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A Sense of India: Guidebook Reviews
by Alex Catanese, Brooks Institute of Photography
 Let's Go
After perusing the 2001 Let's Go India & Nepal, I would have no reservations in choosing this guide and being completely confident that I would have all I need in a guidebook for a trip to India. With Let's Go, you get more tools for what you go to India for: to learn, to interact, and to have a mind-blowing experience. The sections on Indian history, culture, and religion are exceptional, and its highlighted sections on local discoveries are a real treat. There is great information on trekking, accommodation listings at religious institutions, places to study language, plus Yoga classes.
The guidebook offers other pluses. For example, the layout provides side tabs that separate India's States and makes for easy navigation. In addition, the guide offers mini-phrasebooks in all the major Indian languages.
Another great feature is its outlined "Warning" sections as they apply to each location. The only shortcoming to this guide is its tendency to leave out the smaller towns due to the space it devotes to covering Nepal. But overall, it is an excellent choice.
www.letsgo.com
ISBN: 0312246781 $22.99
 Rough Guide
Wonderfully designed for people who like to pick up and leave when they feel like it, the Rough Guide is a top-notch book that offers a complete guide to India. Without being restricted to the budget travel lifestyle, this guide offers a wide gamut of dining and accommodation options, from budget to luxury. In addition, it packs in outstanding background information on Indian history, local customs, and religious customs.
The Rough Guide is known to consistently include information on small, off-the-beaten-path locales that are oftentimes overlooked by other travel guides. Other sections I enjoyed included "Arriving in" and "Moving on from" each city.
This guide contains practical data. The trekking information and maps are excellent. In addition, the guide offers suggestions staying in ashrams and monasteries, taking Yoga classes, and experiencing meditation retreats. This guide falls short on its lack of highlighted section tabs and its extremely short (not even a page) phrase section, (which is only in Hindi). If you care more about content and exploring the hard-to-reach places in India, then the Rough Guide is a perfect choice.
www.roughguides.com
ISBN: 1858284457 $24.95
 Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet India is by far more detailed than any other guidebook focusing on India. It offers over a thousand pages of essential, visitor information, plus outstanding photography.
Lonely Planet's eating and accommodation sections, are far easier to use than the other guidebooks mentioned. They clearly and consistently divide everything in terms of Budget, Mid-range, and Top End. Its maps are superior even for the smaller towns. In addition, "getting there and away" sections are extremely helpful, while provides highlighted "Warning" tables apply to each destination. Although Lonely Planet skimps a little when it comes to a dictionary and phrasebook, their glossary is useful and they publish Hind/Urdu and Tamil phrasebooks along with a myriad other books that specialize in particular regions, trekking, and now food. Lonely Planet has thought of everything in terms of content, design, and special features for their guide to India. That is why it has been an indispensable tool for so many people who travel in India. A sure thing!
www.lonelyplanet.com
ISBN: 0864426879 $25.95
 Fodor's
If you want to experience India in royal fashion, choose Fodor's guide to India. This guide is designed more for those who desire a nice vacation in India rather than the budget traveler. On the upside, Fodor's pages are chock full of useful info on the best hotels, restaurants, and shopping areas. They offer smart itineraries including self-guided walks, and do a good job of describing major pilgrimage sites and attractions. However, Fodor's falls short on historical, cultural, and religious info and info on local customs when compared to the other guides. It has no language guide at all except for its extremely short glossary, and its maps are average and lack detail. If you are going to India on business or for a short trip and plan to see major tourist sites, than this book may be for you.
www.fodors.com
ISBN: 0679004106 $19.50
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