Here's a sneak peak into our complete India packing list. Including what to pack for India in summer and winter to help you have an amazing trip!
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Knowing how to pack for India is actually a pretty tough task, and one that we first struggled with.
There are all kinds of questions probably racing through your head, such as …
“What can I wear in India as a woman tourist?”
“Is there a dress code in India for tourists?”
“Can males and females wear shorts in India?”
Their relatively strict and reserved religious culture means that the dress code in India certainly won't be quite as laid back as it is in the western world.
You also need to take into account other important things such as the time of year and the many diverse climates that India has.
To help put your mind at ease and help you know exactly what to pack for India, I’ve gone ahead and put together the ultimate India packing list.
Here are 3 key things you need to first be aware of before you start packing your bags and heading off abroad for an epic trip across India.
1. Religion in India
Just like Bali, and many other places throughout Asia, the dominant religion in India is Hinduism, with roughly 80% of the population claiming to be so.
People tend to dress more conservatively than in western countries, though they are certainly not the strictest of religions.
Yes, you will typically see women covering up more of their bodies (particularly their legs) but they do still have skin on show.
Many women have parts of their back open and many locals even have parts of their cleavage and stomachs showing, no matter what age they are.
Religion and dress code in India becomes more important when visiting religious sites.
Here, it is more respectful if you have some way to cover up.
Cazzy always carries some sort of light shawl with her so she can cover up the rest of her arms if required.
She typically always had on a long, light dress that covered up more than enough and didn’t offend.
On a side note, if you are a female tourist in India, then you will get stared at a LOT by locals, particularly the men.
As she's from Ireland, Cazzy is naturally very white and really stands out.
So if you have a lot of skin on show then you are just encouraging more people to stare at you in an uncomfortable manner.
2. Geography of India
India is HUGE!
It’s more than 3 million square kilometres and home to more than 1.3 billion people; roughly 13 times the size of the UK.
As such, you can expect it to have an incredibly varied climate depending on which part of the country you visit.
On our visit, we went as far south as Goa and as far north as Delhi & Agra, so were able to experience many of the changes.
As a very rough guide, the further north you get, it tends to get a little cooler, whereas Goa in the south is much hotter.
This is a VERY rough idea and not totally accurate as your experiences of temperature and rainfall will vary depending on how far east and west you are.
For a much deeper understanding of the expected temperatures and climate in the parts you plan on visiting, check out this website.
3. Seasons in India
India has 4 seasons:
Winter - January to February
Summer - March to May
Monsoon - June to September
Post-monsoon - October to December
Again, these will vary depending on which part of the country you are in, but are the typical overarching months.
In the south it was definitely hotter, with many days being in the low 30s or high 20s, and by the time we were in Delhi it was typically in the mid-20s.
The most popular months to visit India are November to February and it’s not surprising as the weather is much more manageable across the board.
This will be plenty big enough to pack everything you need, plus more.
Our visit to India formed part of a much larger 3 month backpacking adventure through Sri Lanka and Nepal, and our bags were perfect for holding everything we needed for our entire trip.
Of course, everyone’s trip is different, so when selecting the best backpack for India (if you haven’t already), consider this:
How long will your total backpacking trip be?
What sorts of activities do you plan on doing in India?
Will you be backpacking India on your own or with someone else?
Choosing a larger backpack
I’ve had the same backpack now for 4 years and it’s accompanied me on every backpacking adventure across more than 2 dozen different countries on 4 continents.
It’s made by Osprey who are the go-to choice for the majority of backpackers.
We see them used everywhere and it’s really unsurprising why.
They are fantastic quality, lightweight, strong and look great.
I’ve even sewn badges into the sides of mine for every country we visit and it hasn’t ruined the integrity at all.
A day bag is an essential travel item for India for 2 reasons.
Most obviously because you’ll need it when out exploring individual areas during the day.
But a great day bag is also essential for helping you to keep valuable items close to you when moving between destinations.
For example, when taking long bus or boat journeys between places, we like to store our expensive equipment, like laptops and cameras, in these bags so they are always closer by.
When choosing which day bag is great for you, consider things like:
Will you be doing a lot of vigorous activities? Like hiking
Do you need special compartments for your own travel tech?
My day bag is slightly smaller but best suited for day trips and hiking; it’s plenty big enough for both Cazzy and my own needs.
Cazzy’s day bag is purpose built to carry laptops and has more space.
A male India packing list should ideally be made up of light, loose fitting clothes.
For the majority of the places you visit in India, it’s going to be hot and humid, so heavy clothes are just going to leave you feeling exhausted.
That being said, the night-times can have cold weather once the sun goes in, so it’s worth having one pair of jeans and a hoodie with you as a minimum.
Here’s a look at what I packed for India.
2 pairs of swim trunks
1 pair of jorts
1 pair of jeans
1 hoody
5 t-shirts
1 evening shirt - For those nicer restaurants
2 tank tops
1 lightweight rain jacket - If you visit during the monsoon season (June to December) then make sure you have one of these!
1 pair of flip flops - I wore my Reef flip flops wherever possible in India, I love them as they are incredibly robust and well suited for longer walks
5 pairs of trainer socks
1 cap - Essential in helping to keep the hot, mid-day sun off your face
1 pair of sunglasses - You can pick these up really cheap in most parts of India
What to wear in India for women (from Cazzy)
When it comes to packing clothing for India as a woman, you’ll be happy to hear it isn’t overly complicated.
One thing I would note is that India is bursting with amazing clothing, so I would actually bring less, so that you can purchase some beautiful pieces whilst out there; such as long skirts, or one of a kind dresses and shoes!
1 shoulder scarf - These are light and airy and perfect for covering up when you’re at certain temples, like the Taj Mahal
1 pair of sunglasses
1 light rain jacket - I would base this on the season you’re visiting, so if you’re visiting in the dry season, you will not need this
1 pair of flip flops - Essential for the wearing on the beaches in India
4 t-shirts
2 pairs of shorts
1 swimming costume - I prefer swimming suits in India, just out of respect for local culture
3 sun dresses - A must see for when walking around different sites
1 pair of trainers - Bring just one pair of shoes for India; I recommend either Skechers or Tropicfeel. Any other shoes you need you can easily buy when in India
5 pairs of trainer socks
1 long skirt - Either bring one with you, or wait and buy one out in India because they’re beautifully made and very cheap!
1 pair of light cotton trousers - Great for the evenings in India or if you’re doing some light hiking
1 playsuit or jumpsuit - Perfect for jazzing up an outfit for the evening if you’re somewhere special
1 light jacket - Perfect for long train journeys, internal flights and if you pick up a sea breeze in the evening
Washing clothes in India
Getting your clothes washed in India is pretty easy, and you’ll find places to help you out in all major tourist areas.
In fact, the hostels and hotels themselves usually offer a cheap and easy service, and you can have your clothes back within a day.
First aid kit
For all of our travels, we always pack a straightforward first aid kit, just in case of minor emergencies. Here’s what we took with us to India:
Diarrhoea kit - Essential for India where many people suffer from the dreaded “Delhi Belly” which wasn’t an issue for us, yay!
If you don’t yet have a first aid kit, then you may want to consider picking one up like this. It contains many of the basics, and you can then add or replace certain items to suit your own needs. Think of it as a mini India survival kit; hopefully you’ll never need it, but it’s useful to know it’s there.
Toiletries
You can pick up any toiletries you need when in India, but the exact products you are used to back home might be hard to find or a lot more expensive than what they would usually be as they are imported.
That’s why one of my top India packing tips would be to buy a full set of your toiletries before you leave, and these should last you for at least a good few weeks of your trip.
I wouldn’t take much more than that as then you’re just asking for trouble with some sort of unwanted liquids explosion in your luggage!
Wash bag - Buy one (like this) that has a handle on it. Many bathrooms in Indian hotels and hostels are cramped with nowhere to set them, but having a handle makes your life a LOT easier!
2 x toothbrush
Toothpaste
2 toothbrush travel container
Men’s deodorant
Women’s deodorant
Shampoo & conditioner 2 in 1
Dry shampoo
Disposable razors
Shaving foam
Electric razor
Small perfume
Small aftershave
Toilet paper - It’s worth keeping a spare toilet roll on your when travelling through India, as many public toilets won’t have any
Travel Banking
When people sort out what to pack when travelling to India, they rarely give enough thought to how they’re actually going to get the best value for money when there.
Well, a key part of packing for India should include which travel cards you decide to take with you.
It’s also important to make sure that you have enough travel cards so that, just in case you lose one or have something stolen, then you have backups.
When we travel, we have 4.
2 live in my wallet
1 lives in my big rucksack
1 lives in Cazzy’s big rucksack or day bag
That way, if one bag goes missing, or my wallet gets stolen, then we have some way of withdrawing and spending money.
What are the best banks in India?
India is the only country we have visited where we have had issues withdrawing money.
Despite there being so many different banks, very few actually seemed to allow us to withdraw money, which ended up being an issue in Goa in particular.
I had to ride on the back of our hotel owners moped for about an hour, visiting every ATM in the area and finding none that would work!
Outside of Goa, the best and most reliable bank that we found for withdrawals was Bank of Baroda.
Which travel cards do we use?
Nowadays, there are so many great solutions out there that you need to find yourself an option with the best possible currency conversions and limited charges on ATM withdrawals.
We have trialled a number of different solutions over the years and the two favorites we have come down to are Monzo and Revolut.
We’ve used these guys since the start and, if you’re from the UK then I recommend these above all other options.
If you’re from the USA, then check their sites as they are both either live or set to launch very soon abroad.
For more information, check out this guide I put together: Monzo vs Revolut.
It also includes details about the other options available to you.
To get started with either of these, all you do is download the app, enter some basic details and order your free travel cards.
There are a number of key documents you will need to include as a part of your packing list for India; including ...
Passport
Wallet to hold important documents - This is one of my favourite travel tips and a great way to keep all important documents together and organised. Particularly important if your trip lasts a few months and there’s lots of pieces of paper that could easily get lost
Driving license and international driving permit - One of the best ways to get around in India is by moped, particularly when out and about exploring the areas around cities like Udaipur. To hire a moped (or a car) you’ll need your home driving license as well as an international driving permit. If you’re from the UK, then you can get this from The Post Office, be sure to sort it at least a few weeks before you’re set to depart.
Copy of your passport and travel insurance - It’s always useful to keep a photocopy of your passport and travel insurance on you when travelling
Copy of your vaccinations - When entering India, the officials may require you to show proof of having certain vaccinations. It all depends on which country you come from; but as we visit so many countries, we always keep a copy of this with us
Print out of your travel insurance - If ever you do have an accident and need medical treatment abroad, it's extremely useful to have a printed copy of your travel insurance, with detailed notes of what you are covered for and to what level
Travel insurance - You will definitely need travel insurance for India! For that matter, you should have travel insurance for any country. You never know what will go wrong and the cost of treatment without insurance can easily enter the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. If you’re from the US, then World Nomads is known for providing good value travel insurance with solid coverage. If you’re from the UK, then they are far too expensive and it’s best to start your search with a tool like Compare The Market. Be sure to check the terms & conditions before buying. For example, I could only find one insurer able to offer me insurance for trips of up to 90 days, most only cover you for trips up to 2 or 3 weeks.
Cameras & other tech
As mentioned earlier, we tend to take more travel tech with us than the average traveller.
Probably because we work whilst travelling and are always looking to create great content to share on the blog!
Here’s a look at the cameras and other equipment that we packed for India.
If you want to capture the best quality pictures possible in India, then a DSLR is what you need. When combined with a variety of lenses, you have the ability to create some epic shots, especially as your skills and understanding get better. Our skills with our DSLR are slowly getting better and we try to practice more and more as we go.
We used our Canon video camera everywhere we went in India, and it’s perfect for capturing really high quality pictures, video and sound no matter where you are. Best of all, it’s lightweight and far less bulky than a DSLR camera. So when we were out on day trips around places like Pushkar, with just a daybag, it was essential in capturing all the gorgeous photos you see on our India travel blog posts.
We’ve tried a few action cameras in recent years, but none compare to the GoPro Hero 8 which is a truly revolutionary and awesome piece of kit. In particular, the auto-stabilisation feature means that you can pick up smooth footage no matter what. It also has much-improved sound quality and is far less bulky than any other decent action cameras on the market. Back in 2018 we took our GPro Hero 4 Silver which was still not bad.
When we travelled to India in 2018, we did take our drone with us, however we didn’t use it. The reason was that it was illegal to fly them there without having the right permit. It appears that many of those restrictions have now lifted, so you may want to take yours with you and actually use it!
A smartphone is one of the number one best travel items no matter where you go. It’s an all-in-one camera, GPS device, clock and so much more! We use our smartphones for literally so much and it makes travel so much better. Just be sure to get yours unlocked before you fly to India. That way you can pick up a local sim and maintain data and cell connectivity no matter where you are.
We take our laptops with us wherever we travel as we are full time digital nomads. They definitely do take up a bit of space but are invaluable to us. If you are taking a laptop to India, be sure to pick up a slim, lightweight model such as the Asus Zenbook 13 inch which I use and is a truly incredible piece of kit.
With so many photos and videos being made on the go, an external hard drive is great for helping to free up space on the laptop and memory cards, whilst giving peace of mind that important files can be stored in two places. Also, for all those long journeys through India, we took a bunch of downloaded videos on our hard drive so that we could keep our short attention spans thoroughly entertained!
For storing all the epic pictures and videos you’re going to take of your time in India, you’re going to need some memory cards. Be sure to buy memory cards that are capable of storing footage in the quality that you intend to shoot in. They are certainly not all made equal; for example, many cannot handle 4k drone footage. SanDisk are our go-to brand and they have a massive range for you to choose from.
This is one of my all-time favourite packing list items. Why? Well, before we had this we were constantly dealing with memory cards getting lost or, worse, broken! A memory card hard case is purpose built for you to sort and store all of your memory cards safely and protect against unwanted damage when travelling so frequently.
This is an awesome piece of kit to take with you to India when out and about exploring each day. There’s nothing worse than a camera or phone dying halfway through the day and you not being able to use it. By having a power bank you can quickly charge it back up when on the go. Better yet, buy a solar powered one that you can clip onto the front of your bag; it will recharge for you throughout the day without you having to plug it in at night.
Though not strictly-speaking “tech”, it’s worth including this here as one of the best things to take to India. If you want to up your photography game, then a tripod is one of our number one travel photography tips. It stabilises your camera and allows you to pick up much higher quality shots, particularly if shooting moving objects. Better yet, if you want to get a picture of yourself then you can use a remote shutter or timer to capture a photo you want without having to trust someone else to take it for you.
In India, you’ll find that many of the websites and services you use back home may be blocked. A VPN is a great tool to have as it allows you to maintain access to all of these sites when abroad. Find out more here.
Staying healthy in India
Before visiting India, it is worth picking up a few key items to help make sure you stay safe.
In particular the biggest issues you could face in India include the incredibly hot sun, mosquitos and the dreaded “Delhi Belly”.
Antimalarials - Mosquitos are present in different parts of India at different times of the year. To find out if you are at risk during your visit, it’s best to visit your local travel doctor before leaving your home country.
Mosquito repellent spray - Bug spray is very useful for keeping all manner of bugs away in the evening. It can be expensive to buy in India, so best to pack it before you leave home.
Plug in mosquito deterrent - If you are particularly worried about mosquitos or other bugs getting you whilst you sleep, then a plug-in deterrent is a great way to keep the little blighters at bay. You simply plug it into the wall where it emits a high pitch noise, that you can’t hear but which the bugs can.
Sunscreen -Temperatures throughout India regularly exceed 30 and sometimes even 40 Degrees Celsius. It's important that you have suitable sunscreen to help protect you against the worst of the rays. It’s best to pick up a couple of bottles before you fly there as finding good quality sunscreen for a low price can be challenging when in India.
Diarrhoea kit - I already mentioned this earlier in the packing list but it’s well worth including again here. The risk of getting sick from eating food in India is relatively high, especially if eating cheaper food from local street vendors. We never suffered with this in India but we certainly did when in Thailand! Our diarrhoea kit was a vital piece of kit that helped us through.
TSA Approved Travel Padlock - Take at least one, so that you can keep your main rucksack safely secured whenever it’s not in your sight. Particularly useful for flights as well as bus and train journeys. Be sure to get a TSA approved travel lock.
Miscellaneous things to pack for India
Here’s a few other pieces of travel gear for India that you may want to add to your own packing list ...
Fold down coffee mug - If you love your coffee (like Cazzy!) then having your own mug is a great way to take coffee on the go and cut back on using paper cups. A fold down one is best as it allows you to pack it away in your bag with minimum space being used.
Multivitamins - We like to take these travelling with us, just to make sure we get our necessary amount of vitamins and minerals each day. It’s definitely one of the best things to take travelling to India, as you may find that you end up eating much of the same food every day which doesn’t necessarily give you all you need.
International Travel Adaptor - In India you will find 3 types of adaptors: Type C, Type D & Type M. My best advice would be to pick up an international travel adaptor which will have you covered for all future backpacking destinations.
Pin to open sim card hole in phone - By getting a local sim card in India, you can stay connected to data no matter where you are. But to change your sim you’ll ideally need one of the special tools to open the socket where they are held in your phone. I always keep a metal one in my wallet that is useful all around the world.
Dry bag - If you plan on heading out onto the water in India, then a dry bag is useful for keeping your stuff safe and dry.
Quick drying towel - There is no need to take a large towel with you to India as all hotels seem to offer them inclusive with your stay. Of course, if you’re staying in hostels then you’ll need your own, but a quick drying towel is still best. You can use it for day trips when out and about and it can dry quickly on the end of your bed when not in use.
Hand sanitiser - It’s a good idea to clean your hands regularly and before eating so as to avoid getting unnecessarily sick
What NOT to pack for India!
Here’s a few things that you should not add to your India packing list ...
Water purifier - The only time you’ll need one of these is if you plan to go off hiking in the wilderness. Everywhere else you can pick up bottled water that is perfectly safe for you to drink.
Sleeping bag - Again, only necessary for camping, and not needed for staying in hostels.
Tonnes of clothes - India is one of the best countries in the world for picking up cheap clothes. Best of all, they are of great quality. Cazzy picked up a few dresses in Jodhpur that she still uses more than 2 years on; they look fantastic and cost less than $4 each. You can also pick up knock-off branded products that are the same quality as the real thing but at a fraction of a price. I bought a new wallet in Jaipur and it’s still going strong more than 2 years later. These markets are located in most major cities.
Lots of valuables - Theft can be common in India, especially if strolling through busy cities like Mumbai with cameras, money and jewellery on show. Instead, only take what you really need.
Other items to add to your India packing list
Here’s a few other awesome things to pack for your India trip that we didn’t take personally, but you may want to.
Binoculars - If you plan on going on safari anywhere and trying to spot wildlife, then be sure to pack some binoculars.
Travel pillow - Great for all those long bus and train journeys throughout India. Personally, we don’t take these as they’re just too bulky and take up more space than we think they’re worth.
Packing cubes - We WISH we had taken these to India!
Physical books/travel guides - To help save space, you can pick up downloadable travel guides from Lonely Planet and Rough Guides and access these through your phone. Or, if you do like physical guide books then you’ll find that most hostels and hotels have a copy of these that you can borrow and read.
Ear plugs - If you’re a light sleeper and plan on staying in a lot of hostels, then definitely get some of these.
Waterproof phone case - If you’re going to be in the water a lot and want to snap some cool photos, then one of these is a must have travel item for india
Mosquito net - We don’t travel with one of these, but if you’re heading to areas with lots of mosquitoes and don’t think your accommodation is very high quality, then these might be necessary.
Kindle - I love reading when travelling, and use the Kindle App on my phone. But having a Kindle could be a good way to go if you want a bigger screen.
Hiking boots - Only if you plan on doing enough hiking to warrant them. They do take up a LOT of space in your backpack.
Buff - This is a really versatile piece of kit to have with you, and many travellers won’t go anywhere without one.
Top tips on what to bring to India
Remember, it gets HOT there!
It’s hot in most parts of India almost all year, so light clothing is the ideal way to go. Also, be sure to take anything you think necessary in helping to protect you from the sun; including sun lotion, hats and glasses.
Keep asking yourself “do I really need this?”
I love how travelling for long periods of time forces you to become more minimalist and only pack what you need. So when packing for India, regularly ask yourself if everything you’re planning on taking is strictly necessary. Remember, almost everything can be bought cheaply out there so, just in case you do need something, you can always pick it up when there.
Don’t take any risks
You’re going to face a few health risks travelling in India, including malaria and the chance of picking up a range of other diseases. So take precautions by visiting your travel doctor well before your trip and getting their advice on how to best stay safe. This will require, not only getting malaria tablets, but also getting a range of other injections prior to travelling. They can also advise you on any other necessary medications to take to India.
I'm an Economics graduate with a passion for travel. In 2016 I decided to ditch the office environment, work from my laptop and travel to every country in the world. You'll find me working out of a cafe in Bali, perhaps on a riverboat in Brazil or maybe even an airport lounge in New Delhi.
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