New Delhi: Reading page-turner books whilst sipping hot tea with a breathtaking view of misty mountains is what avid book-lovers aspires for and Kumaon Literary Festival in Uttarakhand have just fulfilled the wish.
The festival will bring top authors, cinema and media personalities, political commentators, thought leaders and opinion makers of the country together for a 5 day lit fest to be held at Te Aroha located in Dhanachuli, an enchanting little village in the Himalayas and in Abbotsford in Nainital.
A not for profit festival is conceptualized as an unusual destination event where rich and deeper discussions will be held be yet leaving adequate time for participants to spend leisure time to be able to bond, go for a picnic, forest or village walk, bird watching and spend time with children from local schools who are fond of their books and eager to meet the festival guests.
The festival is founded by Sumant Batra, an eminent lawyer of global repute and senior consultant to IMF, World Bank Group, museum curator and philanthropist. KLF is conceptualized and planned by a directorate comprising distinguished people, such as, Barkha Dutt, Priya Kapoor (Roli Books), Anuj Bahri (the literary agent of celebrated authors like Amish Tripathi and Anuja Chauhan), Â Janhavi Prasada (film maker) and a number of accomplished authors.
The festival is to be held from 23rd – 27th October every year, the festival will spill over the quaint summer homes and other places located in around Dhanachuli. On its last two days, the festival will travel to Nainital where events will be held in Abbotsford, a heritage property and other locations. In a way therefore, KLF is also the first traveling literary festival of the Country.Â