Frommer's India

by Pippa de Bruyn

Completely updated, this fourth edition of Frommer's India will help you plan the trip that's right for you, whether you're traveling to soak up India's spirituality, chill out on the beaches, or live like a king in the land of princes. Experience the best of India: Visit the Taj Mahal as well as the cave temples at Ajanta and Ellora, watch the moon rise from Pushkar Palace during the Pushkar Mela, raft down the Zanskar, bump into a Bollywood star at a top rated restaurant, and sleep in a former king's bed at a heritage property (castles, palaces, and forts) in Rajasthan. Also learn tips on safety, ettiquette, and the art of bargaining --including the real meaning behind the phrases "you pay what you like" and "just look, no buy." This guide is biannually updated (and personalized) by a small team of writers including Pippa de Bruyn, an award-winning journalist and travel writer; Dr. Keith Bain, who also has a doctorate in film; Niloufer Venkatraman, a Mumbai native who has a doctorate in anthropology; Shonar Joshi, a travel writer and reporter; and more. All are not afraid to speak their mind and give their opinions -- and share their passion for India.
Frommer's India, 4e also includes 4 itineraries for exploring the country, including "North India Highlights in 16 Days" and "South India in 2 Weeks."

Genres: Travel, India, Nonfiction

768 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Jenevieve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frommer's vibe is a bit too well-heeled and imperialist for me (and my budget), but it was the only one they had in at the public library when I first stopped by. The geographic scope is pretty selective (whole areas of the country aren't covered at all, presumably because they're not mainstream enough for Frommer's target audience?), but the narrative descriptions it does contain are fair enough. Where it really shines is in the attention it lavishes on hotels. If you want to pick just the perfect palace to splurge on for your majaraja fantasy vacation, consult Frommer's. Seems like a good guide to study while planning, but not to take with me. And the authors need to get themselves a thesaurus and find some synonyms for "atmospheric."

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book came in handy at times when we were travelling in Southern India, some of the information was not all that helpful as it referred us to the next-to-useless tourist information bureaus. I was shocked at how little information one could get from a supposed "information" bureau. At least this guide helped me come up with checklist of important sights to see.