book(s) for advance research on India?
Oct 3rd, 2006, 04:15 PM
#1
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book(s) for advance research on India?
am planning a trip to India in early 2007 (I hope). We'll have no more than 2 weeks and don't want a "greatest hits" trip...In order to narrow down to a smaller piece of the country to visit I would like to buy a big India travel guidebook to read thoroughly and use to figure out where we might most enjoy going.
I will probably replace it close to the trip with a more focused regional book or two. So for now I'd like something that will give me a real feeling for the different regions, cities and cultural variations rather than a book that just tells me where to sleep and dine and not much else.
I will certainly be doing research online when I decide on travel dates and where to go, but now I just want a book "companion" that I can pick up at will or read on the plane during my many business trips.
Thanks for any recommendations on an India travel "bible".
I will probably replace it close to the trip with a more focused regional book or two. So for now I'd like something that will give me a real feeling for the different regions, cities and cultural variations rather than a book that just tells me where to sleep and dine and not much else.
I will certainly be doing research online when I decide on travel dates and where to go, but now I just want a book "companion" that I can pick up at will or read on the plane during my many business trips.
Thanks for any recommendations on an India travel "bible".
Oct 3rd, 2006, 07:11 PM
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Before buying ANY books, go to your local library. Older guide books are fine for giving you overviews and suggestions, as major sights do not change, only hotels and restaurants do. Then when you find a guidebook you like, buy the most recent version.
I have books that are over 15 years old that I still use for background and itinieraries. Most of the hotels are still around too, just the prices have changed.
Two very good guidebooks for India, IMO are Lonely Planet and Eyewitness/DK. But get whatever your library has to do your initial reserach.
I have books that are over 15 years old that I still use for background and itinieraries. Most of the hotels are still around too, just the prices have changed.
Two very good guidebooks for India, IMO are Lonely Planet and Eyewitness/DK. But get whatever your library has to do your initial reserach.
Oct 3rd, 2006, 11:35 PM
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Agree with Cicone. I own an older edition of the Lonely Planet guide to India, and that should give you a good overall idea of what the country has to offer. The DK Eyewitness books are also good.
Makes sense to borrow from the library and then buy a more focused regional book once you decide where you want to do and what you want to see.
Makes sense to borrow from the library and then buy a more focused regional book once you decide where you want to do and what you want to see.
Oct 4th, 2006, 04:48 AM
#4
In addition to the library I also do research at Barnes & Noble or Borders. I buy a cup of coffee & browse guides to places I'm thinking of visiting - will work for the coffee table books too. I like the Insight Guides, Fodor's Exploring Guides and the Knopf Guides for helping to decide where to go (and as "souvenirs"
backed up by Lonely Planet. For India I would recommend Footprints in addition to Lonely Planet. This method isn't working very well for my current research on Central Asia, but should work great for India.
backed up by Lonely Planet. For India I would recommend Footprints in addition to Lonely Planet. This method isn't working very well for my current research on Central Asia, but should work great for India.
Oct 5th, 2006, 11:00 AM
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Was definitely thinking of hitting the library initially, for guidebooks as well as maybe some other kinds of travelogues on India. But I know I will want a book to hang onto for a year...to poke my way through over time, so will probably still buy one (rather than endlessly renew). I definitely browse the bookstore a lot before deciding on guidebooks--different series are better for different trips. i was thinking Lonely Planet looked good for India research...thanks to all and will check back.
Oct 5th, 2006, 05:54 PM
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Early 2007 is in 4 months or so, isn't it? I assumed you were talking about Jan/Feb/March 2007, when you said "early 2007"? You really don't want to go to India from about April through mid-October, IMO, way too hot and you have the monsoon issues to deal with in the summer months.
