Last Updated on December 12, 2024 by Christine Kaaloa
Reflecting on my recent 3 month trip to India, you might want to know what items were my travel gems and saviors. There were things I was grateful to have packed for my India trip and thankful for having found in Indian stores, as they either made life easier or gave me much peace of mind.
Travel Must Haves for India
Table of Contents: Travel Must Haves for India
1. Reusable Water Bottle with Purifier/Filter
Staying hydrated is crucial in India’s hot climate, but tap water is not drinkable. A reusable water bottle with a built-in filter, like a LifeStraw or Grayl, helps you stay safe while reducing plastic waste.
Buying bottled water is always recommended and it’s inexpensive. Although one has to be safe and smart about that too. Having battled waterborne bugs for having brushed my teeth with the water, I’d list a backup water solution as a must-have.
Read Food Safety Tips to Avoid Getting Sick abroad
Water Purifiers
I haven’t used the SteriPEN Freedom UV Water Purifier
Another recent development is the Life Straw. It’s easy to use– just put in the water and use it like a straw! You’ll have to suck a little harder than a normal straw, but it still makes water purification a breeze.
Water pump water purifiers
These claim to catch 99.9% of the bacteria in bad water. Not bad. I bought a Sport Berkey Portable Water Purifier
Coffee/Water Heater
It’s a little travel size plug-in heating wand that you put in your water, bringing your water to a boil in seconds! It comes in several sizes (mine is about 5 inches) and you can also find them India household and appliance shops! As for cups to boil water in– India has a wealth of stainless steel cups for mere rupees. Tea, anyone?
2. Getting internet in India
A data plan on your smartphone is essential for solo female travelers to India. You can access essential tools like Google Maps, Uber, Olla cabs.. Also, many guesthouses can be called by phone, so if you’re booking hotels on the fly or checking to see if a driver is picking you up from the airport, these are a must!
eSIM
Skip the hassle of searching for Indian SIM cards that keep deactivating. Get an Airalo eSIM instead and activate it before or when you arrive in India. Top off from your mobile device any time you like. There are single destination, regional and global e-SIMs to match your type of journey. Your mobile phone must use e-SIMs
Global wifi
You can get a Indian SIM card for internet; although it is a bit of an effort and occasionally your SIM can go bad. Thailand sells SIM cards at 7Eleven. OR you can just get a Skyroam global wifi hotspot (get 10% off using my referral code: GRRRLTRAVELER) and take your internet connection anywhere.
Read: How to Stay Connected: Turning your iPhone into a Hotspot
3. Preventing mosquito bites
Some areas in India have had a history of malaria and dengue. Be careful of tropical and subtropical areas in India, like Kerala or areas where water is stagnant. Avoid dark colored or tight fitting clothes in these areas. More information about Dengue.
Deet based insect repellent
Bring Deet-based insect repellent with you. Your mosquito repellent needs to have at least 10% Deet for it to really prevent mosquito bites in high risk areas. While India may or may not have Deet, I assure you, it won’t be easy to find without the help of locals and if you’re traveling you may not have time to search for it.
An electric plug-in diffuser insect repellent
So the mosquitoes are having an international feast on your skin. Sure, mosquito repellent spray works, but if your mosquitoes are anything like mine, they’ll find that one place between your toes that your spray missed!
When I found myself in the height of mosquito season and I didn’t want to continually shower in repellent before going to sleep, I went to the town pharmacy and bought an electronic plug-in diffuser repellent. The electric plug-in device has a screw-in bottle of repellent liquid and when plugged into an electrical socket, it heats up and releases unscented vapors in the air, which keeps mosquitoes out of the room.
4. Silk Liner
Silk Liners are awesome and/or bed bug proof pillow protector that protects me from bacteria, bed bugs and dust mites, gives me peace of mind for sleep. It’s great for beds, sleeper trains/buses and you can even use it as a blanket for a picnic! Originally designed for folk with dust allergies this vinyl or plastic mattress cover locks out everything from bacteria to spilled water.
Read: Ways to Prevent bed bugs and mosquitoes
5. Biodegradable Baby Wipes & Hand Sanitizer
Baby wipes ROCK as one of the most versatile travel tools and these days, they’re found almost everywhere. From sanitizing your train beds, wiping down your hotel room’s surfaces and pampering yourself with a refreshing wipe post-trek to taking a swab bath when your accommodations are less than inviting… India, will test your creative use of wipes and you will be glad you have them!
If you haven’t guessed it, hand sanitizers
6. Modest and Lightweight Clothing
India is generally conservative, especially in rural or religious areas. Wearing modest clothing helps you respect local culture and avoid unwanted attention.
Long, lightweight cotton kurtas or tunics, loose pants, and scarves (like a dupatta or pashmina) for covering shoulders or head when visiting temples. These clothes also keep you cool in the heat and are widely available at affordable prices in local markets.
It’s a fact that I take my pashmina scarf on most trips. From a headdress when entering Sikh temples, to an additional coverup when it’s cold (on trains, buses) to a facemask from the occasional dust from dirt roads, towel, it comes in handy
What are your travel must haves for traveling to India?
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