What To Pack For A Trip To India
Essential Items To Bring To India And How To Pack For India
Oct 30, 2008
Most visitors to India end up buying more than they intended, so pack light. Clothes are cheap in India, and many tourists have them tailor-made for a fraction of what it would cost back home. One very handy item for a trip to India (that can be also bought cheaply in India) is a large scarf or a sarong. It can be used to cover up when visiting holy places, to protect from the sun, to lie on while sunbathing on the beach, and as a bedsheet during long train and bus journeys.
Earplugs And Padlock
India is incredibly noisy. Autorickshaws honk their horns, street vendors yell, music plays from car stereos at full volume day and night, street dogs bark, temple bells ring, and nobody cares about a jetlagged tourist who is trying to sleep. India on the other hand hardly ever sleeps, so earplugs are essential. They are also difficult to find in India, so it is best to bring several pairs.
A padlock is necessary if staying in cheap hotels or beach huts. Many cheap hotels in India provide locks that just cannot be trusted. A torch (flashlight) will come in handy during India's frequent powercuts.
What Medicines To Bring To India
Prescription medicines should be included on the packing list, because they might not be available in India, but most Indian pharmacies stock many of the everyday medicines travellers need, from painkillers to rehydration salts. Medicines in India are also very affordable. Brand names are different, so when buying medicines at a pharmacy in India, it helps to know the name of the medicine itself instead of the brand.
Personal Care Items To Bring To India
Tampons are available in many places in India, especially in supermarkets in larger cities, but there is little variety when it comes to brands, and tampons with applicator are very difficult to find.
The majority of Indian women still prefers coconut oil over hair conditioner. Good conditioner is available in urban centres and tourist areas, but it is best to pack one’s own favourite conditioner.
Sunscreen is available in parts of India, but there is no guarantee that the SPF really is what it says on the bottle. It is also not cheap, so it is a good idea to bring high SPF sunscreen from home.
A Word About Using Toilet Paper In India
Many India travel articles recommend bringing toilet paper to India from home, since most toilets do not offer it, as Indians generally use their left hand and water to clean themselves in the toilet. However, toilet paper is widely available in shops, but the Indian sewage system has not been built to handle large amounts of paper. This is why there is nearly always a bin nearby for depositing toilet tissue. The easiest and most environmentally friendly way would be to learn the Indian method of water, soap and left hand.
 |
