travel books for india

• South Africa
• Turkmenistan
• South Korea
• Philippines
• Timor Leste
• Afghanistan
• Saudi Arabia
• United Arab Emirates
• Northern Ireland
• Isle Of Man
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• North Macedonia
• Liechtenstein
• Netherlands
• Switzerland
• Czech Republic
• Antigua And Barbuda
• British Virgin Islands
• Cayman Islands
• Dominican Republic
• Puerto Rico
• Saint Barthelemy
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Martin & Sint Maarten
• Trinidad And Tobago
• Turks And Caicos
• US Virgin Islands
• Falkland Islands
• French Guiana
• El Salvador
• United States
• New Zealand
• Papua New Guinea
• Cook Islands
• French Polynesia
• Accessories
• Bags & Backpacks
• Horseback Riding
• Photography
• Maintenance
• Airport Hotels
• Bed & Breakfast
• Budget Hotels
• Business Hotels
• Family Friendly Hotels
• Gay Friendly Hotels
• Luxury Hotels
• Pet Friendly Hotels
• Pool Hotels
• Romantic Hotels

13 Best India Travel Guide Books

• Travel Gear
• 13 Best India Travel Guide…

India is a vast country with diverse and awe-inspiring landscapes. From sandy shores of the Keralan coast, barren deserts of Rajasthan, the majestic snow-capped Himalayas, ancient temples, to buzzing modern cities, the country has it all. The stunning country also offers a rich mix of traditions, festivals, and spiritual beliefs. All these reasons make India a must-visit! For a memorable trip to India, what’s a better way to understand and learn more about the country than by getting yourself “lost” in the best India travel guide books? These guidebooks are more than helpful in planning your trip. Whatever you want to explore in this ancient country, these travel guide books India will help you make the most of your time in this exotic part of the world.

How To Choose The Best India Travel Guide Books?

Travel guidelines to India are all you need to arrange the perfect trip to India . With travel guidebooks, it’s easier to travel safely. That said, choosing travel guide books India also can be overwhelming. To get the best one, there are some basic things that you can consider before deciding to buy a travel guide book India. Let’s take a look at them one by one!

What’s Included In The Book

A travel guidebook to India should contain information about sights, accommodation, transportation, activities, and restaurants. Detailed maps and historical cultural information also make a good guidebook. Some India travel guide books even include phrases and glossary to help you interact with the locals. Colorful photos in the book would be a great feature for travelers’ inspiration.

Published Date

To avoid misinformation about the places you’re going to visit, we recommend getting the latest edition which published date is no later than a year apart. Hotels, restaurants, sights, and shops are ever-changing, so it’s important to get the updated information.

While traveling, you may not want to be weighed down by a thick travel guide book India. If so, a digital version is the best option for you. Meanwhile, some travelers may want to have a printed edition. This version can be useful along the way, such as for taking notes or using the maps without the need for GPS or gadgets.

Is India easy to travel around?

Well, since India is a huge country, getting around can be slow and require a bit of patience. However, it also offers extensive interesting and fascinating places. You’ll never get bored of traveling in India. If anything, your trip may turn into a fascinating adventure!

Is India dangerous for tourists?

You may have heard infamous rumors about India, but generally, India is considered a safe destination for tourists. That said, you should be aware of certain things like scams and pickpockets. So, don’t forget to bring your underclothing travel pouch for safety. Reading travel guidelines to India before you go, like The Essential Safety & Security Guide to Visiting India and Travel Fearlessly in India is also useful. These books provide useful tips, advice, and strategies on how to travel safely in India.

Is India expensive to visit?

Actually, India is commonly known as one of the best budget destinations for travelers in the world. You’ll find plenty of budget hotels and affordable transportation to get around. It’s a perfect destination for budget travelers.

Essential India Travel Guide

Essential India Travel Guide is

written by Mohan Kapoor. He’s a native Indian who was born in Bikaner, Rajasthan. When he was young, he left the country. But, he returned to India for work. His jobs required him to travel extensively through India. So, he shares his knowledge about the country, life, historical sights, and culture into a useful travel guide. It’s perfect for anyone wanting to travel to India.

Unlike other India travel guide books we have on this list, this book only covers cities and states with the most popular and important tourist attractions. But you’ll get an in-depth look and some fun facts of each city. It includes where to eat, what to see, where to go, and what to expect. It also gives you information about how to be respectful to each of the six main religions,, plus, how to be aware of the pickpockets, and more.

The thing we like the most about this book is that the author provides essential tips. These include what to expect, what type of travel agencies you can trust, important cultural aspects, what food choices are safe, and so much more. Plus, he also shares his own story. In a way, by reading this book you travel virtually to cities and states like Delhi, Goa, and Kolkata even before you arrive in the beautiful and colorful country!

Any type of travelers, including business travelers, backpackers, and party-goers.

The Essential Safety & Security Guide to Visiting India

Are you a solo traveler who yearns to travel to India, but has been disheartened by rumors or publicity about violence there? The Essential Safety & Security Guide to Visiting India will show you how to have a happy and safe trip. So, you’ll know how to survive and enjoy your stay in the great land of India. The author is a native-born Indian diplomat with extensive experience and knowledge of his native country.

The book contains general information, like geography and weather. Before you go, some chapters will help you prepare. Getting started, financial planning , and before you travel are some of them. Information about health, insurance, and getting local connections are also provided. Besides, it covers insightful cultural and historical narratives. You’ll find all this info in the chapter: An Introduction to India .

The author talks about safety and security during your time in India. He guides you on how to act, what to do, and how to handle unique situations to make sure you enjoy your stay. You’ll figure out how to travel safely within India by air and train. He also gives tips on how to obtain travel passage to restricted or protected regions. What’s more, there’s a piece of specific advice for female travelers, making it the best travel guide books India for female travelers.

Backpackers, adventurers, female travelers, and solo travelers.

India – Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

Whether you’re traveling for work or planning a long-term trip to India, you’ll need travel guidelines to India. It will help you to understand the local culture. India – Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture is indeed a useful book. It helps you to learn important stuff about the country, whether it’s land and people, customs and traditions, or values and attitudes. Also, there are some tips on dos and don’ts and taboos. You’ll even get info about business in India!

This travel guide book India is written by Becky Stephen. She enjoys traveling and learning about cultures. Also, she studied Hindi at Banaras Hindu University and lived in Varanasi for years. The author shares her meaningful experience through a better understanding of the local culture. With this book, you’ll be aware of the essential values and behavioral norms, plus knowing how to make new friends and build relationships with the locals.

The book starts with the introduction and key facts about India. Meanwhile, the Land and People chapter contains several topics. These include a brief history of India, as well as its geography and climate. You’ll also find some information about places to eat, shops, and cultural activities. Besides, there’s a section for top places to visit and a map of India.

Long-term travelers, temporary residents, and business travelers.

Lonely Planet South India & Kerala (Regional Guide)

You’ll love Lonely Planet South India & Kerala . It’s perfect as your travel guidelines to India when visiting that particular region. The information on history and culture is very informative. Plus, there’s up-to-date advice on what to see and what not to see. So, you can discover both popular and off-beaten-path experiences. This makes the book the most comprehensive guide to South India and Kerala. It covers Goa, Kerala, Mumbai, Andaman Islands, Bengaluru, and more.

The authors have also packed the book with sights and experiences. It includes South India & Kerala’s Top 12. With this one of the best travel guide books India, you can choose activities that suit you. Do you prefer relaxing on a yoga retreat by the beach in Goa ? Or, floating along Kerala’s backwaters? This book has it covered. Meanwhile, the itineraries section helps customize your trip to your interests.

Get information on recommended accommodation, like hotels in Mumbai , and also places to eat, drinking & nightlife, entertainment, and shopping. There’s a section about how to travel with children for your next family trip. It gives you info about customs regulations, embassies, and consulates. Plus, full-color maps and images are also provided.

Family travelers, solo travelers, backpackers, business travelers, and long-term travelers.

Insight Guides India

You need to plan your trip to experience the best of India. Both paperback or digital editions of Insight Guide India can help you on your next adventure. It’s one of the best travel guide books India for travelers looking for a cultural experience. The book is written by local authors who have extensive historical and cultural backgrounds. Besides, they provide hundreds of stunning photos that capture the essence of India. Not to forget the detailed maps!

There’s a section that features India’s Top 10 Attractions. Also, it covers several regions, from Delhi in the north, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Goa, to Kerala. The information on independence, art, and architecture let you know more about the country.

You’ll find the editor’s choice for the most memorable India experiences. From seeing Hindu festivals, tasting the Indian food, to visiting Rajasthan fort. What’s more, the book includes practical information and travel tips. You’ll find about when to go and transportation. Moreover, this user-friendly travel guide book India provides invaluable maps. So, you could venture off the beaten track.

Any type of travelers, from backpackers, adventurers, business travelers, to photographers.

DK Eyewitness Delhi, Agra and Jaipur

Are you traveling to India for the first time or relocating temporarily to the capital city Delhi? Gear up with some information about the Golden Triangle for your adventures. It includes Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur, India’s most visited cities. These cities are famed for their iconic monuments and frenetic energy. Also, these regions have much to offer, including plenty of things to do in Jaipur .

For all those reasons, DK Eyewitness Delhi, Agra and Jaipur can be your best India travel guide books. Unlike most travel guide books, it’s lightweight. So, you can take it wherever you go on your trip. Also, the book is available on Kindle. The information from the book makes traveling across the three cities easy.  Whether you want to glimpse the pretty pink Hawa Mahal or get the perfect shot of the Taj Mahal, the book includes all. Not only you’ll discover reasons to love Delhi , Agra, and Jaipur, but the book also makes you know about the cities.

Like other DK Eyewitness travel guide books India, this book comes with trademark illustrations. Besides, the book provides the best places to eat, drink, and shop. Recommended accommodation is also provided. Meanwhile, the selection of itineraries allows you to make your own. What’s more, get expert advice on how to stay safe, get around, and get ready. Like all DK Eyewitness guide, the book has plenty of beautiful pictures and diagrams. Plus, it includes detailed maps and a pull-out map of Delhi.

Long-term travelers, business travelers, backpackers, and adventurers.

Travel Fearlessly in India: What Every Woman Should Know About Personal Safety

Women who are traveling to India should have the best India travel guide books. Travel Fearlessly in India written by J D Viharini is important for your first or fifth trip to the beautiful country. The author is an American woman who has made India her home. She has traveled across India since 1980, mostly alone. From the tropical south to the remote Himalayas, visit ancient temples, and attend great festivals.

With her 30 years of familiarity with India, she shares important things in travel guidelines to India. She includes the issues ladies may come across in the country. Here, you’ll find out about the mindset of Indian men and how to have safe interactions with them. She also talks about how to understand the Indian perspective on non-Indian women.

The book gives uncommon sights into how to travel and live safely in India. These include cultural factors relating to women’s safety. You’ll find comprehensive information like finding safe places to stay and how to travel safely; how to deal with potential problems and what you need to do if you have to go to the police are also provided. Her many years’ experiences make the book a great read for every female traveler before traveling to India.

Female travelers, solo travelers, and family.

Chennai & Tamil Nadu Focus Guide, 2nd Edition

Looking for specific India travel guide books to Chennai and Tamil Nadu area may be a bit difficult. That’s why the second edition of the Chennai & Tamil Nadu Focus Guide is very useful for your next trip. The book provides you with the insightful and up-to-date information you need. Are you planning to visit and explore many grand Hindu temples? Maybe you want to stop and savor the smell of jasmine garlands piled up before the carved granite gods? The book covers them all.

Also, you don’t want to miss enjoying nature in the blue Nilgiri Mountains. The book also includes information on the region’s unique history, culture, and cuisine for a richer experience along the way. Another section features practical tips on getting there and around.

Besides, you’ll get recommended and comprehensive listings of hotels, a list of restaurants and activities, including horse riding and festivals. This travel guide book India is only available in a printed edition but is slim enough to fit in your pocket. It helps you get the most out of Tamil Nadu without weighing you down. What’s more, the book provides detailed street maps for important towns and cities.

Photographers, long-term travelers, temporary residents, and backpackers.

Bradt Travel Guide: Ladakh, Jammu & the Kashmir Valley

Having the right travel guide books India is essential for the best adventures in Ladakh, Jammu, and Kashmir. Bradt Travel Guide Ladakh, Jammu & the Kashmir Valley can be your best option. Though Ladakh is becoming a more popular destination for its epic Himalayan beauty, some other areas are still off the beaten path, like Kashmir Valley & Jammu, plus Zanskar. There are so many wonders to be discovered and so many  things to do in Ladakh . So, this book is essential for travel guide book India for that specific region.

This fully updated edition helps you explore the whole area. These include Leh, Srinagar, Gulmarg, Zanskar, The Kashmir Valley, and Jammu amongst others. There are plenty of activities you can do. You may want to relax on a houseboat or take a shikara ride in Srinagar. How about exploring Buddhist culture in Ladakhi monasteries? Or, traveling in a jeep along nerve-wracking mountains roads become your choice? You can also enjoy the views from the roof of the world at the breathless Khardung La mountain pass. For adventurers, you don’t want to miss hiking to the Himalayan!

From the book, you’ll find information about these regions. Plus, trekking information, trekking maps, and new travel routes. Other highlights, like the Mughal Road, the Buddhist monks at Thiksey Monastery, and the Buddhas of Kargil are included. Also, we love the color photographs and maps. On top of that, there are Urdu and Ladakhi phrases. Get this one of the best India travel guide books in paperback or Kindle edition.

Adventurers, backpackers, climbers, hikers, and trekkers.

The Rough Guide to India

Make the most of your traveling with The Rough Guide to India ! Whether you’re visiting the world’s greatest building Taj Mahal or visiting the dramatic landscape of home to glaciers in Sikkim, it has it all. Also, the book provides very detailed and extensive information. It makes the book a perfect travel guide book India, especially if you’re preparing for the first trip to India and traveling on a budget.

The book may be a bit thick, but the e-book included is a brilliant bonus. Plus, it’s easy to use. These travel guidelines to India cover India’s cities and states north, south, and east. These include Uttar Pradesh, The Andaman Islands, Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana, and more. From this book, you’ll find extensive listings of the best sights and top experiences.

Also, you can get practical advice about what to see and do. The essential pre-departure information is also provided. It includes getting around, food and drink, and accommodation. You’ll also get info about festivals, culture and etiquette, and more. The itinerary section helps you prepare your own routes, from popular tourist areas to off-the-beaten-track adventures. Besides, there’s a section that provides history, ethnic groups, religion, and wildlife. You’ll love the amazing full-color photography and practical full-color maps.

Backpackers, adventurers, and temporary travelers living in India.

Fodor’s Essential India

Get Fodor’s Essential India as your travel guide books India. It helps you plan the perfect adventure in India to be a trip of a lifetime. This guidebook is written by local writers and expert travel advisors who know the destinations better than anyone else. It’s perfect for travelers who want to travel in India but feel intimidated by the vastness of India. The travel guidelines to India are available in Kindle for a guidebook on the go. Meanwhile, the paperback is small enough to fit in your handbag and backpack.

The book starts with Experience India. This section provides the ultimate experiences you should try in India . Is it taking a sunrise boat ride on the Ganges or entering through the world’s largest door at Fatehpur Sikri? Maybe you want to wander the sprawling City Palace in Udaipur and party the night away at Goa? Meanwhile, you can have an overview of what to expect and where to go in the Travel Smart India section. It helps you with what you need to know before visit India. Also, it includes getting here and around and sample itineraries. Plus, you’ll get an explanation about history, culture, and travel tips.

This guidebook provides up-to-date coverage. From the capital city Delhi, home to Mother House Kolkata, to a financial center Mumbai . It also covers the largest Indian states Rajasthan and the coastlines of Kerala and Goa. It also includes information for side trips from Delhi. Each major city features planning, where to stay, what to do, etc. What’s more, the book provides lots of maps and illustrations to help maximize your time.

Adventurers, backpackers, photographers, and family.

Lonely Planet India

If you’re traveling to India quite often, Lonely Planet India is worth owning. It contains a lot of information about many corners of the country. Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Darjeeling, Chennai, are among them. Plus, it provides full-color maps and images. So, the book is perfect for a quick skimming before you do detailed planning and begin your journey in India. Do you want to listen to monks chanting in the shadow of the mighty Himalaya in Ladakh? Or, visiting top attractions in Agra , like the Taj Mahal? It has you covered!

The book may a little be thick, but it provides 4-easy use sections. So, you’ll find the most relevant and up-to-date advice and recommendations easily. It contains three main chapters: Plan Your Trip, On the Road, Understand, and Survival Guide. The Plan Your Trip is your planning tool kit to create the perfect trip. It provides useful information. From what you need to know, suggested itineraries, how to travel with children, to regions at a glance.

The book covers plenty of places in the country. You’ll find Agra, Goa, Bangalore, Tamil Nadu, Hyderabad, Kerala, in the On the Road section. Plus, you’ll find expert reviews, insider tips, and easy-to-use maps. Get recommended accommodation, restaurants, and shops with honest reviews. Also, there’s a special section about tips for women and solo travelers, plus scams. What’s more, you’ll find information about transportation and cultural insights. It helps you get a more rewarding travel experience.

Family travelers, business travelers, adventurers, and backpackers.

DK Eyewitness India

DK Eyewitness India can be your right choice for India travel guide books. It’s filled with information. Either you choose the printed edition or e-book, you can take this guidebook wherever you go. The design will make the most of your travels to discover and experience India. Also, the book has several main sections, including Discover India. This section is divided into some parts: Welcome, Reasons to Love India, and Exploring/getting to know India. Itineraries/India your way, and the Indian year and a Brief History.

The introduction gives an overview of India as a country. Its history, food, culture, nature, architectures are amongst others. Meanwhile, the section Experience India features cities, states, and unions. Also, this travel guide book India includes highlights of what you could experience. It’s whether you prefer to drink tea in Darjeeling or visit the unmissable Taj Mahal. Perhaps you want to escape to the beautiful Andaman Islands or hike the heights of the Himalayas?

You’ll also find 22 sightseeing areas, which contains some information. These include addresses, phone numbers, websites, and opening times. Stuck for inspiration for your schedules while in India? Worry not! There are recommended easy-to-follow itineraries. So, you could set up your plan, whether you’re staying for just a few days or few weeks. Also, there is info about the best places to eat, sleep, and transport information. Even before you’re arriving in India, you can imagine yourself there through its colorful maps and amazing pictures. What’s more, you’ll get expert advice on how to get ready and stay safe.

Backpackers, adventurers, and temporary business travelers.

Author:  John P

As a blogger, I have had the pleasure of exploring some of the most exclusive destinations, indulging in the finest cuisine, accommodations, and experiences that the world has to offer. From the chic streets Paris to the scenic beauty of the Amalfi Coast, readers luxury. my, tips on the most exclusive hotels restaurants, and activities, giving you a glimpse into the world of high-end travel. But luxury travel is not just about extravagance - it's also about immersing yourself in the local culture and experiencing the true essence of a destination. With a passion for art, history, and architecture, I seek out the hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path experiences that make each destination truly unique. So whether you're planning a romantic getaway, a family vacation, or a solo adventure, my blog is your guide to the ultimate European luxury travel experience. Join me on my journey as we explore the best that Europe has to offer, one luxurious destination at a time.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Red Around the World

Your friendly guide to national parks, road trips, and all things outdoors.

35 Must-Read Books Set In India That Will Make You Want To Visit

Table of Contents

There are affiliate links in here.  I get a small commission if you purchase through them at no extra cost to you.

If you’ve been here for a while, you’ll know one of my favorite places to read about is India.  I love it.  Shantaram is one of my favorite books that I’ve been thinking about re-reading and made me finally sit down and write this list where you’ll find some of the best books set in India.

Whether you’re getting ready to visit India, looking for a reason to visit India , or just want to escape through a book, there is plenty here for you to choose from. 

You’ll find books about life in India, non-fiction books about India, fiction books about India, India travel books, Indian memoirs, and everything in between. 

The only thing you probably won’t find on this list is older books that would probably fall more into the category of a classic.

If you’re interested in  trying Audible,  you can get your first month free!  This is a great option if you want to listen to books more.  If you’re on more of a budget, try Scribd!   You can get your first two months free there.

The Road to East India

Devika A. Rosamund wrote this memoir when she traveled to India alone in 1976 when she was just 22.  She recorded and reflected on her experiences, emotions, and relationships formed along the way.

She started her six-week journey starts in Amsterdam where she takes a bus to Iran.  From there she takes local transportation through Afghanistan and Pakistan to get to India.

Piscine Molitor, Pi, is from Pondicherry and has always explored issues of spirituality and practicality from a young age.  

After being on a ship that wrecks in the Pacific Ocean, he survives for 227 days with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker.  This seems to be one of those “classic” books set in India you just have to read eventually.

Cracking India

Narrated by a precocious child, Cracking India is about the Partition of India in 1947.   Lenny Sethi is kept out of school because she suffers from Polio and spends her days with her nanny Ayah, who happens to be beautiful and always draws a big group of admirers.  

During her time spent with this odd group of characters, she learns about religious differences, religious intolerance, and the blossoming genocidal strife on the eve of Partition.  

Soon she begins to learn and spot the differences between Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs while engaging in political arguments around her.  

While she has enjoyed a privileged life in Lahore, her world is turned upside down when Ayah is kidnapped.   Soon she’s experiencing a world of religious, ethnic, and racial violence.

Rashid’s opium room on Shuklaji Street in Old Bombay is full of this and potent air as a beautiful young woman leans across to hold a long-stemmed pipe over a flame.   Men around her mutter in their own gloom and drift with their own tides.  

Narcopolis captures the rich, chaotic, hallucinatory dream that is Bombay in the 1970’s when there are whispers of Pathar Maar, the Stone Killer, collecting nameless, invisible, poor victims.  

It’s said here that you should only introduce your worst enemy to opium.   The streets are full of stray dogs in packs, hustling street vendors, hookers calling from cages, and pimps watching on from their doorways. 

The Elephanta Suite

This is the tale of three Westerners transformed by their travels in India, woven together by the master of the travel narrative, Paul Theroux.  

This book captures the tumult, ambition, hardship, and serenity marking today’s India with the travelers venturing far off the beaten path to discover woe, truth, and peace.  

A middle-aged couple on vacation quickly goes from idyll to chaos, a Boston lawyer ends up in the slums of Mumbai, and a young woman befriends an elephant in Bangalore.  

Along the way, we meet a cast of Indian characters reflective of the country’s wonderful ironies: an executive that wishes he were a spiritual beggar, a young striver with a personality rewired by acquiring an American accent, and a miracle-working guru. 

Slowly Down the Ganges

Eric Newby, a self-confessed river lover, sets out on a 1200-mile journey down the Ganges from Hardware to the Bay of Bengal on his 44th birthday with his wife Wanda.  

Things start off rough, with them running aground 63 times in the first six days, but soon things start to look up on India’s Holiest River and it begins to live up to its reputation.  

They travel in a variety of unsuitable boats, by bus, and by bullock cart as they become acquainted with the colorful history and shifting moods of the river. 

I love reading books about traveling long distances in unusual ways and this is one book about India I am very excited to read.

Maximum City

Suketu Meehta gives us and insider’s view of the stunning Bombay metropolis.   We get to see the city from new and interesting angles, like the criminal underworld of rivaling Muslim and Hindu gangs, the life of a bar dancers raised in poverty and abuse, and the inner sanctum of Bollywood.   We hear the stories of countless villagers who seek out better lives and end up on the sidewalks instead. 

The Palace of Illusions

This is a reimagining of the famous Indian epic, the Mahabharat, told from the perspective of an amazing woman, taking us to a place of half history, half myth.  

Panchaali, the narrator, is the wife of the legendary Pandavas brothers from the Mahabharat.   The story follows the princess Panchaali, beginning with her birth in fire and following her life with five husbands that were cheated out of their father’s kingdom.  

She stays by their side through the years of civil war and exile.   We, however, never lose sight of her strategic duels with her mother-in-law, her friendship with Krishna, or her secret attraction to the mysterious man who is her husbands’ most dangerous enemy. 

In Nine Lives wee get to explore the way traditional religions are viewed in modern India, showing ways of life we may never have otherwise known.  

We follow a middle-class woman from Calcutta living as a Tantric in a skull-filled cremation ground, a prison warden that is worshipped as an incarnate deity for two months of every year, a Jain nun that watches her closest friend ritually starve herself to death as she tests her powers of detachment, an illiterate gatherer that keeps a centuries-old 200,000-word epic alive in his head, a temple prostitute that reluctantly joined the trade, yet forces her daughters to join a trade she regards as a sacred calling, and more through this spellbinding story.

The Age of Kali: Indian Travels & Encounters

After living in India for ten years, William Dalrymple, we are treated to The Age of Kali as he senses the region is slipping into the most fearsome of all epochs in ancient Hindu cosmology: the Age of Kali, a time of strife, corruption, darkness, and disintegration. 

The Autobiography of an Unknown Indian

Nirad Chaudhuri tells the story of his childhood in the Bengali countryside, youth in Calcutta, and life in modern India through his own self-discovery and fiercely independent viewpoint.  It’s a story of deep conviction, charm, and intimacy.

Ticket to India

Maya and Zara are going to visit their grandmothers childhood home in search of a chest of family treasures left behind when her family fled for Pakistan during the Great Partition.  On their way to Aminpur in Northern India, they become separated and Maya is alone.

She is determined to find the chest and continues her journey with the help of an orphan named Jai.  This is a fun YA book set in India if you want something a little lighter.

A Search in Secret India

This is Paul Brunton’s story of traveling around India living with, some convincing and some not so much, yogis, mystics, and gurus.  Once he meets Sri Ramana Maharishi, he finally finds the peace and tranquility that comes with self-knowledge.

Lin escapes prison in Australia and flees to India on a fake passport and begins to get to know the underworld of Bombay with his new guide and friend Prabaker. 

They meet beggars, gangsters, prostitutes, holy men, soldiers, actors, and exiles from other countries.  Lin spends his time looking for love, running a clinic in one of the city’s poorest slums, and apprenticing with the Bombay mafia.

Two people that help unlock these mysteries are Khader Khan and Karla.  A mafia godfather, criminal, philosopher, mentor, and an elusive, dangerous, beautiful woman driven by her passions and secrets.  This is personally one of my favorite books ever.  It’s really long but SO WORTH IT.

City of Djinns

William Dalrymple explores the seven “dead” cities of Dehli as well as the eight – today’s Dehli.  He peels back the layers of Dehli’s centuries past revealing a unique cast of characters including a eunuch and descendants of great moguls.

At the heart of his explorations is the legend of the djinns, fire formed spirits that ensure the city’s phoenix-like regeneration no matter how many times it is destroyed.

Karma Gone Bad

Jenny Feldon is an Upper West Side housewife who finds herself being relocated to Hyderabad, India with her husband.  Instead of the glamorous yoga-filled life she imagined, she’s faced with buffalo-induced traffic jams.  She struggles with depression, bitterness, and anger as her sense of self and marriage begin to unravel.

The White Tiger

Balram Halwai: Servant, philosopher, entrepreneur, murderer.  Over the course of seven nights we are told the story of how Balram became who he is. 

He was born in the dark heart of India but gets a break when he’s hired as the driver of the richest man in the village, his two Pomeranians, and his very unlucky son.

While his peers flip through Murder Weekly, barter for girls, drink liquor, and perpetuate the Great Rooster Coop of Society, he sees his employers bribe for tax breaks, barter for girls, drink liquor, and play their own role in the coop.

While all this is happening, Blaram learns how to siphon gas, deal with corrupt mechanics, and refill and resell Johnnie Walker Black Label Bottles.  And he finds a way out of the coop that no one else inside it sees.

Sideways on a Scooter

Miranda Kennedy left her reporting job in New York City to travel India with no employment prospects.  She longed to immerse herself in turmoil and excitement of a rapidly developing country. 

Soon she learns life in Dehli is less westernized than she expected.  It’s next to impossible to rent an apartment as a single woman and she has to perch sideways on scooters.

Spending five years in the city, she experiences friendships, love affairs, and losses opening up the world of Indian politics and culture along with her own opinions of food, clothes, marriage, and family.

We get to meet several Indian women whose lives she is drawn into along the way.  While she sees India as the land of call-centers and fast food chains, she soon learns it’s an ancient place where women’s lives have scarcely changed for centuries.

This one has been on my TBR forever and if you’re looking for a book about expat life in India, this is a good choice.

Mountain Shadow

This is the sequel to Shantaram (but works as a standalone novel) following Lin on a new adventure through more shadowy worlds and cultures. 

At the beginning of the story, Lin has happiness and love, but soon he gets a call from a friend in need and he has to go help, even if it jeopardizes his love and happiness.

When he arrives, he enters a room of eight men that all play a significant role in the sotry: one becomes a friend, another an enemy.  One will try to kill him and one will be killed by another. 

We met some of the characters in Shantaram but are introduced to new ones as well, like Navida Der, a half-Irish, half-Indian detective and Edras, a philosopher with fundamental beliefs.

Sarah McDonald visited India in her twenties and left with memories of heat, pollution, and poverty.  When an airport beggar read her palm and said she would one day return to India – and for love, of all things – she said Never! and gave him, and the country, the finger.

Well, eleven years later she finds herself being relocated to the most polluted city on Earth, New Dehli, when her husband is posted there for work.  For her, it seems like the ultimate sacrifice for love and almost kills her, literally, with a double case of pneumonia soon after their arrival. 

After that harrowing experience, she begins her journey of discovery through India in search of the meaning of life and death.

The Girl and the Tiger

Isha loves animals but struggles in school.  She is sent to the Indian countryside to live with her grandparents where she discovers a Bengal tiger taking refuge in a sacred grove.

She knows the shrinking forests mean shrinking tiger habitats and when local villagers discover the tiger, she finds herself in a life or death cultural controversy. 

Her encounters with tribal people, elephants, and her search for the wild jungle are the sources of her revelations about the human relationship with the natural world.

This is by Paul Rosalie who wrote Mother of God , one of my favorite books.  I can’t wait to read this one, too!

Man-Eaters of Kumaon

If you don’t like big-game hunting/hunting/animal violence, skip right on to the next book.

Jim Corbett is a world-renowned big-game hunter.  He killed his first leopard before ehe turned nine and this is a collection of ten stories of him pursuing and shooting tigers in the Indian Himalayas in the early years of the century.

Along with the tales of hunting, we learn about the exotic flora, fauna, and village life in this treacherous region of India.

No Beast So Fierce

In Nepal in 1900 the single deadliest animal in recorded history began stalking humans in the lush foothills of the Himalayas .  A young local hunter was dispatched to stop the now legendary man-eater before it added to it’s 436-life death toll. 

At the turn of the century and British rule of India tightened, bounties were put on tigers heads. A tigress was shot in the mouth by a poacher but survived and began her reign of terror.  Instead of her normal prey, she moved to something easier: humans. 

Over the next seven years, she terrified locals and became bolder with every kill.  Finally, desperate for help, colonial authorities called on Jim Corbett for help.

Henna for the Broken Hearted

Sharell Cook is 30, living in Melbourne with her childhood-sweetheart husband with a high-powered job and plenty of extra cash.  But soon it all falls apart and she finds herself traveling to India to do volunteer work. 

While reinventing herself sounded easy, it’s not, especially in the chaos that is India.  Just as she’s wondering if things will ever work out, she meets a man and her transformation begins.

May You Be the Mother of a Hundred Sons: A Journey Among the Women of India

Elisabeth Bumiller spent three and a half years as a reporter for The Washington Post in India.  This is the fascinating and tragic stories of the women she met while she was there including wealthy sophisticates in New Dehli, villagers in the northern plains, movie starts in Bombay, intellectuals in Calcutta, and health workers in the south.

Travelers’ Tales India: True Stories

India is one of the most difficult places to travel and finds a lot of people saying they’ll never return, while just as many are drawn back time and time again.  It is the best show on Earth.

It dissolves ideas of what it means to be alive and it’s people give new meaning to compassion, perseverance, ingenuity, and friendship.  Experience the monsoon where the Indian and Pacific Oceans meet, track the endangered One-Horned Rhinoceros through the jungles of Assam, encounter the anguish of the caste system, and much more.

India: From Midnight to the Millennium and Beyond

Shashi Tharoor shows how the challenges facing the world’s largest and most diverse democracy will affect America in the 21st century.  This is perfect if you’re looking for a book on the history of India.

No Full Stops in India

We get to see a series of stories from India’s Westernized elite who are cut off from local traditions, exploring Calcutta, the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad (the biggest religious festival in the world), and the televising of a Hindu epic.  Throughout, Mark Tully analyze major issues while sharing the realities of Indian life.

Chasing the Monsoon

This is the tale of Alexander Frater following the Indian summer monsoon.  On May 20th the monsoon begins coming in from the east and the west, meeting in central India within seven or eight days of July 10th. 

Frater follows the monsoon, sometimes in it, sometimes before it, and sometimes after it, to see the impact of the phenomenon.

All the Fishes Come Home to Roost: An American Misfit in India

At seven years old, Rachel Manija Brown’s parents, post-60s hippies, moved them from California to an ashram in a cobra-ridden, drought-stricken spot in India. 

We meet a wonderful cast of characters including the colorful ashram leader, the grunting and howling librarian, a holy madman, and a delusional Russian claiming to be Meher Baba reincarnated.

Karma Cola: Marketing the Mystic East

In the late 60s, hundreds of thousands of Westerners descended upon India searching for the magic and mystery missing in the lives. 

Gita Mehta, an Indian writer, was placed ideally to observe the European and American “pilgrims” interacting with their hosts.

Here, we get to see her sharp observations of what happens when traditions of an ancient, long-lived society are turned into commodities and sold to those who don’t understand them.

The Spiritual Tourist: A Personal Odyssey Through the Outer Reaches of Belief

The spiritual tourist can be found on a pilgrimage to see the Dalai Lama in the Himalayas, blissed out in Germany with a beautiful Indian girl thought to be “the Divine Mother”, witnessing miracles in the ashram of Sai Baba, and searching for the Messiah in the London back streets.

No matter what, they’re all looking for inner illumination and awakening.  The holy, the lost, the wise, and the foolish are brought together on the highways and backroads of spiritual tourism.

In Spite of the Gods: The Strange Rise of Modern India

Even though it is slated to become the third largest economy within a generation, it remains a mystery to many Americans.  In this book, Edward Luce, a journalist that covered India for years, makes sense of India and it’s rise to global power.

In the book, he sheds light on many of India’s contradictions like it’s booming tech sector, which only employs one million of it’s 1.1 billion people.

Only 35 million people have formal enough jobs to pay taxes while three-quarters of the population live in extreme depravation in it’s 600,000 villages.  This is informed by scholarship and history, but equalized with humor and rich in anecdotes.

The Hundred-Foot Journey

This is actually a fiction foodie travel book, spicing things up here. Hassan was born above his grandfather’s modest restaurant in Mumbai and is where he first experienced life through whiffs of spicy fish curry, trips to local markets, and gourmet outings with his mother.

Soon tragedy pushes them out of India and they console themselves by eating their way around the world eventually ending up in a small village in the French Alps.

The boisterous family takes the village by storm when they open an inexpensive Indian restaurant and bring the spice of India to the sleepy village.

Their restaurant is right across from Madame Mallory’s esteemed French relais and only after she wages culinary war with the family does she finally agree to mentor Hassan, leading him to Paris to open his own restaurant.

FoodSutra: A Memoir of the Foods of India

This is a foodies experience with the exploration of food in India told with quirky facts and stories. The author describes regional cuisines and their main dishes that he connects with his travels, experiences, and memories over many decades. Over 400 dishes are covered including ingredients, methods of cooking, and even facts and anecdotes about each.

Other book posts you may like:

• Mexico books
• Italy books
• Spain books
• India books
• Lake Powell books
• Mount Everest books
• North Korea books
• Amazon Rainforest books
• Thru-hiking books
• Spooky books
• Chernobyl books

Have you read any of these books?  What is your favorite book set in India?

Share this:

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

14 thoughts on “ 35 Must-Read Books Set In India That Will Make You Want To Visit ”

Interesting! I would like to add ‘The Hungry Tide’ by Amitav Ghosh, any of Ruskin Bond’s books, ‘The Toss of a Lemon’ by Padma Viswanathan and definitely ‘A Suitable Boy’ by Vikram Seth.

Thank you! I’ll have to check those out for sure!

I think I would like to read Nine Lives! It seems like it has just the right amount of grit for me.

Yes! That one sounds really interesting!

I like your collection of Indian books even though I haven’t read most. I am intrigued to pick up one and start reading.

Thank you! There’s a lot of great ones to choose from!

Being an Indian, I can say you have listed some great books. Love it so much.

Thank you! It’s one of my favorite places to read about so far. Someday I’ll visit!

Thank you for this interesting list. Happy to see a few books about tigers !

I’m excited to read some of the tiger ones soon!

Love these suggestions! I’ve been looking for new books to read and I also love a book with a good travel theme 😁 thanks for this list!

Thank you! I hope you enjoy them 😃

Amazing post with best information.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Discover more from Red Around the World

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

Top 10 Best Indian Travel Guide Books To Read in India

Best indian travel guide books.

Are you a travel lover? Do you love to read travel stories? Amazing! Through our years of travel experiences, we have come up with this content to explain to you in detail about top travel storybooks in India. So, the best Indian travel guide books are as follows:

List of Top 10 Best Travel Guide Books For India – 

• Enjoying India to the Fullest
• Rough Guide To India
• India (Lonely Planet Travel Guides)
• India Bites You Somehow
• Frommer’s India
• Wanderlust and Lipstick
• DK Eyewitness Travel Guide
• India – Culture Smart
• Fodor’s Essential India

1. Enjoying India to the Fullest – Indian Travel Guide Book

 Author – Shalu Sharma 

This is one of the best books about travel in India . This book is essential if you plan to visit India. Many people travel to India without knowing what to do or what to eat. This book will help you to plan your trip to India. Enjoying India book will provide information to help travelers navigate India’s vast landscape and get the most out of India. 

2. Rough Guide To India

Author – Rough Guides

Rough Guide To India is among the best Indian travel guide books  and is the most comprehensive guide to India. These Rough Guide Books are actually comparable to the Lonely Planet guides.  Rough Guide To India books is bravely open about the places they cover. This book covers India’s history, language, and culture as well as its politics and culture. It also includes information about bribes and drug use and Bollywood movies. It is the best and most comprehensive guide to India.

3. India (Lonely Planet Travel Guides)

Author – Michael Benanav, Anirban Mahapatra, Bradley Mayhew, Mark Elliott, Paul Harding, Lindsay Brown

Lonely Planet Travel Guides is among the best Indian travelogue books  and is essential if you’re planning to visit India for the first time. It includes traveler maps, a guide to places to stay and eat, and great information about India.

4. Holy Cow – India Travel Book

Author – Sarah Macdonald

Holy Cow is among the best travel guide books for India . This book describes a rollercoaster ride through a land full of contradictions and chaos with a woman who is on a mission for her soul, her love life, and her sanity. Sarah MacDonald, an ABC journalist, spent two years on the Indian sub-continent before preparing this book.

5. India Bites You Somehow – True Life Tales

Author – Kai Mayerfeld

This book features stories about westerners who have lived in India. This book contains 40 real-life stories from people who traveled to India from 19 different countries. Although it is not intended to be a guidebook, this book offers a glimpse into Indian spiritual life. 

India Bites You Somehow – True Life Tales is among the best books on Indian travel . This book will help you connect to India if you haven’t yet set foot in India. This collection of stories from travelers around the globe will open your eyes to India.

6. Frommer’s India – Travelling Books India

Author – Pippa De Bruyn

Frommer’s India is among the best Indian travel guide books . It is a guidebook that will help you plan your trip from the beginning. This book is handy if you’re looking for tips on traveling in India. Frommer’s India book covers everything you need to know about India: where to stay, what food to eat, driving there, how to avoid being scammed, and how to make the most of your time.

7. Wanderlust and Lipstick: A Guide for Women Travelling to India

Author – Beth Whitman

Wanderlust and Lipstick: A Guide For Women Travelling To India book was written with women in mind. This book focuses on India’s culture and offers travel tips, such as how safe to be, what to wear, how you can deal with poverty, how personal belongings are safe, and a list of Hindi words. Wanderlust and Lipstick: A Guide For Women Travelling To India is among the best Indian travel guide books . This book also includes advice from women who have traveled abroad.

8. DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Best Indian Travel Book

Author – Anna Streiffert

DK Eyewitness Travel Guide will take you to India, where you can join thousands of people visiting India to see the Taj Mahal lit up in the morning light, or enjoy Goa’s golden shores. This book is among the best travel guide books for India .

India’s vast landscapes are as varied as they are inspiring. Modern skyscrapers meet centuries-old mosques in cities while tigers glide through lush jungles that separate the Himalayan heights from the beaches of the Keralan coast.

The updated guide to India transports you there like no other guide. It features expert-led advice and insights, photos on almost every page, and hand-drawn illustrations that place you in the iconic buildings and neighborhoods of the country.

9. India – Culture Smart: The Essential Guide To Customs & Culture

Author – Becky Stephen

India’s 1.2 billion inhabitants are as diverse and vibrant as Old Delhi’s spice markets. Every region, caste, and community has its own culture. Each one reflects unique history shaped by religion, creativity, conquest, and war. The Indians, a people steeped in old traditions and extremely fatalistic, are passionate about their culture and are world leaders in science and technology. If you show interest in their country, it will be repaid with warmth and friendship.

 India – Culture Smart: The Essential Guide To Customs & Culture will teach you the fundamental values and behavior norms of India, help you navigate cultural differences, build relationships and provide invaluable insight into this fascinating, vast land. All this makes this book among the best Indian travel guide books .

10. Fodor’s Essential India – Best Travel Guide Books

Author – Fodor’s Travel Guides

If you are looking for an India travel book pdf , you can search for Fodor’s Essential India . Fodor’s Essential India was written by locals and is the ideal guidebook for anyone looking for tips on how to get the best out of their trip to Delhi, Mumbai, and other cities. This India travel guide includes detailed maps and brief descriptions that will make it easy to plan your trip.

India is a country full of exciting and intriguing contrasts. There are beautiful palaces juxtaposed with simple temples. Modern high-tech industry mixes well with traditional customs and rituals. This vast country is rich in attractions and activities. Fodor’s Essential India provides a comprehensive guide to the best sights and things to do.

There are many travel books by Indian authors for you to read. Indian travel writers such as Janhavi Acharekar, Anees Jung, Rosy Thomas, and Romola Butalia have written many amazing travel books. Make sure to read them all. Take care!

Read More – 

• 25+ Most Important Things To Carry While Travelling
• Top 10 Best Comfortable Cars For Travelling in India
• Top 10 Best Indian Hotel Booking Websites or Apps
• Top 10 Best Indian Travel Websites or Travel Apps
• Top 10 Best Indian Travel Vloggers On YouTube
• Top 5 Bengali Travel YouTubers In Kolkata 
• Top 12 Best Trekking Companies In India 
• Top 10 Best Travel Agency in Kolkata
• 10 Best Tourism Courses In India 
• 10 Best Travel and Tourism Management Colleges in India

Share This Article

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

15% off with code SEPT15

• Free shipping on all orders

• North America
• South America
• Middle East
• Australia & Pacific

New Releases

Trending Destinations

Experience Guides

• Outdoor Travels & Adventures
• Epic Guides
• Food & Drink
• Gifts & Inspiration
• Language Guides
• Lonely Planet Kids

Country Guides

Pocket Guides

All Guides & eBooks

• Lonely Planet Insider

Your cart is empty

Get this book for free by becoming a Lonely Planet Insider:

• 3 eBook downloads every year
• Exclusive offers and discounts

$2.99 USD/month (charged annually) Learn more

Inside  Lonely Planet’s  India  Travel Guide:

Up-to-date information -  all businesses were rechecked before publication to ensure they are still open after 2020’s COVID-19 outbreak

Top experiences feature  - a visually inspiring collection of India’s best experiences and where to have them

What's new feature  taps into cultural trends and helps you find fresh ideas and cool new areas

Pull-out, passport-size 'Just Landed' card  with wi-fi, ATM and transport info - all you need for a smooth journey from airport to hotel

Planning tools for family travellers  - where to go, how to save money, plus fun stuff just for kids

Colour  maps and images throughout

Highlights   and itineraries  help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests

Insider tips  to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots

Essential info   at your fingertips  - hours of operation, websites, transit tips, prices

Honest reviews for all budgets  - eating, sleeping, sightseeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss

Cultural insights  give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, people, music, landscapes, wildlife, cuisine, politics

Over   200 maps

Covers  Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab, Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, Kolkata, West Bengal, Sikkim, Northeast States, Gujarat, Odisha, Mumbai, Goa, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu

eBook is available in ePub, MOBI and PDF.

ISBN: 9781788683876

Edition: 19th

Publication Date: April 2022

Writers: Joe Bindloss, Michael Benanav, Lindsay Brown, Stuart Butler, Mark Elliott, Paul Harding, Trent Holden, Anirban Mahapatra, Bradley Mayhew, Daniel McCrohan, Isabella Noble, John Noble, Kevin Raub, Sarina Singh, Iain Stewart

1256 pages, 1256pp color, 203 maps | Dimensions: 128mm × 197mm

Next edition due: November 2024

Which guidebook is right for me?

Country, city & regional guides.

• Top experience collections
• Regional itineraries recommended by experts (from a couple of days to multi-week)
• 3D illustrations and guided tours of key sights
• Extensive coverage of history and culture
• Detailed maps throughout - includes walking maps and a pull-out planning map

EXPERIENCE guides

(country, city & regional).

• Led by local experts that reveal their favorite experiences and hidden gems
• Personal itinerary building tools
• Seasonal planning calendars
• QR codes unlock additional online content

POCKET guides

(city & regional).

• Special features cover most popular sights
• Content organized by neighborhhod
• Recommended 1, 2, 3 and 4-day itineraries
• Guided walking tours

53 Books Set in + About India

This post contains affiliate links. Read the full disclosure here .

India is a rich and vibrant country, and these books about India will transport you there. While India is popular with many travelers, it may not always be at the top of the travel priority list for a lot of people (although with so much to see, it probably should be, including mine!).

But whether you are planning a trip there or aren’t sure you will ever get there, these books set in India can teach you so much about this country, its rich culture, complicated history, and its people.

We’ve really tried to capture a representative cross-section here: from literary fiction dealing with colonialism and independence to historical fiction and mysteries to children’s books celebrating Diwali. Indian authors have contributed so much to literary world, and I hope you can find a book you love here!

Looking for more book recommendations? You may enjoy these books set in Afghanistan.

Fiction Set in India

The lowland by jhumpa lahiri.

Jhumpa Lahiri is one of my favorite authors, and she is especially known for stories about Indian immigrants in the United States. The Lowland is perhaps my favorite of her books, and it is largely set in India. This is about two brothers whose close bond is tested when tragedy strikes. The impetus of this book is the events of the 1967 Naxalbari uprising in India, during which the views of the brothers take them on largely different paths. For fans of literary fiction and family stories.

A Burning by Megha Majumdar

When Jivan, a girl who lives in the slums, is caught up in the case of a terrorist attack because of a post on Facebook, the course of her life may depend on two other characters she is connected to. But these other characters also have their own self-sustaining motives. This is a novel set in contemporary India, and is a social commentary on politics especially in the age of social media. I read it and loved it, and it’s for fans of literary and contemporary fiction.

Honor by Thrity Umrigar

When India-American journalist Smita returns to India to cover a story, she is drawn into the life of Meena, who was recently attacked for her marriage to a Muslim man. Meanwhile, Smita is embarking on a very different kind of love story of her own. For fans of literary fiction.

The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

In Kerala, India, a family is cursed. Every generation, someone drowns. This is a multi-generational family story that starts when a 12-year-old girl enters into arranged marriage. Eventually, she becomes the family matriarch, as the family faces changes and deals with their curse for over 70 years. For fans of family sagas.

Loot by Tania James

In 18th-century India, Abbas becomes a renowned woodcarver and is commissioned to create an elaborate piece for Tipu Sultan. He carves a large tiger automaton, and years later when the palace is looted by the British, Abbas searches for the tiger among the aristocratic homes of England. For fans of literary and historical fiction.

The Association of Small Bombs by Karan Mahajan

In a market in Dehli, a bomb goes off killing two brothers. But their friend survives, and this novel tells the story of what his life becomes and how the two families continue to live after these events. This is nuanced story about terrorism, violence, and loss. For fans of literary fiction.

Tomb of Sand by Geetanjali Shree, Translated by Daisy Rockwell

After her husband dies, family matriarch Ma is so depressed she won’t get out of bed. But then her grandson gives her a magical cane, and she sets off on all kinds of adventures that challenge her family’s understanding of itself. This won the 2022 International Book Prize and is great for fans of literary fiction.

The Dream Builders by Oindrila Mukherjee

After her mother dies, Meneka returns to India from the US for the funeral. But Indian town she left is nothing like what she remembers. This is a book about the dreams and aspirations of people in Indian society and is for fans of literary fiction.

The Year of the Runaways by Sunjeev Sahota

In England, a group of Indian immigrants are struggling to make a new life for themselves. While this book is largely set in the UK, huge parts of it are set in India, as it delves deep into the backstory of each character. They all come from vastly different backgrounds and classes, and yet they have all found themselves in the same place, hoping for a better future. For fans of literary fiction.

China Room by Sunjeev Sahota

In 1929 Punjab, three girls are married to three brothers. Now that they are married, they are forced to spend their days working in the family’s china room, hidden away from everyone. Mehar, one of the women, is trying to figure everything out, including which of the men is her husband. Then, in an alternate timeline in 1999, a young man from England has returned to his family’s home (which of course includes a locked china room) to overcome an addiction. For fans of historical fiction.

Burnt Sugar by Avni Doshi

This is a mother-daughter story set in India. The mother, Tara, has spent her life devoted to an ashram, while her daughter, Antara, has been largely raised by others. Now Antara is an adult, and she must come to terms with her childhood as her mother ages. For fans of literary fiction.

Ghachar Ghochar by Vivek Shanbhag, Translated by Srinath Perur

In this slim novel, a family that had been living in poverty comes into a good deal of money. What results is a tangled mess of family relationships. Hence the title: ghachar ghochar is a phrase used to indicated something that has been tangled and can’t be undone. For fans of literary fiction and dysfunctional family stories.

Age of Vice by Deepti Kapoor

This book about a crime family in India is perfect if you love stories about rich people behaving badly. It’s part family saga, part suspense. And it begins when a Mercedes crashes and a servant is left to explain, and continues as the lives of three characters (the servant, the rich son of the family, and a journalist) become interconnected. For fans of family sagas and literary suspense.

Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line by Deepa Anappara

Nine-year-old Jai loves watching police TV shows. So when a classmate goes missing, he enlists his friends to help him solve the mystery. But as more kids start disappearing, their mystery becomes scarier. For fans of mysteries and books for adults told from the perspective of a child.

The Far Field by Madhuri Vijay

When Shalini’s mother dies, she travels to the Kashmir region of India searching for answers. There, she becomes close with a new family. But she is still an outsider, which may be dangerous in the midst of the region’s political upheaval. For fans of literary fiction.

The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

The Palace of Illusions takes one of India’s greatest epic poems, the Mahabharata , and retells it from the perspective of a woman. Panchaali helps her royal husbands reclaim their thrones, but she is also harboring a secret attraction to Krishna, her husband’s enemy. For fans of classics retold from the perspective of women (think, Circe ).

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

Written as a letter from a driver and entrepreneur in Bangalore to the president of China who is visiting his country, this novel explores class, work, success, and morality in India. For fans of dark comedy and social commentary.

Mirror Made of Rain by Naheed Phiroze Patel

This book about contemporary India follows Noomi, an upper-class girl coming of age and trying to figure out how she can break free from the social obligations of her society. But when she moves to Mumbai, starts a new job, and falls in love, she may just be falling into the same old traps. For fans of contemporary, literary fiction.

The Archer by Shruti Swamy

Set in 1960s and 1970s Bombay, this novel centers around a woman named Vidya who falls in love with a type of dance called kathak. As she grows though, balancing her art with her life becomes a challenge. For fans of historical fiction and women’s stories.

Mother Land by Leah Franqui

When American Rachel Meyer moves to Mumbai with her husband, she has to adjust to what that means for family dynamics — especially with her mother-in-law who decides to move in with them after leaving her husband. For fans of women’s fiction and contemporary fiction.

The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi

After leaving her abusive husband, Lakshmi becomes a sought-after henna artist and a secret keeper for wealthy women. But when her husband shows up again with his own secret, the life she built for herself may crumble. For fans of women’s fiction and historical fiction, and if you love this book it’s the first in a triology.

The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey

This book, set in 1920s India, is inspired by the story of India’s first female attorney. In this novel, Perveen Mistry becomes the first female attorney in India and investigates the case of three widows who she suspects are being taken advantage of. For fans of mysteries.

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

This is a book about two fraternal twins in rural India whose lives are changed forever when tragedy strikes. It’s a story about a family whose life together is changing alongside the broader change happening in their country. For fans of character driven fiction.

The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai

This book is set in India during the 1980s near the Himalayas, where an old judge lives with his cook and his orphaned granddaughter. This is a book about loss, and reviewers consistently mention its heaviness as it deals with themes of colonialism, dashed hopes, death, and how the movement for democracy in nearby Nepal impacted the characters. For fans of literary fiction.

The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters by Balli Kaur Jaswal

When their mother dies, three sisters living in the UK travel to India to lay her to rest as she wished. The three sisters have never been particularly close, and while they all have different motives for taking the trip, it will change them all, bring them closer, and reveal secrets from their past. For fans of contemporary fiction and women’s fiction.

The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff

In her small town in India, Geeta is general avoided because everyone is pretty sure she killed her husband. (Which is fine because he wasn’t great anyway.) But then other women start to come to her for help getting rid of their own no-good husbands, and Geeta is maybe in over her head. For fans of women’s fiction.

Polite Society by Mahesh Rao

In this retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma set in Delhi, wealthy Ania plays matchmaker for her friend but finds herself caught up in her own unexpected love story. For fans of women’s fiction, rom-coms, and Austen retellings.

Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie

Saleem Sinai is born at the exact same time India gains its independence in 1947. His life afterward is anything but normal, as every event in his life is somehow linked to the events of India. For fans of historical literary fiction, family sagas, and modern classics.

Find even more great books for your travel reading list with these books about Ghana !

Non-Fiction Books About India

Behind the beautiful forevers: life, death, and hope in a mumbai undercity by katherine boo.

This award-winning and critically-acclaimed book delves into the lives of those living in a Mumbai slum near new luxury apartments. The families there are hopeful for a brighter future, but it’s tough to escape poverty. For fans of narrative non-fiction.

India After Ghandi: The History of the World’s Largest Democracy by Ramachandra Guha

If you’re looking for a history of India, which is of course rich and complicated, this may be the book you’re looking for. This book tells the story of India both before and since Independence, with a special focus on politics and the people who have influenced the political history. For fans of massive history books.

Climbing the Mango Trees: A Memoir of a Childhood in India by Madhur Jaffrey

Madhur Jaffrey is an award-winning cookbook author, and here she presents a memoir about growing up in India, where every memory is laced with the richness of food. And of course, because she’s a cookbook author, this memoir contains recipes. For fans of memoirs and books about food.

City of Djinns: A Year in Delhi by William Dalrymple

Delhi is a city that has been created and destroyed many times, known for having seven past versions of itself. This book dives into the history of Delhi and all the ways it has been recreated over centuries up to what it is now. This book is for fans of history and especially for those who might be planning a trip to Delhi.

Following Fish: One Man’s Journey into the Food and Culture of the Indian Coast by Samanth Subramanian

In these essays, Subramanian explores the coasts of India, examining the way fish impact the culture, economy, food, and more. For fans of travel memoirs and essays.

Children’s Books About India

The wheels on the tuk tuk by kabir sehgal and surishtha sehgal, illustrated by jess golden.

The Wheels on the Bus…but in India! This delightful nursery rhyme book can be read or sung, as you follow a tuk tuk through the streets of an Indian city. Recommended ages: 0-5 years.

Diwali (Celebrate the World) by Hannah Eliot, Illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan

This book of colorful illustrations teaches kids about the five days of Diwali and the important traditions of this holiday. Recommended ages: 1-4 years.

Ganesha’s Sweet Tooth by Sanjay Patel and Emily Haynes

This story of the Hindu god Ganesha has bright and delightful illustrations. Ganesha loves sweets, but one day a hard candy breaks off his tusk (which of course means he has a lesson to learn). Recommended ages: 2-5 years.

Desert Girl, Monsoon Boy by Tara Dairman, Illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan

This story about a girl who lives in the deserts of India and a boy who lives in a monsoon affected area. But when both their families flee weather extremes, readers see that they have a lot in common. Recommended ages 4-8 years.

A Sari for Ammi by Mamta Nainy, Illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat

Two little girls watch their mother weave beautiful saris, but she never gets to wear any of them. So, they come up with a plan to get Ammi a beautiful sari of her own. Recommended ages: 4-8 years.

Binny’s Diwali by Thrity Umrigar, Illustrated by Nidhi Chanani

When Binny’s class is learning about different holidays, she is excited to tell them about her favorite celebration: Diwali. She teaches her class all about her favorite traditions, food, and more. Recommended ages: 4-8 years.

A Gift for Amma: Market Day in India by Meera Sriram and Mariona Cabassa

As a little girl searches for a gift for her mother, she encounters all the colors of an Indian market. Each page is dedicated to a different color, with fun and bright illustrations. Recommended ages: 4-8 years.

Monsoon Afternoon by Kashmira Sheth, Illustrated by Yoshiko Jaeggi

A monsoon is coming, and a little boy wants to go outside and play. Everyone in his family is too busy, until he finds his grandfather and they go outside to have fun in the rain and explore the way it has changes their world. Recommended ages: 4-8 years.

Grandma and the Great Gourd: A Bengali Folktale by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Illustrated by Susy Pilgrim Waters

When Grandma receives a letter from her daughter asking her to come visit, Grandma must trek through the jungle and face the treacherous animals. Recommended age: 5-8 years.

The Secret Kingdom: Nek Chand, a Changing India, and a Hidden World of Art by Barb Rosenstock, Illustrated by Claire A. Nivola

In this picture book based on a true story, Nek Chand builds an intricate rock garden when he finds himself in a new place. When the government discovers it and wants to tear it down, the community comes together to save it. Recommended ages: 7-10 years.

Middle Grade & Young Adult Books Set in India

Pashmina by nidhi chanani.

In this graphic novel, Priyanka longs to know about India—the land her mother left behind and that she doesn’t like to talk about. When Priyanka finds an old pashmina though, it transports her to India where she learns the secrets of her past. Recommended ages: 8-12 years.

Sita’s Ramayana by Samhita Arni, Illustrated by Moyna Chitrakar

The Ramayana is one of the great ancient texts from India. Here it is told in graphic novel form, as Queen Sita is kidnapped by a king and rescued by her brother. Recommended ages: 9-12 years.

Prince of Fire: The Story of Diwali by Jatinder Verma, Illustrated by Nilesh Mistry

This is another retelling of the Ramayana for kids, this time as a chapter book with illustrations. Here, Prince Rama and his bride, Sita, set off on an epic journey after Rama is banished. It ends with their return home and the festival of Diwali. Recommended ages: 9-12 years.

Ahimsa by Supriya Kelkar

When Anjali’s mother joins Ghandi’s freedom movement, the life of her family changes. From giving up some of her treasured possessions to overcoming prejudice, Anjali must learn and grow and eventually step up for freedom. Recommended ages: 9 and up.

Thirst by Varsha Bajaj

In Mumbai, access to water can be difficult, especially for the poor. Minni can only get water for a few hours a day. But in the building where she starts a new job, the water supply seems endless. She also discovers a water mafia boss though, which could spell trouble. Recommended ages: 10-12 years.

Strong as Fire, Fierce as Flame by Supriya Kelkar

When Meera was a child, her parents married her to a boy from another village. When she turns 13, she is expected to go live with him and his family. Instead, violence erupts, her husband is killed, and Meera finds herself working for a British officer. When she discovers violent plots in place to further the British colonization of India, she must decide whether to save herself or warn her her people. Recommended ages: 10-13 years.

City of Stolen Magic by Nazneen Ahmed Pathak

This fantasy book set in India and England follows Chompa, who’s mother is kidnapped. Magic exists in India, but with the British colonialism it is quickly disappearing. Chompa has a powerful magic though, and must use it to travel to England and find her mother. Recommended ages: 9-14 years.

The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman

When four homeless kids come together in Chennai, India, they form a family. They are independent and strong, and they are skeptical of adults. But they just may need to learn to trust someone in order to survive. Recommended ages: 10 and up.

The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani

After the 1947 partition, when India is split into Pakistan and India, Nisha’s father decides it would be safer for them to move from Pakistan to India. Nisha has already experienced so much loss (her mother died when she was a baby), so she isn’t happy about losing her home too. But can she find hope in a new place? Recommended ages: 10 and up.

The Library of Fates by Aditi Khorana

When the Emperor Sikander arrives in Shalingar, the freedom of the people is threatened. Princess Amrita offers to become the Emperor’s bride, but instead finds herself on the run. This fantasy book based in India is recommended for ages 12 and up.

You might also like:

• Books Set in + About Morocco
• Books Set in + About Palestine
• Books Set in + About Japan
• Books Set in + About China
• Books Set in + About Australia

Like this post? Save it for later!

Related Posts:

Tracks2Travel.com

Travelogues, Books, Accessories, Tips, and More

25 Best All-Time Travel Books to Exploring India

Being the 7th largest country by area and the 2nd most populous country in the world, India is vast and diverse. With a cultural history spanning more than 4,500 years, India is notable for its religious diversity, with Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, Sikhism, and Jainism among the nation’s major religions.

All these numbers (and more on Wikipedia ), can be overwhelming and it can be really hard to find out where to start your trip from or what routes or mode of transport to take if you plan on traveling to India.

In this post, I have listed out the top 25 all-time travel books to help you explore India and discover it’s beauty, rituals, culture, history, scenic rail routes , and traditions. So, whether you plan to cover the whole of India or if you intend to travel from one city or state to the other, these popular travel books can be extremely useful for you. 

#1. City of Djinns: A Year in Delhi

Author: William Dalrymple

Rating: 4.2 out of 5

#2. The Age of Kali: Indian Travels and Encounters  

#3. Banaras City of Light

Author: Diana L. Eck

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

#4. One Life to Ride: A Motorcycle Journey to the High Himalayas

Author: Ajit Harisinghani

Rating: 4.6 out of 5

#5. Coromandel: A Personal History of South India

Author: Charles Allen

Rating: 3.6 out of 5

#6. Following Fish

Author: Samanth Subramanian

#7. Wanderings in India and Other Sketches of Life in Hindostan

Author: John Lang

Rating: 4.3 out of 5

#8. Chai, Chai

Author: Bishwanath Ghosh

Rating: 3.7 out of 5

#9. The Land of Moonlit Snows: & Other Real Travel Stories from the Indian Himalaya

Author: Gaurav Punj

#10. Chandni Chowk: The Mughal City of Old Delhi

Author: Swapna Liddle

#11. India On My Platter

Author: Saransh Goila

Rating: 4 out of 5

#12. Around India in 80 Trains

Author: Monisha Rajesh

#13. Chasing The Monsoon: A Modern Pilgrimage Through India

Author: Alexander Frater

#14. The Nanda Devi Affair

Author: Bill Aitken

Rating: 3.7 out of 5 

#15. The Travelling Belly: Eating Through India’s By-Lanes

Author: Kalyan Karmakar 

Rating: 4.8 out of 5

#16. Butter Chicken In Ludhiana: Travels In Small Town India

Author: Pankaj Mishra

Rating: 3.9 out of 5

#17. If Its Monday It Must Be Madurai: A Conducted Tour of India

Author: Srinath Perur

#18. Holy Cow!: An Indian Adventure

Author: Sarah MacDonald

Rating: 3.4 out of 5

#19. Mother Earth, Sister Seed: Travels through India’s Farmlands

Author: Lathika George

Rating: 5 out of 5

#20. Worth Every Gasp: A Lone Woman’s Journey in the Himalayas…

Author: Anamika Mukherjee

#21. Hot Tea Across India

Author: Rishad Saam Mehta

Rating: 4.1 out of 5

#22. The Land of Flying Lamas & Other Real Travel Stories From the Indian Himalaya

#23. A South Indian Journey: The Smile of Murugan

Author: Michael Wood

#24. No Full Stops in India

Author: Mark Tully

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

#25. Truck De India: A Hitchhiker’s Guide to Hindustan

Author: Rajat Ubhaykar

So, there goes my list of the 25 most popular and best-selling travel books to explore India. How many have you read from the above list or how many are you planning to order? Do let me know in the comments section below.

Lastly, if you loved the above compilation, I am sure you would also love this list of the 247 most popular books on Indian Railways . Do give it a look!

Related posts:

• 247 Interesting Books to Discover the Magnificent Indian Railways
• The 11 Must Have Travel Accessories for 2019

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• 247 Most Popular Indian Railways Books
• 10 Most Scenic Rail Routes in India
• 25 Best-Selling India Travel Books
• 8 Unique Experiences in Dubai

BECOME A GUEST AUTHOR

• Write for Tracks2Travel.com
• Guest Posting Guidelines
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use

FOLLOW T2T ON INSTAGRAM

Tracks2travel.

Breathedreamgo

The transformational travel guide

Top 25 Best books about India

Table of Contents

My 25 picks for best books about India

THIS POST OFFERS 25 suggestions for best books about India. Some are by Indian authors, and some are by foreigners who have spent a lot of time in India. Both perspectives are useful and valid, and can help visitors struggling to understand this complex culture. However, some of the most popular books about India are not that great … if you ask me …

Shantaram and Eat, Pray, Love are two of the most popular books about India, but they are not among my favourites. In fact, I tried to read Shantaram when I was living in Delhi, but ended up literally throwing it across the room after I was about three-quarters of the way through. I thought it was poorly written and more about the fevered imagination of its writer than about India. In fact, it offers very little insight into India, if you ask me; and the longer I spend in India getting to know it, the more true this statement becomes.

Since that time, however, I’ve read lots and lots of book about India, by Indians and foreigners, and almost all of them are much, much better. If you actually want to know something about India — rather than a largely fictional story by a writer with a flair for melodrama — I suggest the following 25 books.

Books about India by Indian authors

Twilight in delhi by ahmed ali.

This book, a “cult classic,” was apparently very hard to get for many years. Ahmed Ali was a Muslim writer and professor from Delhi who was out of the country when partition was announced and Pakistan was created. He was not allowed back into India and had, instead, to settle in Pakistan. It is a prose poem dedicated to the twilight days of “old” Delhi, when the Muslim area of the city flourished. It not only captures a bygone era, it also relates some moving personal stories.

Maximum City by Suketu Mehta

This is one of the best books I have read recently. It has an ambitious scope and many small wonderful moments, and seemed Dickensian to me in its attempt to capture the spirit of the times in a big, broiling, magnificent city. This is Bombay (Mumbai): gangsters and hero cops, foot-path poets and down-to-earth movie stars. You will learn a lot more about what Bombay is really about in this book than in Shantaram .

My Experiments with Truth by M.K. Gandhi

For my money, this ranks with Memories, Dreams and Reflections by Carl Jung as a truly honest and interesting autobiography. The title says it all, and says so much about a man who just seems to be made of different stuff than you or me. It’s truly a fascinating read, as you get insight into the human being behind the myth.

A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry

It is intimidating to even try and summarize or review this epic book. I grew up reading Charles Dickens, and the scope and magnitude of this book is reminiscent of his style. This sweeping tale follows the live of four characters and the terrible hardships they endure living through the 1970s emergency in India. It is not easy to read as it forces you to confront the stark realities of poverty, casteism, corruption, cruelty, greed, hunger, and sometimes just plain bad luck. It’s bleak, but at the same time shines a light on the resilience of the human spirit. I learned a lot about India society and culture, too … especially the most difficult aspects.

Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie

In some ways, Midnight’s Children is the fictional version of Freedom at Midnight (see below). India was granted independence from British colonial rule at the stroke of midnight on August 15, 1947. This book is about the children born in India at the exact moment of independence, and specifically two of them — who are switched in the hospital and grow up with the wrong families. It won the Booker Prize, and then the Booker of Bookers. It’s a big story, sprawling, bawdy, maddening, magical. Midnight’s Children was made into a movie by Deepa Mehta.

Come to India with us!

Are you dreaming of a trip to India? Come to India with India for Beginners custom tours, from Breathedreamgo and let us show you the India we love. With India for Beginners, we help you design a tour based on your interests, preferences, and budget. We pick you up at the airport and we are available by phone 24/7. We hold your hand in India! FIND OUT MORE

What the Body Remembers by Shauna Singh

The partition of India in 1947 led to the greatest mass movement of people in history as millions of Muslims left India to move to newly created Pakistan; and millions of Hindus and Sikhs left the part of Punjab that suddenly fell on the Pakistani side of the border. The violence that was unleashed was massive and devastating. This book is a novel about a Sikh woman who is a young bride at the time of partition — living on the wrong side of the border. The personal narrative makes the history very real. I also recommend Train to Pakistan by Khushwant Singh and Cracking India by Bapsi Sidhwa for the same reasons — brings the truly terrible history of partition to life. Cracking India was made into a film called Earth by Deepa Mehta, part of a series that includes Fire and Water .

India: A Million Mutinies Now by V.S. Naipul

What can I say? It’s the classic. Personally, I admire this book more than I like it. Massive, sweeping, iconic, and keenly observed, you will feel as if you have walked from one end of the country to the other by the time you have finished. It’s a portrait of India 40 years after independence, told through the stories of the many people (almost all men) that he meets and interviews along the way. V.S. Naipul received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2001. 

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

Had to start this book a second time before I really got into it. It creeps into you like rain forest dampness. Very evocative and very powerful. While the setting is Kerala, in tropical southern India, it could be anywhere rural and stifling. I thought of the American deep south more than once. Strikingly original writing — but not an easy read.

City Improbable edited by Khushwant Singh

Bombay/Mumbai and Calcutta/Kolkata seem to get all the press, but there are those of us who are quite taken with Delhi. It’s a fascinating, historical, multi-layered city that sometimes seems, well, improbable. This is an excellent collection of entertaining and informative essays, and there really isn’t anyone like Khushwant Singh. He’s one of the most popular writers in India, and for a reason. His novel Train to Pakistan, about the partition of India, is also one of the best books on the subject, and was made into a movie.

Baumgartner’s Bombay by Anita Desai

This is a deceptively hardcore piece of writing from a masterful writer and storyteller. It’s about the last, pathos-filled days of a “man without family or home,” a lonely, aging foreigner in Bombay who has no where else to go. The final scenes, after he meets an unwashed hippie in a local cafe, are searingly hard to read. This book is to Shantaram what Masterpiece Theatre is to an Adam Sandler film.

All Roads Lead to Ganga by Ruskin Bond

This is a lovely piece of writing, an elegiac about Ruskin’s home in the Himalayan foothills of Uttarakhand. It reads like a love letter to the countryside and especially the nature of Dehradun, Mussoorie, and the Char Dham pilgrimage routes to the source of the Ganga (Ganges) River which naturalist Ruskin has hiked many times. I read it for the first time on a long train ride to Dehradun and it was the perfect accompaniment. Since then, Ruskin has become one of my favourite writers, and I too have settled in the Lower Himalayas — in my case, my home is in Rishikesh .

The Man-Eating Leopard of Rudraprayag by Jim Corbett

Not as well known as The Man-Eaters of Kumaon , this book is nevertheless a good read. It made me feel like a boy scout at camp, reading by flashlight — it’s that kind of book. Corbett won’t win any awards for poetic writing, but he sure can tell a good story. The descriptions of the killings can be gruesome. I read it in bed with my tabby cat stretched out across my legs and there were a few times I found myself looking at her a little more intently than usual. All of Jim Corbett’s books are page turners, and were best sellers in their day, but that’s not the main reason to admire Corbett. He was one of the first conservationists in India — I went to his home in Nainital, Kumaon on a pilgrimage. Corbett Tiger Reserve is named after him.

Books about India by foreign authors

Kim by rudyard kipling.

This is my favourite book of all time. If you’ve never read it, throw out everything you think you know about Kipling, who was the most famous writer of his time. It’s a masterpiece. I read it with my jaw on the floor. I have never read a book that is so in the moment.

The book follows the story of teenage Kim, son of an Irish immigrant and ‘friend of all the world’, who travels the roads of India with his guru, an elderly Tibetan lama on a spiritual quest for a river of enlightenment. It is unique and uncanny in its ability to absolutely immerse you into the scene and the story. You can feel the oppressive heat of the plains and the crisp air of the mountains. You can imagine Kim’s excitement about rejoining his friend on the road after a stint locked-up at school. You can feel the old man’s pain as his quest seems to elude him, and the love he engenders in Kim, his disciple.

You tramp along with Kim down the streets of Lahore, on the Grand Trunk Road, through Himalayan passes. Every sound, every smell, every gesture, every accent is evoked. The dust swirls around you, the smell of cooking food entices you, the fresh air of the mountains revives you. Kipling knew the road in India, and he knew how to capture it in words. And Kipling is not just a master of description — he is a master story-teller. Like India herself, this story is bold, complex, subtle and ambiguous. And you will be carried away by the transcendent ending.

A Search in Secret India by Paul Brunton

A cult classic, it’s about the author’s sincere, strange, and ultimately inspiring search for spiritual truth in India. This is a fascinating book that starts slowly and becomes very compelling. Brunton was way ahead of his time — this book was published in 1935 and it’s about his search for a spiritual master in India. He admits to being skeptical; admits to getting duped by fakes; and almost dies in a Bombay hotel room. But something pushes him forward and after about a year of searching, traveling and living in very (and I mean very) rough conditions, he meets Sri Ramana Maharishi . That is when the book becomes transcendent, and impossible to put down. The last part of the book, about Sri Ramana Maharishi, is just about the best writing I have ever read by a spiritual seeker. It’s truly riveting. This is the book that introduced Sri Ramana Maharishi to the west (and he remains one of the greatest Indian saints of the 20th century).

Empire of the Soul by Paul William Roberts

This is the book I hope Shantaram readers graduate to read. It is about two lengthy trips journalist Roberts took to India, separated by many years; and about how he reconciles some of the extraordinary experiences he had there. Roberts is known for hard-boiled books about war-torn countries like Iraq, so when he writes about his spiritual awakening, it rings true.

Roberts was just another youthful seeker backpacking around the subcontinent in the 1970s. The difference is a) India really got under his skin and he had some amazing spiritual experiences and b) he can write, and he has his own unique style.

Out of India by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala

You may know her name as the screenwriting partner behind many wonderful Merchant-Ivory films, including A Passage to India. She was a European who married an Indian architect and lived the rest of her life in Delhi. The introduction to these short stories — in which she presents herself as a foreigner living indolently in India — alone is worth the price of the book. It’s hands-down the best piece of writing I have ever read about what it is like to be a foreigner in India. Absolutely priceless. She nails the cultural divide, which I experience on a daily basis. She’s one of my favourite writers, anytime, anywhere.

India’s Unending Journey by Mark Tully

Tully was the BBC’s chief correspondent in India for many years.He’s a good writer and he knows India. India’s Unending Journey is by far the most personal of the many books he wrote on India. It’s about his own psychological and spiritual journey as he learns from India to be “certain about uncertainty.” And he says it’s the most valuable thing he has ever learned. I can relate. Compelling reading. Also like No Full Stops in India. Actually, anything by Mark Tully.

A Passage to India by E.M. Forster 

One of my favourite books and movies about India by a foreigner. Written in 1924, A Passage to India tells the story of an impressionable young British woman who comes out to India to potentially marry the city magistrate of fictional Chandrapore. In India, she comes face to face with the stark realities of colonialism, the mysteries of eastern spirituality, the differences between eastern and western world views and, most importantly, her own inner darkness. It’s a very thought-provoking book with lots of great characters, and the epic film directed by David Lean does it justice.

City of Djinns by William Dalrymple

I was torn, not sure which Dalrymple book to put on this list. They are all good, especially Nine Lives . He is a solid as a rock in terms of research, reporting and writing. But this is his first book about India and it’s about Delhi (Dilli), my home-away-from home in India — and in fact, his real home. He lives there now. He has an Indian soul. The book is both a personal narrative about living in India for a year and about the history of Delhi. (And if there’s one thing Delhi has, aside from crowds of people and traffic, it’s history.) It’s by turns informative and funny. I keep intending to find out if International Backside taxi stand really exists.

P.S. Dalrymple is the found of the Jaipur Literature Festival.

P.P.S. I finally got a chance to ask Dalrymple if International Backside taxi stand was real and yes, he confirmed that it was.

Freedom at Midnight by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre

On the stroke of midnight, August 15, 1947, India became free. This is the classic book about the biggest event in modern Indian history: the freedom struggle, partition and birth of a nation. You cannot begin to know or understand modern India if you don’t have a grip on its struggle for independence and the larger-than-life players who made it happen, especially Gandhi, Nehru, Mountbatten and Jinnah. The film Gandhi , directed by Richard Attenborough, gives you a lot of the same information, but this book fills in all the holes.

Chasing the Monsoon by Alexander Frater

Like Dalrymple, Frater is a British journalist with a passion for India. The documentary based on this book, same title, stands as my all-time favourite documentary. Frater goes on a sometimes profound and sometimes whimsical journey to follow India’s monsoon to the wettest place on earth, Cherrapungi in the Indian state of Meghalaya.

Holy Cow by Sarah MacDonald

A classic. Every time I think of the iron scene, I start chuckling as I picture Sarah’s face hidden by her hands so the very serious servants won’t realize she’s actually bursting with laughter over the missing iron. I laugh even more since I experienced living with servants in a Delhi household. The book is both hilarious and also moving as she traces her own relationship to India from reluctance and disdain to head-over-heels, unabashed love.

Slowly Down the Ganges by Eric Newby

Eric and his wife took a slow boat down the Ganges in the days before India’s modernization began. It’s a fascinating journey, written in precise detail that makes every agonizing minute they are dragging the big tin boat over rocks and sandbanks almost painful to read.

Calcutta edited by Geoffrey Moorhouse

The history of Calcutta, from its founding in 1690 by Job Charnok, an agent of the East India Company, is inextricably linked to the history of the British in India. Calcutta was the capital of the British Raj until it was moved to Delhi in 1911. The tales Moorhouse chose make for fascinating reading. They cover many eras, many subjects and include well-known authors as well as excerpts from the diaries of English women who came out to be with their husbands (or to find husbands).

An Indian Summer by James Cameron

This James Cameron was a newspaper man in India during the twilight of the British Raj. In 1972, he returned to India, newly married to an Indian woman. The book is about his return journey. It’s thoughtful, really well written and underneath his vigorous journalistic style lurks a palpable love of India. In the book, he wrote that he produced a television program with an English director with the goal of scrupulously avoiding “the picturesque… and out worn visual beauties … that had suffocated every film about India since the medium was invented.” But the plan fell through “as soon as the camera turned; it was difficult indeed to film anything in India without some element of the strange and beautiful intruding.”

I really like this book for many reasons, not the least of which is this sentence — about the rotting piles of papers piled high in the offices of Calcutta’s bureaucrats: “Their protruding edges stirred under the fans with a gentle bony crepitation.”

If you’re interested in reading more travel books, here are some other great lists:

• 50 Best travel books to feed your wanderlust

If you enjoyed this post…

Please sign up to the travel newsletter in the sidebar and follow breathedreamgo on all social media platforms including instagram, tripadvisor, facebook, pinterest, and twitter. thank you.

<img src=”http://wms.assoc-amazon.com/20070822/US/img/noscript.gif?tag=breathedreamg-20″ alt=”” /><br />

Eat, Pray, Love and India and the quest

Chasing the Indian Monsoon

Chasing Paul Theroux at the Jaipur Literature Festival in India

About Mariellen Ward

Professional travel writer Mariellen Ward is the founder of award-winning Breathedreamgo. Mariellen has a BA in Journalism and has been travel writing and blogging since 2005. She has won many awards, including a National Tourism Award from Incredible India Tourism, and writes for some of the world’s leading publications including BBC Travel and NatGeo Traveller India.

Sign up for my newsletter and get inspiration to live your travel dreams

Privacy Overview

Best India Travel Guide Books: Planning a trip to India

So you’re planning your first trip to India!

It’s a daunting task.

India is a big country, and there is such diversity with so many things to do and so many places to visit!

With so much free information available online, where to even start planning your trip to India?!

Is it worth it to get a guidebook for India travel?

Planning a trip itinerary for India that’s several weeks long, or maybe even several months long, can turn into what feels like planning about 10 vacations! Not only do you need to make sure you know how to get an Indian tourist visa , but with each new city, there’s that much more to research!

For some people it might seem a bit lame to use a guidebook as a bible for travel to any destination. But when you’re short on time or you just don’t want to plan 10 vacations, it can be very helpful in making sure you visit the must-see places of any given region or city. (It just might be the cure for FOMO. ;))

And you can use a guidebook as just that — a guide. It can give you a very good start to planning your trip when you just have no idea where to start… or you’re looking to sort through the abundance of free travel guides online!

When you are short on time, flying can be a cost-effective way to travel long distances around India because of the budget airlines that are available in India.

Now, here’s what’s on this page of travel guidebooks to take a look at for planning your trip to India!

• Get this guidebook with PDF  so you can do some really specific India planning like where to stay and where to eat so you don’t get sick
• Get this guidebook so you can make a general plan based of your India itinerary of places to visit and what food to eat based on pretty pictures

So, which travel guidebooks might you use for planning a trip to India?

One of the best india guidebooks for planning each day’s itinerary, finding the best places to stay, and eating at the best restaurants.

Let’s start with the ultimate guidebook for travel to India .

So, there’s a good chance that you’ve heard of Lonely Planet travel guidebooks.

How is the Lonely Planet travel guide for India?

Well, once you get used to it, India is a country that can be easy to travel around because of the ease of being able to catch buses without advanced booking and the ease of being able to show up in a city without a guesthouse or hotel booking. (That said, sometimes advanced booking can be helpful!)

What makes that travel in India even easier?!

Lonely Planet India!

These are the top reasons to get Lonely Planet India:

• Getting sick is a common occurrence among foreigners. The restaurant recommendations in the book can minimize your chance of getting food poisoning! And in case you do get sick, here’s how to treat traveler’s diarrhea naturally .
• Getting ripped off is also a common occurrence among foreigners. The book will give a price range for guesthouses, activities, and rickshaw rides in a given city. This will make you feel more confident knowing that you’re not paying way too much!
• Sometimes it’s easier to just show up in a city and look for accommodation. The book can give you the best places to stay so you are not aimlessly wandering around. In the case that you want to pre-book your hotel, it can give you recommendations!
• And of course the book has a list of the best places to visit in any given city! It will give you ideas on nearby famous destinations. It also lists the best way to get to your next destination, as well as the best way to get around any city.

You can read some of the reviews here for using Lonely Planet India when traveling.

For easy planning when you’re on the road in India, here are some guidebooks to take a look at:

• Lonely Planet: India (best of the whole country)
• Lonely Planet: Rajasthan, Delhi, and Agra (includes best of the famous Golden Triangle)
• Lonely Planet: South India and Kerala
• Lonely Planet: Goa and Mumbai

These include the option of a pdf travel guide or e-book too, so be sure to have a look!

India is a big country, which means there’s a ton to cover. The Lonely Planet India book is over 1,000 pages which means it’s pretty bulky. Having the travel guide in pdf form on your phone can cut back on the weight of your backpack! It can also be helpful in finding a nearby place to eat when you’re out and about on an excursion.

Now, if you do still have a few weeks or months before your trip to India…

One of the best India guidebooks for figuring out the pretty places you want to visit

One of the negatives about Lonely Planet India is that aside from the city maps and information tables of buses and trains, it’s pretty much all text.

This text is incredibly helpful when trying to figure out where to stay and places to eat, in particular when you’re not planning too far ahead.

But if you’re wanting to figure out what the name of that temple you saw on Pinterest  😉 is called, Lonely Planet India won’t be able to really help you with that.

So it can be best used in conjunction with another resource.

Or once again, in order to have the best of India all in one place so you don’t have to sift through so much information, there’s an India guidebook for that! 😉

For planning your trip to India using pictures, take a look at:

• DK Eyewitness Travel: India
• DK Eyewitness Travel: Delhi, Jaipur, Agra

DK Eyewitness India isn’t necessarily the best for travel tips when it comes to things like specific ways of how to get around. But at the back of the book, there is a big list of recommendations for where to stay and places to eat, arranged mostly by state. Still, for practical travel tips when you’re on the road, Lonely Planet India is pretty good.

But DK Eyewitness India will give you the pictures, along with the descriptions of what makes each place significant. So instead of just listing a foreign name of a place that you are sure to forget, it gives you that image that your memory will likely better retain.

Or if you won’t be doing too much pre-planning of places to visit before your trip to India, you may like all the colorful images to help you decide where you want to go once you arrive in any given city. The street-by-street city maps also include pictures. This makes it so that when you look at the map, you will see what the market or palace looks like at a specific location.

Using DK Eyewitness India as your guidebook when traveling in India might turn you into a foodie! There are food sections that list the local dishes and specialties of a region. These come with pretty pictures of the food, and you just might end up wanting to try all the food when in India! 😉 So if you’re looking forward to trying the diversity of food options available in India, you might like this book too.

The tagline for DK Eyewitness is “the guides that show you what others only tell you”… and this is what the guidebook does through its abundance of colorful pictures!

Now, is it really necessary to take 2 guidebooks with you to India?!

That does sound like overkill.

Plus, that’ll add weight to your backpack and take up more space than you probably want it to.

In which case, you might want to lean towards  Lonely Planet India . It really can be used as a bible for your trip to India. And showing up in a city and knowing where to stay and safe places to eat (so you don’t get sick!) can be superbly helpful.

Be sure to have a look at what might be able to speed up your recovery if you do get sick with traveler’s diarrhea.

Well, what if you want your India guidebooks to have the pictures of the best places to visit and  a bunch of useful travel tips when traveling around India?!

If you can commit to doing at least a little bit of planning ahead of time, DK Eyewitness India really can help you see India in pictures in a simple way.

Lonely Planet India can be even more helpful on the road when you’re in India, so consider using DK Eyewitness India for trip planning when you’re still at home. Then leave DK Eyewitness behind instead of taking it with you to India so you don’t have to lug around that extra weight.

And, if you’re not planning on taking it to India with you, you may even see if the guidebook is available at your local library.

One of the problems with borrowing travel books at libraries is that the only version that the library has might be one from 10 years ago. But with DK Eyewitness India, if your primary purpose is to look at the pictures, it generally shouldn’t really be a problem even if the book is a little outdated.

With Lonely Planet India on the other hand, if you’re using it mainly for hotel recommendations and restaurant recommendations, it’s probably best to get a book that’s been updated in the past couple of years. Here are the most recent versions.

What if you just really don’t want to make room in your backpack for a guidebook?! 😉

And then of course, if you don’t want to carry any extra weight in the form of an India guidebook, you always have the trusty Lonely Planet India PDF !

But do make sure you make room for that international first aid kit for India !

HAPPY INDIA TRIP PLANNING!

Best shoes for your active vacation, swimwear for snorkeling and beach.

10 Books to Read before Traveling to India: Culture, History, Fiction

Every first trip to India starts with a journey through a book. Whether it’s a novel, a history textbook, or an autobiography of an Indian leader, these books open a virtual door to the perplexed caste system and vibrant culture of multifaceted India.    

Last updated: March 8, 2024

The 10 Books You Ought to Read Before Traveling to India

After centuries of exploring India, the country still remains one of the most complicated, exotic regions in Asia. Its culture and history, its ancient traditions and customs, and mostly its people never cease to fascinate the world. It’s a land that makes you either fall in love with its diversity and vibrancy or loathe everything about it with passion and swear to never come back. 

Different people get their first introduction to India from different sources. For some, yours truly included, Bollywood movies with their endless dancing and singing offer a sneak peek into the complicated way of life and multireligious culture. Somebody else’s travel experiences ignite curiosity in others. The third group forms an invisible bond with India through books. 

I joined the latter group a few years ago. With all that detailed secondhand knowledge provided by Bollywood, no book about India was supposed to surprise me. It was far from being true, though. I perused one book about India after another with the same vigor as if I would watch a new Bollywood release. 

The books opened a new side of India, prettier, uglier, and completely irresistible. Start your own discovery or rediscovery of India and its culture through these 10 books, both fiction and non-fiction. 

READ THESE 10 BOOKS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT INDIA, ITS HISTORY, CULTURE, AND PEOPLE

1. shantaram, a fiction book set in india by gregory david roberts.

Half a fiction, half or probably just a fraction a true story, Shantaram narrates about an Australian prisoner hiding in Bombay, India. With so many people focusing on their own survival, blending in and staying low in a new country is easy for Lin aka Shantaram. 

Things change rather unexpectedly when the Australian meets Karla, a vivacious woman with a secret life, and delves into the world that consists of Bombay’s slums, opium and prostitution houses, and bars frequented by expats. 

Written in the best Bollywood traditions, the book Shantaram unveils dark secrets of the biggest city of India without holding back anything. Behind dazzling saris, loud music, and intricate dancing, there is a different world. And it’s not always pretty.

2. The Space Between Us

A fiction book set in india by thrity umrigar.

Bhima is an old, illiterate Indian woman who has lived in Mumbai her entire life. At one point, Bhima was happy in the city. She had a caring husband, a beautiful daughter, and a clever son. Now only the old woman’s granddaughter, Maya, shares with her their tiny home in Mumbai’s slums.  

Neither the unfairness of life nor hard work scare Bhima. These two companions haven’t been successful at breaking down the old woman her entire life. What eats her up inside is betrayal. First by her husband, now by her own granddaughter who got herself pregnant. 

But Bhima has no time to dwell on her thoughts and self-pity. She has a lot of work waiting for her in the house of Sera Dubash, an upper-middle-class Parsi housewife Bhima has worked for for years. 

Both women have been through a lot, shared some deep secrets, and stood in the same kitchen day in, day out. But despite their physical closeness, there is an insurmountable gap between Bhima and Sera that can’t and will never disappear. 

The Space Between Us is the first book of a two-part sequel about life and struggles of women in India. A page-turner, the novel captivates you from the first page and holds your attention right until the very last sentence. You’ll never look at India in the same light after reading this thought-provoking book. 

3. The Secrets Between Us

The first book, T he Space Between Us , became an instant phenomenon among both Indian and international readers. Women all over the world were asking the author what had happened to Bhima. Thrity Umrigar responded with a new book that expands upon India that the readers saw in the first novel. 

Bhima is now more determined to get her granddaughter something she herself couldn’t dream of – the education. While still thinking about her former employer, Sera Dubash, the old woman learns how to let go of the past. 

By a stroke of irony, Bhima becomes acquainted with a bitter older woman, Parvati. The two women become business partners, selling fruits and vegetables at a local market. As they get to know each other better, the poor and forsaken women change their outlooks on the world, Indian customs, and life itself. 

A bitter-sweet story, The Secrets Between Us is a beautiful gift from an Indian woman to the women all over the world. The book depicts the side of India that often gets overlooked, the poor and forgotten but not broken women. 

4. Holy Cow! An Indian Adventure

A book about india by sarah macdonald.

Eleven years ago at an Indian airport, the author, Sarah Macdonald, swears to never come back to India. An Indian guru the girl looks down on warns her. Sarah will come back for love. The author doesn’t give him a second thought and rushes to board the airplane back home to Australia.

The guru’s prophecy comes true. Unable to stay far away from her boyfriend, the author moves to India more than a decade later. Without her usual circle of friends and regular job, Sarah set off on an adventure to test her atheistic views and search for a meaningful life. 

The book goes on depicting the author’s spiritual excursions and travels throughout India. After two years of living in the country, Sarah sees India in a completely different light. 

There is still a lot to loathe in this multireligious country. But the subtle beauty of India and its people far outweighs the first impression, a notion that you get from a book, a movie, or a brief first visit. 

5. The Story of My Experiments with Truth

An autobiography by mohandas k. gandhi.

The Indian leader who chooses pease over war is known and respected in the whole world. Politicians look up to him. Religious leaders regard him a guru. 

But the man who freed India and inspired the American Civil Rights Movement can’t accept this praise. In his own eyes, he is still a simple man who experiments with his diet a lot, constantly seeks truth, and opposes any kinds of armed clashes.

In his book, Gandhi gives an honest account of his life, studies, and ideas that make him one of the most respectful and misunderstood men in India and the world. 

6. Ayurveda: The Science of Self-Healing  

A practical guide to indian healing system by dr. vasant lad.

Travelers dreaming of a trip to India ought to read this book to understand the cultural aspects of the country. The oldest healing system in the world is too complex to grasp its basics in a few days. You need months and years. 

Ayurveda is more than just a thin book to peruse on an airplane to India. The ancient medicine is an essential part of Indian culture. It teaches you how to take proper care of your body, what food to eat for your dosha, how to use spices and herbs, and much more. 

In this tiny book Dr. Vasant Lad insists that Ayurveda is an alternative medicine system that can be used outside India. People all over the world reap the same positive health and well-being results once they start following these simple Ayurvedic principles. 

Read more: The 6 Best Books on Japanese Art of Happiness and Living

7. Eat. Pray. Love

A book set in italy, india, and indonesia by elizabeth gilbert.

A newly divorced woman is set to find meaning in her now perplexed life. The author travels to Italy to indulge in gastronomic extravaganza, India to find inner peace, and Indonesia because she was told she would return there. 

While Italy and Indonesia teach Elizabeth Gilbert their own lessons, India tests the woman in the most unexpected way. To some extent, the author masters meditation and vegetarianism. But the spiritual journey Elizabeth is on isn’t something the young woman is ready for just yet. 

We see only a small corner of India in Elizabeth Gilbert’s book Eat. Pray. Love. But it’s enough to stir up our curiosity and dream of traveling to this Asian country one day. 

8. Destination Wellness. Global Secrets for Better Living Wherever You Are

A non-fiction book about jamaica, norway, hawaii, japan, india, and brazil by annie daly.

Unlike Elizabeth Gilbert who wants to find herself, Annie Daly travels the world to learn well-being secrets . And of course, Ayurveda with its three doshas waits for the author in India. 

In a sense, this ancient tradition is not new to Annie Daly whose fiancé is Indian. Yet the more the young woman delves into the Indian culture, the more she realizes how relevant Ayurveda and its principles are still today. 

Before long, Annie devotes one sixth of her book Destination Wellness to the secrets she learns while traveling through India. 

9. Siddhartha

A book set in india by hermann hesse.

Siddhartha, a wealthy Indian Brahmin, questions his privileged life. Inspired to find a true meaning of life and wisdom, the young boy travels across the country. 

Far away from his inherited wealth, the boy encounters different kinds of people, from wandering ascetics to rich merchants, a poor ferryman and a beautiful courtesan. All these encounters teach Siddhartha one powerful lesson – true knowledge is within him.

Although the book Siddhartha is set in India and narrates about the people you are most likely to meet here, the novel is highly accepted throughout the world. The small book is even included in some college courses in Eastern Religions.

10. Life of Pi

A fiction book that begins in india by yann martel.

Pi Patel is a son of a zookeeper. The curious boy learns about animals and their behavior from an early age. All these knowledge is put to the test when the family emigrates from India to North America aboard a cargo ship. 

The unthinkable happens and the ship sinks. The passengers are nowhere to find, except for Pi, a hyena, an orangutan, a zebra, and a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. All these unlikely survivors find themselves in a small lifeboat. The next 227 days are the most intense and frightening in Pi’s life. 

The book ends far away from India, on the coast of Mexico. Richard Parker flees to the jungle as soon as the lifeboat reaches the shore. And Pi Patel has to come up with a new story of his survival as the first one is too miraculous to believe. 

Read more: The 4 Books You Need to Read before Traveling to Canada (#1 was enough for me)

You may also enjoy:

Shantaram: a book about india in the best bollywood traditions, the last bookstore: an epic bookshop in los angeles, 5 classic holiday books to read this december, 9 books to read before visiting japan: culture, customs, fiction, leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Get in touch

Sign up for newsletter.

Join Roads and Destinations' mailing list and get new blog updates, upcoming events, and exclusive travel resourses.

The Economic Times daily newspaper is available online now.

10 best indian travel books to read in 2024.

Do you enjoy travelling? Do you enjoy reading travelogues? Amazing! We created this post to provide you with a detailed explanation of the best travel books available in India. Find the best Indian travel guides by reading this post.

Best Indian Travel Guidebooks to Read Before You Travel to India

Essential india travel guide by mohan kapoor.

Essential India Travel Guide

• Every kind of traveller, including a business traveller and a partygoer.

The Essential Safety and Security Guide to Visiting India

The Essential Safety & Security Guide to Visiting India

• Backpackers, adventurers, female travellers, and solo travellers.

Culture Smart India

India - Culture Smart

• Business travellers, newly shifted residents, and travellers on short-term projects.

Lonely Planet South India & Kerala

South India & Kerala Regional Guide by Lonely Planet

• Family travellers, Solo travellers, and backpackers.

Insight Guides India

• Every type of traveller and photographer.

DK Eyewitness Delhi, Agra & Jaipur

DK Eyewitness Delhi, Agra and Jaipur

• Backpackers, adventurers, & Solo travellers.

Travel Fearlessly in India

Travel Fearlessly In India

• Female group travellers and female solo travellers.

Bradt Travel Guides: Jammu, Kashmir Valley, Ladakh & Zanskar

Bradt Travel Guides - Kashmir Valley, Ladakh, Zanskar

• Adventurers, hikers, trekkers, and backpackers.

Fodor’s Essential India

Fodor’s Essential India

• Family, photographers, adventurers, and backpackers.

Lonely Planet India

• Family, female solo, and business travellers.

FAQs: Best Indian Travel Guidebooks to Read

Q1. how many days are enough for the india tour, q2. which is the safest place in india to visit in 2024, q3. what are the advantages of using travel guidebooks, related products.

Find this comment offensive?

Choose your reason below and click on the Report button. This will alert our moderators to take action

Reason for reporting:

Your Reason has been Reported to the admin.

To post this comment you must

Log In/Connect with:

Fill in your details:

Will be displayed

Will not be displayed

Share this Comment:

Stories you might be interested in

1-16 of 177 results

Conde Nast Traveller - Aug - Sept - Oct 2024 - The Slow Tide + Destination Wedding Guide

India The Journey - A Travel Book on India

Travel + Leisure India - July 2024 - Aditi Rao Hydari

More results.

Conde Nast Traveller - May - Jun - Jul 2024 - Love & Travel + Sri Lanka Special Guide

Auto Today - May 2024 - All New Maruti Suzuki - Swift

Reader's Digest India - March 2024 - Women On The Move

Travel + Leisure India - June 2024 - The Conscious 50 - Places. Hotels. People - Huma & Saqib

Mata Vaishno Devi: The Bhakti of Shakti

In the Footsteps of Rama: Travels with the Ramayana

Wildlife of India - A Picture Book on Wildlife in India

Temples of India - A Picture Book on Temples of India

Festivals of India - A Picture Book on Festivals of India

Forts of India - A Picture Book on Forts in India

Heritage of India - A Picture Book on World Heritage Sites in India

Onam in a Nightie: Stories from a Kerala Quarantine

Awesome India: A Guide to States and Union Territories (Updated edition): A Children's Guide & Travel Companion

• Great Indian Festival
• Get It by Tomorrow
• Get It in 2 Days
• Travel & Tourism
• Illustrated Travel Books
• Specialty Travel
• Travel & Holiday Guides
• Travel Writing
• 4 Stars & Up & Up
• Kindle Unlimited Eligible
• Audible Audio Edition
• Kindle eBooks
• Last 90 days
• Eligible for Pay On Delivery
• 10% Off or more
• 25% Off or more
• 35% Off or more
• 50% Off or more
• 60% Off or more
• 70% Off or more
• Amazon Asia-Pacific Holdings Private Limited
• Cocoblu Retail
• english and american book centre
• Audible Singapore Pvt. Ltd.
• Book Wings- USA
• Simmra Book House
• Include Out of Stock
• About Amazon
• Press Releases
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Sell under Amazon Accelerator
• Protect and Build Your Brand
• Amazon Global Selling
• Supply to Amazon
• Become an Affiliate
• Fulfilment by Amazon
• Advertise Your Products
• Amazon Pay on Merchants
• Your Account
• Returns Centre
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• 100% Purchase Protection
• Amazon App Download
• Conditions of Use & Sale
• Privacy Notice
• Interest-Based Ads

Want to save time & money on your next India trip?

Check out the list of travel hacks learned after +4 years in India

The Ultimate List of +61 Books To Read Before Traveling To India

As I was reading Shantaram, the idea of taking a trip to India started to form in my mind. When a friend announced he was having a retreat, it solidified. I was off to India and looking for inspiration…

What books should you read before traveling to India? The most talked about books about India are: Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts, Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie, A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry, White Tiger by Aravind Adiga, A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth, The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy, and My Experiments with Truth by M.K. Gandhi.

Below I’ve listed +50 more based on different interests…

As I settled into India, I’ve made an ultimate list of the books to read as I live and travel here. I thought this may be helpful to you if you’re looking for inspiration and an introduction to Indian culture.

To break the books down, I’ve classified them by interest so you can choose the 5 to 10 books that most interest you… unless you’re weird like me and want to spend a year reading 60 books about India 🤓:

• Travel Adventures: Mostly non-fiction stories of foreigners and Indians traveling through India.
• History Buff: If you like understanding the facts about India – its people and places.
• Heart Throbs: You like emotive language and stories about love, which are mostly focused on the feelings of the characters.
• Literary Snobs: You like to read the classics and understand what’s generally considered great.
• Spiritual Seekers: You want enlightenment and truth, and will read any book to get it.
• Hipsters: You want to read the rarely-read books for a unique perspective.
• Entrepreneurs and Digital Nomads: You want the books that will give you insight into your business.

I’ve also rated each title based on its genre, popularity and online rankings.

• Popularity: Between 1 and 5 nerd faces 🤓
• Online Rankings: Between 1 and 5 stars ⭐️

How many a man has dated a new era in his life from the reading of a book. ―  Henry David Thoreau,  Walden

Table of Contents

***Best-Sellers***

If you’re going to India and you call yourself a reader, you should add these to your list. Or don’t, you rebel 😏

1) Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts

• Genre: Fiction, Adventure, Travel
• Popularity: 🤓 🤓 🤓 🤓 🤓 
• Ratings: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book has inspired many travelers like myself to head to India. Not only does it chronicle the tale of a pretty inspiring Australian ex-convict living in the slums of Mumbai, but it also is the type of novel you’ll stay up late reading “just one more page.”

It has love, spiritual seeking, and an epic tale of a prison break straight over the front wall.

Whether you’re looking for a tale of enlightenment, a travel story, a romance novel, or a thriller about a convict on the run… this is a great read.

The colorful backdrop of Mumbai’s slums puts it over the top with its descriptions of rats as big as cats, the inner workings of the Indian mob, and the epic wrestling match that is getting on a train in the Indian standing-room-only class.

Oh, and it’s based on a true story.

2) Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie

• Genre: Fiction, Magical Realism, Fantasy
• Popularity: 🤓 🤓 🤓 🤓 
• Ratings: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Before I learned this story, I was pretty clueless about most of the details of Indian history (and now I’m slightly less clueless!)

The genius of this story is the way it tells the story of India, through a fantastical charismatic story of a boy with a cucumber-looking nose.

You’ll follow Saleem Sinai, born on midnight the day India itself was born. He’s one of 1001 children who were born at the same time as Mother India, and this creates a special privilege and curse and… a super weird bond between them.

If you’re only going to read 5 books about India, this should be one. There’s also a movie (AND here are 50 movies about trips to India ).

3) A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry

• Genre: Historical Fiction

Some people think of his work as an Indian Charles Dickens, because he takes on such huge sweeping subject matter like the corruption and tragedy and how to rise above.

It’s set in 1975, as India goes through a time of crisis and follows four unrelated characters as they cramp together in a small apartment to weather the horrors of the storm around them.

You’ll be asking, Was India really like this? And is it still? Eek!

4) White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

• Genre: Fiction, Modern, Mystery, Crime

This book is funny. It’s tragic but never loses its sense of humor, which in many ways is like India… the unending traffic… the lines at a grocery store… the many people approaching you on the street asking for money… it can be a bit grim sometimes.

But then your chai wallah smiles as they give you your chai or your gardener tells you about the coming religious celebrations in town or a cute kid on the street says hello with a beaming smile.

The book is a mystery, with an interesting narrator and setup.

Great inspirational reading for entrepreneurs and digital nomads 👍👍

Other books I want to read by Aravind Adiga:

• Selection Day [Recently adapted into a Netflix show] : It’s about cricket, haha.
• Between the Assassinations : It’s a about a city on the Bay of Bengal and the period after Indira Gandhi’s assassination, yet before her son was killed.
• Last Man in Town : A Mumbai man refuses to leave his home in the slums as property developers move in.

5) A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth

• Genre: Historical Fiction, Modern, Mystery, Crime
• Popularity: 🤓 🤓 🤓 

Similar to Midnight’s Children, it’s set in India just after Independence.

It follows four families over a period of 18 months. It’s fun because it takes you into the love life of Indians.

Rupa Mehra is trying to arrange a marriage with her young daughter Lata to a “suitable boy.”

6) The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

• Genre: Historical Fiction, Modern
• Popularity: 🤓 🤓 🤓 🤓🤓

Arundhati Roy has been compared to Dickens and Faulkner. She has her own way of explaining this in a unique emotive voice. This one’s about a family drama, people falling in love with people they shouldn’t, and political struggles.

It’s a novel pointing to the age-old question as the back of the novel states, “Who should be loved and how. And how much.”

7) Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

• Genre: Nonfiction, Memoir, Travel

At this point, you probably know the story… unless you’ve been living in an ashram in India for years 🙂

It’s Elizabeth Gilbert’s autobiography about handling her mid-life crisis and divorce by Eating in Italy, Praying in India, and Loving in Indonesia.

Some people will criticize the India sections, but I think it’s true to my experiences in an ashram and her voice and writing is super accessible.

8) Q & A by Vikas Swarup

• Genre: Fiction, Modern
• Popularity: 🤓 🤓 🤓 🤓

This is the novel that inspired Slumdog Millionaire. This is the movie that my family thinks is what India is, haha. India is similar, yet it’s also much more obviously.

I like films, and this one’s on my list because I like to compare the book with the movie.

9) The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

This novel is also has a movie. It’s about an Indian professor who moves to the US, then heads back to India to get married and brings his bride to the USA.

We then follow his son, the Namesake, and the family as they grow. This one taught me a lot about Indian values and love.

10) Life of Pi by Yann Martel

• Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure

A kid from Pondicherry survives his ship sinking only to get stuck on a raft with a live and not-so-happy Bengal Tiger. Talk about luck.

If you visit Pondicherry , you can see some places that are depicted in the movie.

***Travel Adventures***

I have always loved non-fiction travel adventure books, maybe that’s why I’m spending so much time writing this blog, haha.

Check out these stories of great writers as they go on journeys and adventures and odysseys into India.

11) A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley

• Genre: Nonfiction, Memoir
• Popularity: 🤓 🤓 🤓🤓

If you’ve watched the 2016 film, Lion, this is the nonfiction book that inspired the movie.

A boy gets on a train and wakes up in a new place. He only knows his mom as “ma” and he doesn’t pronounce his town right, so no one knows where he is from.

He eventually gets on Google Earth and looks for the one image he can remember of his train station… a water tower.

It’s a tear-jerker 😢

12) Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure by Sarah Macdonald

• Popularity: 🤓 🤓 

Sarah Macdonald’s funny trip through India is often near the top of travel books about India.

She backpacked in India when she was younger and HATED it, haha. But after more than 10 years, her partner had to move back to India… so that’s when our story begins.

She questions, how can she find peace in India when it’s sooo crazy?

13) All Roads Lead to Ganga by Ruskin Bond

• Popularity: 🤓  

A little-known travelogue about a man’s journey along the Ganges River in the Himalayas. There’s also a lot to learn about the river and India from the author’s research.

He writes similar to Jim Corbett, describing more than just the places and people, but also how he feels about them.

14) Around India in 80 Trains by Monisha Rajesh

• Popularity: 🤓 
• Ratings: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Monisha is from the UK, but moved to India with her family in the 90s. However, she and her family had a tough run with rats eating their soap and a neighbor who was a touch creepy.

They moved back to the UK but 20 years later, Monisha is back in India and wants to explore in the style of Jules Verne… therefore, she heads ~25000 miles around India on trains to learn more about the country she lost touch with.

15) Never Mind the Bullocks: One Girl’s 10,000 km Adventure around India in the World’s Cheapest Car by Vanessa Able

• Ratings: ⭐️⭐️

This is a little-known travel adventure if you want to see a side of India, that many tourists will never hear about.

Take a trip in a Tata Nano (super tiny car) and brave the Indian highways and avoid hitting the bullocks, haha.

She falls in love with a mathematician named Thor, encounters terrible drivers and barely escapes with her life.

16) A Search in Secret India by Paul Brunton

This one isn’t that popular but it gets great reviews online.

If you’re dreaming about moving to India and seeking spiritual enlightenment, this one’s for you.

Paul does just that and lives with the sadhus, gurus, mystics, yogis and eventually finds enlightened master Sri Ramana Maharishi…

If you’re looking for your guru, then this is the story for you.

17) Chasing the Monsoon by Alexander Frater

The monsoon season is an oddity that I was scratching my head above… “wait, so it rains for like days and days and days on end?”

Alexander is basically a storm chaser, following the monsoon season through villages and cities and across countries… like any good book he finds love surprisingly along the way.

18) Slowly Down the Ganges by Eric Newby

After watching the film, The River, by the famed French director Jean Renoir, I’m sort of obsessed with living on a houseboat on an Indian river. Just cruising along and doing my writing… if only I could get strong wifi!

That’s why I want to read this book.

Eric and his wife, set off on an almost 2000 km adventure on a boat on the venerated Ganges River.

Sounds like there’s plenty of misadventures as they kept getting stuck on the ground over 60 times, haha.

But they meet some classic Indian people, which is one of the main reasons I love this country.

19) This is How I Save My Life by Amy Scher

This journey doesn’t start in India, but it does end here.

Amy is looking for experimental medical treatment for a deadly Lyme disease, so as she’s desperate for a cure… she ends up in India risking it all.

Elizabeth Gilbert recommends this one, so if you liked Eat Pray Love, add this one to your list as well.

20) My Dateless Diary: An American Journey by R.K. Narayan

Another one that’s not set in India, but R.K. an Indian man traveling across America… and it sounds like it’s about his non-existent love live but it’s actually just his diary without dates.

He does make a connection with an iconic American actress though…

As an American, I learned about my own country as well as about India by his reflections.

21) City of Djinns: A Year in Delhi by William Dalrymple

• Genre: Nonfiction, History, Travel
• Popularity: 🤓🤓 

William Dalrymple is one of the most popular writers about India, and the impressive scope of his research into the history of the country is usually what draws readers to his work.

William explores the old extinct cities in Delhi and the mystery of the djinns, spirits that would recreate the city no matter how many times it was destroyed… which was relatively often considering how many times India was invaded, yikes.

If you’re going to Delhi, you’ll finish this book and know so much more about the city.

***Destinations***

While some of the above books were more travel adventures, these books focus in-depth on one place.

22) Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found by Suketu Mehta

I’m drawn to the dark side of cities for some reason which is why I liked Shantaram and its sequel Mountain Shadow.

Suketu offers plenty of dark sides here as he shows us an inside look at opposing gangs and also dancers living in the underbelly of the city.

If you’re looking for hopeful warm feelings about Mumbai, this is NOT the book for you.

23) City Improbable: An Anthology of Writings on Delhi by Khushwant Singh

• Popularity: 🤓

Another book about the triumphs and defeats of Delhi through the decades.

What’s cool about this book is that it is a number of stories from a wide range of writers, so you can hear different perspectives. From the locals to foreign tourists, even to the invaders… you can get firsthand perspectives through the ages.

Sometimes it’s funny too 🙂

24) Calcutta: Two Years in the City by Amit Chaudhuri

• Genre: Nonfiction, Travel, Memoir

Amit will show us the City of Joy, Calcutta or Kolkata, from a local perspective.

This award-winning author takes you through the streets and communities to show you its people.

***History Buffs***

I’m far from a history buff, but I’m sort of obsessed with getting the most from my time in India, so I’ve been slogging through some books with more facts and details.

25) The Discovery of India by Jawaharlal Nehru

• Genre: Nonfiction, History, Politics
• Popularity: 🤓🤓

I just saw his statue in Pondicherry, now I’m reading the book he wrote in prison in the Ahmadnagar Fort in 1944.

He takes you from the very beginning of history to the 1940s. He’s such an iconic influential figure that it’s an essential read. Reminds me of reading Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography.

It is interesting too, especially the beginning.

26) India: A History by John Keay

• Genre: Nonfiction, History

John sums up more than 5,000 years of India’s history in one book.

If you’re looking for an overview of India, like I am, this is a good place to start.

Keep in mind, it’s not a history textbook and John Keay is not an intellectual historian. It’s not exactly light reading though.

27) The Idea of India by Sunil Khilnani

This one is more about, what does it mean to be an Indian?

I’m so curious about the Indian people, so I have this one on my list. I’m glad it’s only ~200 pages though because it sounds a touch dry and like a textbook.

The author has connections with Nehru (mentioned above) as well, so has been called out for not being objective.

28) India after Gandhi by Ramachandra: The History of the World’s Largest Democracy by Ramachandra Guha

• Popularity: 🤓🤓🤓

Unlike the world’s other most populated country (China), India has had fair elections from the day of its independence in 1947.

If you live in the US or Europe you may take democracy for granted, or at least you did before recent political history 😬… But this book will make you appreciate the challenge of creating a working democracy.

29) An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India By Shashi Tharoor

Who doesn’t want to read about the bloody British always being jerks, haha.

This one gets great reviews and while it is a bit harsh on the Brits, it’s with good reason. It’s a perspective that as a traveler and guest of this country, I want to be conscious of.

There’s so much research here and he goes into things like, why cricket, tea and the English language were used to make the rule of India easier.

30) The Fishing Fleet: Husband Hunting in the Raj by Anne de Courcy

• Genre: Nonfiction, History, Women

In the 1900s many British men sailed away to India to make a fortune and a career. This, in turn, led to many women hopping on a boat and following them.

They were called the Fishing Fleet and it’s an interesting perspective on life as a British woman at the turn of the 19th century.

It would be a good beach book, if you’re heading to Goa and thinking about love in an all-night party, haha.

31) Women of the Raj by Margaret MacMillan

In another book with a focus on British women in India, this one has a collection of memoirs, letters and interviews that make for a very rich portrayal of the time.

The way the women handle living in India may make you think that not much has changed in the many years… they talk about the hot weather, staying healthy and being away from home.

32) The Last Mughal Emperor by William Dalrymple

• Genre: Nonfiction, History,

I bought this book in Auroville and read it on a recent vacation in the Pondicherry area.

Delhi, under the Mughal rule sounds super chill actually. They had weddings with the bride-and-groom riding elephants, nightly poetry readings, and lots of delicious mangos to eat.

The Last Mughal Emperor was a poet and patron of the arts, and sounds like there was a lot of poetry and cultural events happening.

The story of the uprising in Delhi is tough to read at points – both the Indians and the British were brutal to each other.

But when I visit Humayun’s Tomb and the Red Fort, they will have so much more meaning for me now.

33) White Mughals by William Dalrymple

“White Mughals” were what they called British people who adapted to the Indian Culture.

They dressed like Indians, they took bibis (local wives), and they genuinely loved the Indian culture.

In the uprising of Delhi, many of them were so ingrained in the culture that when the local Indians revolted, they let many of them live… while brutally slaughtering the Indians who had converted to Christianity and were sympathetic to the British.

This story focuses specifically on one White Mughal, James Kirkpatrick, and his love affair with Khair un-Nissa, the niece of Hyderabad’s minister.

William Dalrymple is known for his extensive research and this book took over 5 years to write.

34) India: An Area of Darkness [First Book in a Trilogy] by V.S. Naipaul

• Genre: Nonfiction, History, Travel, Memoir

Written by a Nobel laureate, V.S. describes the country of his ancestors as he visits for the first time.

From Mumbai to Kashmir to the Himalayas to South India, he’ll take you through the contradictions and colors of India.

His findings and descriptions weren’t very pro-India, but they show a kindness and honesty you may appreciate.

This book is the first in a classic trilogy and the other two books are:

• India: A Wounded Civilization [1976]
• India: A Million Mutinies Now [1990]

***Literary Buffs***

If you’re the type who wants to read the classics because they are the classics (I am guilty as charged of this!), then here are some books that helped shaped Indian literature as well as world literature…

35) A Passage to India by E.M. Forster

• Popularity: 🤓🤓🤓🤓

If you’re traveling to India as a woman you are aware that the country gets a bad rap for how it treats women.

This classic confronts that issue years before the independence of India, as Adela Quested, a British woman, is at the heart of a novel confronting colonialism, racism and sexism.

Some people call it boring, and others beautiful.

36) My Experiments with Truth by M.K. Gandhi

• Genre: Nonfiction, Memoir, Philosophy, History

He’s the main man of India, I’m even scared to write about him for fear of getting something wrong.

I was just looking at a 13-foot-tall statue of him in Pondicherry and watching Indian tourists take selfies with him.

“I simply want to tell the story of my experiments with truth…as my life consists of nothing but those experiments.”  Gandhi

I want to know about his life and his perspective. The guy was celibate, so I have to know more about that, haha. I also feel like I’m always doing “experiments” so maybe I can learn something. I watched the film about him in high school, but you can learn a lot about someone by how they write.

As Woodrow Wilson said,

I would never read a book if it were possible for me to talk half an hour with the man who wrote it. Woodrow Wilson

It’s sort of a weird quote, but that is one thing I like about reading… it takes me into the minds of great men and women.

37) Kim by Rudyard Kipling

• Genre: Fiction, Classics, Adventure

The story of Kim, he has British parents but is born in India. There’s also a priest who’s renounced the world.

It’s a buddy tale and an exciting adventure of these two friends.

38) Siddhartha by Herman Hesse

• Genre: Historical Fiction, Classics
• Popularity: 🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓

It’s the retelling of the story of the Buddha as he grows up and eventually dies in India.

It was popular in the 70s and a favorite of mine in college. It’s a quick read and one you can read over and over again.

39) Untouchable by Mulk Raj Anand

The foreword is by E.M. Forster. It goes into the life of the lowest caste in India. I recently finished it and it’s given me an insight into the mind of how judgmental India once was…

I can NOT imagine being stuck in a life of poverty, without a way to dig myself out.

It’s a quick read, only 148 pages!

40) Train to Pakistan by Khushwant Singh

It’s a modern book, but it has had a big impact. If you’re new to what’s currently happening in Kashmir, then this book is a good start to understanding the horrors there.

Imagine living in a chill village in the remote area of Northern India with Muslims and Sikhs living side-by-side as they have for centuries. Then one day a train arrives with 1000s of dead bodies. Those of your friends, your family and now your enemies…

The book asks the question: What if you loved someone who was of the opposing religion… Would your love be able to withstand the cultural pressure?

41) Man-Eaters of Kumaon by Jim Corbett

This is one of the most highly rated books that I’ve seen, and Jim Corbett sounds like a madman. He’s like the Steve Irwin of Indian in the 1930s and 40s.

He hunted big cats for local villages, and in this one, he tells 10 stories about hunting tigers in the Himalayas.

42) The Man-Eating Leopard of Rudraprayag by Jim Corbett

Bet you can’t guess what this one’s about? 😉

This one’s less popular but still very highly rated. It’s a worthy sequel to Jim’s book about tigers. He has other books as well:

• The Temple Tiger and More Man-Eaters of Kumaon
• Jungle Lore
• The Champawat Man-Eater
• The Fortunate Tiger and Other Close Encounters

43) Gitanjali: Song Offerings by Rabindranath Tagore

• Genre: Poetry, Classics, Philosophy

W.B. Yeats writes the introduction to this book and helped introduce the now iconic Tagore to the world.

He won a Nobel Prize for his poetry, yet in his 20s lived in seclusion on a houseboat in Bengal.

***Spiritual Seekers***

If you’re heading to India for a spiritual retreat as I was, here are some options from others who have gone before us.

44) Nine Lives: Encounters with the Holy in Modern India by William Dalrymple

• Genre: Nonfiction, History, Religion, Spirituality, Travel

I like how this book combines the research William Dalrymple is so well-known for, with intriguing tales of spiritual seekers from all different religions and traditions.

One woman lives on an isolated, skull-filled cremation ground and explores Tantra to find fulfillment. That’s just one, the other tales sound equally interesting.

45) Karma Cola: Marketing the Mystic East by Gita Mehta

This Indian writer tells stories about Western seekers and tourists she meets in the 1960s and 70s.

I always crave an outside perspective on myself and my culture and this one delivers. It’s fun and who doesn’t like picking on hippies and spiritual seekers 😉

46) The Bhagvat-Geeta or Dialogues of Kreeshna and Arjoon, Translated by Charles Wilkins

The Bhagavad Gita or Bhagvat-Geeta as Charles Wilkins writes it, is the eminent story of a great warrior torn between whether to fight and kill his friends and family… or not fight and see other friends and family member killed.

It’s a tale that Indians know as much as a Christian would know about Moses and the Ark.

It’s an inspiring spiritual tale, because it talks about something that many other books do not… how to ACT in alignment with your spirituality.

Arjoon can’t retire to a mountain cave to grow out his beard and eat coconuts. He must decide to fight or not. This is a record of his conversations with Krishna, a famous god in Hindu.

This is the first translation, written by Charles Wilkins who lived in India for many decades. It’s a good place to start, if you want more like I do then, I’m looking at these other translations:

• My Gita by Devdutt Pattanaik: A modern mythologist reinterprets the classic for today’s audience.
• The Gospel of Selfless Action: The Gita according to Gandhi
• The Bhagavad Gita: A Walkthrough for Westerners
• Bhagavad Gita: A New Translation by Stephen Mitchell (I listened to the audio version of the Tao Te Ching on repeat for years)

The Gita is also good for spiritual seekers who are interested in how should they work? How should they earn money?

***Heart Throbs***

Some people read to think, others want to feel. These books capture the emotion of India and its people.

47) 2 States: The Story of My Marriage by Chetan Bhagat

• Genre: Fiction, Romance, Modern, Humor, Young Adult

This is a fun lighter option, that doesn’t get the highest ratings, but is popular. When I’m reading reviews it sounds like what you’d read about books like 50 Shades of Grey , haha.

Some people hate it. Others think it’s amusing and entertaining. I like lighter books, so it’s added to my list.

I’m curious about the culture of love and romance in India too so I want to see a pop culture perspective.

48) Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo

Katherine Boo is a Pulitzer Prize winner, and this nonfiction book is a quicker read than you’d imagine. She has a way of reporting that exposes the heart of her subjects.

Near the luxurious hotels in Mumbai, is Annawadi a slum that exists in the shadows. Despite the poverty, the residents are filled with hope and Katherine tells the story of many of the residents with clarity and detail that make them jump off the page.

49) A Princess Remembers: The Memoirs of the Maharani of Jaipur by Gayatri Devi

• Genre: Nonfiction, Memoir, History

This woman sounds impressive, let’s list some things about her:

• Daughter of a ruler
• Raised in a palace
• Shot a pather when she was 12
• If there was a list of most beautiful women in the world at the time, she would have made it
• Had a secret affair with a world-famous athlete

50) East of the Sun by Julia Gregson

• Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Travel, Women, British

This historical fiction story is set in the 1920s and tells of three British women in Mumbai – from the luxurious parties to the austerity of the orphaned street kids.

51) The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri

This is a popular and highly-rated novel published in 2013 about a family in Calcutta.

The novel asks the question: Who are we?

That is the question this novel asks as it follows its characters through riots and the Naxalite movement, among other things.

52) The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

The Mahabharat is an epic Sanskrit poem that clocks in 1,800,000 words. That’s +200,000 lines of poetry! For context, that’s 10 times the Iliad and Odyssey…

I’d love to read the Mahabharat because it has had such an influence on Indian culture and specifically Hinduism, but I would need a month off from writing on this blog to finish.

That’s why this book looks so interesting.

It’s a modern retelling of the epic poem. It also has accurate historical details mixed with classic myths and legends.

53) The Hungry Tide by Amitav Ghosh

This one follows an American marine biologist whose family is from India as he explores the Sundarbans (small islands with mangroves known to have Royal Bengal tigers nearby).

As they push deeper into the backwaters, looking for a rare specifies of dolphin, they encounter politic pressure that threatens their mission and their lives.

54) What the Body Remembers by Shauna Singh Baldwin

• Genre: Historical Fiction, Women, Politics

It’s a story about a love triangle – a man and his two wives. It’s told from the perspective of a young girl who becomes one of those wives.

It is a readable political feminist tour-de-force apparently.

55) The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai

This book won the Man Booker Prize in 2006, and is loved by critics.

It tells the story of an old angry judge who just wants to be left alone at his home at the base of the Mt Kanchenjunga. But his granddaughter, Sai comes to live with him.

It’s very readable, and fun, although some people were put off by the writing style.

***Hipsters***

If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking. ―  Haruki Murakami,  Norwegian Wood

In the same way, I want to seek out travel destinations that are far from the beaten path, I want books that no one else I know has ever read. Here are some that I added to my list…

56) Mr. Iyer Goes To War by Ryan Lobo

• Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Modern, Myth
• Ratings: ⭐️

Mr. Iyer is living in Varanasi, the place with the many sadhus and ghats where many Indians come to push their dead relatives into the Ganges on a burning raft.

As he’s devoting himself to reading spiritual texts most of the time, however, he gets in an accident, has a concussion and has a vision.

Upon awakening, he thinks it is up to him to bring back the. principles described in the epic Sanskrit poem the Mahabharata, so he goes on an adventure along the Ganges River to restore justice to the world.

Inspired by the classic Don Quixote, he brings along Bencho as his companion for some fun absurdist adventures.

57) Twilight in Delhi by Ahmed Ali

This was first published in the 1940s. E.M. Forster called it “new and fascinating” and while it was popular with critics, most modern readers won’t have read it.

If you’re curious about learning more about 19th century Delhi, Ahmed brings the city to life in this book.

58) Empire of the Soul: Some Journeys in India by Paul William Roberts

• Genre: Nonfiction, Travel

For 20 years, Paul William Roberts has traveled through India and this book captures his journeys.

There’s a lot of history and details about the visual beauty of India.

People – Americans, mostly – realise how attached they are to material comforts when they arrive in India. Paul William Roberts, Empire of the Soul

***Entrepreneurs and Digital Nomads***

I’m always looking for inspiration for my entrepreneurial projects.

I mentioned White Tiger above, but here are some others.

59) The Mountain Shadow by Gregory David Roberts

This is the sequel to Shantaram. While it’s not as good, if you liked Shantaram, I’d consider it a must-read.

It’s more spiritual than Shantaram, but it’s also darker as the main character gets more heavily involved in Mumbai’s mob. It took me about 100 pages to adapt to the darker elements of the main character, who is mostly presented as good in the first book.

In this book, he goes to meet a guru on a mountain though and I loved these sections. I also liked how business-minded he became as he had to make hard decisions.

60) Dhirubhai Ambani: Against All Odds by A G Krishnamurthy 

The story of a well-known Indian entrepreneur, who went from a yarn business to a petrochemical mogul of the industry.

61) Bhujia Barons: The Untold Story of How Haldiram Built a 5000 Crore Empire by Pavitra Kumar

Haldirams is an Indian food brand with the name recognition of a McDonald’s in India. This book takes you through the story of the Agarwal family as they built the business.

It will show you how Indians do business so if you’re here on business, you can get a sense for the ethics, norms and mindset.

Plus, it’s just a rip-roaring tale with all sorts of drama. It reminds me of the movie, The Founder, about McDonald’s origin story. There’s no Michael Keaton here though 🙁

Related Questions:

What books are like shantaram.

• The Mountain Shadow by Gregory David Roberts: The sequel to Shantaram.
• Papillon by Henri Charriere: A memoir about a determined Frenchman who spends 14 years on an island prison and tries to escape multiple times.
• Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie: It’s also an inside look at India with great writing.
• Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found by Suketa Mehta: It’s also a dark look inside the criminal underworld of Mumbai.
• Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo: It’s a nonfiction story of a slum in Mumbai.

Books on India by Foreign Authors?

• Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts.
• The Mountain Shadow by Gregory David Roberts
• Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
• Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo
• Life of Pi by Yann Martel
• Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure by Sarah Macdonald
• A Search in Secret India by Paul Brunton
• This is How I Save My Life by Amy Scher
• City of Djinns: A Year in Delhi by William Dalrymple
• A Passage to India by E.M. Forster
• Kim by Rudyard Kipling
• Siddhartha by Herman Hesse
• Man-Eaters of Kumaon by Jim Corbett

What Book Would You Add to Your List?

Do you want to read another book that I didn’t mention? Please add in the comments and share which ones you want to read most. 🙂

Benjamin Jenks

Traveler, Filmmaker, and Lover of India. I've been living, writing and sharing what I've learned about traveling in India since 2018. Learn more about me here or Youtube .

Recent Posts

Things To Do in Aizawl, Mizoram

Aizawl is a lesser-known hill station in India because it's over 1600 km (1000 miles) by air from Delhi and much more by bumpy roads. However, if you like off-the-beaten-path destinations and...

Agartala: Things To Do, Eat, & Places To Stay

No one goes to Agartala and Tripura, so if you go, you will be in special company. I stayed in a homestay outside the city, and the people’s jaws dropped as I walked by. Surprisingly, I had...

© Sylwia Bartyzel

Check out this year's Best in Travel winners

With its sumptuous mix of traditions, spiritual beliefs, festivals, architecture and landscapes, India will set your memories ablaze long after you've left its shores.

Best Time to Visit

Best places to visit, attractions, must-see attractions.

Rising perpendicular and impregnable from a rocky hill that itself stands 120m above Jodhpur’s skyline, Mehrangarh is one of the most magnificent forts in…

Poet Rabindranath Tagore described it as 'a teardrop on the cheek of eternity'; Rudyard Kipling as 'the embodiment of all things pure'; while its creator,…

City Palace

A complex of courtyards, gardens and buildings, the impressive City Palace is right in the centre of the Old City. The outer wall was built by Jai Singh…

Eastern Rajasthan

This magnificent fort comprises an extensive palace complex, built from pale yellow and pink sandstone, and white marble, and is divided into four main…

Conceived as the cosmic chariot of the sun god Surya, this massive, breathtakingly splendid temple was constructed in the mid-13th century, probably by…

Brihadeeshwara Temple

Thanjavur (Tanjore)

Come here twice: in the morning, when the honey-hued granite begins to assert its dominance over the white dawn sunshine, and in the evening, when the…

Golden Temple

The legendary Golden Temple is actually just a small part of this huge gurdwara complex, known to Sikhs as Harmandir Sahib. Spiritually, the focus of…

Mehrauli Archaeological Park

There are extraordinary riches scattered around Mehrauli, with more than 440 monuments – from the 10th century to the British era – dotting a forest and…

Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip.

Best Things to Do

In a country as vast as India, where do you begin? Try our list of the top things to do in India, from temple trips to tiger safaris.

Things to Know

India's overwhelming size and diversity can be a lot for first-time visitors. Make it easier with our tips on what you need to know before you go.

Transportation

India serves up endlessly evocative experiences but its sheer scale can be overwhelming. Here's everything you need to know about getting around in India.

Visa Requirements

India is an incredible country with so much to offer travelers. Ensure you breeze across the border with our guide to its visa requirements.

Money and Costs

India is one of the most affordable countries in the world to visit. Make your money go even further with these budget friendly tips.

Traveling with Kids

The incredible sights, sounds and smells in India mean your little ones will never be bored for long. Here's how best to visit India with tots in tow.

Best Road Trips

Rumbling across India's varied roads and terrains is an unforgettable way to experience this sensational country. These are our 9 favorite road trips.

Accessibility

Led by India-based Planet Abled, people with various disabilities and those without disabilities travel side by side.

Plan with a local

Experience the real India

Let a local expert craft your dream trip.

Latest stories from India

Filter by interest:

• All Interests
• Adventure Travel
• Art & Culture
• Beaches, Coasts & Islands
• Food & Drink

Destination Practicalities

Sep 12, 2024 • 10 min read

From the streets of Delhi to Rajasthan's palaces and Kerala's backwaters, we answer your first-timer's questions about travel in India.

Sep 10, 2024 • 10 min read

Sep 10, 2024 • 15 min read

Sep 9, 2024 • 12 min read

Sep 4, 2024 • 13 min read

Aug 30, 2024 • 14 min read

Aug 29, 2024 • 8 min read

Aug 26, 2024 • 22 min read

Jul 26, 2024 • 5 min read

May 9, 2024 • 6 min read

in partnership with getyourguide

Book popular activities in India

India and beyond.

• Chick-Lit Books
• Drama Books
• Fantasy Books
• Hindi Novels
• Historical Fiction Books
• Horror Books
• Humour Books
• Mythological Fiction Books
• Romance Novels
• Sci-Fi Books
• Short Story Books
• Thriller & Mystery Books
• Biography & Memoir
• Business and Economics
• History Books
• Religion & Mythology
• Self-help Books

Travel and Places

• Conversations

Are you looking for some good Indian Travel books to read? bookGeeks has one of the largest collection of reviews of Indian Travel Books and books on places written by travel enthusiasts like Gaurav Punj, Sabir Hussain, Mayank Austen Soofi and Kishalay Bhattacharjee. These books are about the experiences of the writer while travelling to different places, trying different cuisines and exploring different cultures.

All our reviews are professionally done and the methodology we follow is logical but simple. We divide our book reviews into 5 categories:

1. Subject: This is the main idea behind the book. 2. Relevance: Is the book relevant to the current generation of readers? 3. Writing Style: The readability and language flow. 4. Research: The research done by the author on the present subject. 5. The Entertainment Quotient: Overall enjoyability of the book.

Meri Jaan Azerbaijan | Anuj Tikku | Book Review

In his latest book, Tikku takes us on a memorable trip to the beautiful and picturesque country of Azerbaijan, a country that has been all the rage with Indian crowds recently, and why not? It has so many things to offer—cities soaked with culture and history, majestic and towering mountains, natural fire vents, blue seas, and gorgeous and idyllic countryside.

The Roar of Ranthambore | Batti Lal Gurjar | Book Review

Batti Lal Gurjar’s ‘The Roar of Ranthambore’ is a book that shows us the magnificent world of Ranthambore National Park and its majestic tigers through the keenly observing eyes of Batti Lal Gurjar; a man who has been a naturalist at the park for almost 20 years.

All Roads Lead to Ganga | Ruskin Bond | Book Review

In “All Roads Lead to Ganga,” Ruskin Bond pays homage to Ganga and the Himalayas, celebrating their majesty and significance. From the tranquil waters of Mandakini to the towering peaks of Tungnath, the book reverently explores the diverse landscapes of Garhwal, capturing Bond’s profound connection to this cherished land and its sacred rivers.

A Few Thousand Kilometres of Happiness | Anand Krishna Panicker | Book Review

A Few Thousand Kilometres of Happiness narrates the captivating tale of Anand Krishnan and Varun Kumar, two motorcycle tourers who embark on an extraordinary journey spanning several thousand kilometers. This book intricately captures their expedition, chronicling the various incidents, conflicts, nightlife encounters, challenges, and accidents they encounter along the way.

Tongue of the Slip | CP Belliappa | Book Review

In this book, Belliappa delves into snippets from his everyday life, some ordinary some extraordinary, and presents to us a life that is not just different from us in terms of history but also geography. Unlike most of us city-dwellers, Belliappa is a resident of a verdant green coffee estate of Coorg, and thus this geographical setting plays an important part in the setting the vibe and flavour of the book.

The Hour of the Leopard | Jim Corbett | Book Review

Approximately 200 pages in length, the book consists of 3 pieces of Jim’s writings about leopards. These three pieces include – My First Leopard which is taken from his book Jungle Lore (published 1953), The Man-Eating Leopard of Rudraprayag which was published as a book in 1947, and The Panar Man-Eater which was included in the book The Temple Tiger and More Man-eaters of Kumaon (published 1954).

Ghats of Varanasi: Varanasi Walks 1 | Dr. Rajnish Mishra | Book Review

Rows after rows of stone steps rising from the mighty Ganga and rows after rows of stone falling into the same – this is the quintessential picture of the city that comes to mind when one thinks about Varanasi. This is also what the author quite aptly refers to as the ghatscape. This ghatscape covered in the book has been divided into seven sections, with each section dedicated to its most famous ghat – Assi, Kedar, Dashashwamedh, Manikarnika, Panchganga, Trilochan, and Adikeshav.

A Woman’s Journey Through India | Madhu Veena | Book Review

A Woman’s Journey Through India is written from the point of view of a person who doesn’t live in India. Expect a book that chronicles the author’s adventures as a solo female traveller in India. Expect a book that also acts as a guide to such travelling in India.

Haunted India | Chandan Sinha | Book Review

Haunted India talks about real places, buildings, and incidents of horror from all over India. In addition to this, the book also covers many mysterious places in India. Expect a book that has bite-size chapters which are easy and quick to read. Expect a short read of just under 100 pages.

Travel Diaries: The Pilgrimage | Shivani | Book Review

Travel Diaries: The Pilgrimage is a short travel journal that documents the author’s many journeys to the majestic and inspiring temples and mountains of the Kumaon and Garhwal Himalayas. Written informally, the book is an effortless read.

The Bera Bond | Sundeep Bhutoria | Book Review

The Bera Bond is a magnificent tribute to the small rural community of Bera in the Pali district of Rajasthan, located at about a distance of 140 km from Udaipur. Here, near the pristine waters of the Jawai river, 55 leopards peacefully coexist with their human neighbors.

Mehman: Thoughts From My Travel Buddies | Anuj Tikku | Book Review

“Mehman” is a 4-in-1 travel memoir collection that brings to us the travel journey and experiences of 4 different travellers. These include 3 contributors from across India who contribute to author Anuj Tikku’s blog Tikku’sTravelthon. It also includes travel writings from the author’s pen.

Tiffin: Memories and Recipes of Indian Vegetarian Food | Rukmini Srinivas | Book Review

Tiffin: Memories and Recipes of Indian Vegetarian Food is part memoir (anecdotal) and part recipes; where the memories section far exceeds the recipes one. Expect a book that is a little lengthy and heavy on anecdotes. Expect a book that familiarizes one with the delights of South Indian vegetarian ‘tiffin’.

From Russia With Love | Anuj Tikku | Book Review

Expect a book that is a very short read of just over fifty pages. Expect a book that takes you to the devilishly cold country of Russia along with some other eastern European countries. Expect a book that doles out a decent dose of practical advice and travel tips for those venturing into the cold sub-continent.

Out of Africa: In Zulu Land | Anuj Tikku | Book Review

Expect a book that talks as much about the wildlife and jungles of Africa as it does about its people, its languages and its distinct culture. Expect a book that garnishes the author’s writing with some interesting looking photographs.

Shankara: The Mansarovar Odyssey | Anuj Tikku | Book Review

While reading Shankara: The Mansarovar Odyssey, expect a book that takes you to the beautiful world of Kailash-Mansarovar yatra and takes you through the entire experience in just 50 pages. Expect a book that also has a lot of pictures to complement the author’s personal experiences of the journey.

Yeh! Hai India | Anuj Tikku | Book Review

Yeh! hai India does have certain things going for it which makes it a decent one time read. A candid conversational style of narration complemented with some very unique travel experiences is what makes this book click

Antarctica Diaries | Anuj Tikku | Book Review

Expect a book that is a travelogue about the world’s most remote continent – Antarctica. Expect a book that gives you an idea of what Antarctica is really like? how to get there? how much does it really cost? how perilous the journey is? what kind of precautions does one need to take? etc.

• Today's deals
• Search travel guides

Discover the Cheapest Time to Fly to India: A Smart Traveler’s Guide

Are you dreaming of an incredible journey to India but worried about the cost of airfare? Whether you are planning a soulful retreat in Varanasi, a vibrant exploration of Jaipur, or soaking in the cultural brilliance of Delhi, finding affordable flights can be a game changer. In this guide, we’ll dive deep into the cheapest time to fly to India, offering you insightful tips and tricks to make your travel experience economical and enjoyable.

Understanding India’s Travel Seasons

India experiences three primary travel seasons: peak season, shoulder season, and off-peak season. Knowing what each season entails helps in pinpointing the cheapest months to fly:

• Peak Season (November to February): This is the most popular time for tourists due to the pleasant weather. Naturally, it’s also the most expensive time to fly to India.
• Shoulder Season (March to May and September to October): These months offer a balanced mix of good weather and relatively lower prices. It’s a great time to find budget-friendly options.
• Off-Peak Season (June to August): Monsoon rains make this period less appealing for tourists, but it is undoubtedly the cheapest time to book flights to India.

Tips for Booking the Most Affordable Flights

Here are some practical tips to help you snag the best deals on flights to India:

• Book Early: Aim to book your flight 45 to 60 days in advance to get the best prices.
• Flexible Dates: Use fare comparison tools to find the cheapest days to fly. Mid-week flights are often cheaper than weekend departures.

Understanding Seasonal Trends

Besides knowing the cheapest months, understanding seasonal trends can further help in planning your itinerary efficiently:

• Spring and Autumn: These shoulder seasons, from March to May and September to October, offer great weather and fair prices. Ideal for both budget and climate-conscious travelers.
• Summer (June to August): Expect lower prices but more rainfall. It’s a fantastic time for those who enjoy lush landscapes and fewer tourists.
• Winter (November to February): The cool and dry weather is perfect for sightseeing but comes with the highest airfare. Book early to avoid inflated prices.

Budget Airlines for Flying to India

Choosing the right airline can greatly affect your flight costs. Here’s a list of budget airlines known for offering cheaper flights to India:

• IndiGo: One of India’s largest airlines, known for its affordable domestic and international flights.
• SpiceJet: Offers numerous routes within and outside India at competitive prices.
• AirAsia: A well-known low-cost carrier that frequently has deals and discounts for flights to India.
• Go First: A budget airline offering extensive domestic routes and reasonable prices.

You may also like

Discover Japan's Culture Through Its Public Holidays: A Comprehensive Travel Guide

A Food Lover's Journey: Discover the Best Eats in Singapore

Discover Malaysia: The Ultimate Guide to Must-See Attractions and Activities

Unveiling Penang: Top Sights and Hidden Gems in Malaysia's Cultural Hub

Discover Auckland: Top Must-Visit Spots in New Zealand's Vibrant City

Top Tourist Spots in Pyeongchang-gun: Explore Korea's Alpine Paradise

Uncover Indonesia’s Cultural Gems: The Ultimate Guide to Must-Visit Museums in Indonesia

Experience Bali: Your Ultimate Island Escape

Unveiling Omotesando: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Tokyo's Stylish Avenue

The Aesthetics of Utility in Mie: Functional Beauty for Everyday Life

Discover the Perfect Time to Visit Guam: A Seasonal Travel Guide

Explore Chiang Mai: A Perfect 7-Day Itinerary for Culture and Adventure

8 Unforgettable Day Trips from Taipei: Explore Taiwan’s Hidden Gems

Unleashing the Magic of Ho Chi Minh City: Top Nighttime Adventures and Experiences

Discover the Hidden Gems of Quy Nhon: Ultimate Travel Guide to Binh Dinh's Coastal Paradise

Unveiling Otaru: Top Things to Do in Hokkaido's Charming Port City

Discover Hyderabad: Top Attractions and Hidden Gems to Explore

Budget-Friendly Travel in Iloilo: Your Ultimate Guide

Unwind and Rejuvenate: A Comprehensive Guide to Traditional Korean Saunas in South Korea

Experience Phu Quoc Island: When to Visit Vietnam's Hidden Paradise

Discover Luxury and Serenity: Your Complete Guide to Oakwood Suites Bangkok

Discover Japan's Culture Through Its Public Holidays: A Comprehensive Travel Guide

Planning to visit Japan? Discover Japanese public holidays, festivals, and cultural celebrations in this comprehensive travel guide. Tips and insights to make the most of your trip!

A Food Lover's Journey: Discover the Best Eats in Singapore

Explore the rich and diverse culinary scene of Singapore with our detailed travel guide. Discover must-try dishes, iconic hawker centers, and top dining experiences.

Explore the best attractions and activities in Malaysia; from Kuala Lumpur's skyline to Penang's cultural heritages. This ultimate guide will make your trip unforgettable.

Unveiling Penang: Top Sights and Hidden Gems in Malaysia's Cultural Hub

Explore the top sights and hidden gems of Penang, Malaysia. Discover cultural landmarks, historical sites, local cuisine, and unique experiences in this comprehensive travel guide.

Discover Auckland: Top Must-Visit Spots in New Zealand's Vibrant City

Explore the best places to visit in Auckland, New Zealand. From iconic landmarks like the Sky Tower to natural beauties like Waiheke Island, discover top attractions, activities, and tips for an unforgettable trip.

Top Tourist Spots in Pyeongchang-gun: Explore Korea's Alpine Paradise

Discover the best tourist spots in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea, including top attractions, ski resorts, cultural sites, and natural beauty.

Explore Indonesia's rich cultural heritage by visiting its top museums. Discover history, art, and unique collections in this ultimate travel guide.

Plan the ultimate island escape with our in-depth travel guide to Bali. Discover top attractions, hidden gems, culinary delights, and practical travel tips for an unforgettable adventure.

Unveiling Omotesando: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Tokyo's Stylish Avenue

Explore the elegance of Omotesando in Tokyo. Discover shopping spots, delightful cafes, cultural attractions, and travel tips in our comprehensive guide.

Unlike ornamental art pieces, everyday items exist whose beauty is realized through their continuous use. These are objects of functional beauty, created by artisans who love the materials and consider users. Why not welcome Mie Prefecture’s functional aesthetics, nurtured by rich nature, the skill of local artisans, and those simply living their daily lives with care and attention, into your life today

Plan your trip to Guam with our comprehensive travel guide. Find out the best time to visit Guam, explore its seasonal attractions, and enjoy a memorable vacation!

Explore Chiang Mai with a perfect 7-day itinerary that covers culture, nature, and adventure. Discover the best things to do, places to visit, and travel tips for your trip.

Discover the best day trips from Taipei including Jiufen, Yehliu Geopark, Pingxi Sky Lanterns, and more. Find tips, itineraries, and local insights.

Explore the magic of Ho Chi Minh City after dark. Discover top attractions, nightlife hotspots, and unique night experiences with our ultimate guide.

Discover the Hidden Gems of Quy Nhon: Ultimate Travel Guide to Binh Dinh's Coastal Paradise

Explore Quy Nhon with this ultimate travel guide. Discover top attractions, best places to eat, stay, and enjoy the coastal beauty of Binh Dinh in Vietnam.

Unveiling Otaru: Top Things to Do in Hokkaido's Charming Port City

Discover the top things to do in Otaru, a charming port city in Hokkaido, Japan. Explore Otaru Canal, savor local cuisine, visit museums, and more.

Explore the top attractions and hidden gems in Hyderabad with this comprehensive travel guide. Discover historical sites, cultural landmarks, and popular tourist spots in Hyderabad.

Discover how to explore Iloilo on a budget with our ultimate travel guide. From affordable accommodations to cheap eats and local attractions, we've got you covered.

Discover the ultimate guide to traditional Korean saunas in South Korea. Learn about jjimjilbangs, cultural insights, and top locations for an authentic experience.

Experience Phu Quoc Island: When to Visit Vietnam's Hidden Paradise

Find out the best time to visit Phu Quoc Island and explore Vietnam’s hidden paradise. Discover weather patterns, travel tips, and more for a perfect trip.

Explore the luxurious Oakwood Suites Bangkok in the heart of Bangkok. Discover top amenities, nearby attractions, and the ultimate travel tips for a perfect stay.

Last Updated: September 26, 2024

Current language

All languages.

• Logout Login
• Adventure Holidays
• Weekend Getaways
• Driving Holidays
• Travel News

Top Searches

World Tourism Day

Jungle Safaris India

Heritage Sites Maharashtra

Palace on Wheels Train

Spiritual Tourism India

South India Holiday Ideas

Blink-and-you’ll-miss-it: World’s 5 shortest commercial flights

Times of India TIMESOFINDIA.COM / TRAVEL TRENDS , WORLD / Created : Sep 27, 2024, 17:00 IST

You're Reading

Flying offers convenience but also has its drawbacks. However, some commercial flights are so short that they barely take any time. The article highlights five of the shortest flights in the world, including routes between Westray … Read more

Flying offers convenience but also has its drawbacks. However, some commercial flights are so short that they barely take any time. The article highlights five of the shortest flights in the world, including routes between Westray and Papa Westray, Karpathos and Kasos, St. Maarten and Anguilla, St. Maarten and Saba, and Brazzaville and Kinshasa. Read less

Westray and Papa Westray - Less than 2 minutes

More from Travel News

The world’s most stressful airports!

Karpathos and kasos - around 5 minutes, st. maarten and anguilla - around 10 minutes.

St. Maarten and Saba - 15 minutes

Brazzaville and kinshasa - 30 minutes, comments (0).

Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive . Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.

Comments ( ) Sort: Newest UpVoted Oldest Discussed Down Voted closecomments

SIGN IN WITH

Or post without registration.

Visual Stories

Popular Galleries

10 greenest getaways in Northeast India for a refreshing vacation TRAVEL TRENDS , INDIA

5 places in India where entry is not allowed without travel permits TRAVEL TRENDS , INDIA

5 ancient ruins across the world that are actually worth a visit! TRAVEL TRENDS , WORLD

Trending stories.

10 greenest getaways in Northeast India for a refreshing vacation

• Sri Lanka scraps visa fees, resumes online applications to simplify travel

World Tourism Day 2024: Top 10 beaches in India for peace lovers

South Indian holiday ideas for October

• Spiritual tourism in India: Seeking peace and inner harmony
• 1 Blink-and-you’ll-miss-it: World’s 5 shortest commercial flights
• 2 All Indian travellers need to know before hopping aboard a Mediterranean cruise
• 3 Ranthambore National Park: A quick guide on safari types and how to book tickets
• 4 Which safari should you choose in Kaziranga National Park?
• 5 No-budget thrills: 34 free summer experiences in New Orleans

THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO DESTINATIONS, ITINERARIES, THINGS TO DO, RESTAURANTS, NIGHTLIFE and LOTS MORE!

FOLLOW US ON

Places to visit.

• Places to visit in Bangalore
• Places to visit in Mumbai
• Places to visit in Delhi
• Places to visit in Goa
• Hotels in Goa
• Hotels in Jaipur
• Hotels in Shimla
• Hotels in Mumbai

Things To do

• Things to do in Goa
• Things to do in Mumbai
• Things to do in Bangalore
• Things to do in Delhi

Travel Inspiration

• Visa on arrival for Indians
• Honeymoon Places in india
• Hill Stations in India
• Weekend getaways in Mumbai
• Weather in Delhi
• Weather in Chennai
• Weather in Bangalore
• Weather in Mumbai

Best Beaches

• Goa Beaches
• Mumbai Beaches
• Pondicherry Beaches
• Kerala Beaches
• Restaurants in Bangalore
• Restaurants in Chennai
• Restaurants in Pune
• Restaurants in Jaipur
• Hill Station near Delhi
• Winter trip to Ladakh
• Places to visit in Kerala
• Winter Honeymoon Destinations
• UK visa guide for Indians
• Winter Trip to Manali
• Vaishno Devi Yatra
• Special Train Ticket Booking
• HP inter-state Bus
• Honeymoon Destinations India

Latest News

• This South Indian village honoured as the Best Adventure Tourism village in India
• India’s iconic luxury train, ‘Palace on Wheels,’ sets off from Delhi
• Indian workers hit hard by US H-1B Visa rule changes amid tech layoffs

Congratulations!

You have been successfully added to the mailing list of Times of India Travel. To complete the subscription process, kindly open your inbox and click on the confirmation link which has been emailed to you.

Share with friends

Thank You for sharing! Your friend will receive the article link on email mentioned.

• (For more than one recipient, type addresses separated by commas)

Flying offers convenience but also has its drawbacks. However, some commercial flights are so short that they barely take any time. The article highlights five of the shortest flights in the world, in...

Aviation boom | India set to see three new homegrown airlines take the skies in 2025

Three companies — air kerala, alhindair, both from the southern indian state of kerala and shankh air in uttar pradesh have been granted necessary no objection certificate (noc) from the civil aviation ministry and are now in the process of getting the air operator certificate (aoc) or flying permit..

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a service we offer sellers that lets them store their products in Amazon's fulfillment centers, and we directly pack, ship, and provide customer service for these products. Something we hope you'll especially enjoy: FBA items qualify for FREE Shipping and Amazon Prime.

If you're a seller, Fulfillment by Amazon can help you grow your business. Learn more about the program.

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required .

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

Image Unavailable

• To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the authors

DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: India Paperback – September 29, 2014

There is a newer edition of this item:.

DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: India explores the culture, history, and architecture of this country, accompanied by full-color photographs, 3-D cutaway illustrations, and floor plans of all the must-see sights. Find out all you need to know about key sights with absorbing sections on temples, shrines, and places of worship, as well as listings of hotels, restaurants, shops, entertainment, tours, scenic walks and more.

Highlights Include:

• Packed with photographs, illustrations, and maps
• Cutaway illustrations and floor plans of all the major sights
• 3-D aerial views of the most interesting districts in cities and towns
• Specially devised walking routes and thematic tours
• Detailed maps with street finder guides and index
• An introduction to trekking in the Himalayas

With hundreds of full-color photographs, hand-drawn illustrations, and custom maps that brighten every page, DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: India truly shows you this beautiful country as no one else can.

• Print length 800 pages
• Language English
• Publisher DK Eyewitness Travel
• Publication date September 29, 2014
• Dimensions 5.25 x 1.3 x 8.75 inches
• ISBN-10 1465411844
• ISBN-13 978-1465411846
• See all details

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Editorial Reviews

"Known… for its four-color maps, photos and illustrations, the [DK] Eyewitness Guides are extremely user-friendly for travelers who want their information delivered in a concise, visual way." — Chicago Tribune

"The best option… Color photos, maps, and diagrams bring the place to life." — The Philadelphia Inquirer

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ DK Eyewitness Travel; Revised edition (September 29, 2014)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 800 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1465411844
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1465411846
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.3 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 1.3 x 8.75 inches
• #644 in General India Travel Guides
• #1,635 in India History
• #5,574 in Tourist Destinations & Museums Guides

About the authors

We believe in the power of discovery. That's why we create books for everyone that explore ideas and nurture curiosity about the world we live in.

From first words to the Big Bang, from the wonders of nature to city adventures, you will find expert knowledge, hours of fun and endless inspiration in the pages of our books.

Carole French

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.

Customer reviews

• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 5 star 73% 15% 6% 5% 1% 73%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 4 star 73% 15% 6% 5% 1% 15%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 3 star 73% 15% 6% 5% 1% 6%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 2 star 73% 15% 6% 5% 1% 5%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 1 star 73% 15% 6% 5% 1% 1%

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Customers say

Customers find the information in the book informative, comprehensive, and well organized. They also appreciate the pictures and illustrations. Readers describe the book as wonderful, super to read at the beginning, end, or road trip portion of their travel day. However, some feel the weight is a bit heavy and not practical for carrying around.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers find the book informative, colorful, and comprehensive. They appreciate the good descriptions and interesting facts. Readers describe the book as a great resource for planning a trip to Thailand. They say it has all the important history, places, food, and locations.

"...The background information and tips are so good and you really get a feel for the places you visit knowing the history behind the sites...." Read more

"...A tidy little travel companion that's as helpful before you go as after you get back. I love the succinct summaries of history, art, architecture...." Read more

"This guidebook was a great resource for planning a trip to Thailand...." Read more

"...The fact that not only it offers good descriptions and interesting facts but also pictures and infographics helped us decide where to go and which..." Read more

Customers find the pictures quality of the book good. They mention the pages are glossy, bright, and the illustrations are helpful. Readers also appreciate the many color photos and say the book is nice and all-inclusive.

"...The photographs are great , the recommendations are accurate, and the information and historical background they give on locations is phenomenal!..." Read more

"...I love the succinct summaries of history, art, architecture. Pictures are gorgeous and help identify all those pictures you can't quite place when..." Read more

"I love the DK and IDG series for their beautiful pictures , maps, and diagrams...." Read more

"It is a great book as a travel guide with tons of photos and maps ...." Read more

Customers find the book wonderful, well-researched, and impressive. They also appreciate the details, photos, and high-quality paper stock.

"...The city guides are well-written , and the book covers just about every conceivable destination, not just the main tourist hubs...." Read more

"Best travel books out there. Details, photos, all of it.. Perfect ." Read more

"...These are great books to have when you are traveling and gives you all information that you will need for your trip...." Read more

" Good book . Proof will be when we go and are able to compare "actual" with information contained in the guide book." Read more

Customers find the book well-organized. They appreciate the maps, photos, and diagrams.

"I love the DK and IDG series for their beautiful pictures, maps, and diagrams ...." Read more

"...This is the best travel book on Thailand I have bought. It is clearly organized , photos are spectacular and abundant, and the information is useful...." Read more

"... So well organized , so much indispensable information, maps, photos, etc. It will go with me to India for constant reference...." Read more

"Comprehensive guide and well organized , we will be using this often as we live in India...." Read more

Customers find the book colorful, with diagrams and pictures.

"...The book itself is full color , light, portable, and has a durable cover so it can withstand a lot of wear and tear...." Read more

"...the DK Eyewitness company............beautifully done, with diagrams and color pictures . Easy to follow, and is a guide that you will want to keep!" Read more

"Informative, colorful , includes details about the history and the culture. Great buy! Heavy, though." Read more

Customers find the book heavy and not practical for carrying around.

"...I do not take them with me because they are way too heavy ." Read more

"good info, it just is a heavy book to tote around . ! Next time Ill tear out the sections I will be traveling to." Read more

"...Even though it is a bit heavy , we're glad we had it each day. Would recommend it to anyone visiting India." Read more

"...but was backpacking though SE Asia and these books were just way to heavy to carry . Had to return them without using them...." Read more

Reviews with images

The BEST Thailand Guide Book

• Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

Top reviews from other countries

• Amazon Newsletter
• About Amazon
• Accessibility
• Sustainability
• Press Center
• Investor Relations
• Amazon Devices
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Sell apps on Amazon
• Supply to Amazon
• Protect & Build Your Brand
• Become an Affiliate
• Become a Delivery Driver
• Start a Package Delivery Business
• Advertise Your Products
• Self-Publish with Us
• Become an Amazon Hub Partner
• › See More Ways to Make Money
• Amazon Visa
• Amazon Store Card
• Amazon Secured Card
• Amazon Business Card
• Shop with Points
• Credit Card Marketplace
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Your Account
• Your Orders
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Amazon Prime
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• Registry & Gift List
• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
• Your Ads Privacy Choices