Since time immemorial India has been perceived by the outside world as a land of spirituality and snakes, today it may be seen as the hub of back office processing and the next great consumer market but people still have their doubts. A couple of years back, a colleague (a seemingly well educated person) from the London office of the organization where I used to work had asked me in all her innocence, “Did your great grand dad go to work riding on elephant back?”.
There is no denying the fact that India with its cross cultural diversity poses many surprises and shocks to visitors and the perceptions of these visitors are rooted in reality to a large extent. Taking the hapless tourist for a ride is something even we Indians fall prey to in a new city, so why blame the foreign tourists for being away of taxi drivers who fleece you or tourist guides who rook you through travel websites.
To ease your mind about India and make your trip comfortable and memorable, here are a few suggestions.
Depending on which part of the country you are travelling to (hills, beaches, deserts), the time of the year you are travelling in and to a lesser extent your travel arrangements (pre-booked/ backpacker), you would need to pack your things accordingly.
In choosing luggage, you should opt for luggage that is tough, flexible, and comfortable to carry. Remember that YOU will be hauling it from location to location, in and out of taxis, trains, and through some hiking trips on foot. You should have good locks on your luggage and they should be tagged with your name, address, contact details, etc to help track them incase they get misplaced. A lightweight nylon day bag with zippered compartments is an absolute necessity for your daily outings, in addition, you may want to bring a duffle bag that can be compressed into another bag to take back souvenirs for your family and friends. In my experience the most important factors in choosing your luggage are whether it is lockable, durable, lightweight, water-resistant, and easy/comfortable to carry.
Unless you are travelling to the northern regions during winter months (Nov – Jan), light cotton clothing is preferable throughout the year, a light wrap or sweater can be good for heavily air-conditioned buses or trains, or cool evenings as well. Additional clothes can include something you may need for visiting places of worship; you can buy these once you get to India. Almost everywhere in India, especially in the South, you are expected to be barefoot, keep your head covered and be decently dressed (read as shoulders and legs covered) while entering a place of worship. A worthwhile purchase would be a scarf you can keep in your bag at all times and would take care of the heat and dust on the roads. It makes good sense to wear a pair of comfortable, cool rubber-soled sandals like flip-flops - they're easy to remove and unlikely to be stolen when kept outside a temple or a Gurudwara. Shorts, camisoles and mini skirts are best kept restricted to beaches or the metro cities.
Apart from clothes and shoes, the essential non clothing items which you would also need irrespective of which part of the country you are visiting would include a sun block, sunglasses, an umbrella (if you plan to visit during the rainy season), hand wipes, small packets of tissue paper, mosquito/insect repellent, flying bug spray, water purifier tablets, medications etc. You may also pack in some snack food that you enjoy, such as granola bars etc. though these are easily available at all international airports and departmental stores.
Last but certainly not the least important would be a copy of all important documents - Passport, Visas, Vaccination certificates, International Driving License, Travel/Health Insurance papers, Printouts of all information received from your tour operator (hotel confirmation, permits, passes etc), Traveler's cheque serial numbers, credit cards, airline tickets. Leave one copy with someone at home.
The reality is that even though everything the guide books tell you about the problems of traveling in India are true, they greatly exaggerate both the frequency and the hassle factor. Pack to accommodate your needs. Leave superfluous items at home. The idea is, to be open to whatever may happen and go with the flow. There is no way to prepare for what India may do to you, but if prepared for carefully and approached with an open mind, it can be a magical experience!
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Sudeshna writes for chillibreeze.
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