India What to Pack

 
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Most Viewed What to Pack in India

76.

General List   Delhi

General List, Delhi

 14 Reviews  Hair shampoo and conditioner - water in Delhi may be safe but just as you do your final rinse, your hair can get so stiff. So stiff that sliding your palm over may be painful to your scalp. So bring... 

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77.

What you need to pack in   Hyderabad

What you need to pack in, Hyderabad

 4 Reviews  Well - You would get all the things in hyderabad. But for the sight viewing - I would suggest to carry water bottles & tissues rest in your hotel :) Cotton Clothes, comfort shoe or slippers & a... 

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78.

Photo Equipment   Delhi

Photo Equipment, Delhi

 2 Reviews  In summer it gets pretty hot thru most of India, so get clothes to see you thru the hot and sometimes humid weather. Floaters/ sandals etc would work well for footwear-in summer. In winter, it gets... 

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Water cleaning Xinix

by Maline

One great idea is to bring a water-cleanser with you on your trip. Sometimes if you buy bottled water, you can see the seal has been broken, and that probably means that the bottle is re-cycled and re-filled with tap water or the likes. Sometimes, maybe you have to drink the tap water or water from an unclean container. I was recommended this by a person in the development aid business. You can ask for a water-cleanser at larger pharmacies. Add a few drops to any liquid and wait a minute, then you can drink it. Excellent. Ours was called Xinix.We werent sick once!!When we were offered beverages from other people, I explained the Xinix to be because of an undescibable allergy of mine. Didnt want to insult people by implying their drinks were not clean enough. Maybe they were, but we didnt want to risk anything.

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Something to read?

by BluBluBlu

If you want to read some books based in India either before, during or after your trip I'd reccomend the following...factual or fiction...heres a few I've enjoyed:William Sutcliffe - 'Are you experienced?'Clive James - 'The Silver Castle'Dominique Lapiere - 'City of Joy'William Dalrymple - 'The age of Kali'Ashok K. Banker - 'Prince of Ayodhya'Sarah McDonald - 'Holy Cow'

Bits & Bobs...

by BluBluBlu

Bring a sheet sleeping bag in case a guesthouses bed linning looks dodgy! Don't bother packing mossie nets...buy in India. Bring a decent padlock and chain...the chain can be used to secure your luggage on trains etc. Padlocks are a must in cheaper places as they have a hasp & bolt sytem on room doors...I've always used a BS Combination lock...and so far...its worked! A portable washing line & pegs are always useful...but I used the local laundrys a lot too. A universal sink plug is a must...and do remember to pick it up every time you move on!

Arrive naked!

by BluBluBlu

I'd suggest bring as little as possible...obviously underwear, a pair of decent shorts, a pair of cargo pants as those extra pockets come in handy! Several t-shirts, agood pair of walking shoes (trainers etc), and a pair of sandals. On my first trip I sent home half my clothes about 3 weeks into the trip as there was so much local stuff I wanted to buy!

Health

by BluBluBlu

Obviously get your jabs before you arrive in India. If you are going to take anti-malaria tablets, buy enough to start your course at home, but buy the rest when you arrive in India as they are a fraction of the cost in say the UK. Other than that I'd buy all other general medical needs once you have arrived...you'll get 100 Paracetamol tablets for the price of 10 at home! If you get an upset stomach its best to let your own system try to sort it out...give it a chance...and only take tablets if it does not get better after 2/3 days. If you do think you are ill there are excellent local Doctors in every town.

Comfy travel on buses and Trains

by funky_pigeon

We've been travelling around India for almost 4 months and the one thing that we have found to be really useful is... a couple of pillows. We picked these up in a Thailand supermarket and are small but in some of the guesthouses you would rather rest you head on these than their pillows.Also on the trains especially sleeper they create a little bit of comfort if you can't afford to travel AC and on the buses, they can take the jolt out of some of the bumps, if you are travelling on government transport.

Gifts for the Children

by tna

When you travel to India (or in fact most places in the third world) you will inevitably find yourself the subject of children street beggars. Before you leave, buy a packet of party baloons - they are cheap and light and easy to pack. When you go out on the streets, carry a few in your pockets. You can give them to children (many of whom, sadly, are stolen from the countryside to work for adult 'bosses' to whom they have to immediately turn over any money they get from begging). We've found that these 'gifts' make the children happy - they can find endless things to do with them for play. Their 'bosses' might not be happy but at least you've brightened up an otherwise miserable day for the child.

Bring Electric adapter . India has 220 V of power

by miguelle_guisson

A good rucksack is important . Cotton is preferred, buy clothes in India . Indian clothes are famous specially Silk Sari, Shawls & other Handicraft. All are availabe in India. Something in particualr to your health specification must be brought along.Also brong your own face cream, as Indian cosmetic is made as per Indian skin soecifications ( with differetn Ph balance ) You can buy in India, its cheap & good quality. Pack loads of Smile, Patience & the optimism that India is different. What is most important in India if you want to experience real India is to go to loacl places, go to villages, mingle with vilagers, this will give you the real taste & enjoyment of India.

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What every VTer needs...

by polardabar

- rainproof cover for the backpack- rucksack- luggage ID tags - around-the-neck wallet or a belt for your documents, money aso.- sleeping bag + under mat- cover / blanket (very useful in trains & buses)- hiking boots - soap box- thin towel- wet tissues / toilet paper (although not to be used in most of Indian toilets!)- hygiene products (of course, you can always buy those, but the quality's not the same)- insect repellent- home-made first aid kit (bandages, spray, safety pins aso.)- medicines, vitamins- water filter / water purifications tablets - camera + film / memory card + batteries - tent (depends on how you're travelling, of course)- mosquito net (for the whole SE Asia, I guess)- bathing shorts / suit- flip-flops - cup, spoon, fork- (combination) lock, chain, rope- Swiss knife- voltage & plug adapters- maps, books, guides, dictionaries- pen & paper / notebook- address book +...

Pack light

by planxty

I used a rucksack (65 litres), although a roll-along bag would do equally well. For the vast majority of India and in the majority of seasons, very light and loose clothing is the order of the day, as it can be extremely hot. I adopted the local practice of wearing a lunghi, which is like a sarong, having been taught how to tie it by an Indian gentleman. It proved to be comfortable and cool. Don't take too many clothes as you will undoubtedly wish to buy some of the excellent and inexpensive clothing on sale there.For shoes, open sandals or training shoes are best. There is no need for boots unless you are specifically hiking in the highlands.Darjeeling can be cold in the evenings so bring warm clothing if you visit that region. Although I was lucky enough not to suffer from it, diarrhoea medication is essential as most travellers are affected at some stage.A good sunscreen is advised,...

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Questions and Answers

mosaka profile photo

Q:  Hello folks, I am thinking to travel to India from July 28-Aug 28 2012. It includes both north and south India. I heard about... 

anilpradhanshillong profile photo

A: 1. If you limit your travels to the plains of India during Jul 28-Aug 28, 2012, you'll experience high humidity, heat and quite a few showers. As it is, South India is... 

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