Packing in Calcutta

• Sights
• Restaurants
• Hotels
• Entertainment
• Shopping
• Travel Tips
• Features

Packing

In India, delicate fabrics do not stand up well to laundering facilities except at deluxe hotels. While dry cleaning is available at all deluxe hotels, the cleaning fluid can be harsh. If you bring clothing that requires dry cleaning, it's wise to have them cleaned back home. Plain cottons or cotton/synthetic blends are the most practical and the coolest in summer. It's best to avoid synthetic fabrics that don't "breathe."

The sun is strong in India. To protect yourself from overexposure, bring a hat with a wide brim. If you travel during the monsoon, bring a collapsible umbrella. During the winter months, bring a sweater or lightweight jacket.

India is not a dressy society. If you attend a fancy function, men can wear a business suit and women can wear a dress or skirt and blouse with flats or low heels.

Travelers should also remember that what is appropriate in the West isn't necessarily appropriate in the East. Only children can get away with short shorts. Men should dress in comfortable jeans or long shorts. A T-shirt is not offensive; but the topless look should be left to the wandering sadhu (Hindu holy man). If it's warm, women should stick to skirts or lightweight slacks. While shorts are acceptable in the West, women who reveal bare legs under even a conservative pair of shorts may attract undesired attention. To enter a holy shrine, women should wear a below-the-knee skirt or dress or neat pants. To go braless is mindless. Any woman wearing a top with a scooped or plunging neckline must be prepared for wandering eyes and unflattering remarks. Travel in a Muslim community calls for even more discretion. Women should consider wearing a salwar kameez, the local loose pants and long blouse, inexpensive and very flattering.

Bring the following indispensable extras: strong sunblock, sewing kit, premoistened towelettes, pocket knife with can opener, lock and key for each duffel or bag, high-power impact-resistant flashlight, spare batteries (unless they're a popular size). Good sanitary napkins are available, but tampons are substandard. Sports enthusiasts should bring their own tennis or golf balls, which are expensive in India.

Electricity

To use your U.S.-purchased electric-powered equipment, bring a converter and an adapter. The electrical current in India is 220 volts, 50 cycles alternating current (AC); wall outlets take plugs with two round prongs.

Check with your hotel to see if stabilizers are functioning in your room before you plug in your computer. Adaptors can't survive an Indian-style surge in electricity, which is a daily event.