Showing posts with label Travel Tips to India. Show all posts

10 best India travel books

You will often hear people saying; that India is a dirty, filthy place full of beggars with terrible food – why on earth would you want to go there? Don’t let them put you off. India is undoubtedly one of the most colorful countries in the world with friendly people, great food, trek-able mountains, valleys, beaches, deserts, tiger reserves, culture, extremely eccentricity, tribal villages, tropical forests, great history, making India one of the most visited placed on the planet. In fact – it’s a museum.

If you are planning a vacation in India and know little about the country then why not buy a book on India. These books can be quite useful in providing information about India, places to visit, what to eat, where to stay on. Here are some of the best travel books on India.

Rough guide to India: One of the best guides to India. In fact, these Rough Guide Books competes with the Lonely Planet guides. These books are courageously honest about the places. The book every aspect of India from its history, language, politics, culture, food, corruption, bribes, sex, drugs and Bollywood movies and much more. It’s one of the most complete and comprehensive guide to India.

India (Lonely Planet Travel Guides): This is a very popular and a must guide if you are planning a trip to India for the first time. The book contains traveler maps, guide to places to stay and eat for all budgets, great health information for travelling to India, history, about the use of transportation in India and even has a section on India’s religions.

Frommer’s India: This is a classic guide book that plans your journey from the start. It is a useful book if you are looking tips to travelling in India. It does cover a large amount of detail from where to stay, what to eat, driving in India, how to prevent yourself from being ripped off and how to spend your limited time in India.

Enjoying India: This is one of my books! I think this book is a must if you are planning a trip to India. Some people visit India but have no idea what to do and what to eat. In this book I have covered the things to do and things to eat when you are there. This book will give traveler knowledge to navigate this vast land and make the best out of India.

India Bites You Somehow – True-Life Tales: This book contains stories about those westerners who have stayed in India. This book is a collection of interesting true life experiences from 40 people from 19 countries who have travelled to India. It’s not a guide book to India as such but it provides a glimpse into the spiritual lives of Indian people. For those who have not set their foot on India and still considering if to visit or not, then this book will connect you to India like no other. These life experiences of various travelers from around the world will surely open your eyes and heart about India.

Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure: when Sarah MacDonald when to India for the first time, she had made her mind up that she hated India. When a beggar at the airport looked at the fate lines on her hand and told her that she would return. However after 12 years she returned with her reporter boyfriend. This is her travelogue about the description of pollution, dirt and chaos of India.

Wanderlust and Lipstick: For Women Traveling to India: This book has been written taking women travelers in mind. This book highlights the culture of India and suggests travel tips such as how to be safe, what to wear, how to deal with poverty, how to keep personal belongings safe, list of Hindi words and advice from women who have traveled abroad.

Other travel guide books for India worthy of note:

DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: India
India – Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture
Fodor’s Essential India: with Delhi, Rajasthan, the Taj Mahal & Mumbai

Remember, travel guide books are for information only. Many of the books go out of date. Not all of them will always be accurate by the time of your visit. In addition, travel is very subjective and they are subject to prejudice. Mark Twain once said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” Some people just make their own minds through the lens of their own prejudice. So why not take a guide book with you to help you out for the pollution, filth, chaos and the inequality that awaits you.

By the way, I have recently published another book on Indian culture. It will be useful for those wanting to learn about the culture and traditions of India. To find more about this book click here. Let me know if I have missed anything.

Finally

You might wish to check out my India travel guide book. Some of this things covered in this book include how to stay safe and healthy, how to communicate effectively, how to avoid cultural blunders, accommodation needs, how to bargain effectively when shopping, how to get a seat on a fully booked train, coping with India and so on.

10 books to read before travelling to India

If you are visiting India this year and you want to learn a few things about the country then it is always a good idea to read something about the place. These books will give you an idea of what India is all about and prepare you for your trip to India. I have compiled some of the best books to read before travelling to India. I don’t recommended you carry all the books listed here so why not get yourself a kindle fire and buy the kindle edition of these books.

India After Gandhi by Ramachandra Guha

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth

Nine Lives by William Dalrymple

Around India in 80 Trains by Monisha Rajesh

2 States: The Story of My Marriage by Chetan Bhagat

Eat Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

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

Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found by

An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India by Shashi Tharoor

I hope you liked the list of some of the best books to read before travelling to India. If you have your favourite then feel free to list them below in the comments.

Travel Tips Roundup: Best Travel Tips for India

I would like to wish everyone a happy new year. Hope the New Year will bring prosperity and happiness in your lives.

If you are considering travelling to India then you might wish to save this page. You will find the best travel tips for India here. Just go through each one of these tips one by one. If you have questions then feel free to ask.

A travel scam of that might get rip you off a lot of money. You can read about it here.

Beware of a new scam by auto rickshaw drivers in cities around India.

If you going to Indian and want to find out what Indians wear then you might wish to take a look at this. Furthermore here’s what to wear in India. Here’s how to wear the saree if you are interested.

Here’s a list of the top 10 things to do in India. If you want to make the most of India then take a look at some of the best places to visit in India for historical purposes. Here are the some of the best places to visit in Kerala.

If you are up to it the challenge then you might try chewing Gutka and smoking the beedi but be warned it’s not good for your health.

You might wish to polish up on your Hindi numbers. Here’s Hindi numbers 1 to 100 with audio.

Learn some more greeting Hindi words, phrases and sentences for your travels to India.

India has fewer beggars that ever before. But what would you do if did see one. Here’s how to deal with beggars in India.

Are you one of these people who believe in ghosts? Then India has great places if you want to visit haunted places. Here’s a list of the most haunted places in India and the most haunted places in the world. Bhangarh Fort is one scary place, read about it see if you visit this place.

Fancy trying something different in India? Why not try drinking sugarcane juice? You might like it and its dirt cheap. Try the famous jalabi sweets.

Did you know that public displace of affection is not allowed in some parts of India. You might wish to read this before you give your partner a kiss on the lips in India in public.

If you are travelling to India from the UK then you might wish shop around for cheap air tickets to India. Here’s a list of ways you get cheap tickets to India.

Are you one of those who get constipated then you might wish to read up on how to reduce and even avoid your travel constipation?

If you do wish to travel to India during the monsoons then you might wish to read up on the Indian monsoons. Here’s a list of things you should bring if visit India at time of the monsoons.

India Travel Health Guide: Health Advice and Tips for Travelers to India

Have you got a travel blog? Do you want to start a travel blog? Here’s how to start your very own travel blog. If you want to make money from your travel blog then feel free to read this post. You will find plenty of tips on how to monetise your travel blog.

Darjeeling is one best place you can visit in India. There are plenty of things to do for everyone. Here’s your Darjeeling travel guide.

When you do visit India then you realise that Indian men do not hesitate to scratch their testicles in public. Here’s a list of my reasons why Indian men scratch their testicles.

Agra is more than just visiting the Taj Mahal. If you do go to Agra then a visit would be incomplete without visiting the Agra Fort. Read more about it here.

If you are travelling to Mumbai then you must read this post. You might wish to get this book on the best places to visit in Mumbai.

India is about trying different foods. Here’s the gol gappa, jalebi, lassi, masala dosa, chicken dishes. Whatever you do, do not eat beef in India.

Have you ever wondered on how much you should tip those helping you then you might wish to take a look at tipping in India post.

Are you going to Bangalore, then read up on some of the best places to visit?

Have you ever wondered why Indian women are so shy and why some are so beautiful? If yes then you might wish to read up on why Indian women are beautiful.

Indian can a very dirty place and women will find it extremely difficult to urinate in some of the public toilets. There ways round it, please take a look at this post on how to use female urination devices.

Did you know that marijuana is legal in some places in India? In fact, it’s ingrained in the Hindu culture. A popular form of marijuana is bhang which is drank during the festival of Holi. But be warned, I would personally stay away from these things.

Did you know that men holding hands in India does not mean they are gay, it’s just happens to be they are friends.

Lots of tourists to India travel to Varanasi one the holiest places for the Hindus. If you do want to visit Varanasi from Delhi then here’s how you can do it. Don’t forget to take a dip in the holy Ganges.

Some street stalls are dirty and its best avoided. Here’s how to figure out if you want to try Indian street food for not.

Whatever you do in India, make sure you drink bottled water. Here’s a guide on how to choose bottled water when you are in India.

Indian toilets are different. So if aren’t sure on how to use them read about it here.

You are bound to do shopping in India and bargaining is a major part of your experience. Here’s how to bargain in India.

If you want to buy souvenirs for your friends and family from India then here’s what you can buy in India. If you are coming to India to visit your friend then here’s what you can buy for them.

India can be rough at times so don’t forget to read about travel safety.

By the way, here’s a post on some of the things you will hate about India.

Finally don’t forget to buy travel adopter for India. You will need something like this.

For more travel tips carry on reading here. Please feel to subscribe for travel tips for India here.

Hindi numbers 1 to 100 for your travels to India

Someone recently emailed me asking me how to say the Hindi numbers. So here are the Hindi numbers from 0 to 100. If you are travelling to India then they might come in handy. Although, you don’t really need these numbers but if you wanted to use a few of them then it will be useful particularly during bargaining and buying things in India. I have written down the numbers the way it is written in the Devanagri (Hindi) script and its English equivalent. Don’t forget to watch the video for the pronunciation. Here are Hindi numbers from 100 to 1000 in units of 50.

Essential Hindi Words And Phrases For Travelers To India

Teach Hindi Numbers 1 to 100 to kids.

The Hindi numbers 1 to 100 (including zero). Don’t forget to listen to the video below so that you can pronounce the numbers properly.

1 to 10 in Hindi

0          zero     ०          शून्य    Shuniye
1          one      १          एक      Ek
2          two      २          दो         Do
3          three   ३          तीन      Teen
4          four     ४          चार      Char
5          five      ५          पांच      Panch
6          six        ६          छह       Cheh
7          seven   ७          सात     Saat
8          eight    ८          आठ     Aath
9          nine     ९          नौ        Nao
10        ten       १०        दस       Das

11 to 20 in Hindi

11        eleven             ११        ग्यारह Gyaarah
12        twelve             १२        बारह    Baarah
13        thirteen           १३        तेरह     Tehrah
14        fourteen          १४        चौदह    Chaudah
15        fifteen             १५        पंद्रह     Pandrah
16        sixteen             १६        सोलह   Saulah
17        seventeen        १७        सत्रह     Satrah
18        eighteen          १८        अठारह Atharah
19        nineteen          १९        उन्नीस Unnis
20        twenty             २०        बीस      Bees

21 to 30 in Hindi

21        twenty one      २१        इकीस Ikis
22        twenty two      २२        बाईस Bais
23        twenty three   २३        तेइस Teis
24        twenty four     २४        चौबीस Chaubis
25        twenty five      २५        पच्चीस Pachis
26        twenty six        २६        छब्बीस Chabis
27        twenty seven   २७        सताइस Satais
28        Twenty eight   २८        अट्ठाइस Athais
29        twenty nine     २९        उनतीस Unatis
30        thirty               ३०        तीस Tis

31 to 39 in Hindi

31        thirty one        ३१        इकतीस     Ikatis
32        thirty two        ३२        बतीस Batis
33        thirty three      ३३        तैंतीस Teintis
34        thirty four        ३४        चौंतीस   Chautis
35        thirty five        ३५        पैंतीस Paintis
36        thirty six          ३६        छतीस Chatis
37        thirty seven     ३७        सैंतीस Setis
38        thirty eight      ३८        अड़तीस   Adhtis
39        thirty nine       ३९        उनतालीस Untaalis
40        forty                ४०        चालीस Chalis

41 to 49 in Hindi

41        forty one         ४१        इकतालीस        Iktalis
42        forty two         ४२        बयालीस           Byalis
43        forty three       ४३        तैतालीस           Tetalis
44        forty four         ४४        चवालीस           Chavalis
45        forty five         ४५        पैंतालीस           Pentalis
46        forty six           ४६        छयालिस          Chyalis
47        forty seven      ४७        सैंतालीस          Setalis
48        forty eight       ४८        अड़तालीस        Adtalis
49        forty nine        ४९        उनचास            Unachas
50        fifty                  ५०        पचास Pachas

51 to 60 in Hindi

51        fifty one           ५१        इक्यावन Ikyavan
52        fifty two           ५२        बावन Baavan
53        fifty three        ५३        तिरपन Tirepan
54        fifty four          ५४        चौवन Chauwan
55        fifty five           ५५        पचपन Pachpan
56        fifty six ५६        छप्पन Chappan
57        fifty seven       ५७        सतावन Satavan
58        fifty eight        ५८        अठावन Athaavan
59        fifty nine          ५९        उनसठ Unsadh
60        sixty ६०        साठ Saadh

61 to 70 in Hindi

61        sixty one          ६१        इकसठ Iksadh
62        sixty two          ६२        बासठ Baasad
63        sixty three       ६३        तिरसठ Tirsadh
64        sixty four         ६४        चौंसठ Chausadh
65        sixty five          ६५        पैंसठ Pensath
66        sixty six            ६६        छियासठ Chiyasath
67        sixty seven       ६७        सड़सठ Sadhsath
68        sixty eight        ६८        अड़सठ Asdhsath
69        sixty nine         ६९        उनहतर Unahtar
70        seventy            ७०        सत्तर Sattar

71 to 80 in Hindi

71        seventy one     ७१        इकहतर Ikahtar
72        seventy two     ७२        बहतर Bahatar
73        seventy three ७३        तिहतर Tihatar
74        seventy four    ७४        चौहतर Chauhatar
75        seventy five     ७५        पचहतर Pachhatar
76        seventy six       ७६        छिहतर Chiyahatar
77        seventy seven ७७        सतहतर Satahatar
78        seventy eight   ७८        अठहतर Adhahatar
79        seventy nine    ७९        उन्नासी Unnasi
80        eighty             ८०        अस्सी Assi

81 to 90 in Hindi

81        eighty one       ८१        इक्यासी Ikyasi
82        eighty two       ८२        बयासी Byaasi
83        eighty three    ८३        तिरासी Tirasi
84        eighty four      ८४        चौरासी Chaurasi
85        eighty five       ८५        पचासी Pachasi
86        eighty six         ८६        छियासी Chiyaasi
87        eighty seven    ८७        सतासी Sataasi
88        eighty eight     ८८        अट्ठासी Athasi
89        eighty nine      ८९        नवासी Nauasi
90        ninety             ९०        नब्बे Nabbay

91 to 100 in Hindi

91        ninety one       ९१        इक्यानवे Ikyaanave
92        ninety two       ९२        बानवे Baanave
93        ninety three    ९३        तिरानवे Tiranavay
94        ninety four      ९४        चौरानवे Chauraanavay
95        ninety five       ९५        पचानवे Pachaanavay
96        ninety six         ९६        छियानवे Chiyaanavay
97        ninety seven    ९७        सतानवे Sataanavay
98        ninety eight     ९८        अट्ठानवे Adhaanavay
99        ninety nine      ९९        निन्यानवे Ninyaanavay
100      one hundred    १००      एक सौ Ek Sau