Ultimate India Packing List: 49 Must-Haves to Bring on Your Trip

Preparing for a trip to India? This is the ultimate India packing list so you have everything you need and nothing left behind!

There’s so many things to think about when packing for a vacation! This India packing list has everything you will need, from documents, toiletries, electronics, types of clothes and then some.

I have traveled to India more times than I can count and taken countless trips around the country while living there. This India packing list has everything I ever need and I use it when I’m planning for a trip too.

I know there are a million questions people have when traveling to India, especially their first time. Along with the packing list, I’ll answer common questions along the way – I know a big one is clothing! You can also check out this travel guide for India that will cover all of your questions and planning!

This post is all about the ultimate India packing list.

India Packing List

This India packing list is split up into 7 parts: important documents, health and safety, toiletries, clothing, travel gear, electronics and miscellaneous items.

Important Documents

These are absolute must-haves on your India packing list! Even though they might seem a little obvious, having them written out in a list helps to make sure you forget nothing.

#1 Passport

#2 Visa (most people can get their visa online)

I’d recommend printing a copy if you get it online. I don’t think they require it at the airport, but I just find it comforting to have.

#3 Health insurance card

#4 Travel itinerary and reservations

If you just have digital copies, that works too.

#5 Photocopies of important documents (passport, visa, ID)

I’ve never needed to use my copies, but it’s a good idea to have a copy of any important documents in case something gets lost or it’s ever needed.

#6 Credit card and/or debit card

Call your bank or credit card company before you go so they know you are traveling! It’s really not necessary to get money exchanged before you go. If you want cash, I recommend getting it out from the ATM at the airport when you land. 

It’s better to carry cash if you’re going somewhere more remote though, because if there is not good wifi service then it will probably be difficult to use a card.

If you’re staying in a big city, you can expect everyone will pretty much accept cards. You’d want cash if you plan to use rickshaws, get street food, or any small market shopping, basically anything that won’t be a lot of money.

You can download GPay to do online payments by scanning QR codes. This is super popular all over India and really convenient if you’re able to set it up. It can just directly come from your bank or card and is paid through the app.

Health and Safety

Just to be on the safe side, these can come in handy to include in your India packing list.

#7 Prescription medications

If you think you might run out, you can also bring copies of your prescriptions. Most things you can find at a chemist, or a similar version. For some medicines that require prescriptions in India, they might ask to see your prescription.

I’ve never had many issues with this, I just say this is my prescription from the US and I’m only traveling here, I’ve not seen a doctor (and I pretend as if I had no idea how to see a doctor or that I needed a prescription). Some places will also just give you it if you pay a little extra.

#8 Over-the-counter medications

This is really up to what you like to have. I usually carry medicine for headaches, cold/sinus congestion, tums, and anti-diarrhea. To be honest, expect you might have some tummy issues at some point, it’s kind of a right of passage to travel to India! In case that happens, you can buy ORS from chemist to rehydrate or I like to carry a few hydration packets I can add to water.

#9 Simple first-aid

Band-aids, antibiotic ointment… really you can get these things easily while you’re there, but it never hurts to have some basics just in case

#10 Insect repellent (if you’re going somewhere outdoors with mosquitos)

 If you’re going up north in the mountains during winter for example, it’s not necessary.

#11 Sunscreen

It gets sunny! I have mistakenly traveled to the mountains without sunscreen thinking it’s cold, but got fried. If you plan to spend a lot of time outdoors no matter where you’re going, it’s better to carry it.

#12 Hand sanitizer

Toiletries

Most of these basics on the India packing list can be also be purchased there, but in case you prefer to travel with everything, here’s what you would need for toiletries.

#13 Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss

#14 Shampoo and conditioner

#15 Face wash

#16 Hair brush

#17 Contact lenses or glasses (if needed)

#18 Make-up and make-up remover

#19 Nail clippers

#20 Razor

#21 Small bag of laundry detergent

I usually end up washing a few things by hand during my trips. But it’s also really easy to find people who can wash your clothes for super cheap and have them ready for you.

#22 Any other products that are important to your daily routine

That’s all that I carry, but some people may also want a blow dryer, straightener or curler, hairspray, lint roller.

#23 Towel

I recommend getting something like this light-weight and quick-drying one. I always use something like this which is a really thin cotton one. They are super easy and cheap to find in India. I also carry a small washcloth which for some reason always comes in handy.

Clothing

This is perhaps the most time-consuming section on this Indian packing list, if you’re anything like me! What you will need will depend a lot on where you are traveling in India and what time of the year. Check what the weather will be like to see if it’s hot, cold or rainy. 

This is a general idea of what clothes to include on your India packing list. You can add or leave out whatever suits your type of trip. It will also depend on how long you are traveling to decide how many items you will need.

#24 Comfortable walking shoes (can be sneakers or sandals)

#25 Sandals

I wear sandals most of the time because it’s easy, especially if you are visiting temples or any places that might require you to remove your shoes.

Just as a little note, flip-flops are not really common unless you’re at a beach. They are not seen as very nice looking and not commonly worn out the way we casually wear them in the US. But, definitely pack some if you’re going to the beach!

Overall, when I travel I usually wear sandals unless I’m hiking or having a huge walking day to wear tennis shoes.

#26 Underwear

#27 Socks

#28 Pajamas

#29 Modest clothing: few pairs of pants, shirts, or dresses

There’s a lot to say here and always a lot of questions! Of course if you are traveling to a cold place you will need to pack differently than if you’re going somewhere warm. My advice would be to pack what you like to wear and are comfortable in.

If you’re going somewhere hot, try to pack light weight clothing, I love cotton. If you’re going somewhere cold, I suggest layers, layers and layers!

That being said, for females I would suggest packing pants/capris rather than shorts. If you’re in a big city or a tourist destination, you might see some people in shorts, but otherwise it’s not too common. It’s not like you’ll get in trouble or anything, but you’ll likely get a lot of stares which personally I just don’t enjoy.

Also, for shirts you can wear anything but I’d recommend nothing super low-cut. I wear a lot of tank tops and pants as my typical wear, but if you’re going to religious sites I would suggest wearing something to cover your shoulders.

The only exception to this would be if you’re traveling to Goa! Goa is full of international tourists and it’s very normal to see people in bikinis, shorts, and tank tops. 

When I first moved to Mumbai I bought a lot of conservative, loose, flowy clothing. Honestly, I hardly ever wore them because it wasn’t actually my style.

#30 Jacket or coat

Check where you’re going if you need a heavy winter coat (and hat and gloves!), a light jacket, raincoat or sweatshirt. I usually carry a cardigan because it’s easy to wear if I get chilly or if I need to cover up some more.

#31 Scarf or shawl – I super recommend you bring one!

This is a total must for females! I don’t think I will ever travel again without one. I generally wear one if I’m traveling to any more modest place like a temple or remote village. They are also nice to have if you get cold. Many women in India wear a dupatta which is like a longer scarf.

#32 Swimwear and swim towel or sarong

If you are traveling to a place like Goa or a really nice resort, a bikini is fine. 

But, if you’re planning to go to a place with less tourists, then back something modest. Honestly a lot of the hiking trips I go on where I know it will be mostly Indians, I just wear exercise leggings and a quick-drying t-shirt.

You will definitely get stares if you wear a bikini and it’s an uncomfortable feeling. Most Indian women you see swimming will be wearing regular day-to-day clothes to swim. As much as I don’t like this personally, it’s the way it is!

#33 Active wear

If you are planning to do hikes or want to keep up your exercise routine while on vacation, then pack what you need to. I’m a runner and typically wear legging capris and tank tops or t-shirts while exercising.

Travel Gear

To carry everything in this India packing list, I suggest bringing these items below. I’d also argue that it’s worth investing in high quality products that can last for years.

#34 Purse or fanny pack

This is handy for carrying the basics like phone and money, good for just regular day-to-day activities.

#35 Backpack

They are great to carry on plane rides and can also come in handy if you are having long days out away from the hotel or stay. You can use them for hiking trips or just for carrying extra things like water bottles, snacks, etc.

#36 Suitcase or backpacking bag

When traveling to other big cities, I use a suitcase. Mine is Sky brand which I got in India, but another good quality suitcase option is by Samsonite. I’ve gone through a ton of suitcases over the years and would say it’s super helpful to get a suitcase that has 4 wheels. It just makes it so much easier to move and carry. I use this suitcase which has the zip up section that I love.

I also prefer a hard case which repels and doesn’t soak up water if you’re going to a place that rains. It’s also nice having a lock, just for peace of mind.

When traveling to the mountains or more hikey-type places where the terrain might be tough to roll a suitcase, I use my travel backpack. I use this 75L bag by Gergory which was one of my best purchases ever, I got it 7 years ago and it’s still holding up strong! It’s super comfortable to carry and has a lot of little zippers and spaces that help me stay organized.

#37 Packing cubes – seriously!

I used to laugh these off until a roommate of mine had them and let me borrow them. I’ll never go back now! They are super convenient to organize your different items and clothes.

I suggest getting a basic set to start with. I usually start by dividing things like comfy clothes, underwear/socks, daily wear, and usually at some point along the trip it turns into sections of ‘clean’, ‘kinda clean’ and ‘too dirty to wear again.’

It’s also handy to throw your toiletries and small things together in a pouch.

Electronics

India packing list must-haves of course!

#38 Phone and phone charger

#39 Travel adapter (India uses C, D and M plugs)

I like this travel adapter I have because it fits into all the types of plugs there and you can charge a lot of different things off of it.

#40 Power bank for charging devices on the go, and the charger for the power bank

Honestly, it just always comes in handy.

#41 Laptop or tablet if required, and their charger

Miscellaneous

Lastly, these are the items that you won’t want to leave off your India packing list.

#42 Umbrella (if you’re going somewhere rainy)

#43 Hat or sunglasses

#44 Water bottle

Try to refill as much as you can! It’s easy to just buy bottled water but try to reduce plastic as much as possible. When I travel to a place where there’s no water filter and bottles are my only option, I try getting a jug with a few gallons and use that to refill my bottle.

#45 Book to read or journal to write in

#46 Pens

It always comes in handy to have at least one.

#47 Travel Pillow

I like using these especially for long plane rides, but it’s really a personal choice.

#48 Snacks

Of course you can buy snacks there! But if there’s any good snack that you don’t think you’ll find, you can pack it. My sister always travels with Cliff Bars. I love having munchies like peanuts, but I always buy them in India where it’s cheaper.

#49 A few ziplock or plastic bags

On most trips I usually find some need, weather it’s to carry extra snacks or for my wet or dirty clothes.

This post was all about the ultimate India packing list.

I hope this India packing list is as useful to you as it is to me! I’d love to hear if you have any other travel must-haves that are missing from the list. Happy packing!