Beautiful India & Tips for Packing

India is one of my favorite foreign destinations. I have traveled to many places around the world, but there is something about India that always brings me back. I have been to different parts of India 16 times and it seems like there is always more to explore. 

Think about the varied beauty of America and the wildly different vistas you’d see in Hawaii, the Grand Canyon, the coast of Maine, New Orleans, the Florida keys, Missouri, the Cape, NYC, etc. With all of the different landscapes, accents, types of food and people, it would take years to show a friend around to the many beautiful places in our own country. That’s what I find in India… every region has its own special dialect, food, temples, and terrain from snow-capped mountains to sparkling oceans, to desert. For someone who has never been to India, it’s hard to imagine the varied beauty of the country. India is full of beautiful surprises, and that is part of the fun. 

I often get questions about what to pack and how to fit everything you need in a case that will be easy to move around this glorious country. I usually bring a crossbody or belted purse, which I rarely take off and where I keep my passport and money, a backpack and a carry-on roller suitcase. The backpack is perfect for day trips so you can have an easier time moving around but still have everything you need on hand. The carry-on suitcase forces you to pack only what you really need so you don't have to drag a large suitcase with you from town to town (or risk losing it on connections). When in India, there are so many craftspeople and beautiful things to bring home as gifts, that I often pack an additional foldable bag or duffle.

In terms of what to put inside your suitcase I have a few musts. A wide brim hat to protect you from the powerful sun, a shawl to wrap around your shoulders when entering temples or for a cool evening, and long linen pants and skirts. In India,  it is not the cultural norm to show a lot of skin. I always find it is better to wear lightweight long sleeve shirts over sleeveless or short sleeve shirts and something to cover legs on the bottom to keep cool and avoid unwanted attention. As an American, you will receive a degree of attention regardless but I think being culturally sensitive whenever possible is always better.

I hope this little tidbit about traveling to India is helpful and may have sparked your interest in journeying there. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at Kiki@KikiNetwork.com and check out my upcoming trip to India in January (ladies only) here. I’ll be leading another trip in March for men and women and will be posting that soon!