Books about India

A Day in the Life of India (Day in the Life) by Michael Tobias, Raghu Rai (Editor), David Cohen (Editor) Hardcover (October 1996) Collins Pub San Francisco; Amazon

Synopsis A photographic celebration of the people and ancient landscape of India depicts such diverse subjects as chilly Ladakh, slum-dwellers in Bombay, and the Dalai Lama. 20,000 first printing.
Review: A Day in the Life of India is a visual time capsule capturing one of the world's most fascinating places. Some of the subcontinent's finest photographers and filmmakers devoted hundreds of hours of work to the project, fanning out across the country in search of the elements that define India. What they turn up is a veritable feast for the eyes: a woman adrift in a sea of crimson chilies; fishermen emptying their nets on a sun-drenched beach on India's eastern coast; a flower-strewn wedding in northern India. Each photograph is accompanied by an informative caption and tagged with a colored dot that corresponds with a small map showing where the picture was taken. Amazon

India Unveiled by Robert Arnett Hardcover - 224 pages 2nd edition (January 1999) Atman Press; 260 color photos and seven maps, Amazon

Synopsis This award-winning portrait of the people, landscape, and multi-hued culture of India has been acclaimed as one of the most insightful and revealing books ever written about the country. Organized by regions, the six chapters, more than 260 color photos and seven maps cover the complete essence of the nation.
Review: An engaging account of India's culture and spiritual legacy. This book must surely figure among the classics written on India. The merit of a book written on a country can be gauged by the interest it generates in its readers for that country. Having lived outside India for a few years and having read many books on India, I can faithfully say that no other book transported my spirit closer to home than “India Unveiled”. Robert Arnett understands that India’s wealth lies more in her spiritual knowledge than in her material riches. Breathtaking photographs add great expression to the author’s vivid commentary. The book is highly recommended for anyone interested in India’s cultural values and also for those who plan on a visit. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Lonely Planet India by Christine Niven Paperback - 1072 pages 9th edition Amazon

Firmly ensconced in the budget travel canon, Lonely Planet: India has become as essential to subcontinental backpacker culture as the Himalayan hill stations, Arabian Sea beaches, and crafty rickshaw drivers it describes. Beyond the frank, thorough coverage of the country's highlights and pitfalls, indispensable maps and a snazzy full-color guide to India's religions make this sturdy tome an endlessly useful one-stop reference. Though the emphasis is on "budget" travel, there are hotel and restaurant picks to accommodate you whether your budget is $10 or $500 a day. The book's only problem is that to some degree, it's a victim of its own success--it can be difficult to get off the beaten path when every English-speaking backpacker in South Asia is carrying the same guide. Fortunately, given India's (and the book's) seemingly endless charms, there's still enough to go around. --Andrew Nieland

Lonely Planet Nepal (5th Ed) by Hugh Finlay, Richard Everist, Tony WheelerAmazon

Cover shown is 3rd ed.Synopsis Features: 55 detailed maps including colour country map; illustrated guide to the Gods of Nepal; walking tours of historic Kathmandu and Bhaktapur; trekking, rafting and mountain biking chapters; and an indispensable language chapter and glossary of useful words.

Footprint India Handbook 2000 (India Handbook 2000) by Robert Bradnock, Roma Bradnock Paperback - 1488 pages 9th edition (November 1999) Passport Books; Paperback Hardback

Review: A thoroughly well-researched guide. The India Handbook is a thoroughly well-researched and detailed guide. The most informative guide on the market, it provides invaluable information which is useful to both the short and long-term visitor to India, particularly by the inclusion of accurate large and small scale maps. It is also strong and compact. However, perhaps the most appealing feature is it's direct and non-chatty text, packing important and need-to-know facts into a notey yet precise format, leaving the reader to form his/her own opinions on people and places. --This text refers to the hardcover edition of this title

India by Rail, 3rd Edition by Royston Ellis, Samit Roychoudhury Paperback - 256 pages 3rd edition (July 1997) Bradt Pubns; Amazon

Review; It's been very useful in planning our trip, gives you types of service available, how long it takes from A - B and how to cope once you get there. We are purchasing tickets through a guy in Wembley, UK, that they recommended and it's all been true so far It's nice to get some specific advise, especially when you're trying to work out a route and timetable.
Webmaster : India is a vast country and train is a cheap way of getting round, but the windows are usually dirty. If you want to meet Indians travel 2nd class and carry a pocket full of foreign small change which they love. You will find them friendly and will share some food with you. You will either love it or hate it.

Hindu India : From Khajuraho to the Temple City of Madurai (Taschen's World Architecture) by Henri Stierlin, Chris Miller (Translator), Anne Stierlin (Photographer) Hardcover - 240 pages (November 1998) TASCHEN America Llc Amazon

Review: Spectacular photographs; the architecture is simply amazing. I have visited a few of the temples described in the book and been blown away by the intricate and ornamental architecture. This book has inspired me to visit the rest of the temples described. The photographs are beautiful.
Review: a truly exceptional book of an extraordinary architecture At last, a moderately priced book that captures the beauty of one of the world's great archi- tectures. The unique forms and textures of Hindu architecture are an invaluable inspiration to the creative artist, and for that reason alone, I highly recommend this book as an important addition to the artist's library.