When people living in the cities imagine mountains and hills, they think of a serene and quiet place that is nestled away from the daily chores of life. For most Indian families, going away to some hill station for at least a week, to relax and rewind is almost like a tradition. However, the reality of hill life and situations might not be as rosy as it is thought to be.

Media have been reporting the news of people dying on Mount Everest because of a “traffic jam”. It is as ludicrous as it sounds, but this has actually happened. The top of the world is actually overcrowded! At the time of writing this article, another report of a death on the world’s highest peak came in. A total of eleven people have died till last count. With Everest expeditions becoming more popular, these ‘jams’ have become a regular sight, and the death toll is reminiscent of the 1996 Everest Disaster.

Through the years, multiple books have been written on Everest, exposing the hidden truths and struggles behind climbing the world’s highest peak. These works deal with the strength required and also provide an inside account on the ground reality. It does not matter whether you plan to climb Everest some day or are just reading it for some knowledge, these books will provide you with great insights on Mount Everest.

Here are 5 engrossing books on Mt Everest

· Into Thin Air

Jon Krakauer was a journalist for Outside magazine and one of the people involved in the 1996 Everest Disaster that killed eight people. In this book, he described his personal experience, plainly stating facts without colouring them.

The book is his way of making peace with the tragedy of that day, though there has been some controversy surrounding the actions of one of the mountaineers, Anatoli Boukreev. Nevertheless, the book is a compelling read and tries to shed light on the horrors faced by the climbers on May 10 and 11, 1996.

· Touching my Father’s Soul

Written by Jamling Tenzing Norgay, son of Tenzing Norgay, the book discusses the life of Sherpas—the mountaineers who help climbers in the Everest expeditions. The book delves deep into the Sherpa culture, their beliefs and rituals, and also discusses the 1996 Everest Disaster. Written from a Sherpa’s perspective, the book talks about their story of when they are climbing Mt Everest and their culture and their religion.

· The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest

A must read after “Into Thin Air”, the book is written by Anatoli Boukreev, most probably to defend himself against the controversy of Into Thin Air. The book tells the untold side of the story from Boukreev’s perspective and is very informative about the events that led to the 1996 Everest Disaster and how the events that unfolded after the disaster.

· High Adventure: The True Story of the First Ascent of Everest

Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were the first climbers who confirmed to have reached the summit of Mt. Everest. This book tells in detail about the expedition that made them famous. Telling in detail about the Himalayan training of 1952 as well as about the unforgiving climate on the mountain, this is a must-read for anyone who wants to climb the highest peak in the world.

· Blind Descent: Surviving Alone and Blind on Mount Everest

Climbing Mt. Everest is a dangerous task. You do not know whether you will be able to make it or not. What happens when you are alone and suddenly snow blind? This book tells the story of Brian Dickinson, a US Navy air rescue swimmer who became snow blind during his descent. His Sherpa had taken ill and had to be sent back. The book tells his story of survival and about how he managed to stay alive in the unforgiving atmosphere of Mt. Everest.