Nature in the city

Harini Nagendra

The ecologist Harini Nagendra examines the presence of nature in one of India’s largest and fastest growing cities. Although Bengaluru’s tree-lined avenues, historic parks and expansive water bodies have been degraded in recent years, these pockets of nature exhibit a remarkable tenacity. Tracing the city’s history—from its origins in fifth-century settlements to its current urban landscapes—Nagendra shows the different ways that nature is perceived in Bengaluru’s home gardens, slums, streets, parks, lakes and sacred spaces.

Oxford University Press, 233 pages, Rs 795