Best travel books on India

LunavadaLad · May 16th, 2007, 14:53

Hi everyone

I am looking for the names (Titles) of peoples favourite travel books on India. I got the name of a great book on this site a few months ago but can't remember the name. Tried a site search and cant find it.

Thanks Wayne

lonelyaztec · May 16th, 2007, 18:35

City of Djinns is great - it is not a travel book though.

Vasko · May 16th, 2007, 20:13

Try an advanced search with the word "books" on titles only, and you'll get three pages of threads with good advice!

Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found by Suketu Mehta is one of my favorites, although like lonelyaztec's choice, it's not really a travel book.

Darmabum · May 16th, 2007, 20:37

a book having something to do with the country you're traveling to. My first four India travel books - read on that first trip in '82 - were: Freedom at Midnight, An Area of Darkness, the Bhagavad Gita, and A River Sutra. Without some knowledge of Hinduism, the Bhagavad Gita may be nothing more than a fable for you; the other three were strong historically, River Sutra is fiction. If your interests lie in the spiritual realms, I've just finished Paul Brunton's A Search in Secret India and recommend it highly. Many people have written highly of Holy Cow, I'm not one of those people. I'm a bit more (OK, a lot more

) historically/culturally oriented and enjoy A.L. Bahsam's The Wonder That Was India, history, plain and simple. Siddhartha, the HIlda Rosner translation, is a must too, it was the one that got me started thinking of India.

edwardseco · May 16th, 2007, 21:04

Love my Basham, both volumes..

salviadivinorum · May 16th, 2007, 21:08

The india mike Fourm in a e-travel book of its own kind.The search string in them " has it all ".... Try it.

Will connect

machadinha · May 16th, 2007, 22:49

A book I picked up there was Return to India by Kedar Nath, an Indian who returned to Kerala I think after a long spell abroad and describing his particular culture shock. I enjoyed it at the time, haven't read it for a long time though.

Jorge Reverter · May 16th, 2007, 23:17

I can recommend "Chasing the Monsoon" by Alexander Frater. I read it when I was traveling in India last December. Really good.

Jorge

dreamer · May 16th, 2007, 23:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jorge Reverter

I can recommend "Chasing the Monsoon" by Alexander Frater. I read it when I was traveling in India last December. Really good.

Jorge

Me too - I was just about to recommend that one - reading it has made me yearn to experience a monsoon for myself..

Darmabum · May 17th, 2007, 00:04

I recommend being in India for the monsoon. I did that last year. After four trips from October to April I thought it was time to get wet. Didn't realize how much of that "wet" would be from sweating. Very humid. After months of watching the clouds slowly build, that first rain was soooooo amazing.

Lou Wilson · May 17th, 2007, 00:31

"Chasing Rainbows in Chennai" out of print (See below for download)
A great read more of a travellers book than a travel book.
A wonderful book from the ground up rather than a quick overview.

If anyone wants a pdf copy of the book write colin (ie formatted and laid out as a book but in an electronic file) then email me at colin@zine5.com It is too big to attach to this message.

A more extensive book list on India can be found on IM at A More Extensive Book List Of Indian Reading?

roopesh_kohad · May 17th, 2007, 01:10

I would recommned series of books by Mark Tully, BBC correspondent in India for more than 20 years. Titles "India in slow motion", "No full stops in India" are essays on various experiences the author gained during his stay. Not really a travel books but give lot of insight into India psyche, politics, bureaucracy, custom and values etc. BTW they are all categorised under "Travel" sections in most sites.

New-South-Welshman · May 21st, 2007, 17:54

I've said this before and I'll say it again. I'd recommend "Holy Cow!" by Sarah MacDonald. Why? Because it's not pretentious and she tells it as it is, even though she may go over the top a few times, it sure is funny.

May 16th, 2007, 14:53	#1
LunavadaLad Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Perth Australia Posts: 84	Best travel books on India Hi everyone I am looking for the names (Titles) of peoples favourite travel books on India. I got the name of a great book on this site a few months ago but can't remember the name. Tried a site search and cant find it. Thanks Wayne __________________ If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home. ~James Michener

May 16th, 2007, 18:35	#2
lonelyaztec Maha Guru Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,408	City of Djinns is great - it is not a travel book though. __________________ Aztec My photoblog

May 16th, 2007, 20:37	#4
Darmabum Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: in the mountains of Idaho Posts: 809	I'm going to define a "travel book" as a book having something to do with the country you're traveling to. My first four India travel books - read on that first trip in '82 - were: Freedom at Midnight, An Area of Darkness, the Bhagavad Gita, and A River Sutra. Without some knowledge of Hinduism, the Bhagavad Gita may be nothing more than a fable for you; the other three were strong historically, River Sutra is fiction. If your interests lie in the spiritual realms, I've just finished Paul Brunton's A Search in Secret India and recommend it highly. Many people have written highly of Holy Cow, I'm not one of those people. I'm a bit more (OK, a lot more ) historically/culturally oriented and enjoy A.L. Bahsam's The Wonder That Was India, history, plain and simple. Siddhartha, the HIlda Rosner translation, is a must too, it was the one that got me started thinking of India. __________________ Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate; our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure - Marianne Williamson

May 16th, 2007, 21:08	#6
salviadivinorum Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Bangalore ( india) Posts: 49	@ LunavadaLad The india mike Fourm in a e-travel book of its own kind.The search string in them " has it all ".... Try it. Will connect __________________ If you've planned a vactaion, just go there and let the universe guide u .....

May 16th, 2007, 22:49	#7
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 10,916	A book I picked up there was Return to India by Kedar Nath, an Indian who returned to Kerala I think after a long spell abroad and describing his particular culture shock. I enjoyed it at the time, haven't read it for a long time though. __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

May 16th, 2007, 20:13	#3
Vasko Non-speaker fruit-eater Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: State of Contemplation Posts: 493	Try an advanced search with the word "books" on titles only, and you'll get three pages of threads with good advice! Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found by Suketu Mehta is one of my favorites, although like lonelyaztec's choice, it's not really a travel book.

May 16th, 2007, 21:04	#5
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 4,137	Love my Basham, both volumes..

May 16th, 2007, 23:17	#8
Jorge Reverter Maha Guru Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Murcia - Spain Posts: 1,213	I can recommend "Chasing the Monsoon" by Alexander Frater. I read it when I was traveling in India last December. Really good. Jorge

May 17th, 2007, 00:04	#10
Darmabum Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: in the mountains of Idaho Posts: 809	Instead of "Chasing the Monsoon", I recommend being in India for the monsoon. I did that last year. After four trips from October to April I thought it was time to get wet. Didn't realize how much of that "wet" would be from sweating. Very humid. After months of watching the clouds slowly build, that first rain was soooooo amazing.

May 17th, 2007, 00:31	#11
Lou Wilson Untitled Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Philadelphia. PA USA Posts: 118	Chasing Rainbows in Chennai "Chasing Rainbows in Chennai" out of print (See below for download) A great read more of a travellers book than a travel book. A wonderful book from the ground up rather than a quick overview. If anyone wants a pdf copy of the book write colin (ie formatted and laid out as a book but in an electronic file) then email me at colin@zine5.com It is too big to attach to this message. A more extensive book list on India can be found on IM at A More Extensive Book List Of Indian Reading? Last edited by Lou Wilson : May 17th, 2007 at 00:36. Reason: dead link - addotion

May 17th, 2007, 01:10	#12
roopesh_kohad Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Pune, Maharashtra Posts: 164	I would recommned series of books by Mark Tully, BBC correspondent in India for more than 20 years. Titles "India in slow motion", "No full stops in India" are essays on various experiences the author gained during his stay. Not really a travel books but give lot of insight into India psyche, politics, bureaucracy, custom and values etc. BTW they are all categorised under "Travel" sections in most sites.

May 21st, 2007, 17:54	#13
New-South-Welshman Drunk Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Sydney, NSW Posts: 1,395	I've said this before and I'll say it again. I'd recommend "Holy Cow!" by Sarah MacDonald. Why? Because it's not pretentious and she tells it as it is, even though she may go over the top a few times, it sure is funny. __________________ Mr. Burns "Non-violence never solved anything!"

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