General List, Delhi

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Luggage and bags: It is advisable not to pack too many things, as it is impossible not to buy things in India. In fact the most reluctant and miserly shoppers succumb within the first few days unless they are held back. Just carry things that can be used up and thrown out at the end (creams, shampoos etc.) Though a lot of variety is available in the big cities.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Can also be stitched and copied in one day, using fabric bought by the meter, which is readily available. Socks are essential if you plan to visit temples or places of worship as you are not allowed to wear shoes inside these places . There is an inexhaustible choice of comfortable, good looking cheap sandals in Delhi.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Few pills for fever, aches, cough and cold will save most disasters and for jippy tummy known as Delhi belly in India. Most of the hotels have doctors on call, but if you plan to go off a beaten tract, it is worth considering taking a course for malaria, antiseptic cream, few dressings, insect bite cream. It is advisable and essential to take right injections before visiting India. A full course against typhoid, tetanus, cholera and hepatitis.

Medical services are available in almost all the good hotels, but in case you need medical attention in Delhi,
East West Medical Centre,
38, Golf Links Road, New Delhi 110 001, India

Photo Equipment: A camera, with ample roll of films (good quality films are available in the big cities), a pair of binoculars, which can help with looking closer at birds, wildlife and detailed carving on buildings. Electrical gadgets work on "220 V".

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: For daily travelling, must consist of a hand towel, a small bar of soap, a toilet roll, face tissue or handkerchiefs and a bottle for water.

Miscellaneous: Travel Insurance - Is a good idea to make a small payment to cover against theft, loss and medical problems.

Luggage and bags: Backpack and daily pack, added with useful tiny maps and mineral water can

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: cotton tee-shirt and comfy trousers and trainers plus cotton socks

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: toilet paper is truely necessary! wet tissues also useful.

Photo Equipment: three pins for battery charger, so added with adaptor to whose using two pins for electricity

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: flip flop to more comfy trip in clean places

Miscellaneous: do not forget to bring sarung, even you have basketball cap to cover your head and face. on summer, pretty high temperature, so you feel more comfy to wrap sarung around :) as i did ;)

Luggage and bags: A BIG suitcase - with lots of empty space!!! I never have enough space......

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: End of March/April was HOT even for one as unfrazzled by the heat as me. Then came my second visit in what should have been the cooler monsoon season of July/August 2002. Instead, Delhi was hit with a drought. Anyway, this is the stuff I can't live without and I am glad I brought: electrolyte powder (read: Pocari Sweat powder!), oil-free moisturiser, eye-drops (and on the road the air is dry and dusty), Vitamin C, tea-tree oil (a cooling anti-biotic and anti-fungal), cotton underwear, cotton socks, my Nikes and my sandals, and cotton handkerchief to mop brow ;) .

I heard about not wearing perfume as it is supposed to attract mosquitos... However, when I first visited in March/April I did not wear perfume and was bitten several times. Second visit in July, I was behaving just as I would at home i.e. I wearing my perfume, usual sleaveless tops etc. and didn't get bitten.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Malaria: How is it that the middle-class (Indians and foreigners) do not fall sick as they go about with normal modern lives, while generally only the poor do? My theory is that fears of malaria etc. are not relevant to those who are healthy and staying in this city. If you should fall sick, you are in the right place in any case.

Miscellaneous: Basically just brought stuff that makes me happy and refreshed. Anything else you may need you can get here!

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: comfortable light clothes... it's really hot and humid most of the year - very humid in August. If you are going to visit a mosque, bring something other than thank tops and shorts/miniskirts

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: imodium: chances are high that you are going to need it - no matter how careful you are about what you eat

Miscellaneous: bring a scarf or something to cover your head in case you visit a sikh temple

Luggage and bags: Bring a backpack when you want to go sightseeing and when you want to see more of India. Bring a suitcase when you do a business or luxurytravel.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Bring clothes that are light, but have long sleeves. Bring a sweather too, because the evenings can be cold. Take a good pair of slippers and walking shoes with you.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Bring along suncream, anti mosquito cream, mosquitonet (when you stay at very cheap hotels or hostels the mosquitos may get in your room)

Photo Equipment: Film for your camera is available, but watch the expire dates carefully. You better get your film developed at home, though there are some quality stores to be found.

Luggage and bags: Carry any kind of luggage you want. If you cannot carry your own bags due to weight, there will be someone who can do it for you! As with most developing countries, labour in India is cheap. Most bus stations and railway stations have porters to help you with your luggage. Decide beforehand what the prive should be, as (like most poor countries) these guys tend to mark up the price about 200% when they see a foreigner.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Clothing should ideally be light - cotton is ideal for most of the year - and shorts and sandals are the order of the day for the summer.

If you're female, your shorts better be long enough (at least to just above the knee).

Shoes - obviously comfortable ones are best.

Summer - light clothes that let your skin breathe
Monsoon - gets very strong in some parts of India, and appropriate clothing may be required.
Winter - North India can get pretty cold. It's best to pack for a North Indian winter (and especially if you're hitting the mountains) as you would for climbing the Matterhorn!

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: For those of you with fair skin, please bring along boxes of sunscreen. The Indian sun is harsh and merciless for most of the year [that's why we all look well done! :-)]
malaria pills, vaccinations for cholera, tuberculosis, hepatitis, etc., are good though not essential.

Photo Equipment: Everything is available here from the trendy cameras to repair shops for the same. Use only Duracell or Energiser batteries, especially if your camera soaks up battery power.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: Leave your swimsuits at home! India is just the place to get that all-over tan! :-)

Luggage and bags: Life is quite normal over here, thus the usual consderations apply. Travel can sometimes cause luggage to be handled roughly specially if you hire coolies, so it should be hardy to withstand moderate rough handling.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: In summers you would want to take off even whatever you have on. Rains are scant while winters are moderate. If coming in winters as far as weather is concerned just get a pullover or a shawl.

You can get off with shorts and t-shirts and sandals for the most of your travel. Even if you plan to visit some formal places 'smart casuals' is about the formal which Delhi gets.

Women may like to consider buying local 'salwaar kamaeez' (even jeans / pants with a normal shirt is quite ok 'salwar kameez' would help more to merge in with the locals) and may like to avoid over revealing dresses at crowded places like old-city markets and in public transport (buses). However, if someone enjoys being leched at these recommendations are invalid.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: If you have some special requirements, chances are you would be able to shop for them in Delhi too. So just carry the way you regularly do. If you forget something you can buy here. If there is some really unique requirement you would know better.

Photo Equipment: You get all kind of rolls here. APS is not popular as yet.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: No beaches here. There are some water parks. You can keep swimming costume. How much space does it take??

Miscellaneous: Oh I am a proponent of travelling light. 2 pairs of clothes, some toileteries and lots of money. Hah! no Delhi is not expensive unless you want to make it. You can live off as little as 30 USD per day comfortably.

Luggage and bags: A rucksak is good, but make sure it's comfy to carry.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Don't take lots of clothes! It is easy and cheap to buy clothes. A good pair of old walking shoes and a pair of open shoes does help.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: As I didn't pack many clothes and my bag seemed really empty...I filled it up with a few rolls of toilet paper. Not only is it put to good use (Delhi belly), but it's gradually used up and by the end of the trip you have a whole lot of extra space in your bag for presents and things you've bought along the way.
Take a small first aid kit, but there are pharmacies where most things can be purchased (except for tampons if you're a lady...take some of those!)

Photo Equipment: Films are easy to buy...make sure though that they haven't been in a shop window in the sun all day, and also check the expiry date.