual geography of Uttarakhand and continue to inspire travellers, seekers, and residents alike.
The launch evening featured a conversation with the author, followed by a panel discussion on “Heritage through Slow Travel” with distinguished speakers including Aman Nath, Sohail Hashmi and Sejal Worah, moderated by Soity Banerjee. The programme concluded with a traditional musical performance by Chandrabadni Himalayii Naad, reflecting the cultural spirit of the Himalayan region celebrated in the book.
Speaking about the book, author Lokesh Ohri said,” Aimed particularly at travellers to Uttarakhand, the book encourages readers to go beyond tourism. In its pages, a tourist gradually becomes a traveller and the traveller, in turn, becomes a seeker – engaging more thoughtfully with the land, its people, and its cultural memory.”
Mr. Randhir Kumar Arora, Partner, Book World, Dehradun, added, “Ambles Across Godland is a thoughtful exploration of the sacred geography of the Himalaya. Through Lokesh Ohri’s journeys and reflections, the book encourages readers to look beyond tourism and experience the deeper cultural and spiritual connections that define the mountains.”
More than a travel narrative, Ambles Across Godland offers readers a journey into the cultural memory of the Himalaya, reminding us that landscapes are not just places we visit, but living spaces shaped by centuries of stories, traditions and belief.
The book is published by Book World and supported by the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board. It is now available at leading bookstores and Amazon.
