Hit the road for India's Buddhist trail

India has always drawn several worldly travellers seeking gain peace and explore what this holy land has on offer.

Tawang Monastry in Arunachal Pradesh. Pic/AFP

Historian Aruna Deshpande precisely puts it as ‘Terrorism divides the world, tourism unites the world' at the beginning of her latest book, Buddhist India Rediscovered. Deshpande, an avid traveller, has previously authored books including 150 Fascinating Destinations of India and India: A Travel Guide. Her latest offer is a lot more than a travel guide and is a great effort to chart Buddhist sites across the length and breadth of the country.

The book is divided into sections dedicated to sites in different states and a separate section on Ashoka edicts and pillars. And the states mentioned in the book would surprise several Indians as these states usually aren't associated with Buddhist architecture (think Rajasthan and West Bengal). Though some might be disappointed by the black and white photographs in the book, the compact size yet exhaustive details about the history and the architectural styles of the region make this a must and easy to carry on your trips across the country.u00a0