How can a thin, eight-page book celebrate the wonders of India’s third largest state? A state large enough to house at least 20 different languages. How can it blend cartography and art to effect critical ecological thought? More importantly, can a map delightfully list out varying markers of a region—from natural bounties, vegetation patterns and biodiversity to sources of irrigation, modes of transport, art exploits and humble crafts such as beedi and chappal-making?

Eklavya, a non-profit for children, clinches all of the above for this state, in an attractive publication under their nature-society series. It’s simple and beautiful. We could only respond with these two qualifiers on glancing through the book for the first time. Having pored over the map for hours and matched monuments, bridges and sloth bears to specific sites, we know that the efforts that have gone into making it are anything but simple.