After some useful general background material, the book devotes the bulk of its pages to a directory of ashrams, yoga schools, and meditation centers. The listings are presented alphabetically by state, and include facilities and food, fees, schedules, how to get there, other services, books, and tapes. Descriptions are entertaining and informative. Here's a sampling from the introduction to Prasanthi Nilayam Ashram in Andhra Pradesh: "With over ten million devotees worldwide--and 1,638 centers in 137 countries--Sathya Sai Baba is undoubtedly the most famous of India's living gurus. He's believed by his disciples to be an avatar, a human incarnation of God, and his plump, frizzy-haired visage can be spotted on rickshaw dashboards, cash registers, phone booths, and altars all over India, alongside more traditional deities like Krishna and Ganesh."

In addition to a useful "Indian Philosophies and Religions" section and a glossary, intriguing sidebars include: "All About Sadhus," "Neo-Buddhist Headquarters," "Exploring Tibetan Buddhism," "The Hindu Pantheon," and "Festivals of India." --Kathryn True

Product Description
Beneath the humble facade of a yoga and retreat guide lurks one of the most entertaining books I've ever read about India. You could do a lot worse than to plan your whole India itinerary around this book. --Jeff Greenwald, author of Shopping for Buddhas The Lonely Planet may help you get your shots and visa, and get you from palace to restaurant, but until now there has been no in-depth guide devoted exclusively to spiritual India. Whether you are a curious beginner or a seasoned pilgrim, From Here to Nirvana is your essential companion. They provide detailed directions and contacts that cannot be found anywhere else--lists and sidebars, photos and maps--everything you need to know. Interspersed with personal stories, quotes from gurus, and local legends, this readerly guidebook is as funny, inspiring, and fascinating as it is useful. Now that Americans have become as devoted to yoga as they are to jogging, and Buddhism seems as familiar as Catholicism, Gen Xers and Baby Boomers are headed to India by the thousands each year. They are going to ashrams and yoga

centers, to meditate with a famous guru, or simply to sit under the Bodhi Tree as the Buddha himself did twenty-five hundred years ago. These aren't really vacations they're taking, they are journeys. And is the book they all must have.

I would recommend reading it before you go because some of the places/people to be contacted must be done ahead of time. and you may find that contact information can change sporadically in India (one of the many beautiful challenges you'll find on your travels there).


Disappointingly narrow viewpoint   January 24, 2003
William H. Coffin (Berkeley, CA USA)
5 out of 20 found this review helpful

This book would be excellent for people seeking ashrams. However, there is nothing about major temples, festivals, or other local observations. There is a little bit of information about local pilgrimage sites but it is laughably inadequate.


Very Useful   July 20, 2000
Frikaloopa (Houston, TX USA)
32 out of 33 found this review helpful

This is a great book.It was written for those of us who want to travel to India and learn more yoga, meditation etc.Not all places are described in equal length and depth but you will always find useful information about yoga schools, ashrams and monasteries in all the parts of India.In a lot of cases, the writers have been there and they took the classes for you, sat through the satsangs and tried the food and water.The book talks about each place separately and gives you info on "Teachers & Teachings", "Facilities and Food", "Schedule","Fees","Contact Information","How To Get There",etc.A very helpful guide for spiritual seekers who intend to travel to India.