Inner Trek: A Reluctant Pilgrim in the Himalayas by Mohan Ranga Rao – Book Review

Travel memoirs are generally supposed to be beautiful recollections of memories, wonderful sights, moments with friends and strangers and so on… however, Inner Trek is a travel memoir, written by Mohan Ranga Rao, with a difference. The title, Inner Trek, tells many tales itself and the adjoining subtitle, A Reluctant Pilgrim in the Himalayas, clarifies many doubts instantly! This is a totally different kind of book that I have come across in recent times. A refreshing narration of his experiences, realisations, inner satisfaction and many things by the author that will surely leave you with so many memories at the end of the book… everything is different about the journey to the Himalayas, and of course Kailash, the abode of Mahadev, Shiva… The book or rather a personal account starts with a land dispute between the author and a land mafia who is threatening him to sell the land at a lower cost. He consulted with his wife and she pursued him to do Kailash Yatra to come out from this cobweb. And from there, the story begins in the real sense. The author has wonderfully narrated the story that allows the readers to grasp all the details from the travel.

The journey to Mout Kailash and Mansarovar is refreshing and intriguing. The author has taken care of all the minute details that connect and engage the readers with the story. It helps us to understand the hardships of life in the Himalayas and how difficult it becomes for travellers at a high altitude. Logical, scientific, realistic and detailed to the microns… I liked this aspect of the book. The natural landscape, the beauty of the Himalayas and the grandeur of Kailash have been narrated so well in the book.

On a serious note, the book has many things to offer to the readers. This is the journey of a rational person who is a devotee of God, surprisingly enough, but does not believe in all the stories and discards most of them as myths. As the title suggests, this was a reluctant journey at the beginning but it becomes one of the best memories of the author’s life. Mount Kailash is one the greatest pilgrimages in the Hindu religion but the author visited there to see the landscapes rather than a religious pilgrim coming to visit Kailash, the Mahadev’s place. However, a dip in Mansarovar lake changed all the emotions associated with the journey. A kind of connection with the supreme and aura of his grandeur can be felt in the environment by the author.

The sense of completeness that comes after successful circumambulation of Mount Kailash is beyond anything. Every traveller was feeling complete and accomplished after successfully doing this. The author and his wife got a warm welcome in Lucknow when the locals acknowledged their tour. These things show a kind of bonding pillar that connects everyone in society. This also shows how symbols and so-called myths are beyond the simple ‘ignore this’ attitude of many.

The myths and tales are not just believed but felt and understood. Feeling and experiencing the existence of cosmic energy is the best way to understand the existence of God. Mansarovar Lake and Mount Kailash are the paramount religious sites and the way the author has narrated his story will let you feel the same vibe that they have felt there, being present at the moment. Moreover, the pictures in the book give goosebumps to the readers to plan their journey soon as well. I might have recommended it only to the readers who have an interest in spiritual realisations but the images do make the book beyond any particular reading interest… anyone will enjoy the book for sure.

It is a wonderful book by all means and provides refreshing content. The author’s wife Mamtha urges to visit Kailash and it ended at a beautiful note of memories and spiritual realisations that changed the life of the author… forever! You can also be a part of this spiritual pilgrimage that continues in the external world but illuminates the internal being! Get a copy from Amazon India right now – click below:

Buy the book from Amazon India – click here

Review by Sarthak for The Last Critic