Publisher's Synopsis
This book was inspired by recent scientific and archaeological discoveries in India, which led to the uncovering of an ancient civilization which thrived along the course of the Saraswati River. The river had previously existed only in mythology, but was now proved to have actually existed - a mighty torrent coursing from the Himalayas to the sea. The story follows the route of four journeys, the first beginning in the Indus valley four thousand years ago at the time of India's first civilization. It journeys through the Heroic, Vedic, Buddhist and Ashokan eras into Colonial times and thence to the present day. It is also a pilgrimage between places, taking the reader high up into the Himalayas, along the course of the ancient Saraswati River, returning northwards to the Ganges basin and the heartland of early Buddhism. Each pilgrim, spurred on by simple curiosity and a search for knowledge, is attempting to trace the routes of earlier pilgrims. Their voices weave together through thousands of years; each may have set out with well defined aims, but uncover en route many mysteries, discovering far more than they ever could have envisaged. The book is a journey into the fascinating culture of India, imbued with and seeking its essence, exploring India's mythology and history and how they are intimately woven together. It's a book that transports the reader into mesmerizing realms, sending them upon their own spiritual journey. Upon closing its pages they will surely feel they have been somewhere.
