Experienced and first-time travelers alike rely on Fodor's Gold Guides for rich, reliable coverage the world over.  Smart travel tips and important contact info make planning your trip a breeze and detailed coverage of sights, accommodations, and restaurants give you the info you need to make your experience enriching and hassle-free.  If you only have room for one guide, this is the one for you.The best guide to India, packed with essentialsCity sights, from Agra's Taj Mahal to Mysore's palaceHimalayan treks, wildlife safaris, camel and Jeep tripsTemples, mosques, forts, colorful festivals, ageless artBazaars and shops with silks, rugs, handcrafted jewelryWhere to stay and eat, no matter what your budgetPalace hotels, havelis, urbane high-rises, beach resorts, bungalows, mountain lodges, safari tentsPosh hotel restaurants, seaside fish shacks, and garden cafés serving the best tandooris, biriyanis, and kebabsFresh, thorough, practical--off and on the beaten pathCosts, hours, descriptions, and tips by the thousandsReviews based on visits by the most knowledgeable writersThe top special-interest tours and tour operators34 pages of maps, 60 vacation itineraries, and moreImportant contacts, smart travel tips (from cutting costs to staying healthy)What's WherePleasures & PastimesFestivalsVocabulary and dining glossary