What to pack for India comes down to three things: loose natural-fabric clothing that covers shoulders and knees, shoes you can slip off at a temple door, and one warm layer whatever the season. Add a universal adapter for India’s 230 volt type C, D and M sockets, a small kit with your own prescriptions, and a scarf. Then leave out the drone, the vape and the satellite device, all of which are restricted or banned by Indian law.
The common mistake is treating India as one climate. In a single fortnight you might sweat through a temple town at forty degrees Celsius and reach for a jumper at dawn in the tea hills. This guide is for someone flying in from London, Frankfurt, New York, Toronto or Melbourne who has never packed for India, and it uses 1991 to 2020 climate normals rather than guesswork.
On this page: why India needs more thought; region and season; what to wear; temples and footwear; electronics and airline rules; connectivity; health and medicines; money; monsoon and mountains; what is banned; buying locally; costs; FAQs.
Why does packing for India need more thought than most trips?
Because India asks you to plan for climate, culture and regulation at once. A bag that works for a beach holiday will not carry you respectfully into a temple, and a bag built only for modesty will cook you on the plains in May. Four things drive every decision: heat and humidity, which means loose breathable natural fabrics; cultural expectation, which means covered shoulders and knees, more so for women and in religious places; what you can buy easily on the ground; and Indian law, because a handful of ordinary travel items are restricted or banned outright.
What to pack for India, region by region and season by season
Pack light layers of natural fabric, and add one warm layer regardless of season. The figures below are 1991 to 2020 monthly normals, so read them as the shape of a season rather than a forecast.
The northern plains: Delhi, Agra, Rajasthan. Hot and dry much of the year, with genuinely cold winter mornings. Delhi’s Safdarjung observatory averages a January low of 7.6 degrees Celsius, about 46 Fahrenheit, and a December low of 8.3 degrees, about 47 Fahrenheit, against highs near 20 degrees, about 69 Fahrenheit. From April to June, average highs run 36.9 to 40.1 degrees, roughly 98 to 104 Fahrenheit, and Jaipur averages a May high of 41.6 degrees, about 107 Fahrenheit. Delhi’s rain concentrates in July and August, around 185 and 235 millimetres, about 7 and 9 inches.
The coasts: Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu. Warm and humid all year, with little swing in temperature and a great deal in rain. Goa’s highs sit between about 29 and 33 degrees Celsius, roughly 84 to 91 Fahrenheit, every month, and Kochi’s lows rarely drop below 23 degrees, about 74 Fahrenheit. The difference is water: Goa averages about 870 millimetres in June and 995 in July, some 34 and 39 inches. Chennai is the outlier, wettest in November at about 310 millimetres and October at about 265, roughly 12 and 10 inches, under the retreating northeast monsoon.
The hills and Himalaya. Ooty, at about 2,200 metres or 7,200 feet, averages lows near 11 to 12 degrees Celsius, about 52 to 54 Fahrenheit, even in May, and 6.5 degrees, about 44 Fahrenheit, in January. Darjeeling, at about 2,100 metres or 7,000 feet, averages a January low of 1.7 degrees, about 35 Fahrenheit. Leh in Ladakh, at about 3,500 metres or 11,500 feet, averages nights at or below freezing from October to April.
Check your own dates and regions against the India Meteorological Department before you pack, and see The Best Time to Visit India: A Month-by-Month, Region-by-Region Guide.
What should you actually wear in India?
Loose, lightweight, natural fabrics that cover shoulders and knees will serve you almost everywhere. This is where comfort in the heat and respect for local norms meet, and it is why cotton and linen beat synthetics that trap heat.
For most days, think loose trousers or long skirts, cotton shirts and tunics. A kurta, which is a long loose tunic worn across India by men and women, is the single most useful thing you can wear or buy here. Muted colours hide dust better than white. Modesty is contextual: beach resorts and big cities are relaxed, but temples, villages, smaller towns and religious occasions call for more coverage, and dressing modestly there is a quiet courtesy that changes how you are received.
What do women visitors need to know about dressing in India?
The main adjustment is coverage rather than any single rule. Covered shoulders and knees will keep you at ease in the widest range of situations, and a scarf makes almost any outfit temple-ready in seconds.
Loose trousers or palazzo-style pants, long skirts, and tunics or kurtas falling to mid-thigh or below let you move between a city cafe and a temple without changing. A dupatta, the long light scarf worn with Indian outfits, covers your head where that is expected and doubles as sun protection. Many women buy a salwar kameez locally, a matching set of loose trousers, long tunic and scarf made for the climate. One practical note guidebooks skip: sanitary pads are sold in every pharmacy, but tampons and menstrual cups are much less widely stocked outside large cities, so bring your own supply.
What should men pack?
The same logic applies: loose, light and covered enough for temples. Lightweight trousers and cotton shirts handle almost everything, and shorts are fine in relaxed and beach settings though less so in temples and traditional towns. Bring one collared shirt and a pair of trousers for smarter restaurants and occasions you are hosted at, because Indian hospitality can be dressier than you expect, and a light long-sleeved layer for sun and evening mosquitoes.
What should you pack for temples and religious sites?
Clothing that covers shoulders and knees, footwear you can remove easily, and a scarf for your head. Almost every temple, mosque and gurdwara, which is a Sikh place of worship, asks you to take your shoes off at the entrance and to be modestly dressed inside.
You remove shoes at the threshold, so slip-on sandals save you crouching over laces dozens of times a day. Heads are covered in gurdwaras and many mosques, which is where that scarf earns its place. Some Tamil Nadu temples ask men to remove their upper garment before entering inner areas, leather is unwelcome in many Jain and some Hindu temples, and photography is often restricted inside sanctums. A number of temples restrict entry to Hindus, sometimes only to the inner shrine and occasionally to the whole complex, which is worth knowing so it does not feel like a rebuff. A thin pair of socks in your day bag is a small mercy, because temple stone can be scorching by midday. For the meaning behind the etiquette, A Traveller’s Guide to Indian Temples: Etiquette, Meaning and Wonder is a useful companion.
What footwear works best in India?
Comfortable slip-on sandals plus one pair of closed walking shoes will cover almost every situation. The slip-ons matter more than any other single item, because you will take your shoes off constantly, so bring a pair you can step out of in a second and that survives dust and puddles. Add closed, broken-in walking shoes for long sightseeing days and uneven ground, and leave new, unworn shoes at home: Indian pavements and temple complexes are not the place to break in blisters.
An overhead view of a traveller packing a suitcase.
What electronics, plugs and adapters do you need?
India uses 230 volt power at 50 hertz, with plug types C, D and M, so most visitors need a travel adapter and should check whether their devices handle the higher voltage. This is one of the few areas where getting it wrong damages your electronics.
A universal travel adapter covers all three types. Most modern phones, laptops, cameras and their chargers are dual voltage, marked on the charger as an input of 100 to 240 volts, and work in India with just an adapter. Single-voltage 110 volt devices from North America, most often hairdryers, straighteners and older small appliances, can be damaged by India’s 230 volts and need a converter or should be left at home. Bring a power bank, since power cuts happen in smaller towns and during the monsoon.
Two airline rules decide how you pack that kit. Power banks and spare lithium batteries must travel in your cabin bag and are prohibited in checked luggage. Batteries up to 100 watt hours are allowed without special permission, up to two spares of 100 to 160 watt hours need your airline’s approval, and anything above 160 watt hours is refused. Airlines can apply stricter rules than the regulator, and several now restrict using or charging power banks in flight.
Liquids follow the usual security limit: containers of 100 millilitres or less inside a single transparent resealable bag of about one litre. A few UK airports with newer scanners allow up to two litres, and essential medicines, baby food and special dietary items are exempt up to two litres at all UK airports. Verify the rule for your departure and connecting airports.
How do you stay connected? SIM cards, eSIMs and Wi-Fi
Buy a local SIM or an eSIM for reliable data, rather than relying on home roaming or Wi-Fi alone. Mobile coverage is good across most of the country, and cheap data powers maps, ride apps, translation and payments.
A local prepaid tourist SIM from a provider such as Airtel or Jio is bought at the airport or in town with your passport and visa, and typically costs between a few hundred rupees and around ₹1,500, roughly USD 5 to 16, or GBP 4 to 12, depending on validity and data. Tariffs change often, so check the operator’s current plans rather than any figure in an article, this one included. An eSIM bought before you leave is more convenient if your phone supports one. Either way, an Indian number helps, because hotels and drivers often coordinate by text and call.
What toiletries, health items and medicines should you bring?
Bring a small kit of the specific things you rely on, and buy the bulky, ordinary items on arrival. India has well-stocked pharmacies in every town, so carry what is personal, not a whole bathroom cabinet.
Pack any prescription medication in its original packaging, with enough for the whole trip and a copy of the prescription. The FCDO notes that most medicines needing a prescription in the UK will also need one in India, and the US State Department advises carrying medication in its original packaging with a doctor’s prescription, and checking with Indian authorities that your specific medicines are legal there.
That last point is not a formality. India controls narcotic and psychotropic substances under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, and the list has grown: tramadol was added by notification in July 2018, and ketamine earlier. Medicines containing codeine, tramadol, strong painkillers and some stimulant or sedative prescriptions therefore sit in a regulated category. If your medication is controlled at home, confirm the position with the Indian High Commission or Embassy before you fly rather than at the customs desk.
A basic travel kit is worth assembling: oral rehydration salts, known locally as ORS, which are cheap sachets you dissolve in water and the most useful thing if your stomach is adjusting; any anti-diarrhoeal and painkillers you prefer; plasters; hand sanitiser. Sunscreen and insect repellent are sold in Indian pharmacies, but the choice thins outside cities, so bring your own if you want a particular formulation or a high-DEET repellent. If you are in north India between October and February, pack a well-fitting FFP2 or N95 mask, because the FCDO flags severe winter air pollution as a major health hazard, especially for anyone with a respiratory or cardiac condition.
Vaccinations and anti-malarial advice belong with the professionals. India Travel Health: Vaccines, Water, Food and Peace of Mind sets out the questions to ask, but it is not a substitute for medical advice.
How should you handle money, cards and documents?
Carry a mix of cards and rupee cash, and keep secure digital and paper copies of your key documents. India is increasingly cashless in cities, but cash still rules for temples, small vendors, drivers and rural markets.
Bring at least one card with no foreign transaction fees, tell your bank you are travelling, and withdraw rupees from bank ATMs as you go. Two rules matter before you land: you must declare foreign currency above 5,000 US dollars in notes, or 10,000 dollars in notes and travellers cheques combined, and there are restrictions on bringing Indian rupees into the country, so plan to get your cash locally. How Much Does a Trip to India Cost? A Transparent Breakdown by Style is worth reading if you are still budgeting.
Carry your passport, visa confirmation and a few passport photographs, which some permits and SIM registrations still ask for, and keep digital copies you can reach without signal. Comprehensive travel insurance covering medical care and evacuation is not something to pack so much as to buy before you leave.
What should you pack for the monsoon?
Add serious rain protection and fast-drying clothes, and expect warmth rather than cold. The southwest monsoon sweeps most of the country roughly from June to September, and the southeast coast gets a second, northeast monsoon from about mid-October into December, so check which season your dates and regions fall in.
A compact, genuinely waterproof jacket beats an umbrella in wind, though a small umbrella is useful and easily bought locally. Quick-drying light layers make more sense than heavy cotton that stays damp for hours, and sandals that shrug off water beat closed shoes that stay soggy. A dry bag or a few resealable plastic bags protect your phone, camera and documents. The monsoon is warm, so this is about staying dry.
What changes in the mountains and hill stations?
Pack proper warm layers, because altitude changes everything and mornings can be genuinely cold even when the plains below are hot. As the figures above show, a summer morning in Ooty or Darjeeling averages around 11 to 13 degrees Celsius, in the low fifties Fahrenheit, and Ladakh averages freezing nights for roughly seven months of the year.
Pack layers you can build up: thermals for the highest places, a fleece, a windproof and ideally waterproof outer jacket, plus a warm hat, gloves and thick socks. Sun is fierce at altitude, so high-factor sunscreen, sunglasses and lip balm matter more, not less. Some high-altitude and border areas require permits, and parts of the country carry FCDO travel advisories, so check both officially before you book.
What can you not bring into India? Drones, vapes and satellite devices
A short list of ordinary travel items is restricted or illegal in India, and this is where a packing mistake costs more than a wet shirt.
Drones. India prohibits the import of drones in built-up, semi-knocked-down and knocked-down form under Directorate General of Foreign Trade Notification No. 54/2015-2020, dated 9 February 2022, with narrow exceptions for research and development, defence and security. Registration and pilot certification run through the DGCA’s Digital Sky platform, which is built around Indian operators. In practice, a drone in your luggage is likely to be seized at customs, with no guarantee of getting it back. Leave it at home, and if you have a professional reason to fly, arrange permissions through an Indian production company months ahead. Confirm the current position with the DGCA and Indian customs, because this policy has changed repeatedly.
Vapes and e-cigarettes. Banned. The FCDO states plainly that you cannot buy vapes in India or bring them into the country. Do not pack them, spare pods included.
Satellite phones and GPS devices. The FCDO warns that possessing or operating a satellite phone or GPS device in India without a licence is illegal, even in transit. This covers satellite messengers and handheld or cycling GPS units. The GPS in an ordinary smartphone is not the issue; standalone satellite and navigation hardware is.
Ammunition. Ammunition, including spent casings, should not travel with you. Check pockets and bags, particularly if you shoot.
Rules change, so verify all of this with Indian customs and your own foreign ministry shortly before you travel.
A luggage bag filled with folded clothes.
What can you leave behind and buy in India instead?
Leave behind anything bulky, ordinary or cheaply replaceable, because India makes and sells it well. Over-packing is the classic first-timer error.
Leave a full wardrobe at home, since light cotton kurtas, scarves and even a made-to-measure salwar kameez are inexpensive locally and better for the heat than most of what you own. Leave the large bottles of shampoo, soap and toothpaste, heavy guidebooks you can carry on your phone, formal outfits you are unlikely to wear, and more shoes than the two or three pairs you need. A few things are worth bringing precisely because they are harder to source: your prescription medicine, tampons or a menstrual cup, a universal adapter, and any speciality gear for trekking or photography.
What do first-time visitors get wrong when packing for India?
- Packing for one climate. Plains, coast and mountains can all feature in a single fortnight.
- Bringing too many clothes. Three or four mix-and-match outfits plus cheap local laundry go further than a full suitcase.
- Forgetting a scarf. It handles temples, sun, air-conditioning and covered heads.
- Ignoring voltage. A single-voltage 110 volt appliance can be ruined by India’s 230 volt supply.
- Putting a power bank in checked luggage, where it is not allowed.
- Packing a drone or a vape, both of which are prohibited.
- Wearing new shoes, on ground where you are often barefoot anyway.
- Over-relying on cards. Cash is still essential for temples, drivers and small vendors.
How much luggage should you bring, and what kind of bag?
Bring one main bag you can manage yourself and a secure day bag, and keep the whole thing lighter than you think you need, because India involves stairs, uneven pavements and stretches where you carry your own load. A wheeled case is fine for city trips on smooth ground, while a backpack or soft duffel earns its keep on rougher routes, homestays and anywhere with steps. Leave a little empty space, because textiles, spices and crafts have a way of following you home.
What does it cost to buy what you forgot in India?
Very little, so a forgotten item is an errand rather than a crisis. At approximately ₹96 to 1 US dollar and ₹128 to 1 pound as of September 2026, a cotton kurta or simple local outfit runs from about ₹500 to ₹2,500, roughly USD 5 to 26, or GBP 4 to 20. A scarf or stole might be ₹200 to ₹1,500, about USD 2 to 16. A cheap travel adapter is often ₹150 to ₹500, about USD 1.50 to 5. Sunscreen from a pharmacy is around ₹300 to ₹800, about USD 3 to 8, and a sachet of rehydration salts is a few rupees, well under USD 1. Local laundry runs roughly ₹200 to ₹500 a bag, about USD 2 to 5, which is why three or four outfits comfortably last a fortnight. Prices vary by city, season and shop, so treat these as planning ranges.
How does the list change by trip style?
The core of light natural layers, a scarf, slip-on shoes, an adapter and a small health kit holds for almost everyone on a two or three week cultural trip. A beach trip to Goa or the Kerala coast leans relaxed, though modesty still applies away from the sand. A wildlife trip calls for neutral, muted colours and warm layers for cold open-vehicle safaris at dawn. Families should add the children’s specifics that are harder to find locally. When we plan a trip, the packing note we send is built around the exact season and regions on the itinerary rather than the country in general. Planning a Trip to India: The Complete First-Timer’s Roadmap sets this in the wider context.
Frequently asked questions
What should I wear in India as a foreign tourist?
Loose, lightweight, natural-fabric clothing that covers your shoulders and knees works almost everywhere and keeps you both cool and respectful. Cities and beach resorts are relaxed, while temples and villages call for more coverage. A scarf is the most versatile item you can carry.
Do I need a power adapter and voltage converter for India?
You need a travel adapter, because India uses plug types C, D and M at 230 volts and 50 hertz, which differ from British, European and North American plugs. Most modern phones, laptops and cameras are dual voltage and need only the adapter, but single-voltage 110 volt appliances can be damaged by India’s supply and should be left at home.
Can I bring a drone to India as a tourist?
Assume not. India prohibits the import of complete drones under a 2022 Directorate General of Foreign Trade notification, with narrow exceptions for research, defence and security, and registration runs through a platform built for Indian operators. A drone in your luggage risks confiscation. Confirm current rules with the DGCA and Indian customs before you travel.
Can I take my prescription medicines into India?
Bring them in original packaging with a copy of the prescription and, ideally, a doctor’s letter, and only what you need for the trip. India controls narcotic and psychotropic substances by law, and medicines containing codeine or tramadol, among others, fall into that category. If your medication is controlled at home, check with the Indian High Commission or Embassy before you fly.
What are the airline rules on power banks and liquids?
Power banks and spare lithium batteries must go in your cabin bag, never in checked luggage. Batteries up to 100 watt hours are fine, 100 to 160 watt hours need airline approval and are limited to two spares, and anything higher is refused. Liquids in hand luggage follow the usual 100 millilitre container limit in a one litre clear bag at most airports, with exemptions for essential medicines.
What should I not pack for India?
Leave behind drones, vapes, satellite phones and standalone GPS devices, all of which are banned or restricted. Also leave bulky toiletries, a full wardrobe, heavy guidebooks, formal outfits you are unlikely to wear, and brand-new unworn shoes.
What do I need to pack for the monsoon in India?
Add a compact waterproof jacket, quick-drying clothes, waterproof sandals, and a dry bag or resealable bags to protect electronics and documents. The monsoon is warm rather than cold, so the priority is staying dry, and insect repellent matters more in the wet months.
How much cash should I carry in India?
Carry enough rupee cash for temples, drivers, tips and small vendors, and use cards and mobile payments in hotels, restaurants and city shops. Withdraw from bank ATMs as you go, remember that bringing Indian rupees into the country is restricted, and declare foreign currency above the official thresholds on arrival.
Packing for your own version of India
There is no fixed answer to what to pack for India. The right list responds to a specific trip: the season, the regions you are crossing, the rules that apply to what is in your bag, and the way you like to move through a place.
We design private, personalised India journeys and send every traveller a packing note built around their exact dates and route, so nobody arrives dressed for the wrong India, or with something customs will not let through. If you would like your trip, and your list, shaped around you, Plan my India trip