India Packing List 2026: What to Actually Bring and Skip

Clothes: cover more than you think

• 3 to 5 lightweight cotton or linen shirts (short and long sleeved).
• 2 pairs of loose trousers or wide-leg pants. Skip jeans in summer.
• 1 pair of shorts for the beach, but not for cities or temples.
• 3 T-shirts.
• 1 warm layer (light fleece or long cardigan). Even hot regions get cool on AC trains and buses.
• 1 heavy fleece plus a beanie only if you are going to Himalayas or Rajasthan desert in winter.
• Modest swimwear (bikini fine in Goa, one-piece easier in Kerala pools).
• Loose kurta and leggings for temples. Buy in India for 500 to 1,500 INR.
• Long lightweight scarf: temples, sun, AC bus.

Shoes

• 1 pair of walking sandals (Chacos, Tevas, or Salomon).
• 1 pair of trail-ready sneakers if you are hiking (Ladakh, Meghalaya, Uttarakhand).
• 1 pair of easy slip-ons: temples require removing shoes 5+ times a day.
• Skip: heels, dress shoes, hiking boots for cities. Waste of luggage space.

Toiletries

Everything you need is available in India, usually cheaper than home. Bring travel-sized versions of your regular brands for the first week, then replenish locally.

• SPF 50 sunscreen (harder to find in India than you think outside metros).
• Insect repellent with 30 percent DEET or picaridin.
• Hand sanitizer (small bottles, refill from a bigger one).
• Tissues and wet wipes (many public toilets have no toilet paper).
• Menstrual cup or tampons (tampons hard to find outside Delhi/Mumbai/Bengaluru).
• Prescription medications with your prescription letter.

Medicines to bring or buy on arrival

Gadgets and electronics

• Universal travel adapter with 3 USB slots (India uses Type D and Type C plugs).
• Portable power bank (10,000 mAh minimum, long train rides eat batteries).
• Unlocked phone for local SIM (Airtel or Jio).
• Kindle or downloaded audiobooks for train rides and airport delays.
• Small headlamp (power cuts are still a thing in rural India).

Documents

1. Passport with 6+ months validity, 2 blank pages.
2. Printed e-Visa approval letter (mandatory on arrival, they check).
3. Two color passport photos (for SIM registration, some hotels, permits).
4. Vaccine records if you have Yellow Fever proof (only checked if coming from an infected country).
5. Travel insurance policy with emergency numbers.
6. Photocopy of the above in a different bag, plus digital copies in Google Drive.

The water bottle you will actually use

A filtered bottle (LifeStraw Go, Grayl Geopress, or a Steripen with a normal bottle) will save you hundreds of plastic bottles. Refill from any tap. Some upscale hotels also have filtered water refill stations now.

The six things everyone wishes they packed

1. Doorstop alarm (for hotel doors in mid-budget stays).
2. Small microfiber towel (many budget stays give thin, small towels).
3. Silk sleep sack (for sketchy hostel or train sheets).
4. Chargeable neck fan for hot cities and train platforms.
5. TSA-approved luggage lock (for train luggage racks).
6. Small daypack that folds flat (for city days, temples, market runs).

Skip: things you do not need

• Sleeping bag (unless camping in Ladakh or Spiti).
• Iodine tablets (filters are better).
• Full first-aid kit (pharmacies are everywhere in India).
• Too much cash (ATMs are widespread).
• Hair dryer (all hotels have one).
• Bulky toiletries (all available locally).

Season-specific additions