Source : Hindustan Times
On Book Lovers Day, we offer a checklist of 5 iconic bookshops located across the length and breadth of the country.
Book lovers just need a reason to buy books or browse. And what better occasion than Book Lovers Day which is celebrated on August 9 every year. It encourages people to pick up a book and spend the day reading. And while Kindle and e-books may be trending, many book lovers will agree that there is a certain charm to spending the day at a bookshop than cannot be replicated electronically. And while many bookshops are shutting down, some have managed to stand the test of time.
Here are 5 bookshops that you need to visit on Book Lovers Day 2018:
Bahrisons Bookshop, Khan Market, Delhi
Started in 1953 by the late Balraj Bahri Malhotra, Bahrisons Bookshop is a Delhi institution that started as a stationery shop. What sets them apart from other bookshops in the city is the personalised attention they give, including suggesting titles for you based on your reading preferences. Interestingly, Bahrisons has also opened a new branch at Gurugram’s Galleria Market where they jostle between luxury and high street brands.
Higginbothams, Mount Road, Chennai
Higginbothams was founded in 1844 by English librarian Abel Joshua Higginbotham. It is one of the oldest bookstores in India. It is also located in a heritage structure on Mount Road. Even before Independence, Higginbothams started setting up bookstores within railway stations. Even today, Higginbothams at Chennai Central is considered a landmark and many people visit it after alighting at the station. Their collection also includes an extensive selection of Indian writers and children’s books.
Blossom Book House is an iconic Bangalore bookshop that is known for its extensive collection of new as well as used books. Regional literature is also prominently featured at the bookshop. It was set up in 2001 by former engineer Mayi Gowda. Originally a 200 sq ft bookshop, it has now grown into a three-storey building.
Gulshan Books, Nehru Park, Kashmir
Opened in 2016, Gulshan Books is known for its selection of books as well as the whole experience of reaching the bookshop. And it made it to the Limca Book of Records this year as the only bookshop-library on a lake. The bookshop is located in the middle of Dal Lake and features 80,000 books, many on Kashmir’s intriguing history and culture. To reach the bookshop, you need to take a 2-minute shikara ride. It is jointly run by the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC) and Gulshan Books Kashmir, which is one of the oldest bookshops and publishing houses in the valley.
Wayword and Wise, Fort, Mumbai
Wayword and Wise was set up in 2015 by investment banker Atul Sud with Virat Chandhok, who was curator at Lotus Books in Bandra. While it is not the oldest bookshop in Mumbai, but what sets it apart is its curated selection of books, that includes works by lesser-known authors. While most bookshops stick to bestsellers and classics, you are unlikely to come across a straightforward collection at this bookstore. Right from New Yorker anthologies to Kurt Vonnegut’s Complete Stories and the graphic novel Sabrina, this bookshop has it all.
