Called by the Hills: A Home in the Himalayas — Anuradha Roy’s Poetic Journey from City Life to Mountain Solitude

Anuradha Roy’s latest book, Called by the Hills: A Home in the Himalayas, published in November 2025, marks a unique and intimate foray into non-fiction as she chronicles her life and creative journey in the Kumaon Himalayas. The book is a poetic meditation on how living close to nature in the mountains can profoundly transform a writer’s craft and outlook on life. Roy shares her personal experiences of settling in Ranikhet, her deep bond with the land, its unpredictable wildness, and the everyday rhythms that shape her days and stories.

 

Roy’s reflections reveal the complexities of mountain life, far beyond idyllic imagery. She captures the joy of morning mists and intimate moments with her dog Jerry, but also the harsher realities such as attacks on pets driven by ecological imbalance. These tensions underscore the urgency and beauty of living in harmony with nature, a theme that permeates the book.

 

The narrative also touches on Roy’s two-decade-long relationship with her mountain sanctuary—an abandoned cottage she and her partner lovingly restored. Through vivid prose, she conveys how the hills have become an “epiphany,” a space of renewal and creativity away from the metropolitan rush. The slower, deeper pace of mountain life emerges not as isolation but as a way to feel connected to forces greater than oneself, inspiring humility and artistic growth.

 

Key Highlights from Called by the Hills:

 

A writer’s refuge in Ranikhet — Discover Roy’s transformation from a bustling urban life to finding her muse in the serene mountain landscape and quiet village rhythms.

 

Wildlife and wilderness unfiltered — An honest portrayal of nature’s beauty and brutality, including encounters with local fauna and the challenges of coexisting with wildlife.

 

The deep connection to place — Roy meditates on belonging and the sense of home as more than a building but entwined with the earth, seasons, and community.

 

Creative inspiration through simplicity — The book reveals how nature’s presence fuels storytelling and reflection, rekindling the writer’s imagination and purpose.

 

Balancing solitude and community — Insights into the delicate balance of seeking solitude for creativity while engaging with the mountain’s people and culture.

Sources: Vogue India, Anuradha Roy official social media, Daunt Books Publishing, literary interviews and profiles.