Just starting to think about a trip to India and we are clueless. What guidebook(s) would you recommend for us to start our research?

Fodors and Lonely Planet. I have both, find they complement each other.

For deciding where to go I like the picture guides, especially Insight, although you could add Fodors' See It and DK and maybe National Geographic. For trip planning I would add Footprints to Kathie's list.

Yes, they are usually our choices, too and Lonely Planet just published a new one-Dec., 2012.
Thanks!

+1 for Fodors. Also, for wonderfully charming places to stay, we use Alastair Sawday's guide.
Have a great trip!

i like frommers and fodors for initial overviews and simple formats..

i just reread my 2011 trip report and brought it back to the top..

in northern india (golden triangle) a car and driver are really worthwhile..

Sawdays is useful, but only has a few of the heritage hotels. There used to be a website that listed all of the heritage hotels in India, but now, I find multiple websites each with only partial lists. Still, it's useful to search some of these lists. We loved the places we stayed in Sikkim!

www.heritagehotelsofindia.com

heritagehotels.com

welcomheritagehotels.com

www.indianheritagehotels.com

The Heritage hotels range from the grand and very expensive to the grand and not very expensive. I hope to stay in all Heritage hotels on our next trip, as we did on our first trip.

I have the Fodor's Essential India guide and it's pretty good but I think spends too much time on hotel reviews (my personal view). It does however have a lot of pictures and being "essential" India, spends time discussing the places you are most likely to be interested in. I'm considering the Lonely Planet and Time Out guide as well to compliment the Fodor's on our upcoming trip.

I liked Time Out and Natl. Geographic the best for planning, although both are somewhat outdated. The rest are also at least three years old, except LP (ridiculously large/heavy) and Fodor's Essential India (lacked maps). Took Time Out on the trip, plus kindle editions of LP and Fodors - neither easy to use.

Looking forward to an updated guide...hint, hint, editors (and N & S India should be separated.)

Planning is done, reservations made, trip is almost here. I have the Lonely Planet guide, which I like but agree -- ridiculously heavy! What guidebook did you find most helpful while traveling?

We are going only to Rajasthan, Varanasi & Agra, and I hate to tear a book apart, but am tempted to do so to avoid carrying so much weight.

LP publishes a Rajasthan focused book: http://shop.lonelyplanet.com/india/r...lpdest-shoppod
This makes more sense as does the Fodor's Essential India.

We carry notes which we compile over months preceding the trip - filled with info from various guidebooks and advice from prior travelers. If you are interested in seeing a copy of my notes, I will be happy to email you them. If you click on my name you will find my email address in my profile as well as my own trip report. We so bri g o e guidebook.

LP publishes guides to different parts of India. When we went to Sikkim, we carried the LP NE India guide, a more reasonably sized book.

i take guidebooks in pieces.. i rip out the sections i want and throw them away after use, or take them home and reglue the book if i think i will return

I may rip my book into sections, much as it pains me to tear a book apart. That LP is a real workout to carry!

The LP for Raasthan desn't include Varanasi, so I 'd end up buying yet another book or forget about a guide, which I don't think I'm capable of doing!

you don't really need a guidebook for varanasi.. its all about the ghats and the surrounding lanes..

you don't really need a guidebook for varanasi.. its all about the ghats and the surrounding lanes..

Wow...you guys are helpful as usual! I also rip books and take notes. I am going to get a few of your suggested guides and read over the next few months. Thanks, so much and Happy New Year. (I am still working on the Thailand/Singapore report and just posted another chapter.)

I would not use Sawdays UNLESS i saw their reccos in other guidebooks. Owners have to PAY to be listed with him. So if you see those cryptic notes about *this hotel/homestay is no longer on our list* it is not due to some problems with the hotel, but with their choice to no longer pay to be listed!

Among the latest ones, I find the Footprint India Handbook to be the best. The Let's Go India and Nepal is also good but sadly outdated now.