There are so many great books set in India that it can be hard to choose. From an undergrad South Asian historian, discover just a few of my top 4 & 5-star reads that aren’t solely the most well-known titles. Of course, find plenty of award-winning books, too.
Beginning with my love of South Asian history and literature at Smith College, I have read over 100+ books about India, many discussing Partition, the caste system, colonialism, diaspora, religion, identity, and the Kashmir conflict.
These are just a few of my favorite books across genres, including narrative nonfiction, political and literary fiction, and short stories. Of course, everyone should read Gandhi’s autobiography, and Life of Pi has been made into a popular movie and play, although not my personal favorite. 💜 Christine
🇮🇳 You might also enjoy these books on Hindu mythology. Or, travel to India with these movies. 🎥
Books Set In India To Teach You More
Start with this range of both contemporary and classic books.
Independence by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Description
Set in 1947 rural Bengal, sisters Deepa, Priya, and Jamini find themselves caught in a tumultuous time that could destroy their family. Upon the death of their father, they must decide who they will marry and ultimately become:
Should Priya sacrifice her dreams of becoming a doctor and immediately marry her childhood sweetheart? And, will Deepa choose the man she loves over her mother’s orders that she marry within her religion? Jamini’s actions might frustrate readers to no end, yet we also understand her motivations.
“Unforgettable and important story about sisters…”
Independence is not an easy read and won’t have a ‘soft’ ending, as it emphasizes a time of extreme religious conflict and violence. For gut-wrenching books, this is an unforgettable and important story about sisters.
The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters by Balli Kaur Jaswal
Description
Three British-born Punjabi sisters make a pilgrimage to the Golden Temple in Amritsar. They travel across India to lay their mother to rest, following an itinerary set on her deathbed with the hope that they find spirituality, tour more of her homeland, and reconnect with each other.
“A deep, sobering, and slow-burning novel…”
The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters is a deep, sobering, and slow-burning novel that made me nostalgic for living abroad in Southeast Asia. The atmospheric story is both humorous and evocative.
Rajni, Jezmeen, and Shirina are very different women with strong personalities, and their stories will stay with you long after closing the novel.
A Burning by Megha Majumdar
Description
Jivan writes an anti-government social media message, causing leaders to scapegoat her for a crime she hasn’t committed. As a Muslim living in the slums of India, Jivan never stood a chance in the corrupt political system. Watch as three people in similar situations – all of whom were once united – fall apart to save themselves.
“The ambiance of India seeps off the pages…”
Along with Jivan, meet a transgender outcast dreaming of becoming a star. Growl at a physical education teacher, easily persuaded to do the unthinkable with the dangling carrot of power and money. The ambiance of India seeps off the pages in this heartbreaking and frustrating but propulsive read.
Honor by Thrity Umrigar
Description
Smita is an Indian-American journalist returning to her homeland to help cover a religious and political story for a friend. Smita has not visited India since her youth, and she views her homeland with disdain and disgust. There is a traumatizing reason why Smita and her family have never returned.
Investigating a murder, Smita cannot help but take sides: A Muslim man married a Hindu woman, Meena, in a region where women have no rights and must marry within their caste and religion. Meena witnesses her Hindu brothers murdering her Muslim husband, jumping into the flames to try to save him.
A civil rights agency and a lawyer help Meena go to court against her brothers for a case that she is unlikely to win. Meena’s life is in grave danger, and she has a child to protect.
“Will open your heart, make you cry, and make you think more deeply about identity…”
A story about multifaceted cultures, family, religion, and love, Honor will open your heart, make you cry, and make you think more deeply about identity. Can we truly ever go home again?
Powerful and dynamic, this is one of the best fiction books about India, the lingering effects of Partition, and the exploitation of poverty.
One of my best friends introduced me to Thrity Umrigar, and I fell in love with her books – the first being The World We Found, which I’ll talk about below.
The World We Found by Thrity Umrigar
Description
Set in the late 1970s, as college students, four best friends challenge the world with their youthful political idealism. As they grew older, like many friendships, the women grow apart, raising families and leading vastly different lives. When terminal illness strikes one of the friends living in America, she wants to see the group reunited to say goodbye.
“Somber and thought-provoking…”
Somber and thought-provoking, find a deeply descriptive and emotion-filled novel about life, love, class, and religion.
Interpreter Of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
Description
Told in short stories spanning India and America, meet different characters as they navigate family, life, identity, miscarriage, infidelity, and immigration.
“Juxtaposes the traditions of the past against a new world…”
If you haven’t read a collection of short stories in a while or they aren’t your usual jam, I recommend starting here. Lahiri juxtaposes the traditions of the past against a new world – a theme across many books set in India.
P.S. With some scenes set in India, but most of the novel taking place in Cambridge, MA, it’s no secret that Lahiri’s The Namesake is one of my top favorite novels of all time. Follow along with the Calcutta-born Ganguli family.
The Death Of Vishnu by Manil Suri
Description
Set in former Bombay, the story begins with Vishnu, who has alcohol use disorder, dying on the stairs. His apartment neighbors bicker over who will cover the cost of his ambulance.
As news spreads across the complex, encounter a comical group of Indian characters, all with their own personal dramas and dilemmas. As Vishnu lies dying, he starts to wonder if he’s actually Vishnu, the God.
“A blend of Hindu mythology, movies, and social commentary…”
I enjoyed The Death Of Vishnu much more than the average Goodreads reviewer. This India-based novel promises a blend of Hindu mythology, movies, and social commentary. However, this is a more linear narrative and slowburn that might not be for everyone.
The Inheritance Of Loss by Kiran Desai
Description
Head to Mount Kanchenjunga in the Himalayas around the mid-1980s, where an Indian judge peacefully lives out his retirement when Sai, his granddaughter, arrives at his door.
Orphaned, the judge’s cook mostly cares for 16-year-old Sai, as the judge is preoccupied with his son Biju, who lives undocumented in the NYC restaurant scene. Nepalese insurgents disrupt and threaten their lives.
“A story with both joy and despondency, with humor and heartbreak…”
The Inheritance of Loss offers commentary on post-colonialist identity, nationhood, and immigration. It’s a story with both joy and despondency, with humor and heartbreak.
You might also like The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny (2025), with vast praise.
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
Description
A religious and spiritual novel published in 1922, Siddhartha is the son of a Brahmin living in ancient India. Although Siddhartha does everything religiously that should make him content, he desires more and questions his existence.
Leaving behind his community, he follows a traveling band of ascetics. Along the way, Siddhartha makes a few worldly mistakes, eventually learning that true enlightenment comes from struggle and experience.
“You may want to read multiple times throughout your life…”
One of the shortest books set in India on this list, Siddhartha is one of those titles you may want to read multiple times throughout your life. I’m pretty sure I’ve read it at least 2-3 times now.
Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie
Description
On the brink of a new dawn, what is India’s identity? When you are born into two worlds, who will you become?
One of the 1,001 babies born at midnight of Indian Independence, Saleem Sinai finds himself tied to the heart of India. His well-being mirrors the history of the country, and each child, including him, has special powers. Saleem is telepathic.
“Brilliantly and magically obscure and pleasantly dense…”
I first read Midnight’s Children for a college independent study on Partition in literature. One of the Indian sagas on this reading list, I always find Rushdie brilliantly and magically obscure and pleasantly dense.
Untouchable by Mulk Raj Anand
Description
Bakha is an Untouchable, the lowest tier in India’s discriminatory and unyielding caste system. As a sweeper and toilet cleaner, readers watch as Bakha is treated as less than human, deprived of an education and participation in society. Bakha dares to dream, even inspired by Gandhi, but his life continues the same.
“An essential Indian classic…”
An essential Indian classic that I first read in college, Untouchable is a short but strong and somber novel about India’s caste system.
Behind The Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo
Description
A true account about the Annawadi settlement in Mumbai, Boo employs narrative-style writing to share her research across several years. Meet vibrant community members, and witness tragic deaths.
Boo captures the community’s struggles in modern-day India, especially as they fight corruption, inequality, poverty, politics, and betrayal – even among each other.
When you are just trying to survive and achieve upward mobility, at what cost are you willing to pay, especially at the expense of others?
“Heartbreaking nonfiction…”
Behind the Beautiful Forevers is one of the most heartbreaking nonfiction books set in India. I highly recommend reading Boo’s note in the back of the book before picking up this title. Boo shares her limitations, research, goals, and purpose – she is a white American journalist, MacArthur Fellow, and Pulitzer Prize for Public Service winner.
Castaway Mountain by Saumya Roy
Description
Readers meet those who pick up trash for a living in Deonar’s garbage mountains and township. Much of the story follows soon-to-be-18-year-old Farzana.
At first glance, Farzana’s obsession with selling trash looks like a strong work ethic and survival instinct. Soon, though, everyone believes that the mountains have seeped into Farzana’s soul, possessing her in a demonic and harmful way.
From her work in the toxic, always-burning garbage, mental health concerns and disease begin to plague Farzana. When a truck strikes her while sorting trash, doctors fear she won’t live. We also meet her friends, family, and community.
“A unique read about impoverished communities set against the stark contrast of the rich and their discarded trash…”
Roy’s narrative nonfiction book about the waste-pickers in Mumbai is raw and well-researched. Find both love and heartbreak. No one wants this life for their children; however, some desire that the government recognize their work as legal and essential. Add in the politics surrounding Deonar’s dumping grounds – will they ever build a waste plant? – and you have a frustrating and dangerous situation.
This is a unique read about impoverished communities set against the stark contrast of the rich and their discarded trash. The metaphors are endless, just like the trash. Witness socio-economic barriers, politics, and pollution in India. Upward mobility seems unachievable.
Even More Great Books Set In And About India
As a recurring Uncorked Reading Challenge topic, discover even more books that our Uncorked Readers most recommend.
The Palace Of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni – A vibrant retelling of the Mahabharata.
A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth – Set during a newly independent India, this 1500-page novel is a love story.
The Far Field by Madhuri Vijay – Political & historical fiction set across India and Kashmir.
The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri – A National Book Award Finalist and shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, this is a story of 2 brothers set in Calcutta.
Narcopolis by Jeet Thayil – Set in Bombay & shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize.
White Tiger by Aravind Adiga – Adapted for Netflix & Booker-prize winner, follow a Bangalore driver.
The Twentieth Wife by Indu Sundaresan – A 17th-century story about Mehrunnisa, the Sun of Women and one of India’s most controversial empresses.
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts – 950 pages set in Bombay’s underworld.
The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani – 2019 Newbery Honor Book set during Partition.
A Rising Man by Abir Mukherjee – Post- WW1 mystery series set in Calcutta.
Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line by Deepa Anappara – Edgar Award Nominee & Longlisted for the Women’s Prize, three friends venture into metropolitan India to find their missing classmate.
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy – Winner of the Booker Prize and set largely in Kerala, India, this is an epic tale about family, politics, and forbidden love.
Books About India, Families, and Immigration (But Not Predominantly Set There)
📖 Well-Behaved Indian Women by Saumya Dave – Although mostly set in NYC, find a multigenerational story about three Indian women and life’s imposed expectations on them. A small part of the novel is also set in India.
📖 The Dating Plan by Sara Desai – A hilarious multicultural rom-com about Indian and Irish families set in California, watch as a fake engagement to please the Aunties goes awry.
Before You Go: More Asia-based Reading Lists
🇮🇩 Indonesia-Based Books
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka Books
🇵🇭 Best Books Set In And About The Philippines
🇹🇭 Books Across Thailand
As always, let us know your favorites in the comments.
I appreciate you curating this list — en route to India and had been looking for a good book set in that area. Seconding the comment below that, of all the books I’ve read with India as the setting, A Fine Balance is my all-time fave, and I think bears inclusion on this list! I’m excited to check out Thrity Umigar’s work, thanks for the rec! (Also liked Widows of Malabar Hill, which I see mentioned in the comments; another great read is Ministry of Utmost Happiness — eclectic but, a true Arundhati Roy masterpiece no less!).
There are so many great books set in India. Thanks so much for sharing your favorites too. We cannot wait to check them out.
You didn’t mention A Fine Balance by Vikram Seth. It’s my favourite Indian book. If you haven’t read it I highly recommend it.
Thanks for sharing!
I’ve heard about a book about a young Indian widow that is pregnant and has her late husband’s parents living with her. She finds out that her unborn child is a girl and her in-laws want her to get rid of the baby. I have misplaced the title. Did this story sound familiar to you?
This sounds slightly like The Space Between Us (it’s been a while since I’ve read it, though), but I don’t think that’s the one you are looking for. If I think of it, I’ll let you know!
I LOVED A Burning, which I listened to. So good. Thanks for all these great recommendations. I have one book on my Kindle library, so I’ll read that: the Widows of Malabar Hill. 1920 India, first female lawyer, murder mystery focused on 3 Muslim women. Oooh should be interesting!!
I really loved A Burning, too. Intense and touching. Thanks so much for the compliment and book recommendation. I’m updating this reading list with more books set in India as our reading challengers complete them this year. Everyone is reading such fabulous titles not previously on my radar. I cannot wait to pick a few new India-based books from all of the recs.
Hmmmm, I’m interested in SciFi/fantasy novels set in India – can you recommend any?
Hey! I’ve heard good things about Dark Things by Sukanya Venkatraghavan although technically it’s set in a fantasy realm. I’ve also seen wild reviews – 1 to 5 stars – for The Devourers by Indra Das (set in Kolkata). There are also Aliens in Delhi by Sami Ahmad Khan, Chosen Spirits by Samit Basu, and Leila by Prayaag Akbar. I hope that gets you started!