Other books that might interest you

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  Pala Empire - Guardians of...

  Rolf Hedger

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  The Pala Empire emerged in the eastern regions of the Indian subcontinent during the eighth century, marking the beginning of a powerful dynasty that would shape the cultural and political landscape of Bengal and Bihar for nearly four centuries. The empire was established in a period of political fragmentation and instability following the decline of the earlier Gupta Empire and the subsequent rule of smaller, competing kingdoms. This power vacuum set the stage for the rise of a strong and centralized authority under the leadership of Gopala, the first ruler of the Pala dynasty. 
  Gopala's ascent to power is believed to have been unique for the time, as he was reportedly chosen by local chieftains and influential figures through a process of election, rather than simply inheriting his position through lineage. This suggests that his leadership was recognized as a unifying force in a region that had suffered from prolonged disorder and internal conflicts. Once in power, Gopala took significant steps to stabilize his realm, laying the foundation for what would become one of the most enduring dynasties in Indian history. He consolidated his rule over Bengal and expanded his influence into neighboring territories, establishing control over strategic trade routes and fertile agricultural lands that contributed to the empire’s prosperity. 
  Gopala’s son, Dharmapala, proved to be an even more ambitious ruler. Under his leadership, the Pala Empire reached its zenith, with its influence stretching far beyond Bengal into northern and central India. Dharmapala was not only a military leader but also a great patron of Buddhism, playing a crucial role in the expansion of Buddhist institutions, including the famed Nalanda University. His military campaigns brought him into direct conflict with two of the other major powers of the time, the Gurjara-Pratiharas and the Rashtrakutas.

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  Why You Should Go to Petra

  Mark Ferdinand

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  Petra is one of the world’s greatest wonders—a city carved from rose-red rock that still stirs awe thousands of years after its creation. Hidden in the Jordanian desert, this ancient Nabataean capital feels like stepping into another world, where towering sandstone facades glow in the shifting light and narrow canyons lead to breathtaking discoveries. 
  Mark Ferdinand takes you through Petra’s unforgettable highlights: the dramatic approach through the Siq, the majestic Treasury, the sprawling Royal Tombs, and the climb to the Monastery with its sweeping desert views. Along the way, you’ll uncover the history, legends, and enduring magic that make Petra more than a destination—it’s an experience of wonder and timeless beauty.

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  A Road Running Southward -...

  Dawn Chapman

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  In 1867, John Muir set out on foot to explore the botanical wonders of the South, keeping a detailed journal of his adventures as he traipsed from Kentucky southward to Florida. One hundred and fifty years later, on a similar whim, veteran Atlanta reporter Dan Chapman recreated Muir's journey to see for himself how nature has fared since Muir's time. Channeling Muir, he uses humor, keen observation, and a deep love of place to celebrate the South's natural riches. 
   
   
   
  Each chapter touches upon a local ecological problem—moving between John Muir's vivid descriptions of a lush botanical paradise and the myriad environmental problems facing the South today. Along the way he talks to locals with deep ties to the land—scientists, hunters, politicians, and even a Muir impersonator—who describe the changes they've witnessed and what it will take to accommodate a fast-growing population without destroying the natural beauty and a cherished connection to nature. 
   
   
   
  A Road Running Southward is part travelogue, part environmental cri de coeur, and paints a picture of a South under siege. It is a passionate appeal, a call to action to save one of the loveliest and most biodiverse regions of the world by understanding what we have to lose if we do nothing.

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  The Journal of a Tour to the...

  James Boswell

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  In 1773, Boswell enticed his famous English friend Samuel Johnson to accompany him on a tour through the highlands and western islands of Scotland. Johnson was then in his mid sixties.
  
  The two travellers set out from Edinburgh and skirted the eastern and northeastern coasts of Scotland, passing through St Andrews, Aberdeen and Inverness. They then passed into the highlands and spent several weeks on various islands in the Hebrides, including Skye, Coll, and Mull. After a visit to Boswell's estate at Auchinleck, the travellers returned to Edinburgh. Also available in audio, Johnson published his Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland on 18 January 1775.

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  On the Narrow Road to the Deep...

  Lesley Chan Downer

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  After eight years working in Japan, immersing herself in its language and literature, Lesley Chan Downer set off in the footsteps of Matsuo Basho, Japan's most cherished poet, to explore the country's remote northern provinces. Basho's pilgrimage to find the landscapes that had inspired the great medieval poets gave birth to Japan's most famous travel book, rich in strange imagery and sometimes comic encounters along the road. In this intriguing cross-threading of journeys, perceptions and exquisite haiku, Lesley creates her own funny, loving and honest portrayal of contemporary Japan. As she walks, she finds at one and the same time a drab, post-industrial landscape of concrete and cables, but also a land still full of the old enchantments. Nights in thatched highland villages and saké-drenched poetry sessions encourage her to see for herself if any of the legendary hermit-priests still survive in the sacred mountains of the north.

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  Once Upon a Villa - Adventures...

  Andrew Kaplan

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  In this wise, warm-hearted, witty, and LOL hilariously funny true account, New York Times bestselling author Andrew Kaplan tells what it’s like when he, his wife, and two-year-old son decided to chuck it all and live the fantasy in a villa by the sea in that extraordinary corner of the world – part international café society, part billionaires’ playground, part provincial France – that is the French Riviera. 
  Whether it’s matching wits with French bureaucracy, searching for the perfect bouillabaisse, encounters with con men, eccentric ex-pats, and Monaco’s royal family, partying with the international set on Onassis’ yacht, playing chess with a philosophical police chief, or adventures and friendships with the rich and famous and the presumably standoffish French, Once Upon a Villa will transport you to a fascinating and shrewdly-observed world that you will savor like your first-morning bite of pain au chocolate. 
  So pour yourself a glass of wine, open the book, and Santé!

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