Unlike many guides written by a team of travel writers, this guide is the handiwork of one couple, an awesome task considering its scope. No one can better introduce a country than those who truly love it, and the authors' love of India peeks around every corner as they lead the reader through the bustling streets of Delhi, the peaceful lake city of Udaipur, the erotic friezes on the temples of Khajuraho, the beaches of Goa and on. The book is sprinkled with personal touches like the names of the sundry museum curator or store owner that the authors met during their journey.

At well under 400 pages, it's a relatively quick read (by "travel bible" standards which often top 1000 pages). A full pre-trip read-through of this guide can make the immense country feel a little less overwhelming.

For convenience, the guide divides India into eight major areas: the Western Himalayas; the Northern Plains; Central India; Western India; South-Western; South-Eastern; and North Eastern India; plus a brief guide to Delhi. It also provides a brief introduction to India and its people including helpful insights into Indian culture (dress modestly, Western women) and a handy overview of India's history.

The book is organized in a useful direct format. In each section, a quick area summary is followed by suggestions for exploration, practical transportation information, dining options, and accommodation suggestions. (Unfortunately, the authors choose to list only budget choices, providing no occasional splurge options for the reader). Area descriptions of better-known travel spots, e.g., Delhi, and Khajuraho, will offer maps. Particularly useful is the guide's star rating system for many major sights. Sights considered most worthwhile are indicated with one to three stars. "Complete wastes of time" are indicated with a zero. For example, the Taj Mahal, unsurprisingly, earns three stars. This simple device, which for some reason is rare in travel guides, is immensely valuable for the traveler on a tight schedule forced to choose between a plethora of sights that often sound equally intriguing.

Unlike many travel books on India, Travellers Survival Kit is also very sensible in its approach to matters of crime. "India is a safe country for the foreign visitor. Take simple precautions and you can reduce the risk of theft to almost zero." This comes as a welcome antidote to the recipes of fear served up by most other India travel guides, which often leave potential visitors wondering (quite unnecessarily) if a visit to India is really worth all the trouble. This guide takes a much more responsible approach, simply mentioning some practical tips, then moving on to the land's many wonders.

Travellers Survival Kit India is not as comprehensive as many much larger and better-known travel guides to India, but it's well organized and easy to use. Assuming no well-prepared traveler to India will rely on any one book, this handy guide will serve as a useful introduction and travel companion on a visit to this magic land.

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