A Place Within - Rediscovering India - By M.G. Vassanji

Reading and travelling are two of life’s great pleasures. Our Partnership with Random House Canada celebrates both. Our well-read friends have provided us with book excerpts and reading recommendations that will transport you to some of Fairmont’s most idyllic destinations. Go ahead, get comfortable and lose yourself in the pages.

Jaipur, the “Pink City” and the stunning capital of the Indian state of Rajasthan, is a hub for tourists and visitors from all over the world, looking to explore and discover a history that is rich and vibrant even today, evident in the city's breathtaking forts and palaces. Tranquil gardens and broad avenues, which were painted pink in 1876 to welcome the Prince of Wales, add to the historic charm and rich culture of this unforgettable city.

Fairmont Jaipur is an ode to the pink city through awe inspiring architecture and decor, inspired by the Mughal dynasty and Royal Rajputs of yore. This luxury Jaipur hotel is nestled amongst the majestic Aravalli hills, all 199 rooms and suites are elegantly appointed, to reflect a perfect blend of traditional Rajasthani décor and modern amenities. Thinking of visiting Jaipur? We in partnership with Random House invite you to immerse yourself in a moving tale of family and country in M.G. Vassanji’s  beautifully written book "A Place Within". 

It would take many lifetimes, it was said to me during my first visit, to see all of India. The desperation must have shown on my face to absorb and digest all I possibly could. This was not something I had articulated or resolved; and yet I recall an anxiety as I travelled the length and breadth of the country, senses raw to every new experience, that even in the distraction of a blink I might miss something profoundly significant.

I was not born in India, nor were my parents; that might explain much in my expectation of that visit. Yet how many people go to the homeland of their grandparents with such a heartload of expectation and momentousness; such a desire to find themselves in everything they see? Is it only India that clings thus, to those who’ve forsaken it; is this why Indians in a foreign land seem always so desperate to seek each other out? What was India to me?

The inimitable M.G. Vassanji turns his eye to India, the homeland of his ancestors, in this powerfully moving tale of family and country. Part travelogue, part history, A Place Within is M.G. Vassanji’s intelligent and beautifully written journey to explore where he belongs. 

For more information and to purchase A Place Within please click here

Fairmont Jaipur

Jaipur, the “Pink City” and the stunning capital of the Indian state of Rajasthan, is a hub for tourists and visitors from all over the world, looking to explore and discover a history that is rich and vibrant even today, evident in the city's breathtaking forts and palaces. Tranquil gardens and broad avenues, which were painted pink in 1876 to welcome the Prince of Wales, add to the historic charm and rich culture of this unforgettable city.

Fairmont Jaipur is an ode to the pink city through awe inspiring architecture and decor, inspired by the Mughal dynasty and Royal Rajputs of yore. This luxury Jaipur hotel is nestled amongst the majestic Aravalli hills, all 199 rooms and suites are elegantly appointed, to reflect a perfect blend of traditional Rajasthani décor and modern amenities. Thinking of visiting Jaipur? We in partnership with Random House invite you to immerse yourself in a moving tale of family and country in M.G. Vassanji’s beautifully written book "A Place Within".

For more information about Fairmont Jaipur, please click here