Dervla Murphy investigates the feasibility and cultural richness of low-budget, immersive travel through Southern India alongside her young daughter. Murphy, an experienced travel writer known for her rugged, independent style, utilizes her personal diary entries to document the logistical realities and social encounters of their transit from Bombay to the remote mountain region of Coorg. The book argues for the value of slow, unmediated exploration, prioritizing local interactions and humble accommodations over conventional tourism.

The text is regarded as a classic of the travelogue genre, noted for its candid, unvarnished perspective on the realities of mid-20th-century Indian travel. The narrative provides a dense, observational account that serves as both a personal memoir and a practical, if unconventional, guide to the region.