Enjoying India by J D Viharini

Enjoying India by J D Viharini

For tourists who want to be culturally sensitive-and empowered-as they travel through the subcontinent, this book is a perfect read. It was written to fill the gaps that traditional guidebooks might leave in their wakes, answering hows and whys instead of whens and wheres. It answers whatever questions you might have, safety information to communication tricks, like how yes in some parts of India can actually mean no. There are also tips you can put to use as you go about your sightseeing and shopping, like how to bargain, find a seat on crowded trains, and deal with bureaucracy. And you can rest assured this author knows what they're talking about: J.D. Viharini, an American woman who's lived in and traveled solo throughout India for eight years, truly knows the ins and outs of the country.

- KRYSTIN ARNESON Updated 12/09/19

Krystin Arneson is a writer and editor based out of Berlin, Germany. She covers an array of hotels, products and destinations for TripSavvy.

Being an Indian myself, I can tell you that this book is an authentic account about India. It is obvious that the author is someone who has lived and traveled in India over a long period of time. India is such a vast country that it is difficult for even Indians to gain such a depth of knowledge about the country as this author has achieved.

From the insights that the book oozes, it is evident that the author has travelled the breadth and height of India. I have read a few other accounts about India by westerners and was always disappointed by the superficial nature of those books and observations.

However, this book was a surprise. With a very humorous point of view, it was thoroughly enjoyable and I read it in almost one sitting. It is a must for anyone to carry and read if they are visiting India even for a brief time. This book prepares you for the surprises that await here.

The author's observations are presented without bias and prejudice. It was an open minded thesis that delved deep into the psyche of the Indian phenomenon. This is obviously an effort that should have spanned several years of unrelenting research and observation.

Whatever it is, this certainly is not anything that falls under the genre of books that typically stereotype India. It looks beyond the usual shocking point of view of India as a country of elephants and tigers. This book is about the real contemporary India and about real Indians.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in India. I also commend and thank the author for an unbiased view of my country that I so love.

- Satyanarayana Pamarty (Reviewed on Amazon.com)

J.D.Viharini is a single woman who has traveled widely in India on her own. She has learned, with the support of fellow travelers she has met over the years, that it is critical to travel smartly and in harmony with the local culture. Living and traveling in India is a big pleasure for her. She was born in California, but has lived in different states and countries for more than two-thirds of her life. She arrived to India in 1980 after earning a master's degree in Vedic studies in Europe and fell in love with the country right away, but she had to wait a few years for her next visit.

She has spent several years in India and has traveled widely throughout the country. Although having a home base in the Himalayan foothills, she prefers to travel around India according to the seasons. She's visited practically every part of India, with the exception of the Northeast, at some point. She's gone first class, sardine class, and everything in between in India over the years.

She's stayed and dined in some of India's most opulent hotels as well as some of its most run-down. She has stayed with families and celebrated with them. She's rented apartments and figured out how to deal with all that comes with living in this city. She has witnessed the Kumbha Mela's tumultuous masses and the peacefulness of the sparsely populated high Mountains.

She's done business and gone on pilgrimages. She's been sick before and has learnt how to keep well. She's made a lot of friends (and maybe a few foes).