As Goddess Saraswati, the divine embodiment of knowledge, signifies, books as instruments of learning are revered in India. So much so that it is sacrilegious in some houses to accidentally let a book fall down, and necessitates a quick prayer of forgiveness while the prostrate volume is hastily scooped up. It's no wonder, then, that a place like Blossom Book House is an institution in Bangalore.

Spread out over three separate floors, Blossom mainly offers second hand books along with the newly published, and it is these once-owned volumes that form the bulk of the shop’s repertoire. The discounts can range from 10 to 90%, and it's hard to resist the temptation of buying more books than one could possibly read.

While many may argue that there’s nothing quite like the feel of a brand new book, Blossom can make you appreciate owning second hand ones. The books take on individual characters as they change hands, displaying their history of ownership wherever they go, and give you the added bonus of owning a one-of-a-kind book. Plus, digging through the shelves, you may just find a yet undiscovered collector’s item.

Whatever your take though, this place is definitely worth a visit if you’re in Bangalore. If you're not there, you can have a look at their online store, though nothing is quite like wandering through the veritable maze of books that the store is.