Empires of the Indus

This book has been written in the form of a historical travelogue and makes for quite an interesting read. However, book is not even half as interesting as the authors' actual journey might have been.

The author, Alice Albinia travels through Pakistan, India and finally Tibet to trace the route of the river and the historical significance of the places that lie on her route, right from Alexander's exploits in the region, to the spread of Sikhism, to the cultures of Mohenjodaro-Harappa and Ladakh.

The 1st, 2nd, 5th, 8th-12th chapters are quite interesting and gripping. The rest, not so much.

Overall, a well researched book and a good read.

Alice Albinia has travelled along the Indus starting from Karachi where it flows into the Arabian Sea and going all the way right up to its origins in the cold, high plateau of Tibet. She has captured on paper not only the adventurous and occasionally dangerous physical journey but also a profoundly metaphysical and spiritual one. A well written book. I'm looking forward to reading more of her works in the future.