Planning Guides7 min readPublished August 4, 2026
India packing has one governing principle: cotton and linen, cut loose, in colors that forgive dust. The winter-season traveler (October to March) needs summer clothes with a real layer for northern mornings — Delhi and Jaipur can open at 45°F in January and reach 75°F by lunch. Everything else is detail.
The second principle: pack half of it. Laundry in India is excellent, same-day and inexpensive at every good hotel; the traveler with a 44-pound suitcase and the traveler with a carry-on see the same country, and one of them glides through domestic flights.
What to wear — and what it signals
For women, the formula experienced travelers converge on: loose trousers or long skirts, tops covering shoulders, and one large scarf that does everything — temple head-cover, sun shield, evening layer, train blanket. For men: chinos or linen trousers and collared shirts read as respectful nearly everywhere; shorts mark you as poolside. India is not censorious with visitors, but modest dress is quietly repaid — in temples, in bazaars, in how you are received everywhere.
Temples and mosques ask covered shoulders and knees, and shoes off — so shoes that slip on and off are not a luxury but a daily convenience. Add one genuinely smart outfit: dinner at a palace hotel deserves it, and you will mind being the underdressed table.
The list beyond clothing — and tipping
The items our travelers actually thank us for: a universal adapter (India uses type C/D/M sockets), a power bank for long sightseeing days, strong sunscreen and a proper hat, mosquito repellent with DEET or picaridin, hand sanitiser, any prescription medication in original packaging with a copy of the script, a small flashlight for fort interiors, and a foldable duffel for the textiles you will inevitably buy. Leave the drone (heavily restricted), the expensive jewellery, and anything you would grieve losing.
Tipping is customary and modest: think ₹100–300 for hotel porters and housekeeping, ₹300–500 a day for drivers and ₹500–1,000 for excellent guides, and around 10% in restaurants where no service charge appears. Carry a fold of small notes; the moments arrive several times a day, and grace lies in having the right note ready.
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Begin Your Private EnquiryQuestions, Answered
What should I pack for a trip to India?
Loose cotton and linen clothing, a warm layer for northern winter mornings, slip-on shoes, a large scarf, universal adapter, DEET repellent, strong sunscreen and small-denomination cash for tipping. Pack light — hotel laundry is same-day and excellent.
What should women wear in India?
Loose trousers or long skirts with shoulders covered works everywhere; add a scarf for temples. Modest dress is not legally required for visitors but is noticeably repaid in comfort and reception, especially outside the big cities.
Is there a dress code for temples in India?
Covered shoulders and knees, shoes removed, and in some Sikh and Hindu temples a covered head — the scarf handles it. A few temples restrict leather items; your guide will flag specifics.
How much should I tip in India?
Roughly ₹100–300 for porters, ₹300–500/day for drivers, ₹500–1,000/day for top guides, and about 10% in restaurants without a service charge. Small notes, given directly and discreetly, are the local grammar of thanks.
What should I NOT bring to India?
Drones (heavily restricted), flashy jewellery, satellite communicators (regulated), and a heavy wardrobe. Anything forgotten is cheaply and delightfully replaceable in an Indian market — often becoming the souvenir.
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