5 comments about Detectives on Everest: The 2001 Mallory and Irvine Research Expedition.

1. This is a most significant book which fills in much of the detail about the early British expeditions to the North Face of Mount Everest. Yes, the 2001 climb failed to locate Irving's body and with it the missing cameras which may determine for once and all whether or not Mallory and Irvine did reach the summit in June of 1924. But the 2001 Expedition did uncover the several of the camps used by these early climbs and Hemmleb recounts how this makes our understanding of these early expeditions much more complete than it previously was. For instance, Hemmleb describes how it can now be determined that Mallory did not relocate his high camp, a point of great interest to and debate among Everest scholars for decades. And, what is most crucial in this book is Hemmleb's description of the patient and persistent work with veterans of the earlier Chinese climbs which has made the future location of Irvine's remains much more likely -- including a revelation that the Chinese had located Irvine's body not just in 1975 but also in 1960. Jochen Hemmleb is to be congratulated for his clear and concise writing, his brilliant scholarship, and the dogged devotion which keeps bringing him back to uncover ever more secrets, however reluctantly surrendered, on the 1921, 1922, and 1924 British expeditons. And this book, in short, is a necessary read for all with even a peripheral interest in the history of Mount Everest and of these early expeditions. Bravo, Jochen!



2. Giancarlo Passarini's review (see below) shows an undercurrent problem certain readers seem to have with the research Hemmleb et al. have done. Passarini doesn't like the possibility that the Chinese climbed Everest in 1960, so he attacks the author and suspects that statements approving of the Chinese claim were a "trade-off" for the information Hemmleb and Simonson received about Irvine. Nonsense! Passarini ignores that "Detectives" is very careful in its analysis of the 1960 Chinese expedition, including qualifying comments such as "Here is the story as the three (Chinese) later put it on record" (p. 156) or "Of the terrain (between the Second Step and the summit) the Chinese could provide only verbal descriptions" (p. 157) - all a far cry from flatly stating "the Chinese did it", as Passarini thinks the book has done. If careful, distinguished research is treated this way, the fault doesn't lie with the author but with the reader. (As for the issue of "South Tyrol", a more impartial view of its history and semi-autonomous status is advisable, but is beyond the scope of this review)



3. Dear reader,
   Could you really believe that mountaineers climbing at 29000 fts. during nightime and on unknown terrain without torchlighs are able to reach the summitt of Everest? The point is this and, please, don't try to make me believe that Chineses' accurate report of terrain is genuine, because aerial surveys and photos were made in 1960 too and, moreover, mountaineers could have reached a point between the second step and the summit, but to summit in pitch dark seems too much even for the more optimistic.I'm astounded by the accuracy and by the affection that you, reader, seem to feel for Hemmleb's account: have I reached someone near Jochen or Eric? Maybe I'm not expert in history, but geography tells that South Tirol, that is Alto Adige is within the boundary of Italy, keep an atlas at hand and you'll see that this is not a nation represented at the United Nations Organization and that on Messner's passport it's stamped "Italy"... There are many people in Italy who wants the entire northern part of the Country separated from the rest of us: Would you call an Everest ascent from a Milanese an ascent of Padanian Country? Let me tell you that these particularisms in a time of a united Europe sounds a little parochially-minded and anti-historic. But, I was forgetting... Hemmleb is from Germany, so he is sensible to other German speaking people...



4. "Detectives on Everest" is unusual in the mountaineering literature associated with Everest in that it is not about pioneering some new route up the world's highest mountain. Instead, it is the expedition account of the 2001 return to Mount Everest by the team of historical detectives that found George Mallory's body in 1999.
   
   The expedition did not succeed in its primary purpose, to locate the remains of Andrew Irvine, perhaps with a camera and recoverable images that might settle the question of whether Mallory and Irvine reached the summit of Everest in 1924. The expedition did search the Northeast Ridge of Everest, in the process locating many of the old high camps from British and Chinese expeditions and thereby clarifying some history. Sections on Mallory's climbing history in Britain and a superb collection of photographs, descriptions of artifacts, and a history of attempts on Everest via the Northeast Ridge provide some valuable context for the discussion of whether or not Mallory and Irvine were technically capable of reaching the summit of Everest in 1924. The bottom line here remains a question mark.
   
   The most significant relevation may be an interview with the survivors of the 1960 Chinese Expedition, who used the Northeast Ridge and who may have found Irvine's body near one of their high camps. This interview leaves open the possibility that a future search might again locate Irvine's body.
   
   A final section, in which expedition members diverted from a summit attempt to rescue several climbers in trouble on the Northeast Ridge, talks to both the ruthless ethics of climbing in the "death zone" at and above 28,000 feet and the wonder that earlier expeditions with far less equipment and technical expertise got as high as they did.
   
   This book is recommended to fans of the continuing mystery of Mallory and Irvine, and to readers interested in the history of expeditions on Mount Everest.



5. I knew very little about the story of Mallory and Irvine and thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. When I finished reading, I was instantly hungry for more and embarked on a journey to learn more about the fascinating history of Everest and explorers from past eras. In today's commercial society it's hard to imagine explorers like Mallory and Irvine entering uncharted territory. Their story really sparks your imagination!
   
   The photographs of artifacts and history of past expeditions were captivating and the book was well written in an easy engaging style.
   
   The side story of a dramatic rescue was also very interesting considering today's controversial commercial climate on the mountain. A wonderful read!

3 comments about Everest: The Unclimbed Ridge (Adrenaline Classics).

1. Heart-breaking, tense and on some level maddening, this is the story of Pete Boardman and Joe Tasker's last expedition. Copious quotes, especially from Pete's diary, give it its emotionally touching quality. Bonington chillingly describes the survivors' long wait and gradual realization that something has gone terribly wrong. No one really knows what happened to Boardman and Tasker, especially since their bodies were later found, indicating they were not killed in a fall as Bonington surmised. This book cannot illuminate the mystery, but can illustrate the magnitude of our loss.



2. "Everest: The Unclimbed Ridge" is the story of the 1982 British attempt on the then-unclimbed Northeast Ridge of Mount Everest. Co-authored by Sir Chris Bonington and Charles Clarke, it illustrates both the thrills and deadly perils of extreme high altitude alpine-style climbing.
   
   Bonington put together a light but elite team for his 1982 expedition, featuring himself and accomplished climbers Pete Boardman, Joe Tasker, and Dick Renshaw, backed by two support climbers, Adrian Gordon and Charles Clarke. The first part of the book is a quick recap of previous climbing on Everest, following by a fascinating narrative of the team's journey to its base camp on the North side of Everest.
   
   The struggle to forge an alpine-style route up the Northeast Ridge is candidly portrayed by Bonington and Clarke. Their narrative is supplemented by quotes from Pete Boardman's diary and letters. The team, climbing at over 8,000 meters without oxygen and with only limited use of fixed ropes, makes slow and painful progress over challenging terrain.
   
   After weeks on the mountain, things begin to go wrong. All the climbers are physically deteriorating from too much time at high altitude. Chris Bonington, then in his late 40's, discovers he can no longer keep pace with his younger counterparts. Dick Renshaw suffers two minor strokes and must be evacuated to medical care. Pete Boardman and Joe Tasker make one last try at the summit, and disappear.
   
   The bodies of Boardman and Tasker would be found years later on the ridge near where they were last seen from a distance by Bonington and Gordon. The Northeast Ridge would finally be climbed, with fixed ropes and supplemental oxygen, in 1995. These facts were obviously unknown to Bonington and Clarke when they closed out this narrative in 1983. The reader is left with a poignant mystery and the enduring question of high altitude climbing: was it worth it?
   
   This book is highly recommended as a fascinating and well-written narrative of a high altitude expedition and its effects on the climbers.



3. I am not a climber but become hopelessly addicted to the mystery of Everest nonetheless. I enjoyed reading this heartbreaking tale of Everest as it opens another window into what climbers face on the mountain. Honest and informative, at times it painted a very different picture of a journey onto Everest. If you have an interest in Everest, climbing or enjoy the thrill of adventure than you will enjoy this book!

5 comments about Taj Mahal.

1. Namaste (Hindu Hi)

   this is the best book I have seen on the History of Taj Mahal, if you can't go to India to see the Taj Mahal buy this book this is excellent book, it will give you a very detailed photography of Taj Mahal, the photographer has done excellent work. I give it 5 stars & highly reccomend it.




2. This famous monument of love has been a favorite of tourists especially romantics, for many generations now. Visitors from all over the world are drawn to its irresistible charm, beauty and grandeur.

   This book, dedicated to the most famous man-made wonder, slowly reveals its glorious detail. Color close-ups of semi-precious stones inlaid in white marble, intricate carvings, decorative patterns, and calligraphy enchant the readers. These artistically taken pictures draw the reader's attention to detail that a regular tourist may have easily missed during visit to the Taj. In fact these pictures are such fine quality and detail as to distract the reader from the well-written text that accompanies them. Every time you pick up this book, you are likely to notice something new, some other fine detail that you missed the last time. We, at Recipedelights.com, think this book is a must-see-and-must-read for designers, artists, armchair tourists, tourists planning to visit Taj and even those who have already visited it.




3. The Taj Mahal is one of the most spectacularly beautiful buildings in the world, saying it's breathtaking does not do it justice. Not only is it gorgeous but it has one of the great romantic stories tied into its creation. This book does a wonderful job of giving the reader a real feel for this singular structure. The images are vivid and stunning and the scholarly text is highly informative. The intracate detail and exquisite craftmanship in this building are unparalleled. This sublime garden tomb is truly a wonder. If you have any interst in the Taj Mahal or just apprecate beautiful books then I cannot imagine you not loving this book, oh and be forwarned that after taking in this great book you will want to hop a plane to India.



4. Following my recent visit to India I purched the book Taj Mahal as a permanent reminder of this magnificent building. The photographs in the book are of a very high standard and have been taken when there is an absence of visitors - a level the average sightseer can never achieve. The special lighting and techniques used for the internal photography makes you feel as though you are actually there. Added to this there is a very informative narrative on the history of and how the Taj Mahal was built. It is certainly a wonderful memento and am sure it will whet the appetite of future visitors.



5. Because I referred readers to this book in my 3-STAR review of the Prestons' recently published Taj Mahal: Passion and Genius..., I want to offer a more specific comparison of the two. Significantly, the amount of text each devotes to the Taj complex and those directly associated with it is the same. So, too, is most of the information. But rather than detailing differences--such as that only in this book are criticisms of the mausoleum or that only in the Prestons' are technical details about the water system as well as inconsequential elaboration on who could not have been the architect of the Taj--let it suffice to say that regardless of which book you own, the notes you'd add from the other would amount to but a few pages, unless you'd also want to copy the two pages of translated calligraphic inscriptions that appear only in Okada/Joshi/Nou's TAJ MAHAL.
   
   What makes the two books so dramatically different is that 3/4ths of this one is devoted to showing readers the Taj Mahal complex via Nou's stunning photographs, all of which are in color. There are, for example, 56 of the interior of the mausoleum: 7 are two-page spreads; 40 fill an entire page; many are close-ups that reveal astounding detail. Also given extensive photographic coverage is the exterior of the mausoleum as well as the complex's mosque, guest house and main gate. And showing the magnificence of the entire complex from different perspectives are 4 three-page foldouts.
   
   So many photographs are there in this book, in fact, that as revealing as they are, many begin to have a sameness about them. That the explanations of the architecture/ornamentation are not integrated with the photography may also be a negative for some as may be the absence of any photographs of the related funerary architecture that Joshi discusses. Nevertheless, if you are primarily interested in photographs of the splendors of the Taj Mahal complex as it now appears, you will find none better than Nou's. Before deciding on this book, however, I strongly recommend that you investigate one that merits 10 STARS: Ebba Koch,'s The Complete Taj Mahal, published in 2006. --B. Evans, 4/14/07

5 comments about The Light Within: A Travel Log of India.

1. Pick up Mr. Anderson's book and find a compelling travelogue through India and all-too-human emotional terrain. The writing is fluid and graceful and you will find yourself immersed in the journey of this soul. You will find a wide variety of experience on display, from the haunts of modern London to the very heart of Calcutta and beyond.
   
   Well worth a read!



2. Joseph Anderson's "The Light Within" may be the first book written as
   a blog. Undertaking a pilgrimage to India (to study with yoga
   masters) after his father's death, Anderson promised his mother to
   keep in touch with daily blogs. It's evident that the blog was
   written not only to his recently widowed mother, but to himself as he
   recites his daily activities in England, Paris, and, most
   importantly, India. The account goes far beyond a travelogue: it is
   part diary, part meditation, part exultation, moves from description
   to interpretation to philosophy, even to poetry! Anderson's language
   is fluid and often lyrical, even at its most spontaeous. The
   narrative is most alive when he gets beyond the touristy days in
   England and France and arrives in India; he spares nothing in his
   deeply sensory-and deeply moral-account of this land which offers
   both splendid beauty and utter degradation. The fact that he has now
   begun a foundation to rescue children of Calcutta from poverty,
   ignorance, filth, and disease demonstrates the powerful impact this
   experience had on him, one that will be shared by sensitive readers.



3. Joseph Anderson has the unique ability to bring the reader through a vivid and heart-wrenching experience of life in India. He takes the reader to places few tourists would venture, and he describes the challenges he encounters --from extreme poverty to personal discovery -- with a deep understanding of human emotion and a personal connection to our sense of sight, sound and smell. If you want to experience what life is truly like in India, through the eyes of someone who connects deeply with humanity, read this book!



4. In December 2004, the author left his home in North Carolina to study
   yoga in India. Anderson found enlightenment in the land of Gandhi and
   Mother Teresa, but not in the way he expected. The moment he stepped
   foot in India, his lessons began. To quote the author directly:
   
   "India asks existential questions, and demands immediate
   reply. How can you square what you see here with your omnipotent,
   benevolent God? You can't. What will you make of your life? What
   purpose do your many pleasures serve when millions suffer unrelenting
   pain?"
   
   Anderson's odyssey begins in Delhi and proceeds through several
   cities, including Calcutta. Calcutta, especially, left an impression
   on his body, mind, and spirit. Five-star hotels co-exist there with
   squalor beyond American comprehension. Caustic pollution burned his
   eyes and seared his lungs as he walked the streets of Calcutta.
   Emaciated street children fought with feral dogs over scraps of
   rotting food on mountains of trash. People with leprosy, birth
   defects, and infections begged from every street and gutter. And yet,
   despite living in such unspeakable conditions, the sweet spirit and
   inner light of the people shone clearly through their eyes and smiles.
   
   Yes, walking the slums of Calcutta enlightened the healthy, successful
   American lawyer and writer. After days of experiencing the sounds,
   scents, sights of horrible human suffering, and toxic air, Anderson
   was too sick to stand, too emotionally drained to weep. He returned
   home determined to do all one man could to offset the suffering he saw
   in Calcutta.
   
   The Light Within is beautifully written; Anderson shares his
   experiences powerfully with readers. He speaks not only for himself
   but all humanity - the armless and legless, the perfect and healthy.
   Along with writing this book, Anderson established the Calcutta
   Children's Permanent Fund, an endowment providing medical and
   nutritional support to the street children of Calcutta.



5. After returning from a tour of India, I decided I needed to learn more about this country. Mr. Anderson's book is a true look into this country. This book digs deep into the sights, smells, sounds and feel of India. A very easy read and a great travel log. I hope Mr Anderson continues to write.

No comments about Travellers Maldives: Guides to destinations worldwide (Travellers - Thomas Cook).

1 comments about A Kite's Eye View: India: Between Earth and Sky.

1. I visited Rajasthan 2 years ago and I was amazed by the Palaces and Monuments and I found there.
   This book opens your eyes in a perspective hard to match: a kite's view of the best places in Jodhpur, Jaipur, Udaipur, Delhi... A book for "India lovers" who are passioned for photography.
   Highly Recommended.

5 comments about Nanda Devi: The Tragic Expedition.

1. Wow. My first reaction on reading this book was amazement as to how dysfunctional this team was due to the fractured leadership style. The inability of the strongest climbers to agree on strategy and work loads contributed to the team's overall slowness on the climb. Yet they still managed to put people on top of the mountain. Other climbing expedition books often make allusions to similar types of disagreements on strategy and plan but this one really lays it all out in front of you.

   My second reaction was that there are surely two or more sides to any story -- this version of the climb was surely colored by Roskelley's own self-acknowledged aggressive personality and his bias/perceptions of what his team members were thinking at each step of the way. The second afterword from Roskelley describes a bit more of other team members' own reactions.

   The story was compelling but I left one star off the review because the writing style was somewhat wooden. Plus, I wanted to hear more about the climb from someone other than Roskelley to get a different perspective.




2. Between the fragmented leadership, conflicting agenda's of the climbers and general lack of cooperation between various members of the expedition it's a small wonder that more people weren't seriously injured or killed. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book. The suspense that John Roskelly creates is fantastic. With so many possible things that could go wrong...



3. I have read a number of mountain climbing books over the past few months, and this was the least enjoyable of the bunch. The problem is both the subject matter and the writing style. The expedition itself seemed like a mess--two leaders, one of whom lost interest half-way through and left the country, the other of whom didn't seem to notice or care that his lovely college-age (I think) daughter was dangerously ill. A team that had widely different ideas about what the goals of the expedition were and who never overcame those differences in philosophy and skill-level. And a climb scheduled at the wrong time of the year to accomodate the teaching schedule of the leader who left half-way through. It's surprising that Roskelley and two other members got to the top of the mountain, but by the time they did, I couldn't even take any joy in their accomplishment.
   
   The other problem, and perhaps the more serious as far as the worth of this as a book, is that it is Roskelley's first book and it shows. It is apparent much of the time that his narration is barely edited diary entries. The narrative doesn't have the flow and the perspective that fully-fleshed-out story-telling requires. Many of his sentences are short and wooden; for example: "The weather was bad." There is little attempt to make the technical aspects of the climb comprehensible to non-climbers.
   
   All in all, the book left me feeling depressed. Many mountain-climbing books have a tragic tale to tell, of human error and over-powering difficulties, and yet something of the human spirit, of the struggle to overcome, shine through. But perhaps as a result of the personality of John Roskelley, this story just seemed pitiful and sad.



4. John Roskelley's "Nanda Devi: The Tragic Expedition" is a brutally honest narrative of the 1976 American-Indian climb of 25,000 foot Nanda Devi in Northwest India. The expedition never came together as a cohesive group, leading to endless arguments en route to and on the mountain, and perhaps contributing to the death of Nanda Devi Unsoeld, daughter of expedition co-leader Willi Unsoeld and named for the mountain itself.
   
   Roskelley's description of the effort to bring a team together, gather the necessary equipment, and move it to Base Camp in India contains the early signs of trouble. The expedition co-leaders seemed unwilling to assert themselves. Perhaps worse, the expedition members did not share a common climbing philosophy. Team "A", of which Roskelley was a founding member, was focused on summitting the mountain. Team "B" seems to have entertained the notion that the trip was the adventure, with reaching the summit a seemingly secondary objective. Whatever the merits of the respective approaches, they were incompatible in the same expedition and left Team B less mentally prepared for the horrendous challenges of the actual climb.
   
   Roskelley's description of the approach march into the remote valley at the base of Nanda Devi is fascinating. The actual climb makes for exciting reading; the expedition worked under marginal weather conditions on an untried and extremely dangerous route up the Northwest Ridge of Nanda Devi. Team A repeatedly pushes the pace, alternately bullying and shaming Team B to participate in placing camps higher on the mountain. Several climbers suffer from illness and crises of confidence. One sick climber is evacuated; another quits. In retrospect, Team B's misgivings about the route were well-taken; Roskelley describes a series of hair-raising pitches over difficult rock in poor weather and under constant threat of avalanche. Only some superb mountaineering overcomes the challenges and places three men on top. A second summit team which included Devi Unsoeld moved to the top camp but turned back when Devi sickened and died at the 24,000 foot level.
   
   Roskelley's candid commentary appears to have been adapted from his diary entries and letters; the story is told day by day, without undue foreshadowing of the outcome.
   
   Leadership challenges should not have been unexpected given the fierce will, competitiveness and self-confidence required to climb at high altitude. The failure to pick a more balanced team might have been the first failure of leadership. The reluctance by the expedition leaders to impose organization led to a second major failure: rolling chaos in the creation and supply of the various camps and in constant bickering over assignments. In retrospect, the lack of leadership created a third failure: a situation in which an unwell and unacclimatized Devi Unsoeld was allowed to proceed on a summit attempt against the expressed better judgement of the expedition doctor and several more experienced climbers.
   
   Roskelley's multiple epilogues underline the hard feelings that followed the expedition. Death at altitude is a common hazard of the sport; unnecessary death made all the bickering less forgiveable. Although not within the scope of this book, an account by a member of Team "B" would be of interest in providing "the rest of the story."
   
   This book is highly recommended to those interested in high altitude mountaineering and to those interested in some lessons in leadership.



5. As an avid reader of mountain books, this is one of the better ones. The story of the ascent of Nanda Devi and the unfolding tragedy is a compelling one. That being said, I have read other accounts of this expedition, and of other expeditions that included John Roskelly, and it is obvious that the author has very much climbing skill and very little emotional intelligence. This version is self-serving, and it is doubtful that it represents anything other than his perspective. One thing that is glaringly obvious- Roskelly's complete lack of respect for the Unsoeld family and their values, his distain for women (except the kind he can control), and his lack of interest in anything other than the summit.Who knows what effect this had on the expedition's outcome? I sincerely hope he has grown up by now.

3 comments about A Traveller's History of India (3rd edition).

1. Lots of historical information. Easy to read. A must for your trip to India.



2. After reading V.S. Naipaul's "An Area of Darkness" about his first journey to India, I felt that I needed a more balanced view of the country. This book was just what was called for.

   "A Traveller's History of India" was written by a historian from Sri Lanka with an English education. He knows how to give a good overview of the various cultural influences that met and merged in India. His narrative is chronological. It is the best way to illustrate the growth, glory, decline and disappearance of vast empires. It also serves well to refute the Naipaulian idea that there is something particularly evil about the Muslim influence in India. The Islamic believers who invaded India in the 7th century AD shared many things with the Aryan invaders 1500 BC or the Christian invaders in the 18th century AD: they all came, conquered, prospered and some of their influence continues until today. The Aryans brought the caste system and Sanskrit literature; the Muslims built the Taj Mahal, and gave birth to the Urdu language; the Christians built railroads, left a working legal system and administration, and English as a common language that was understood in the whole subcontinent.

   In one aspect, however, the Islamic invaders were more ruthless than the others. No other invading culture erased a religion as barbarously as Islam uprooted Buddhism in India: "The conquest of Bihar [in 1202 AD] saw the systematic destruction of all the remaining Buddhist monasteries and the wanton slaughter of all the monks. [...] The ruthless fanaticism of the new conquerors led to the complete disappearance of Buddhism from the land of its birth."

   On the other hand, the Muslims exported the decimal system and the symbol zero from India to Europe, both of which later played a crucial role in the development of Western science.

   Sinharaja Tammita-Delgoda strikes a fair balance between the failures and the successes of the cultures that came to play a role in India. And he has a fine sense of irony when it comes to the impact of the English on India. He notes that the Indian nationalist movement which began in the mid 19th century had its origins in a common identity and a new sense of purpose instilled by the new political and social ideas carried with the English language; and he observes that the discoveries of many British scholars who made it their life's work to unearth the story of India's ancient past gave Indians an important sense of their own identity and a feeling of pride in their past.

   I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this history of India. My greatest delight - and inspiration to do further research and reading - were succinct portraits like the one of Babur (1483-1530 AD), who was not only the founder of the Muslim Mughal empire but also "one of its most fascinating and attractive personalities. A poet and a man of letters, he was also an adventurer of iron nerves and powerful determination. A keen diarist, he recorded his experiences in his memoirs, the Tuzuk-i-Baburi, which are an important source for the history of the period. These memoirs speak of a tremendous zest for life, a man of boundless energy and optimism, a dedicated drunkard and a wholehearted sportsman and polo player. They also reveal an artistic nature of great sensitivity and refinement. Wherever he went Babur laid out Persian gardens, and his memoirs are full of references to the beauties of nature. Cold-blooded and ruthless at times, he was also capable of great generosity and chivalry, and his memories are laced with that rare quality - an endearing sense of humour."




3. Having suffered through Keay's History of India, this volume was a pleasant surprise. Tammita-Delgoda writes clearly and compellingly. The book is well organized and at the end one has a firm grasp of the major periods of Indian history although the narrative is by necessity terribly compressed. I would recommend it to any travelling to India for as the London Evening Standard writes the book "...provides a useful grounding" for those interested in the country. The only disappointment is that the illustrations and maps are not up to the quality of the writing

3 comments about Lonely Planet India & Bangladesh Travel Atlas.

1. The maps are better than what most Indians have ever seen in their lives, which is exactly why travellers don't need it. If you are taking public transport around the country, you get plenty of information about how to go where from LP India or from information at train stations, bus stations and other travellers. It simply isn't worth the excess weight (in a rucksack). If on the other hand you are cycling or have your own motorized vehicle, this would be irreplacable (so be careful who you show it to).



2. While working on an on-going university research project I have spent five years driving the back roads of India. This book has saved my sanity as well as my tires and axles. It is by far and away the most helpful road atlas available.



3. If you know where you want to go then I would agree with the above reviewer- a guidebook will tell you about nearby sites and how to get there and for that you can get by without an atlas. But for those who want to explore a particular region- how else are you going to plot an itinerary? This atlas is fully indexed by place, and also by beaches, capes & headlands, caves, forts, islands, mountians & passes, rivers, lakes, & bays, ruins and temples. And no matter how good a guidebook- only an atlas like this will assure you that you haven't missed anything of interest whereever you happen to be.
   
   Map Scale is 4cm = 50K (1.5" = 31 miles)
   
   For security reasons (I'm told) quality maps are not easy to find in India- and rarely for sale.

1 comments about Cool Hotels: India, Maldives, Sri Lanka.

1. Students of architecture, hotel and commercial building design, and travel will all find much to attract in Cool Hotels: India, Maldives, Sri Lanka: it features the best hotels of the region, from rustic to big city, and discusses craftsmanship, artistic d‚cor, and landscaping qualities which make each hotel exceptional. The meat of Cool Hotels lies in its full-page color photos of both interior and exteriors of featured hotels.