Shelf-Care: Inside B’luru’s weekend book crawls

Curch Street may be known for its cafés and crowds, but for many Bengalureans, its biggest draw lies between the bookshelves. From century-old institutions on MG Road to beloved second-hand stores stacked with hidden gems, the city’s bookstores have long been part of its cultural fabric. Now, a new generation of readers is rediscovering them, turning bookstore hopping into a weekend ritual.‘Bookstores offer what algorithms can’t’Divya Jhawar, 25, who works in public relations, shares, “Algorithms show you what you already like. Bookstores give you what you didn’t think you needed. It provides the chaotic discovery that was missing from life. It’s not just a book that I’m getting, but an experience.” Bookstagram and Booktube have many recommendations, but none compares to what a bookstore curator or staff recommends. “Whenever I visit a bookstore, I make sure to chat with the staff to know what new books are there, what they would recommend to me, and which section I should explore today. You never know what gem of a book you’d find through these small conversations,” shares Harish Junaid, a marketing professional.The comfort of familiar shelvesBookstores are a shared space that keeps people connected through stories. Jeeya Sheth, an avid reader, says, “I love visiting vintage bookstores where there’s a certain kind of smell and beauty. Exploring the city’s bookstores and browsing through the collections helps me discover titles or classics I would never come across online. This also helps me in keeping me on track with my reading goals.” Sahil Amjad, a software engineer, prefers to go and roam around the bookstores on his own. “Walking between those aisles, reading the titles row after row and finding your old favourite book is one of those experiences that cannot be explained,” he shares.Neha Barik, 29-year-old a couselling psychologist, adds, “Bookstores bring people together, but they can also be great individual experiences. I prefer going by myself because it makes me feel more connected to who I am as an individual. It’s an intimate and sensory experience which you can’t get online.”Plan your MG Road bookstore trail Four stops. One day. Countless discoveries. Start at the iconic Higginbothams on MG Road, one of Bengaluru’s oldest bookstores and a landmark for generations of readers.From there, take a short walk to Select Bookshop, the legendary bookstore packed floor-to-ceiling with rare finds, forgotten classics and unexpected discoveries.Your third stop is Blossom Book House, filled with new and pre-loved books. Wrap up the trail at Bookworm in Church Street, a cosy independent bookstore perfect for browsing fiction, graphic novels and literary gems.Bookstore-hop tips Carry a tote bag – your hands will thank you Look out for signed copies, special editions, and stationery corners Pick up bookmarks and store keepsakes along the way Plan to spend more time to browse slowly, the best finds are rarely planned