Called By The Hills : A Home In The Himalaya | Hardcover

Called by the Hills: A Home in the Himalaya by Anuradha Roy is a personal account of building a home and wild garden in Ranikhet, on the edge of a Himalayan forest. Over more than twenty-five years, Roy reflects on mountain life, community, wildlife and the changing natural environment, accompanied by her own watercolours.

After leaving Delhi with her husband to settle in a neglected cottage, Roy gradually becomes part of the landscape and community around her. Her experiences offer an intimate view of life in the Himalayas, from encounters with mountain dogs and neighbours to living alongside forests where leopards roam.

About This Book

The memoir follows Roy's evolving relationship with her Himalayan home. The restoration of the cottage and creation of a garden become part of a larger process of adapting to the rhythms of Ranikhet and developing a deeper connection with the surrounding landscape.

Nature is central to the story, including both its beauty and its vulnerability. Roy observes the forests, wildlife and alpine ecosystem around her while documenting the environmental changes that have taken place during her years in the mountains, including the effects of global warming.

Her reflections also encompass community and belonging, offering a portrait of the people and animals that become part of her life. The author's watercolours add another dimension to this account of home, place and the natural world.

What You'll Discover

• Roy's decision to make a home in Ranikhet after leaving Delhi
• The restoration of a derelict cottage beside a Himalayan forest
• The experience of creating and tending a wild garden
• Life alongside mountain dogs, neighbours and roaming leopards
• The changing relationship between people and the Himalayan landscape
• Observations of a fragile alpine ecosystem and environmental change
• The author's personal watercolours accompanying her reflections

Perfect For

• Readers interested in nature writing and environmental literature
• Fans of travel memoirs and reflective nonfiction
• Readers interested in the Himalayas and Ranikhet
• Those drawn to gardening, wildlife and mountain life
• Readers interested in Indian nonfiction and memoir

Why You'll Love This Book

Called by the Hills brings together memoir, nature writing and observations of Himalayan life to portray a home, a community and a changing landscape. Anuradha Roy's long experience of living beside the forest provides a thoughtful perspective on belonging, wildlife and the environmental pressures affecting the mountains.