WHAT TO PACK

'I GET IDEAS ABOUT WHAT'S ESSENTIAL

WHEN PACKING MY SUITCASE.'

- Diane Von Furstenberg

The first time we came to India for 4.5 months, we had 2 super huge suitcases, 2 carry-ons, and 2 back packs. We didn't think we had overpacked, but we realized very quickly that we could find a lot more things we were used to than we thought. Of course, personal preferences will certainly be different for everyone. But a common thread we see over and over again from visitors coming through, is the amount of unnecessary items they wish they weren't lugging around the country. The information in this section will provide you with some links to items that we have found most helpful while traveling along with some information about what environmental and cultural aspects should be kept in mind when deciding which clothing items to choose. The 'Daily Life' and 'Food & Recipes' sections will discuss more fully about what things you may want to pack if you are coming in India for some time.

General Packing Tips....

When we started traveling internationally, 2 large suitcases, a carry-on and personal item were always included in the price of a ticket. Things have obviously changed a lot in the last 20 years, so if you don't want to pay an arm and leg for extra bags, or break an arm or a leg lugging them around the country, what you decide to pack can be crucial. One tip we remember reading and still try to put in practice when packing for any trip is this: Lay out everything you think you will need to wear for all the occasions and weather you might experience and then... *deep breath*...cut that in HALF!! This may seem extreme, but trust us, it works! And even if you really do need more clothing items than you packed, the local area you are visiting or temporarily living in, will definitely have more clothing suited to your needs and the culture in that location that you could even bring with you! This is definitely the case in India, where clothing will also be extremely reasonably priced. All that being said, we both recommend 'overpacking' in the socks and undergarments department as the quality and selection may not be what you are used to.

Another personal tip we share with friends who are worried about space after they buy their souvenirs is this: pack old clothing items and shoes that are near the end of their life in your closet anyway. As you travel, you won't be as upset if you spill a chai down the front of shirt or sit in something that won't wash out. Your purchases can slowly replace what you brought and your suitcase won't know the difference!

Personal Care

Most personal care items and even name brand toiletries like razors, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes, toothpaste, toilet paper, tissues, mouthwash, moisturizers, perfume, nail polish/remover, make-up wipes and make-up can easily be found in India.

Western style stick deodorant, hair styling products, family planning items and feminine products however are either non-existent outside of major cities or not up to the same quality. You may also want to bring mosquito repellent and sunscreen with you, as western brands tend to be stronger and more effective than the Indian ones.

Suitcases vs Backpacks

The age old India dilemma. We've travelled to India both ways and there's obviously pros and cons on either side. Here's some things an article on Tripsavvy mentioned: "The type of luggage best suited for travel to India really depends on your itinerary. If you only plan to visit major cities and don't intend to do much walking, a suitcase is fine. However, roads and pavements are often dirty and in poor condition. Also keep in mind that the lanes in some cities, such as Jodhpur and Varanasi, are so narrow that vehicles can't fit down them. Therefore, if you intend to travel a lot on foot and go off the beaten path, a backpack is better. For sightseeing during the day, it's a good idea to carry a daypack, or other sturdy bag that can't be easily opened or accessed by pickpockets. Make sure it's big enough to fit in all your essentials, including water."

We absolutely love our current set up. Pictured here are our matching little 'baby bags' as we refer to them. Small enough to be considered a personal item, they are awesome for a carry on even though we usually have additional bags. Once we settle into our apartment, they are all we use for domestic travel within the country. They sit very sturdily so we often use one to carry the weight of our laptop backpack which houses all of our needed electronics. We love the smooth trolley wheels, built in TSA approved lock, stretch netting on the outside for a water bottle or jacket and a super smooth handle which allows us to switch quickly back and forth from rolling to carrying. We bought them at Marshall's last year for quite a steal, but here is a link to Olympia's main site if you want to check out more of their high quality products: OLYMPIAUSA

Packing for the Plane....

No matter how many bags you wind up bringing, you should always travel with a small bag of essentials on the plane - aka a 'plane pack'. Though we personally have never had our luggage lost by any airline, our bags did get locked in the trunk of our friends car at the airport before an important business trip to Europe one time. (Yeah, that's a long story...) So we learned this lesson the hard way - always pack what you need for at least 1 night and 1 extra day along with all of the goodies you need for the plane. Even if everything goes as planned, you might have an overnight layover or at least be grateful that after all the travel, you have everything you need for the first day or two right at your fingertips.

HELPFUL LINKS FOR YOUR PLANE PACK

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Some Documents Explained...

DOMESTIC PLANE TICKETS: One very important thing to know about flying domestically in India is that there is an additional security measure taken before you even enter the airport. There are guards stationed at every entrance to ensure that you actually have a ticket for a flight within 3 hours. It is required that when you present your passport and ticket, either on your phone or a print-out, your passenger name MUST be included somewhere on the ticket that exactly matches the name on your passport.

TRAVEL INSURANCE: We have only recently started buying travel insurance for every trip but as soon as we did we found it extremely vital. On our way home from the Ukraine Special Convention in 2018 one of our flights was cancelled and we were never refunded for the additional tickets through the airline as it soon after went our of business. Secondly, this section is currently being written while we are visiting Shillong, India. Our flight was delayed, cancelled 3 times and rerouted twice before we actually got here. This cost us money in the long run as we had already booked transportation and our apartment based on the original date. So we will definitely be making a claim at some point.

Even with the best planning, these types of inconveniences are beyond our control. But we can say from our experience, it's a lot easier to roll with the punches, if you know you have a solid plan for even a little compensation. Policies can change frequently, so we definitely suggest you research a few companies to find what fits your needs, but we have been happy with Allianz and Berkshire.

Plane Pack

Essentials!

Passport
Documents (Plane Tickets with Passenger Names, Travel Insurance, Bookings, Etc.) PRO TIP: Keep another set of document copies in another suitcase and with someone at home.
Clothes/Toiletries for 1 Overnight
Neck Pillow
Eye Mask
Earbuds
Phone/Tablet
Chargers
Tissue Packs (Doubles as TP in a pinch)
Sanitizer/Wipes
Supplements (Pain Relief, Sleeping, Jet Lag, Immunity Booster, Medications, Etc.)
Hotel Lock
Snacks

The Weather

Weather in India varies extremely from one region to the next. To be able to write about every need you may come across would be impossible. But there are a few things to keep in mind. Generally, you will not encounter central heating or cooling systems anywhere outside of nicer hotels. This may not sound like much but for example in Rajasthan, when the outside temperature drops to 55-60 F at night, it's going to feel like 40-45 F. I don't know about you but we would have some heat on at that point. Add to that the homes are built to stay as cool as possible during the extreme summer heat, and you'll be kicking yourself for not packing a pair of sweats, slippers and your warmest pjs. If you're staying awhile you can most likely find space heaters locally but the clothing you bring with you will be your first defense.

On the flip side, think about Kerala. We were just there in February and even though the temperature was around 92 F, it felt like 110 F due to the humidity. We were drenched in sweat within 10 minutes of leaving the house. If you think standard jeans and khakis will suffice throughout your trip, you may want to reconsider shopping for and packing more light, breathable linens and cottons. If you find yourself in India during the monsoon season, you may find this article to be of extra help: MONSOON SEASON

Additionally, here's a link to some interesting information about the different climates in India as found on Wikipedia: CLIMATES

Shoes

Traditional shoes, like clothing, can be purchased for very little damage to your wallet. But as is much the case anywhere, you will get what you pay for. While they do feel comfortable for some time and a well made leather pair that runs around 500-600 INR, can certainly take a lot of wear, you will not regret bringing a trusted, solid and sturdy pair of sneaker and/or sandals.

Many people prefer closed toed shoes year round to avoid exposure to unsanitary conditions. But in many hot climate areas, you may find your feet to be happiest in open shoes. Whatever the case, remember that shoes that slip on and off easily will definitely be appreciated since, in most personal homes and at many attractions, you will be required to remove your shoes.

Cultural Clothing Tips

This may be a tough topic to really put a finger on considering how many clothing styles, that vary somewhat by region, are available in India. Foremost among them all though, is the need for modesty. Of course there are no hard and fast rules to be implemented but in our personal experience, shorts and sleeveless shirts, for both men and women, are not widely accepted. Another blogger Sharell Cooks says about the matter, "In general, the most important rule for both ladies and men is to keep your legs and shoulders covered. However, it's okay for women to show shoulders and for men to wear shorts in large cities and beach locations such as Goa though...Wearing an Indian top such as a kurta over jeans is an easy, fuss-free combination for travel...Yes, you will see Indian women's bellies on display when they're dressed in saris but that's traditional attire. It's very different. Avoid wearing tight tops too, or wear a scarf or shawl to cover your breasts. For men, short-sleeved shirts are more respectful than t-shirts, although t-shirts are fine.

Does it really matter what you wear in India? If you don't follow conservative dress standards, it's likely that no one will say anything. It comes down to how much you want to be respected though. Indian men are much more likely to harass and photograph women who are not appropriately covered up, as they perceive them to be of loose or immoral character."

Women still wear saris/sarees and Punjabi suits everyday, and palazzo pants or leggings with longer kurtas/kurtis and dresses are also extremely popular. Men of all ages and throughout India are usually mostly wearing jeans and a collared shirts. Small floral prints are super popular right now. Older gentlemen are still fond of the traditional pajama and kurta and head gear varies by region. This blog outlines some more of the differences by region: COSTUMES OF INDIA

The younger generation in India is quite fond of Western styles, so I made the mistake of thinking it would be easy to find some things I was used to wearing at home. But like I said, its much more popular for the younger generation, so I have found it difficult to find many items that don't make me look like I'm trying to sneak back into high school. That being said, more Western clothing might be available in more of the major cities than smaller cities, towns and villages. If you already have some traditional clothing to pack, that's great! But as mentioned earlier, with the availability and price point you'll find in India, you might just want to wait til you get here and buy what you need. You'll also most likely be thrilled with being able to get your suits and tops, even men's western suits and collared shirts, custom made for a very reasonable price. If you are just traveling through, a good rule of thumb would be to give yourself at least 4 days in the same place to shop for fabric, find a tailor and give them 2 days to finish up to 3 items.

The Dupatta

While this a subject with no little dispute among foreigners trying to decipher the cultural fashion, the fact that the dupatta (long scarf) has long stood to symbolize modesty, can not be ignored. While it is an integral part of a traditional Punjabi suit, many vacillate on whether it needs to be worn with a dress and leggings or kurta and palazzos. You will no doubt find more suggestions from the local friends upon arrival but here are some practical reasons you may also find the dupatta to be a life saver in India:

It's a head covering! You may feel somewhat overwhelmed at first at all the attention you get as a foreigner. Many have used their dupatta to cover their head to draw less attention to themselves or in other situations where a head covering is appropriate.
It's a towel! You'll be hard pressed to find many bathrooms equipped with hand towels. I'm often using the ends of dupatta to dry my hands.
It's a face mask! Whether its pollution, sand or lovely organic smells, you may be happy having something on hand to cover your nose and mouth at a moments notice!
It's a pillow cover! Personally I have a hard time putting my face on pillows or surfaces while traveling that aren't my personal property. My dupatta has oft come in handy on a train or bus ride for that little added feeling of comfort.
It's warm! Believe it or not - a lot of places in India actually feel like winter during the winter!! I wear a dupatta like a Western scarf when the temperature dips, and even a lightweight option provides added warmth.