progol

Hi, all,
Well, less than 3 weeks before we leave for our 3 week trip to India, and I'm starting to have that pre-trip, WTF am I doing? anxiety that always seems to creep up. But this is the first time we're going to someplace "other", so my pre-trip jitters seem to be hitting me a bit earlier than usual.

So we're trying to figure out what to pack. What recommendations do you have for 3 weeks to Rajasthan, Varanasi, Delhi & Agra? Clothing as well as the more practical suggestions welcome! Like, do we really need to pack toilet paper?

Weather, from mid-January to early February looks like it can go as low as the high 30s (at night), and even get as high as 90 degrees (Jaisalmer) during the day, although I gather it will mostly be around 50s, 60s, maybe 70s for most of the trip. So layers, layers, layers.

We are staying in primarily mid-range places, and after going to Varanasi and Agra, we'll be traveling with a car & driver for the remainder of the trip. We don't generally go out to places we're we need to dress up, so evening outfits and day outfits will pretty much be the same. We do usually take one suitcase each that we carry on the plane along with a shoulder bag for each of us.

So what is your packing list like? What do you recommend?

Thanks - almost there!
Paule

Approach_Guides

I think you've nailed the packing list -- layers for sure!

Other things we bring include:
- shell (jacket for wind/rain)
- shoes that easily slip off (for going in and out of temples)
- drying line (for air-drying clothes)
- bug spray

As for toilet paper, I wouldn't recommend bringing a roll. You may want a small package of tissues, which will do the trick at a highway rest stop that doesn't have toilet paper. Your hotels and restaurants, however, will be well equipped.

Have a great trip - India is an amazing place!

progol

Thanks, AG. I think the tissues make more sense, too, and certainly can do double duty!

kmkrnn

Or just take a few sheets from your hotel in your pocket. Don't do what I did the first time to India. I gave my husband my purse to hold while I went to the ladies...My packs of kleenex were out side with him in my purse.

I also find that cropped pants are easire to handle when the floors are wet. Handie wipes are easier to use that the little bottles of purel. They can be used to cool you off also.

rhkkmk

india is generally very relaxed so no need to take anything dressy.. i wore chinos all the time and my wife wore capris, plus we both wore decent shirts.. comfortable shoes and/or sandals.. polar fleece works well.

progol

Thanks for the words of advice - it's reassuring to be reminded not to get too wrought over the small things.
--paule

dgunbug

You will have a great time. Just take comfortable clothing and layer up. We travel with one carry on and a small backpack each as you do and we had no problems. No need to dress up. Tissues as prior responder said are fine. Most places have toilet paper.

Axel2DP

A roll of inexpensive toilet paper take hardly any room in your luggage, so why not stuff one into your suitcase for a peace of mind.

progol

Thanks for the suggestions!

Any other items you recommend as "essential" for travel in India?

annhig

based on our experiences in Sri Lanka, definitely take tissues - and a bottle of sanitised hand wash. [tissues double for other things, whereas loo roll is just that - and takes up more room in your handbag].

the tip about wearing capris is also a good one - they are cool and more dignified than shorts.

progol

I got the feeling that Jan/Feb isn't really capri weather, but I do gave one very lightweight psir of pants that can roll up, if it warms up enough. Tissues and sanitizer are on the list, too (but not to wesr!).

Happy new Year, everyone! The trip is less than 3 weeks away!!!

annhig

progol - I would take two pairs of lightweight trousers. [sorry, there's just no way that I can bring myself to talking about something that isn't underwear "pants"]

I completely misunderestimated the heat in Sri Lanka, and found myself living in two pairs of lightweight trousers - one to wear, one in the wash. the extra pair won't take up much room, and if it does turn warm and humid, you'll be so glad you've got it.

progol

Thanks, annhig,
I'm bringing the lightweight trousers (!) and we both have chinos, so I think we're good on that score.

Trying to figure out how to layer as lightly as possible (which jacket to bring, which sweater, etc) is the next challenge!

Any recommendations for lock & chain for the overnight train?

kmkrnn

I have a fleece jacket that has a matching fleece vest that can layer over it. The jacket is fitness weight and the vest has a thinsilate (?sp) layer. They both can be folded into a small zip lock baggie. I think both LLBean and Lands End have such combo...bought individually. With a long sleeve tee I can go to about freezing and still be comfy. I have used them on several trips.

progol

I'm really becoming too obsessive with all this planning! All the options for on-line shopping is making it worse, too!

The fleece jacket idea sounds great, although I suspect I have enough at home that will work. I have a thin, lightweight rain or shine 3/4 coat from Lands End which will work well and packs up into nothing, so I plan on taking that, although I have a loose lightweight denim jacket (think painter-smock loose)which is a great fall jacket and I think will work for most days. Plenty of room for sweaters/shirts underneath, too, if needed.

I just spent the morning pulling out clothing and have a nicely coordinated black, pink and off-white combination (I'm not a fancy dresser). Everything is casual with one pair of pants that could get dressed up if needed.

Hubby thinks I'm nuts. I probably am!

mrwunrfl

Don't forget the Pepto Bismol.

annhig

I just spent the morning pulling out clothing and have a nicely coordinated black, pink and off-white combination (I'm not a fancy dresser). Everything is casual with one pair of pants that could get dressed up if needed. >>

progol - having something nice to change into in the evening is a great morale raiser, IMO. also it gives you a chance to wash what you were wearing in the daytime. I found that i used the same few clothes over and over again, and quite a lot that I'd taken never saw the light of day!

so not nuts at all! [or if you are, so am I].

Axel2DP

>>Any recommendations for lock & chain for the overnight train?
<<

It's not necessary, but I don't think it's a bad idea to have one. If you have a seat in the upper bunk, and you must tuck your luggage under the bottom bunk, for example, then it'll give you a peace of mind to know that it's "secured". But if you're travelling with one or more compantions then they should be able to keep an eye out for your luggage though.

The one thing I found sort of stressful (for me anyway) about train travelling is that the train does not announce the name of the stop that it makes. So I had to be aware of the approximate arrival time and look out the window at each stop to check the destination, and looking out the window is not convenient if you have a top bunk which doesn't have window. A fun thing to note about the train toilet: it has no bottom. There's a hole that opens right onto the track below. Something to think about if you have to do #2

tarquin

Have you thought of Immodium or another diarrhea stopper? Better safe than sorry.

annhig

Have you thought of Immodium or another diarrhea stopper? Better safe than sorry.>>

might be useful if this puts you off:

<<A fun thing to note about the train toilet: it has no bottom. There's a hole that opens right onto the track below. Something to think about if you have to do #2 >>

seriously, we took a whole load of medicaments - immodium, cold and flu remedies, the lot.

the only thing we used was one paracetamol. but i was glad we had them, and they took up very little room, comparatively.