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The Road to the Bazaar
Ruskin Bond not only brings to life a town in northern India capturing the scenery, the people, the atmosphere - but also shows that children are the same the world over.
119 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1980
45 people are currently reading
375 people want to read
About the author
Ruskin Bond
681 books3,564 followersRuskin Bond is an Indian author of British descent. He is considered to be an icon among Indian writers and children's authors and a top novelist. He wrote his first novel, The Room on the Roof, when he was seventeen which won John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize in 1957. Since then he has written several novellas, over 500 short stories, as well as various essays and poems, all of which have established him as one of the best-loved and most admired chroniclers of contemporary India. In 1992 he received the Sahitya Akademi award for English writing, for his short stories collection, "Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra", by the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters in India. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1999 for contributions to children's literature. He now lives with his adopted family in Landour near Mussoorie.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
December 10, 2025
With Ruskin Bond. The Man who gave me so much,,,,
The Road to the Bazaar is a cheerful, vibrant, and immensely relatable collection of stories centred around the bustling life of a small Indian town.
Aimed primarily at younger readers, the book captures the excitement of everyday adventures experienced by children who explore their neighbourhoods with curiosity, mischief, and boundless imagination.
The central characters—Ranji, Koki, Suraj, and their friends—represent the universal spirit of childhood. They live in modest surroundings, yet their world feels vast because of their curiosity.
Bond excels at portraying childhood without idealising it. His children quarrel, scheme, dream, and occasionally break rules—but always with authenticity and warmth.
The stories revolve around small but memorable escapades: helping a struggling shopkeeper, solving quirky neighbourhood problems, trying new foods, discovering hidden paths, or simply observing the colourful characters in the bazaar. Bond turns the mundane into magic.
For him, an ordinary barber shop or a jamun seller is full of life and storytelling potential.
What makes the book shine is Bond’s ability to create a sensory-rich setting. The bazaar is described with vivid immediacy: the aroma of fresh pakoras, the clatter of utensils in tea stalls, the shouts of vendors calling out prices, the bright display of trinkets, and the cheerful chaos of people moving in every direction. Bond transforms the market into a dynamic character.
Another strength is the sense of community. Bond’s small town is filled with people who know each other, tease each other, and support each other.
Conflicts are small and human, resolved through kindness, understanding, and sometimes gentle humour.
This makes the book feel like a warm embrace—full of good-hearted people trying to live meaningful lives.
Bond also touches on deeper themes: empathy, responsibility, self-confidence, and the importance of helping others.
Yet he avoids moralising. The lessons arise naturally from the children’s adventures and mistakes.
A story where the children try to help an injured animal, for example, teaches compassion without heavy-handed messaging.
The inseparable friendship of the characters adds emotional resonance. Their loyalty to each other—even when plans go wrong—reflects the innocence of young bonds.
Bond writes these friendships with tenderness, reminding readers of their own childhood companions.
Humour is woven generously into the narrative. Bond has a knack for capturing the comedic side of everyday life—whether it’s the exaggerated swagger of a wrestler, the fussiness of a tailor, or the dramatic complaints of a vendor.
Children’s perspectives make these moments even funnier.
The simplicity of Bond’s prose is one of the book’s greatest assets. His writing is clear, crisp, and accessible, making the stories engaging for young readers while still charming adults.
The pacing is smooth, ensuring each chapter delivers both entertainment and emotional warmth.
Ultimately, The Road to the Bazaar is a tribute to childhood freedom, curiosity, and community life.
It celebrates the little adventures that shape young minds and the everyday heroes—shopkeepers, parents, teachers, and friends—who populate a child’s world.
Bond shows that magic lies not in far-off lands but in the streets of one’s own town, if one only knows how to look.
Most recommended.
The Road to the Bazaar is a cheerful, vibrant, and immensely relatable collection of stories centred around the bustling life of a small Indian town.
Aimed primarily at younger readers, the book captures the excitement of everyday adventures experienced by children who explore their neighbourhoods with curiosity, mischief, and boundless imagination.
The central characters—Ranji, Koki, Suraj, and their friends—represent the universal spirit of childhood. They live in modest surroundings, yet their world feels vast because of their curiosity.
Bond excels at portraying childhood without idealising it. His children quarrel, scheme, dream, and occasionally break rules—but always with authenticity and warmth.
The stories revolve around small but memorable escapades: helping a struggling shopkeeper, solving quirky neighbourhood problems, trying new foods, discovering hidden paths, or simply observing the colourful characters in the bazaar. Bond turns the mundane into magic.
For him, an ordinary barber shop or a jamun seller is full of life and storytelling potential.
What makes the book shine is Bond’s ability to create a sensory-rich setting. The bazaar is described with vivid immediacy: the aroma of fresh pakoras, the clatter of utensils in tea stalls, the shouts of vendors calling out prices, the bright display of trinkets, and the cheerful chaos of people moving in every direction. Bond transforms the market into a dynamic character.
Another strength is the sense of community. Bond’s small town is filled with people who know each other, tease each other, and support each other.
Conflicts are small and human, resolved through kindness, understanding, and sometimes gentle humour.
This makes the book feel like a warm embrace—full of good-hearted people trying to live meaningful lives.
Bond also touches on deeper themes: empathy, responsibility, self-confidence, and the importance of helping others.
Yet he avoids moralising. The lessons arise naturally from the children’s adventures and mistakes.
A story where the children try to help an injured animal, for example, teaches compassion without heavy-handed messaging.
The inseparable friendship of the characters adds emotional resonance. Their loyalty to each other—even when plans go wrong—reflects the innocence of young bonds.
Bond writes these friendships with tenderness, reminding readers of their own childhood companions.
Humour is woven generously into the narrative. Bond has a knack for capturing the comedic side of everyday life—whether it’s the exaggerated swagger of a wrestler, the fussiness of a tailor, or the dramatic complaints of a vendor.
Children’s perspectives make these moments even funnier.
The simplicity of Bond’s prose is one of the book’s greatest assets. His writing is clear, crisp, and accessible, making the stories engaging for young readers while still charming adults.
The pacing is smooth, ensuring each chapter delivers both entertainment and emotional warmth.
Ultimately, The Road to the Bazaar is a tribute to childhood freedom, curiosity, and community life.
It celebrates the little adventures that shape young minds and the everyday heroes—shopkeepers, parents, teachers, and friends—who populate a child’s world.
Bond shows that magic lies not in far-off lands but in the streets of one’s own town, if one only knows how to look.
Most recommended.
July 2, 2023
audio book narrated by Fajer Al-Kaisi
Short stories of children living in the small Himalayan towns of years gone by. As another reviewer put it "Simple, nostalgic and beautiful."
Short stories of children living in the small Himalayan towns of years gone by. As another reviewer put it "Simple, nostalgic and beautiful."
December 14, 2016
A charming and delightful collection of short stories set in an around the city of Dehra among the foothills of the himalayas. The time period feels like the mid 1980s, before the small towns of India were transformed (in both good and bad ways) in the mid 1990s. It's been close to two decades since I last read this book and I still enjoyed it immensely all over again, which is surprising for two reasons - the protagonists are all children and the world these stories are are set in also doesn't exist anymore (except in the memories and imagination of the author). I think that despite these apparent drawbacks, there is a universality to the themes and emotions the stories touch upon, giving them a timeless quality.
March 16, 2020
The road to the Bazaar is a collection of short stories related to the bazaar of Dehra. The main characters of the stories are Koki, Mukesh, Suraj, and others. If you happened to read his other stories, you are quite familiar with these characters.
Its a nice, short book with fun stories.
Its a nice, short book with fun stories.
June 15, 2022
I find this book to be amongst the very best works in Ruskin Bond's expansive oeuvre.
It's an anthology chronicling small-town life in North India's Dehradun. The style of writing is extremely quaint and heart-warming, and no matter how many times I read this book, I never ever get bored of it.
This book acts as an escape for me, and it always manages to bring me back to my childhood wherein I'd play football (amongst other sports) on the maidaan with my friends barefoot. The vivid descriptions of nature, of food and drinks, and of children being children are always so pleasant and beautiful. Some of the stories are quite inspirational as well!
This book is a breath of fresh air, and I can't recommend it enough!
(In my opinion, the Road to the Bazaar is just the North Indian counterpart of R.K. Narayan's 'Malgudi Adventures', which is another beautiful book of the exact same genre, and which evokes the same emotions from me.)
It's an anthology chronicling small-town life in North India's Dehradun. The style of writing is extremely quaint and heart-warming, and no matter how many times I read this book, I never ever get bored of it.
This book acts as an escape for me, and it always manages to bring me back to my childhood wherein I'd play football (amongst other sports) on the maidaan with my friends barefoot. The vivid descriptions of nature, of food and drinks, and of children being children are always so pleasant and beautiful. Some of the stories are quite inspirational as well!
This book is a breath of fresh air, and I can't recommend it enough!
(In my opinion, the Road to the Bazaar is just the North Indian counterpart of R.K. Narayan's 'Malgudi Adventures', which is another beautiful book of the exact same genre, and which evokes the same emotions from me.)
May 8, 2020
Set of amazing and light hearted stories.
Mr. Bond has uncanny skills to bring things to life. Showcased special bond between friends & even if you don’t belong to hills or never been there but always wanted to, he will take you there with his captivating collection of writings.
Some of my favourites from the list are
1) The Tunnel
2) Ranji’s Wonderful bat - Which i realised & reminded me of a movie which i reckon now, had definitely been made after reading this particular tale by director of that movie.
3) When Guavas are ripe
4) The king & Tree- Goddess (One of my most favourites)
5) The fight (Amazing & comparatively nostalgic)
6) Koki’s song
7) The great train journey
8) Home
9) The visitor (My most favourite perhaps)
10) The window
11) The long day
Mr. Bond has uncanny skills to bring things to life. Showcased special bond between friends & even if you don’t belong to hills or never been there but always wanted to, he will take you there with his captivating collection of writings.
Some of my favourites from the list are
1) The Tunnel
2) Ranji’s Wonderful bat - Which i realised & reminded me of a movie which i reckon now, had definitely been made after reading this particular tale by director of that movie.
3) When Guavas are ripe
4) The king & Tree- Goddess (One of my most favourites)
5) The fight (Amazing & comparatively nostalgic)
6) Koki’s song
7) The great train journey
8) Home
9) The visitor (My most favourite perhaps)
10) The window
11) The long day
April 16, 2020
Simple stories of few characters like Koki, Suraj, Mukesh and others. In these times, such stories not only take you back to familiar stories and an era full of simplicity. Not much has changed, it’s just the way we see it, perhaps has!
I love the way I feel closer to nature, reading all of Ruskin Bond’s work.
I love the way I feel closer to nature, reading all of Ruskin Bond’s work.
April 30, 2021
Children's never fail to amaze. ITS TRUE !!!
THE WINDOW IS THE SCREEN, THE WORLD OUTSIDE IS THE PICTURE.
The road to the Bazaar is a nostalgic ride into your childhood memories ,of your summer vacations whenever you used to go to your hometown and experience moments of everyday joy and laughter.
It contains 16 short stories dwelling into the lives of vivacious and bright kids such as Ranji , innocent Suraj, then the sweet and small koki,Teju and Somi, and other kids of Dehra like Mukesh, Amir ,Anil and Vijay.
The book being almost a one hour read is a compilation of very lively children's stories by Ruskin Bond,some old and new ,stories which we have all been went through ourselves at some point of our childhood. The stories are weaved in such a a way that everytime we are cheering up, feeling up every emotion that these kids are facing. We really are immersed in the world of Dehra where the time has slowed down ,bazaar streets are lined up with ladoos,jalebis and samosa and kids are performing all kinds of misadventures every day.
Whether it is Suraj and his playful yo-yo, Ranji and his magic bat, koki and her friends flute, Mukesh and his love for animals, Amir and his picturesque window, all the stories will surely bring a smile on your lips. Enjoy these very short stories with a morning coffee and I am sure they will leave you wanting to go back in the time through a time machine when the air was clean ,bazaars were lively and days were long.
THE WINDOW IS THE SCREEN, THE WORLD OUTSIDE IS THE PICTURE.
The road to the Bazaar is a nostalgic ride into your childhood memories ,of your summer vacations whenever you used to go to your hometown and experience moments of everyday joy and laughter.
It contains 16 short stories dwelling into the lives of vivacious and bright kids such as Ranji , innocent Suraj, then the sweet and small koki,Teju and Somi, and other kids of Dehra like Mukesh, Amir ,Anil and Vijay.
The book being almost a one hour read is a compilation of very lively children's stories by Ruskin Bond,some old and new ,stories which we have all been went through ourselves at some point of our childhood. The stories are weaved in such a a way that everytime we are cheering up, feeling up every emotion that these kids are facing. We really are immersed in the world of Dehra where the time has slowed down ,bazaar streets are lined up with ladoos,jalebis and samosa and kids are performing all kinds of misadventures every day.
Whether it is Suraj and his playful yo-yo, Ranji and his magic bat, koki and her friends flute, Mukesh and his love for animals, Amir and his picturesque window, all the stories will surely bring a smile on your lips. Enjoy these very short stories with a morning coffee and I am sure they will leave you wanting to go back in the time through a time machine when the air was clean ,bazaars were lively and days were long.
May 29, 2024
Otro libro de barcos de vapor que dejé inconcluso en la infancia. Y no sé por qué y una pena porque es precioso. Una suerte de pequeñas historias cruzadas de niños en la India con personajes que se van interconectando y en otro final tal vez la mejor historia es la única con dos personajes que no se relacionan con los demás. Y como el mejor cine hindú sin contar aparentemente nada concreto termina dejando poso.
June 2, 2016
Innocent and charming! Each time I long to dive back into my childhood, I resort to Ruskin Bond. His understanding of children's emotions, their feelings, their joy and pride, their friendship and tiny trifles, their sorrow and anger, is unparalleled. Every time I am outside - traveling on a bus, or just walking by the roadside, I try to find the another Koki, Suraj, Ranji or Bhim, and desperately wish to delve back into colorful memories of my own childhood rephrased by Bond. In this book, bond paints the moments of childhood tales, knits them with love and compassion, and presents them with simplicity and generosity. Set in the town of Dehra, in the foothills of the Himalayas, this book is an enriching experience for children and adults alike. A must read!
August 12, 2020
It’s a very short read of 115 pages. It’s a collection of short stories of kids living in India pre independence.
The book is simple, crisp and very refreshing to read. It’s like a trip down to memory lane when the enjoyment and childhood was real and not spent on mobiles, video games or laptops. It’s a rather interesting read in you are born prior to 2000. Your childhood memories would be refreshed.
The book is simple, crisp and very refreshing to read. It’s like a trip down to memory lane when the enjoyment and childhood was real and not spent on mobiles, video games or laptops. It’s a rather interesting read in you are born prior to 2000. Your childhood memories would be refreshed.
April 10, 2023
Gentle Breeze on a Hot Summer Afternoon
On me, Mr. Bond's stories have the effect of a gentle, cooling breeze on a hot afternoon. Taking me to a world unknown now yet so familiar. Like a blade of grass in a dusty ground, like children dancing in a waterlogged street, like a lazy cat not budging from it's cool spot, these stories are all around us. He takes simplicity and elevates it to wholesome food for the soul.
On me, Mr. Bond's stories have the effect of a gentle, cooling breeze on a hot afternoon. Taking me to a world unknown now yet so familiar. Like a blade of grass in a dusty ground, like children dancing in a waterlogged street, like a lazy cat not budging from it's cool spot, these stories are all around us. He takes simplicity and elevates it to wholesome food for the soul.
April 13, 2023
Its a collection of short stories revolving around a bunch of repeating characters, he does explore some themes like the negative effects of gossips in a hilarious manner, being an Indian it takes you back to a period where they used to use words like dhobi, maidaan, pahalwan, tonga.
The stories are quite short not exceeding 10 mins in most cases. So go ahead and read it for that walk down memory lane.
The stories are quite short not exceeding 10 mins in most cases. So go ahead and read it for that walk down memory lane.
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April 15, 2024Calling all short story aficionados!
Dive into a world of nostalgia with the master Ruskin Bond. This compact treasure of 117 pages transports you to the charming city of Dehra.
As you journey through the tales of Koki, Mukesh, Ranji, and more, you'll find yourself immersed in a simpler time, free from the hustle of technology.
A truly immersive experience!
Book: The Road to the Bazaar by Ruskin Bond
Pages: 117
Review: 4.5/5
Dive into a world of nostalgia with the master Ruskin Bond. This compact treasure of 117 pages transports you to the charming city of Dehra.
As you journey through the tales of Koki, Mukesh, Ranji, and more, you'll find yourself immersed in a simpler time, free from the hustle of technology.
A truly immersive experience!
Book: The Road to the Bazaar by Ruskin Bond
Pages: 117
Review: 4.5/5
November 14, 2020
I had varied emotions as I was going through each story. I got goosebumps for the determination and positivity that Mohan showed in Aamir and Mohan’s story. I thoroughly enjoyed and at times laughed out loud for the cute actions of Teju when he meets the watchman face to face in the guava orchard and as well for his cuteness when Mukesh starts a zoo. An enjoyable read !
December 22, 2023
i loved the stories, I was in nostalgia honestly, i heard the audiobook, the whole time, it reminded me of my grandmother, who used to tell me stories in the night, and i just couldn't do anything but miss her. The stories used to be like this only, filled with the cultural and traditional values, gods and goddesses, kings and queens and the feel of home.
March 31, 2020
What a colourful description of the daily life of an Indian Boy!
I enjoyed it immensly. These were funny stories, heartwarming and they really paint an exciting picture.
I have read three books by Ruskin Bond now, and I am still looking for more!
I enjoyed it immensly. These were funny stories, heartwarming and they really paint an exciting picture.
I have read three books by Ruskin Bond now, and I am still looking for more!
November 30, 2020
I really like the way Bond writes about nature. This is a short book of short children's stories featuring different kids who are all friends with each other in some way. I definitely want to read more of Bond's nature writing in the future and his adult fiction.
July 27, 2018
Simple, nostalgic and beautiful. Ruskin Bond is always a soothing read.
November 29, 2019
It’s a very good book for children.it talks about the adventures of Ranji,koki and Suraj and many others
January 8, 2023
Childhood memories come to life!!
September 16, 2024
Feel good stories. Good read for a cool and warm evening.
November 27, 2025
Loved the book and stories😃
March 24, 2024
An awesome and a wonderful offering by one of the best Children's Book Authors, Ruskin Bond. It deals with amazing stories which are woven by Ruskin Bond, and these stories are no doubt classical. There are many stories in this book and many of them have numerous incredible children like Suraj, Ranji, Koki, Mukesh, Amir etc. and tell us how they live, grow up, feel, play and tell us much more about them and what do they do.
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June 2, 2008iooto
September 25, 2008
there are diffrent stories
Currently reading
June 6, 2012good
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December 27, 2012its goood
March 29, 2016
Simple and light reading. Ruskin makes even the smallest town come to life with everyday stories for children
June 5, 2016
I read the English one. It brings back the memory
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews