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Enjoying India
Enjoying India is the ultimate how-and-why guide for foreigners that fills the gaps left by traditional guidebooks--practical and cultural information no visitor or expat can afford to be without. It will give you the knowledge to navigate this unfamiliar land with ease. Enjoying India offers a wealth of insights into India's culture and style of functioning, covering many important topics that are either dealt with superficially or omitted altogether by other books. Whether you are in India for business or pleasure, this is the one book you need to experience the best of India.
Acquire the skills, understanding and confidence you need
* Stay safe and healthy
* Communicate successfully
* Understand how yes can mean no
* Avoid cultural blunders
* Deal with Indian bureaucracy
* Accommodate special needs
* Bargain effectively
* Get a seat on a fully booked train
* Use your computer safely
* Cope with Indian plumbing
* and much, much more . . .
About the Author
J.D. Viharini is a single woman who has lived and traveled alone extensively in India. She was born in California, but has spent more than two-thirds of her life in other states and other countries. Having earned an MS in Vedic Studies in Europe, she came to India in 1980 and loved it immediately, though she had to wait a few years for her next visit.
She has been living in India for several years, and has traveled extensively throughout the country. Although she has an apartment in a remote village high in the Himalayas that's her home base, she tends to move around India with the seasons. She's spent time in nearly every part of India except the Northeast. Over the years, she has traveled around India first class, sardine class, and everything in between. From the Ritz to the pits, so to speak, she has stayed and dined in some of the most exclusive places in India and some of the least. She has stayed with families and attended their celebrations. She has rented apartments and learned how to contend with all that living here entails. She has experienced the intense, seething crowds of the Kumbha Mela and the serenity of the sparsely populated, high Himalayas. She has gone on pilgrimages and done business. She has been sick and learned how to stay well. She has made many friends and has come to regard India as home.
Acquire the skills, understanding and confidence you need
* Stay safe and healthy
* Communicate successfully
* Understand how yes can mean no
* Avoid cultural blunders
* Deal with Indian bureaucracy
* Accommodate special needs
* Bargain effectively
* Get a seat on a fully booked train
* Use your computer safely
* Cope with Indian plumbing
* and much, much more . . .
About the Author
J.D. Viharini is a single woman who has lived and traveled alone extensively in India. She was born in California, but has spent more than two-thirds of her life in other states and other countries. Having earned an MS in Vedic Studies in Europe, she came to India in 1980 and loved it immediately, though she had to wait a few years for her next visit.
She has been living in India for several years, and has traveled extensively throughout the country. Although she has an apartment in a remote village high in the Himalayas that's her home base, she tends to move around India with the seasons. She's spent time in nearly every part of India except the Northeast. Over the years, she has traveled around India first class, sardine class, and everything in between. From the Ritz to the pits, so to speak, she has stayed and dined in some of the most exclusive places in India and some of the least. She has stayed with families and attended their celebrations. She has rented apartments and learned how to contend with all that living here entails. She has experienced the intense, seething crowds of the Kumbha Mela and the serenity of the sparsely populated, high Himalayas. She has gone on pilgrimages and done business. She has been sick and learned how to stay well. She has made many friends and has come to regard India as home.
351 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 30, 2010
54 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 22, 2023
Good easy read. It's main problem is that it is 10 years out of date and India has changed in the meantime.
December 17, 2015
Given to me by a friend, full of lots of cultural advice about India; would be more useful if I were moving there or if I was doing business, but still lots of great tips. Will be using them. A few years old, but still valid.
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March 23, 2023Enjoying India: The Essential Handbook. I recommend this book to anyone who's expoloring India. I didn't read it until I'd already been living in the country for years. If only I'd been able to read it when I first arrived.
The author writes in a friendly, conversational style that is easy to read. And she offers many practical tips. She's lived in India long enough to understand the culture from the inside out, so you get a deeper view than if you just read a tourist guide to temples, hotels, etc.
This book appears unique--filling holes left by other travel books.
The author writes in a friendly, conversational style that is easy to read. And she offers many practical tips. She's lived in India long enough to understand the culture from the inside out, so you get a deeper view than if you just read a tourist guide to temples, hotels, etc.
This book appears unique--filling holes left by other travel books.
February 4, 2019
I read this to prep to travel to India. I found it helpful. It was written in 2012 so some aspects are dated but I’m guessing the cultural aspects remain very relevant.
January 21, 2020
The cultural information was especially interesting. Will soon find out if it's still accurate!
October 27, 2023
Some useful information in this but it would terrify anyone thinking of travelling to India. I'm fully armed with lots of information. Not much fun to this!
May 16, 2025
I remember enjoying this
November 22, 2011
This book is a good introduction to what it is like to travel in India. It explains some of the cultural differences that you're likely to run into, especially regarding the behavior of women and interactions between women and men. It gives cautionary information regarding food and water. It also explains some about trains, taxis, and flights. It even explains some of the issues you'll run into because your a tourist and people will want to take advantage of it.
I would have appreciated a bigger discussion of hotels, and what to expect. For example some discussion about the different levels of hotel rooms(deluxe, exectutive, etc) and the fact that you should always ask to see the room before you check in. The hotel experience in India is drastically different than what you'll find in Europe, the US, or even in other parts of Asia. It's possible that in my quick read of the book I missed this but I doubt it. I'll check later and update this review if that is the case.
I would have appreciated a bigger discussion of hotels, and what to expect. For example some discussion about the different levels of hotel rooms(deluxe, exectutive, etc) and the fact that you should always ask to see the room before you check in. The hotel experience in India is drastically different than what you'll find in Europe, the US, or even in other parts of Asia. It's possible that in my quick read of the book I missed this but I doubt it. I'll check later and update this review if that is the case.
May 4, 2015
This is exactly the sort of book I've been looking for, in regards to being to-the-point, practical, and comprehensive advice regarding traveling in a particular country. The only thing is, it's perhaps so stringent in covering every negative possibility that it starts to be a little bit off-putting about actually traveling in India; but, it's probably better to know all of that and not be surprised, in the end.
March 31, 2021
The best book to read before traveling to India. It's written not a tourist book with things to see and do, but more as an insider's view of how to navigate the culture. The author, writing under a pen name, is an American who has lived in India for many years.
December 4, 2010
Extremely helpful tips on traveling to India. I felt I had a deeper understanding of the social customs of India.
May 28, 2011
Helpful insights into India's culture; seems to make India much more conservative and strict to its rules than it may really be
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August 23, 2012Bookmarked so many pages to review. The more I read, the less I know
January 3, 2013
This book might be useful if you're moving to live in India full-time AND you have extremely limited experience with non-Western cultures. Otherwise, it's probably too basic for most people's needs.
August 28, 2014
would not recommend this one
March 6, 2015
Informative book for interacting in India.
May 25, 2015
This book is a good and detailed introduction to the culture in India. I soon move to India, so I am glad I found this. Have not read more than half way so I will finish my review later.
July 10, 2016
I'm sure I'll be referring to all the passages I highlighted starting next week while in India. Glad I have the digital version. Really insightful.
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October 12, 2013False
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews