Fodor's Essential India: with Delhi, Rajasthan, Mumbai & Kerala

By Fodor's Travel Guides

Written by locals, Fodor's travel guides have been offering expert advice for all tastes and budgets for 80 years. 

India is a country of vibrant and enticing contrasts: exquisite palaces are juxtaposed against simple temples, and modern high-tech industry coexists with ancient customs and rituals. There's much to see and do in this vast and geographically diverse country, and Fodor's Essential India covers the must-see sights better than anyone else.

This travel guide includes:
· Dozens of full-color maps 
· An 8-page color insert with a brief introduction and spectacular photos that capture the top experiences and attractions throughout India
· Hundreds of hotel and restaurant recommendations, with Fodor's Choice designating our top picks
· Multiple itineraries to explore the top attractions and what’s off the beaten path
· Side Trips from Delhi including Agra and environs, Khajuraho, and Varanasi
· Coverage of Delhi, Rajasthan, Mumbai, Goa, Kerala, and Kolkata

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fodor's Travel
• Release date: Mar 31, 2015
• ISBN: 9781101878682

Fodor's Travel Guides

For over 80 years, Fodor's Travel has been a trusted resource offering expert travel advice for every stage of a traveler's trip. We hire local writers who know their destinations better than anyone else, allowing us to provide the best travel recommendations for all tastes and budgets in over 7,500 worldwide destinations. Our books make it possible for every trip to be a trip of a lifetime.

Reviews for Fodor's Essential India

[detailmuse · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

To be clear, Fodor’s Essential India is a guide to the western half of India -- beginning toward the north at the capital city of Delhi and environs (e.g. the Taj Mahal) and proceeding south along the Arabian coast to Rajasthan with its palaces and camel rides, to the bazaars of modern Mumbai and environs (e.g. wineries, cave paintings/carvings), and finishing at the beaches and Portuguese influences of Goa. It is a glaring omission that there is no mention of the eastern half of India (e.g. Calcutta), not to acknowledge its unsuitability for travel nor even its existence. I was also surprised at no mention of yoga.That clarified, there is a lot of the usual Fodor’s here -- an introduction to India as travel destination; an overview of history and contemporary culture; then sections on each city/region including attractions (with holy sites), food, lodging, shopping, and entertainment/nightlife -- all complemented by color photos and accompanied by adequate maps. But because India may be less familiar to travelers, there is more description in this guide -- definitions of typical foods, social do’s and taboos, and information about the quality of lodging and modes of transportation (air, train, bus, car, rickshaw). A section on Indian books and films provides excellent sources for travelers (or armchair travelers) preparing for a trip. Acknowledging that “it’s next to impossible to rush while you’re here,” and that even a basic tour of India could take months, there’s a suggested 1 1/2-week itinerary of highlights of the Delhi area plus numerous 2-4 day add-ons to farther-flung sites.Travelers considering a trip to *western* India will find this a helpful guide.