Monisha Rajesh is an author and journalist whose writing has appeared in The Guardian, The Financial Times and Travel + Leisure. In 2023 she was named in the Condé Nast Traveller Women Who Travel Power List. Her first book Around India in 80 Trains (2012) was one of The Independent's top ten books on India. Her second book, Around the World in 80 Trains (2019) won the National Geographic Travel Book of the Year and was shortlisted for the Stanford Dolman Award. Her third book, Epic Train Journeys (2021) was shortlisted for the National Geographic Traveller Photography Book of the Year and her latest book, Moonlight Express: Around the World by Night Train (2025) was shortlisted for the Edward Stanford Travel Book of the Year.