City of Djinns: A Year in Delhi. William Dalrymple.
This book will be available from Hillsborough Street Textbooks in Raleigh (664-8733). It is a wonderful introduction to Delhi. Students from past years say that the more of this book they have read before they leave for India, the more they can appreciate what they see and learn in Delhi. This has also been made into an episode of a BBC television series called "Indian Journeys" which is occasionally aired on PBS. Keep an eye out for this too!
Suggested:
1. Daršan: seeing the divine image in India / Diana L. Eck. In NC State DH Hill Library: BL1205 .E25 1998
2. India: from Midnight to the Milennium / Shashi Tharoor. In NC State DH Hill Library: DS428.2 .T47 1997
3. The Lonely Planet Guide to India.