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Empires of the Indus: The Story of a river by Alice Albinia

Year published: 2008
Genre: Travel, history

In this book, the author begins her journey at the mouth of the Indus river, moving up river and backwards in time and exploring the history, archaeology and geology of this long and immensely important river that flows through three countries: from its source near Mount Kailash in Tibet, through the Indian state of Ladakh and down the length of Pakistan to the sea.

This is a perfect combination of travelogue and history that should be read by any woman who fears travelling alone, as well as anyone who is interested in the history of the region and in adventurous travel off the beaten track. It’s also a must for river fanatics.

It took me a long time to finish, nearly 2 months, but that was because I felt that each chapter needed to be properly digested and considered before I moved on to the next, and not because of anything else. It is well written, and while scholarly, it is neither dry nor boring. Recommended. 5 stars.

There is an official website for this book. Visit it for supplementary materials, such as photographs and audio recordings the author made of people performing traditional songs.
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