In The Footsteps Of Rama

Vikrant Pande and Neelesh Kulkarni's quest to retrace the route of Rama's fabled travels during his years in exile began with their trying to locate Chitrakoot on the map, and realizing that they had little idea where it was. Curious about the places mentioned in the Ramayana, they set off on a voyage of their own, following in Rama's footsteps, from Ayodhya to the Dandakaranya forest and Panchvati (near Nashik), and on to Kishkindha (close to Hampi), Rameshwaram and Sri Lanka.

Along the way they would discover how closely the narrative of the Ramayana is linked to local folklore, and how the stories of the epic and the moral framework that binds them together still speak to the people who live in the land across which Rama, Sita and Lakshman made their journey.

For the armchair traveller as well as those interested in India's cultural history, this is a wonderful book with which to revisit the world of the Ramayana.

'What a beautiful journey-one that, for me, wasn't so much about the Ramayana but about how tales and emotions have travelled through generations. It makes for a wonderful read. Vikrant and Neelesh have brought together a current-world version of what happened thousands of years ago!'

Ankur Warikoo, author, Do Epic Shit

'In the Footsteps of Rama evocatively captures the multi-cultural ethos of India within its geographical richness. The authors have contextualised mythical adventures with historical, environmental and behavioural evidences. Brilliant.'

Koral Dasgupta, author, Ahalya, Kunti

'In this book, Vikrant and Neelesh set out to cover a journey that many Indians traverse in their imagination. The myriad shrines, communities and customs remember the footsteps of a god-hero, his dutiful wife and his loyal younger brother. The different versions of the Ramayana may not be exactly the same - ranging from Valmiki's classical Sanskrit to the folk versions passed down from generations of grandmothers - but Vikrant and Neelesh find that the ancient story of love and adventure continues to inspire a civilization. I hope to take this journey one day, and perhaps I too will find another version.'

Sanjeev Sanyal, economist, urban theorist, author

'This book is a welcome change from armchair discourses and indeed a breathtaking effort to animate anecdotal evidence of our scripts! Extremely absorbing.'
Ashwani Windlass, chairman, Bata India

'In the Footsteps of Rama is a unique exploration of the deep connection that Ramayana has with the geography of India. The authors, Vikrant Pande and Neelesh Kulkarni take the readers on a soulful journey through the various locations and places that have a connection with Lord Rama's travels and also uncover the unique emotional relationship the people from various localities share with Rama and Ramayana. The narrative of the book is a compelling testament to the fact that itihasa forms an irrefutable part of the Indian soul and psyche. Irrespective of whether one believes that Ramayana is mythology or history, this book remains a must-read.'

Saiswaroopa Iyer, author, Abhaya, Avishi, Draupadi

'A delightful travelogue that takes the reader along a journey across both land and time of the Ramayana. Each place the authors visit in the book has a history connecting it with the Ramayana and around which have grown intriguing legends and captivating stories over the millennia. From Ram lalla to Raja Rama, this book and its voyage will leave you changed, enriched.'

Abhinav Agarwal, author, Predators and Prey