9.1 Before You Read
Before You Read Imagine a beach where the sea walks away for kilometres and then comes back, or a bridge made of living roots that grows stronger every year. These are real places in India. As you read, notice how the writer makes you see each wonder — and want to visit it.
What are “natural wonders”?
A natural wonder is a place or phenomenon created by nature — not by humans — that is so beautiful, rare, or surprising that it fills us with awe. India is rich in them: snow-fed valleys, strange tides, lakes born from space rocks, and bridges grown from trees. This chapter gathers a few of the most spectacular.
About the form: descriptive non-fiction
This chapter is non-fiction — it describes real places using facts. But it is written in a lively, descriptive style, full of colour and detail, almost like a travel guide. Two techniques are worth watching for:
- Vivid description: words that appeal to the senses, so you can picture the place.
- Introductory questions: the writer often opens with a question (“What if the sea could disappear?”) to spark your curiosity before giving the facts.
A quick map of the wonders
You will read about four marvels, in four very different corners of India:
- the Valley of Flowers (Uttarakhand, in the Himalayas);
- Chandipur Beach (Odisha), where the sea recedes far out;
- the Living Root Bridges (Meghalaya), grown from tree roots;
- Lonar Crater Lake (Maharashtra), made by a meteorite.
Key Idea Wonder is the beginning of both science and respect. When we marvel at a place, we want to understand it — and to protect it. The chapter invites us to be curious about nature and to help preserve these treasures.
Think and discuss
- What is the most amazing natural place you have seen or heard of? What made it special?
- Why is it important to protect natural wonders for the future?
- How can a good description make you “see” a place you have never visited?