Kunzum: Where Books Meet Coffee

Ever turned on one of those wrong turns that ended up altering your life? That’s exactly what went down to Ajay Jain in 2007, when he found himself lost in the middle of nowhere, or more accurately, in the heights of the Indian Himalayas. What he tripped upon was Kunzum La, a mountain pass that not only pointed him in the direction of his life but also influenced one of India’s best and most unique ideas for a bookstore.

Fast forward to today, and Kunzum isn’t just a bookstore, it’s a cultural idea that breaks all the rules of traditional retail. See this: you walk in, grab a book, sink into a cozy sofa, and someone hands you a cup of coffee. The takeaway? There’s no bill for the coffee. None. Zero. Nope. (Yes, you read that right.)

“But wait,” you might ask, “what’s the catch?”

Well, that’s the beauty of it, there isn’t one.  Kunzum has created something that feels more like your book-loving best friend’s living room than a commercial space. It’s the kind of place where you can actually smell the coffee and books in the room.

The story of Kunzum is really the story of Ajay himself, a man who went from being a lost traveler to becoming a storyteller, photographer, and accidental vip in the world of bookstores. Before Kunzum became what it is today, Ajay was busy making and gathering stories across the world, clicking moments through his lens, and sharing them through books, photographs, and blogs. Think of him as that friend who always comes back from trips with the best stories, except he actually wrote them down and built a business around them.

In 2010, Ajay did something that probably made his accountant lose sleep: he opened Kunzum Travel Café, where guests could pay what they wanted for coffee. It was meant to be a hub for travelers, but like all great ideas, it turned into something bigger. Soon, it became a comfort place for every book lover around town, writers writing their next big masterpiece, poets finding their tone, photographers sharing their perspectives, and musicians making music.

What puts Kunzum apart from other bookstores isn’t only their unique coffee policy or its carefully thought over book collection, it’s the way it has reinvented what a bookstore can be. In an age of algorithmic recs and one-click buying, Kunzum gives something very rare, genuine human connection over stories.

Walk into any Kunzum store on a mundane evening, and you might find yourself in the middle of rows and rows of books or listening to an emerging poet test out new verses, or watching a group of children discover the joy of storytelling for the first time. The space changes throughout the day, each hour bringing its own character and charm.

The morning crowd can be the serious readers, those who arrive as soon as the doors open, looking for the perfect corner to read into their newest book purchase. They’re the ones who know exactly which corner chair has the best natural light and how to catch the staff’s eye with just a little nod when they’re ready for their second cup of coffee.

As afternoon rolls around, you’ll notice a different energy taking over. Young professionals on their lunch breaks browse those shelves, while freelance writers and artists settle in for longer stays. The staff has mastered the art of making everyone feel welcome while also gently reminding visitors that this isn’t quite a co-working space, it’s something more special than that.

Kunzum has grown into a full-fledged bookstore, but it’s kept its core original. They don’t just sell books, they create experiences. Want to join a Book Club? They’ve got that. Looking for a safe space to discuss LGBTQ+ literature? Check out their Q List. Got kids who need their reading fix? The club is waiting for them.

The events calendar at Kunzum reads like a fantasy syllabus for the curious. One day might feature a workshop on travel writing led by a renowned author, the next could bring a photography exhibition taking on the the hidden corners of India, while the weekend might host anything from stand-up comedy to serious book discussions.

But what makes Kunzum truly special? it’s not trying to be everything to everyone. You won’t find textbooks or  manuals here. What you will find is a collection of books that make you think, feel, and maybe even change your thinking a bit. And yes, that famous coffee is still there, now free with every book purchase, served with their secret signature brownie cookies (and trust me, they’re worth writing home about).

The staff at Kunzum deserves special mention. They’re not just booksellers; they’re matchmakers who take genuine pleasure in connecting readers with their next favorite book. They remember your reading preferences, gently push you out of your comfort zone with thoughtful suggestions, and somehow manage to create an atmosphere that’s both professional and deeply personal.

The space itself tells a story. The walls are full of photographs from travels, each one capturing a moment that says that there’s more to discover. The furniture encourages both reading alone and conversation. Even the way the books are displayed feels intentional, creating unexpected connections between genres and authors that might never have occurred to you otherwise.

The magic of Kunzum is that books aren’t just products, they’re windows to new worlds, ideas and connections. Their tagline, “It’s the Way You Think,” isn’t just clever marketing, it’s a mirror of what happens when you create a space where stories, ideas, and people can coexist in the most wonderful ways.

The community that has grown around Kunzum is perhaps its greatest achievement. Regular customers have become friends, strangers have become collaborators, and creative projects have been born over cups of coffee and shared readings. It’s not uncommon to see small groups  together long after an event has ended, still deep in discussion about things that were talked about hours earlier.

For those new to the city, Kunzum becomes a place to find like-minded people and to begin building a community. For longtime residents, it’s a reminder that even in a fast-paced city life, there’s still room for slow conversations and the simple pleasure of getting lost in a good book.

So next time you’re looking for your next great read, remember there’s a place where getting lost might just help you find exactly what you’re looking for. Just like it did for Ajay at that pass years ago. A place where every visit might lead to falling in love with a book, where every conversation could spark a new idea, and where coffee, like all the best things in life, comes without a price tag.

And well, the coffee’s on the house.