This paper examines the relationship between the state and its citizens as represented in travel narratives, with particular focus on Noor Zaheer’s writings and Roy Moxham’s The Great Hedge of India. By exploring the historical and contemporary significance of borders, surveillance, and control, the study analyses how travel writing reveals the political dimensions of space. The concept of the “perimeter” is used to understand how states regulate movement, resources, and identities, often shaping the everyday experiences of citizens. Through a comparative reading, the paper argues that travel narratives expose the tension between authority and lived reality, demonstrating how boundaries both visible and invisible mediate state citizen relationships. Ultimately, these texts highlight how travel writing can serve as a critical tool for interrogating power, governance, and resistance.