India 's diversity is apparent in its architecture, landscapes, festivals and handicrafts. And spirituality the beating heart of India pulsates from the mountains of Ladakh to the shores of tropical Kerala. Sarina Singh, Lonely Planet Writer Our Promise You can trust our travel information because Lonely Planet writers visit the places we write about, each and every edition. We never accept freebies for positive coverage, and you can rely on us to tell it like we see it. Inside This Book 17 authors83 weeks of research132 ancient temples196 mapsInspirational photosClear, easy-to-use mapsDelhi pull-out map3D plans of iconic sightsComprehensive planning toolsIn-depth background

Erin Reese is a one-of-a-kind travel writer—a spiritual seeker and solo backpacker who dropped out of a successful career in corporate America, hit the road, and never looked back.A SPIRITUAL TRAVELER'S SASSY TALEPacked with plenty of spicy curry, cows, and comedy, Bindi Girl takes us on one heck of a wild ride across India. From Dharamsala and the Dalai Lama to ashrams, yoga schools, and meditation melodramas, Bindi educates and entertains as she goes. We discover the Hindu deities, the tourist trap mafia, and the beach havens of the hippie trail. From “Guru Disney” to the holy hell of Varanasi, Bindi’s got us clamoring for more masala chai all the way.When Bindi meets an attractive young stranger who is more than her mental and physical match, her fiery spirit is put to the test. He whisks her off to the furthest reaches of India—the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal. There, in an isolated jungle, they attempt to live out a Robinson Crusoe fantasy. Will it be the Garden of Eden or end up a natural disaster? Among the wild beauty and danger of the islands and the kooky madness of “typical India,” Reese takes us deep into the heart of a country and her very self.Bindi Girl is a gift to the traveler, the spiritual seeker, and the armchair tourist—anyone yearning for honest inspiration and a real kick to get out and truly live! PRAISE FOR THE ADVENTURES OF BINDI GIRL“Lovely, lyrical, gentle, and informative. It made my world bigger.” ~ James Fadiman, author of The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide and editor of Essential Sufism“Erin Reese ‘gets’ the spirit of India. In reading her adventures, I could almost hear the crowds and smell the curry. But more than that, I felt blessed by the soulfulness of half-a-dozen millennia. Erin was born to be in India — and to write this book.” ~ Victoria Moran, author of Creating a Charmed Life and Shelter for the Spirit“‘Milk-coming-out-of-your-nose’ hilarious at times, and heartrending naked revelation at others, Reese takes us along on her unsentimental spiritual journey through India as she fearlessly follows her heart through worlds few travelers experience. Bindi Girl is a must-read for anyone who yearns to travel within and without, and who is not afraid to be transformed in the process.” ~ Pamela Lund, author of Massively Networked“Erin goes places, physically and metaphorically, few travelers dare to go. Her stories amuse, outrage, inspire and provoke. This isn’t the tale of someone who received a book advance jetting off business class for a few weeks in an ashram. This is third class train, steerage class ship, with a dash of indulgence thrown in. Erin is a gifted, special writer, and she’s the real deal as a traveler.” ~ Lynn Braz, editor and travel writer featured in The Dallas Morning News“It’s like Eat, Pray, Love — with teeth.” ~ Jessica Shepherd, author of A Love Alchemist’s Notebook “Reese reports on an India few outsiders get to witness — not the Goa parties or tourist sites or political turmoil, no. Instead she dives into the throbbing spiritual centre of India and tries to place her California soul amongst the gurus, mystics and visionaries that remain a constant of Indian religion. Yet Reese is no New Age tourist full of cosmic waffle. Her writing is both beautifully descriptive and very funny. She captures the sweaty heat of India, its madness and charm. Her own spiritual quest mixes with her lusts and frustrations to create a new kind of travel writing. If I ever return to India it will be with Bindi Girl as my guide.” ~ Garth Cartwright, author of Princes Amongst Men: Journeys with Gypsy Musicians and More Miles than Money: Journeys through American Music

One September, the writer and explorer Peter Matthiessen set out with field biologist George Schaller to journey 250 miles through the Himalayas to the Crystal Mountain on the Tibetan plateau. They wanted to study the wild blue sheep, the bharal, but also hoped to see the snow leopard, a creature so rarely spotted as to be nearly mythical. "The Snow Leopard" is not only an exquisite book of natural history but an extraordinary account of an inner journey; a 'true pilgrimage, a journey of the heart'.

Imagine touring a different foreign country each year and bringing your two sons along with you! It’s a tradition for author Mariann Margulis to decide with her children where their annual travel spot will be. In 2008, they jointly agreed to tour India for seventeen days. The choice thrilled Margulis, since India had always intrigued her as a child, with its alluring jewels, opulent fabrics, images of the Taj Mahal, and a host of exotic culinary flavors. In her memory, Benares, later renamed Varanasi, was a magical place full of rituals, sacred traditions, and Hindu holy men, or Sadhus. She could hardly wait for the experience! Bats, Rats and Holy Cows or Seventeen Days in India: One Family’s Adventure is a memoir recounting the trio’s unforgettable trip to this very different land, as she travels with her two sons, ages twelve and ten, throughout the exotic country of India. Her typical maternal remarks are ones that you will relate to, as are the awkward reactions given by these three Americans as they encounter villagers from remote areas, lepers, and Hindu holy men, or Sadhus. At one point, they even begin to wonder if the younger child could be a messiah. Journey with them through Delhi, Agra, Khajuraho, Varanasi, and the region of Rajasthan and live through the mishaps, misunderstandings, and madness of their misadventures. Explore the off-beaten paths of India as the adventurous trio tour by plane, train, automobiles, and of course, camels. Experience India like a native as you imagine yourself walking with them barefoot through the Rat Temple, sailing on the River Ganges amidst decomposing bodies, and driving through a sandstorm in the Thar Desert. The shared insights and personal perspectives of the places visited by the family make this travel guide personal, exciting, and engaging. The light-hearted depiction of their encounters in charming India provide an informative, enjoyable read for anyone who is fascinated by diverse cultures with authentic, often humorous, reactions to the unfamiliar curiosities of a life far from Western culture. Traveling with young people adds unexpected viewpoints to the experience, its rewards, and the numerous learning opportunities. Not only is this type of travel exciting and informative, the introduction of drastically different cultures to novice travelers is priceless for readers of all ages and backgrounds. Bats, Rats and Holy Cows or Seventeen Days in India: One Family’s Adventure invites you along on a family’s delightful journey to intriguing India. Whether you are interested in diverse cultures or are planning to visit, this entertaining memoir will make you feel like you are traveling along with them while still enjoying a witty and entertaining read. “… the charms of India win over the family, and readers will be engrossed in the trio’s experiences in Varanasi, Agra, Jaipur and especially the Thar Desert. Margulis offers information about each place they visit… Her writing is strong (she has contributed to Fodor’s) and readers may come to see her as something of a parental role model because she allows her sons to experience India on their own terms, not necessarily hers. By turns amusing (and) touching, this travelogue colorfully portrays India, perhaps convincingly enough for readers to want to visit with their own children.” - Kirkus Reviews

In January 2002 Rory Stewart walked across Afghanistan-surviving by his wits, his knowledge of Persian dialects and Muslim customs, and the kindness of strangers. By day he passed through mountains covered in nine feet of snow, hamlets burned and emptied by the Taliban, and communities thriving amid the remains of medieval civilizations. By night he slept on villagers' floors, shared their meals, and listened to their stories of the recent and ancient past. Along the way Stewart met heroes and rogues, tribal elders and teenage soldiers, Taliban commanders and foreign-aid workers. He was also adopted by an unexpected companion-a retired fighting mastiff he named Babur in honor of Afghanistan's first Mughal emperor, in whose footsteps the pair was following.Through these encounters-by turns touching, con-founding, surprising, and funny-Stewart makes tangible the forces of tradition, ideology, and allegiance that shape life in the map's countless places in between.

Thirty years ago Paul Theroux left London and travelled across Asia and back again by train. His account of the journey - "The Great Railway Bazaar" - was a landmark book and made his name as the foremost travel writer of his generation. Now Theroux makes the trip all over again. Through Eastern Europe, India and Asia to discover the changes that have swept the continents, and also to learn what an old man will make of a young man's journey. "Ghost Train to the Eastern Star" is a brilliant chronicle of change and an exploration of how travel is 'the saddest of pleasures'.

A philosophical and esoteric travelog through India. Colorful descriptions, often quite humorous, of flora and fauna, customs and mythology, ancient ruins and "modern" cities of late nineteenth century India. Originally written in Russian, the work was published as a series of articles in the Moscow Chronicle, and later in the Russkiy Vestnik, or The Russian Messenger.

A scintillating memoir of a year spent in Delhi by one of the best young writers at work today. Alive with the mayhem of the present and sparkling with William Dalrymple's irrepressible wit, City of Djinns is a fascinating portrait of a city. Watched over and protected by the mischievous, invisible djinns, Delhi has, through their good offices, been saved from destruction many times over the centuries. With an extraordinary array of characters, from elusive eunuchs to the last remnants of the Raj, Dalrymple's second book is a unique and dazzling feat of research. Over the course of a year he comes to know the bewildering city intimately, and brilliantly conveys its magical nature, peeling back successive layers of history, and interlacing innumerable stories from Delhi's past and present.

The astonishing adventure classic about life in Tibet just before the Chinese Communist takeover is now repackaged for a new generation of readers.In this vivid memoir that has sold millions of copies worldwide, Heinrich Harrer recounts his adventures as one of the first Europeans ever to enter Tibet and encounter the Dalai Lama.