India is filled with ancient temples, hidden yoga retreats, and grand palaces. It's also one of the busiest, dirtiest, and poorest countries in the world.
Whatever your impressions about India, reading about the country before you travel there can help de-mystify the experience and prepare you for what you're about to see.
Here are 8 awesome books that will make you want to travel to India—or help prepare you for your journey.
"Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity" by Katherine Boo
Written by an American who fully immersed herself in India's slums, this book tells the sad but uplifting true story of life in a Mumbai slum, weaving together multiple narratives about different families and characters who live there.
"A Passage to India" by E.M. Forster
This classic novel by E.M. Forster tells the story of life in India under British rule, focusing on the underlying tension between the British colonists and the people of India.
It's based on Forster's experiences in India in the 1920s.
"Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found" by Suketu Mehta
Written by a Mumbai (formerly Bombay) native who had been living in New York City for over 20 years, this nonfiction book delves into life in Mumbai, exploring everything from the violence of Mumbai's gangs to elite Bollywood parties to the countless people who come to the big city in search of wealth only to end up living in the slums. It's a fascinating look at the thriving metropolis.
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