The Packing List you Need for India

Share this ARTICLE

Share on facebook
Share on whatsapp
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on pinterest
Share on telegram
Share on email

Clothes, shoes, electronics, medicine…packing for a foreign country can be overwhelming, especially when your destination is one that’s culture is vastly different from your own. Traveling to India and not sure what to include in your luggage? Make sure you don’t leave without going through this list of essentials.

Backpack vs. Suitcase

Depending on what type of traveler you are, you may prefer a suitcase over a travel backpack as it can be easier to transport in some cases and less frustrating to pack. However, if you’re planning on spending a few weeks or more in India, backpacks are a better option as you never know what type of terrain you’ll need to traverse in order to reach your accommodation. Backpacks are also way easier to manage when boarding a crowded train. Busy roads packed with motorbikes, tuk tuks, and cows are no place for a rolling suitcase. Invest in a backpack (Osprey is a great brand to consider and REI Outlet sells their packs at discounted prices) and you’ll have one less thing to stress about when hopping from place to place.

Photo by J A N U P R A S A D on Unsplash

Water purification device/tablets

In a country such as India, it’s best to create the least amount of waste possible. That means avoiding purchasing plastic water bottles when you want to stay hydrated. Instead, pack a reusable bottle and invest in a SteriPen, or purchase enough water purification tablets to last your trip. A SteriPen uses UV rays to safely sterilize up to 32 fl. oz. of water in 90 seconds. This means you can fill your bottle anywhere (even from a stream in the Himalayas) and it will be safe to drink immediately. Water purification tablets include either chlorine, chlorine dioxide, or iodine. These are a cheaper option for water sterilization, although after the tablets have dissolved the water must sit for at least 30 minutes before it is safe to drink. SteriPens and purification tablets can be found on Amazon or at your local outdoor gear store.

Medications

Consult your doctor about what vaccinations you’ll need before traveling to India to prevent illnesses like hepatitis A and typhoid. Some diseases, such as malaria, can be prevented by taking prescription medication. There are some medications which need to be taken a certain number of days or weeks before you start traveling and others that must be taken daily for the entirety of your trip. Decide with your doctor which medications are best for you and when you need to be taking them.
To further prevent ‘Delhi belly’ or an illness of similar nature, bring along some echinacea pills and activated charcoal tablets. Echinacea is a plant that, when ingested, helps to strengthen the immune system and fight infections. Activated charcoal helps rid the body of toxins and can be taken if you feel a stomach bug coming on or have already gotten sick. 
Pack all of your medications into a small, compact travel bag to keep track of and avoid losing them.

Toiletries

It’s easy to find essentials like shampoo, conditioner, and toothpaste when you’re in a large town or city in India, so don’t worry about packing enough to last your entire trip. However, if you’re avoiding large cities and staying somewhere more remote, make sure you pack some travel sized bottles beforehand. Make sure you bring along some of your favorite sunscreen as the sun in India can be very strong!

Photo by Martin Adams on Unsplash

Clothing and Shoes

This is a big one. Most clothes for traveling around India can be purchased once you arrive in the country. Extremely affordable clothing can be bought from local shops. If you have the time, purchasing fabric at a market and having kurtas and trousers tailored specially for you is very inexpensive. The benefit to wearing these types of clothes as opposed to tank tops, shorts, and sundresses is that you’ll be taken more seriously as a western tourist, which can go a long way when bargaining, avoiding scams, and entering some religious spaces. Scarves to cover your shoulders when visiting mosques and temples can also be purchased when you arrive. For the first few days of your trip though, before you have time or energy to venture out for some shopping, all you need are a few lightweight shirts and long pants. These can be leggings, jeans (though not in the heat), or flowy cotton trousers. Long skirts are also okay, but make sure they fall past your knees. If you are traveling to a cooler state in the north, or during a winter month in which even the Delhi air can feel a bit chilly at night, a single pullover sweater and socks will suffice.
In regard to shoes, keep it simple, and definitely don’t get fancy. Nice shoes are bound to get dirty. Chacos or Tevas are perfect options because of their durability and easiness to clean. If these aren’t your style, you’ll be fine with a pair of sandals. You may also like to pack a pair of lightweight and breathable sneakers.

A few books or a Kindle

If you’re the type of traveler who likes to save on transportation, you’ll no doubt have to keep yourself occupied during long train and bus journeys. A couple of books should do the trick in these situations, but be mindful as books tend to be heavier items and will weigh down your pack. Alternatively, you can ditch the hard copies and instead bring along something like a Kindle or Amazon Fire for an endless amount of books right at your fingertips.
Something else to consider for long journeys and downtime is a journal. Traveling in India is often hectic but beautiful. You’ll have a lot of experiences and get to visit incredible places that you won’t want to forget. Writing about your day-to-day adventures is something you’ll be glad you did when you want to reminisce and look back on your trip.

Photo by Tiago Rosado on Unsplash

Some extras

  • Purchase a power adapter before traveling so you’re not scrambling around the airport trying to find one when you arrive.
  • Hand sanitizer is important to carry around to avoid getting sick, and also to ensure cleanliness after using a non-western toilet.
  • Earplugs and melatonin may be helpful to have on long train rides and while staying in loud, busy cities. 
  • Females, consider which feminine hygiene products you’ll want to use while traveling. Tampons aren’t sold everywhere in India so you may want to bring your own if you prefer them over pads. Menstrual cups are great alternatives and solve the issue of finding a place to dispose of your products.

Cover Photo by Ibrahim Rifath on Unsplash

Share this ARTICLE

Share on facebook
Share on whatsapp
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on pinterest
Share on telegram
Share on email

Enter email and new password

By continuing you agree to our Terms and Policy

The Tiplr Travel Groups on Facebook

The community of smart travelers is real and ready to help you travel smart. We are active on several specific Facebook groups. Join us now yo get direct travel tips about the most exciting destinations

Oh there you are!

Login via Instagram will be removed soon

If you previously created your Tiplr account using Instagram, we kindly request that you change your login access using one of the options below, in order to keep using your Tiplr account with all of your data and tips. Thanks!
Have an account using Instagram? Login here

OR

By continuing you agree to our Terms and Policy

Contest Official Rules

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. Void where prohibited by law. Subject to all federal, state and local laws. Contest begins at 12:01 a.m. US Eastern Time (“ET”) on 5/8/2018 and ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on 7/31/2018. (the “Contest Period”). Sponsor’s computer is the official time keeping device for this Contest.

1. Eligibility: The Tiplr’s Best Travel Tip Award (the “Contest”) is open to all the users of the digital platform Tiplr who are 21 years of age or older as of time of entry. Employees, officers, and directors of Tiplr, Inc., and any of their respective parents, subsidiaries, divisions, affiliated companies, dealers, sales representatives, licensees, service agencies, independent contractors, advertising and promotion agencies, web hosting and service and fulfillment providers (all of the foregoing, collectively, “Contest Entities”), and their immediate family members (spouse, parent, child, sibling and their respective spouses) and those living in the same household of each (whether legally related or not), are ineligible to enter or win the Contest. Participation constitutes entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to these Official Rules and to Sponsor’s decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Contest. Winning the prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein. Sponsor reserves the right to verify the eligibility of the Grand Prize winner.

2. Sponsor: The Sponsor is Tiplr, Inc., 195 Plymouth St. Brooklyn, NY 11201

3. How to Enter: There is NO PURCHASE NECESSARY to participate. A purchase does not increase your chances of winning. There is one (1) way to enter the Contest:

Via microsite: To enter, visit https://tiplr.co/award, complete all required fields of the onscreen registration form and follow the instructions to receive one (1) entry into the Contest. Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. ET on 7/31/2018 to be included in the Best Travel Tip contest.

By entering, you agree to receive emails and join the newsletter lists of Sponsor. No information regarding entries, other than as otherwise set forth in these Official Rules, will be disclosed. Limit one (1) entry per person/email address per method of entry. Any attempt by any entrant to obtain more than the stated number of entries by using multiple/different email addresses, identities, registrations and logins, or any other methods will void such entries and that entrant may be disqualified. Use of any automated or computer system to participate is prohibited and will result in disqualification. Normal Internet access and usage charges imposed by your online service may apply. If entering via mobile device, normal phone/data and usage charges imposed by your phone service may apply. Standard data rates may apply if entering via mobile device.

Incomplete, corrupted, or untimely entries are void and will be disqualified. Sponsor and its agencies are not responsible for late, illegible, incomplete, or misdirected entries; lost, interrupted, or unavailable network, server, or other connections; or miscommunications, computer or software malfunctions, telephone transmission problems, technical failures, garbled transmissions, damage to a user’s computer equipment (software or hardware), or other errors or malfunctions of any kind, whether human, mechanical, electronic or otherwise. Proof of submission will not be deemed to be proof of receipt by Sponsor. In the event of a dispute as to the identity of an entrant, the authorized account holder of the email address used to enter will be deemed to be the entrant. The “authorized account holder” is the natural person assigned an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider, Internet service provider, or other organization (which may include an employer) responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted address. Potential Grand Prize Winner may be required to show proof of being the authorized account holder. Entries specifying an invalid, non-working, or inactive email address will be disqualified and ineligible to win.

4. Selection of Grand Prize Winner and Winner Notification: One (1) Grand Prize Winner (“Grand Prize Winner”) will be assigned to the “Best Travel Tip” created on the platform Tiplr (website or iOS app) and the winner will be defined on writing and other skills basis by a panel of judges selected by Sponsor and communicate via email or web channels before the end of 2018 . The potential Grand Prize Winner will be selected from the Travel tips submitted by contest participants on Tiplr during the Contest Period. The potential Grand Prize Winner will be notified via e-mail to the e-mail address provided on the contest entry form. Potential Grand Prize Winner must respond to the email within 48 hours of notification attempt or prize will be forfeited and an alternate Grand Prize Winner will be selected and notified. Once the potential winner has responded, Sponsor will send, via email, an Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability/Publicity Release which must be executed and returned within 5 days. The contest will be conducted by Sponsor, whose decisions on all matters relating to the Contest shall be final and binding. At the sole discretion of the Sponsor, disqualification, forfeiture and the selection of an alternate Grand Prize Winner may result from any of the following: (1) a potential Grand Prize Winner’s failure to respond to any email notification by the deadline stated within the notification; (2) the return of an email notification as undeliverable after three (3) attempts; (3) potential Grand Prize Winner’s failure to provide Sponsor with satisfactory proof of age, identity and residency; (4) potential Grand Prize Winner’s failure to confirm address and validly claim the prize by the deadline stated within the notification; (5) the potential Grand Prize Winner’s failure to execute and return an Affidavit of Eligibility/Liability/Publicity Release by the deadline stated within the notification; and (6) any other non-compliance with the Official Rules. In the event of prize forfeiture, the Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, award or not award the forfeited prize to an alternate Grand Prize Winner. Prize will be awarded, provided that it is validly claimed within a week from the announcement, after which no alternate Grand Prize Winner will be selected, nor will an unclaimed prize be awarded. Potential Grand Prize Winner is subject to verification by Sponsor, whose decisions are final and BINDING IN ALL MATTERS RELATED TO THE CONTEST. An entrant is not the Grand Prize Winner of the prize unless and until entrant’s eligibility has been verified and entrant has been notified that verification is complete.

Tip’s Creation Guidelines

Tips must be in English (Quality of English will be evaluated and any tips in another language will not be accepted)
Each tip must be at least 150 words
Topic of tip must be travel
Each entrant must create at least 10 tips using their Tiplr account (But there is no limit to the number of tips created)
Each tip must have a good quality photo (When using the website, photos should be at least 800 pixels in width)
Best Tip’s Evaluation Criteria

Quality of text (i.e. well-written, in fluent English, unique/original, off the beaten path, avoids mainstream travel topics, etc.)
Authenticity of information provided
“Smartness” of tip
Title catchiness
Picture quality
Ability to select the proper category and location for each tip

5. Grand Prize is a Gift card valued at $1,000 (USD) and it will be delivered to the winner via regular mail or digitally.

Prize Restrictions: Prize cannot be substituted, assigned, transferred, or redeemed for cash; however, Sponsor reserves the right to make equivalent prize substitution at its sole discretion if any advertised prize (or portion of prize) becomes unavailable. Grand Prize Winner is responsible for any loss of prize or portion of prize after it has been delivered. Sponsor will not replace any lost or stolen prize. Any and all applicable federal, state, and local taxes and all fees and expenses related to acceptance and use of prize not specifically stated herein are the sole responsibility of the Grand Prize Winner.

6. General Conditions: By entering or participating in the Contest, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules, and by the decisions of Sponsor, which are final and binding in all respects. Contest Entities are not responsible for: (1) any incorrect or inaccurate information or technical failures of any kind, (2) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Contest; or (3) any other computer, network, technical, human or other error, problem or malfunction that may occur in connection with the administration of the Contest, the processing of entries, or the selection or notification of Grand Prize winner. Further, if, for any reason, the Contest is not capable of running as planned for reasons outside the control of the Sponsor which, in the sole opinion of Sponsor, may corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the Contest (or portion thereof), Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest (or portion thereof) and in the event of cancellation, the prize will be awarded in a random drawing from among all eligible entries received prior to cancellation. Sponsor also reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify the entry of any individual found to be (a) tampering or attempting to tamper with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or any website operated by the Contest Entities; (b) using any robotic, macro, automatic, programmed or like entry methods, which will void all such entries; (c) violating these Official Rules or the terms of service, conditions of use, and/or general rules of any Sponsor property or service; or (d) acting in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any other person. Contest Entities are not responsible for claims, injuries, losses or damages of any kind resulting, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the awarding, delivery, acceptance, use, misuse, possession, loss or misdirection of the prize; participation in this Contest or in any activity or travel related thereto or from any interaction with, or downloading of, computer Contest information.

7. Release and Limitations of Liability: By entering, each entrant agrees to defend, indemnify, release and hold harmless Contest Entities from and against any and all losses, demands, damages, rights, claims, actions and liabilities of any kind arising out of or related to (i) entrant’s participation in the Contest or (ii) entrant’s participation in any prize-related activities (including, without limitation, any property loss, damage, personal injury or death caused to any person(s). The Grand Prize Winner and travel companion(s) assume all liability for any injury, death, or damage caused, or allegedly caused, by participating in this Contest or use or redemption of the prize. Any disputes that may arise hereunder shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York without regard to the conflicts of laws principles of any jurisdiction. Venue with respect to any such disputes shall be had in the state and federal courts of the State of New York. All taxes are the responsibility of the Grand Prize Winner, who may receive an IRS Form 1099 reflecting the final actual value of the prize, if applicable.

Entrants, by participating, agree that the Contest Entities, and all of their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents will have no liability whatsoever for, and shall be held harmless by entrants against, any liability, for any injuries, losses or damages of any kind, including death, to persons, or property resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from acceptance, possession, misuse or use of a prize or participation in this Contest.

8. Publicity. As a condition of entry into the Contest, except where prohibited by law, each entrant and potential Grand Prize Winner by accepting the prize grants to the Contest Entities, a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free license and right, to publicize, broadcast, display and/or otherwise use the Contest entrant’s name, city, state, biographical material and Instagram handle in any media now known or hereafter devised throughout the world in perpetuity for advertising and publicity purposes, without additional review, compensation, permission or approval of Grand Prize Winner.

9. Disputes: Except where prohibited, entrant agrees that: (1) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest or prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the United States District Court for the District of New York or the appropriate State Court located in New York; (2) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering this Contest, but in no event attorneys’ fees; and (3) under no circumstances will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim, indirect, punitive, incidental and consequential damages and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of the entrant and Sponsor in connection with the Contest, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction), which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York.

10. Privacy: The personal information collected through this Contest is subject to Tiplr, Inc. Policy, located: https://tiplr.com/privacy-policy

11. Official Rules and Winner List: To obtain a copy of these Official Rules or for Grand Prize Winner list requests, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: “Tiplr, Inc. 195 Plymouth St. Brooklyn, NY 11201”. Requests for Grand Prize Winner lists must be received no later than three months after the end of the Contest Period.

The information you provide will only be used in connection with this Contest or in connection with promotional or other activities of Tiplr, Inc.

The Tiplr Travel Groups on Facebook

The community of smart travelers is real and ready to help you travel smart. We are active on several specific Facebook groups. Join us now yo get direct travel tips about the most exciting destinations

Oh there you are!

Login via Instagram will be removed soon

If you previously created your Tiplr account using Instagram, we kindly request that you change your login access using one of the options below, in order to keep using your Tiplr account with all of your data and tips. Thanks!
Have an account using Instagram? Login here

OR

By continuing you agree to our Terms and Policy