How much stuff should you pack for a month in India?

How much stuff should you pack for a month in India? Well, I reckon about the same as you would pack for one week in India.

Hotels in India have the best and most efficient laundry services I’ve ever come across. For mere pennies you can have your whole bag of clothes cleaned, dried, ironed and neatly folded within 24 hours.

There’s no need to carry around more than one week’s worth of clothes – save the space in your bag for your inevitable souvenir shopping!

Clothes to pack for a month in India

A few T-shirts

India is a mainly Hindu country, so as a woman you need to be covering your shoulders and your knees. Leave your sleeveless tops at home and opt for short sleeve, cotton mix (they crease less than 100% cotton) t-shirts.

India can be hot and humid, so take one week’s worth or pack some travel laundry liquid to give them a rinse in between full laundry loads.

A long sleeve shirt

A lightweight long sleeve shirt is a good idea in India as you can use it to cover up if necessary and to protect from mosquito bites in the evenings. Choose a linen or cotton style to keep cool.

A few pairs of cotton joggers

I love cotton joggers for travel in hot climates. As a woman in India you need to wear clothes that cover your knees, so a few pairs of lightweight trousers are a must.

Cotton joggers are perfect as they scrunch up really small and take up next to no space in your bag.

A dress or two

Dresses are great in India as they look great and keep you nice and cool. Just make sure you pack dresses which cover your shoulders and your knees.

A silk scarf

You don’t really have to pack one of these when you’re at home, because opportunities to buy beautiful silk scarves at a great price will be plentiful in India.

But do make sure you get one within your first few days. They are great for covering up in temples, using as a light blanket on a breezy train, or just for accessorising your outfit.

Some statement jewellery

I’m not really one for accessories, but for those of you that find wearing a week’s worth of clothing over and over again a bit dull, you can mix things up with a few well-chosen accessories.

Just make sure you pick things that will look good with multiple outfit combinations.

Toms Shoes

Toms are just about my favourite shoes, not least because they give a new pair of shoes to a child in need every time you buy a pair! I live in them (except in Winter!).

Toms are absolutely brilliant for travelling because they are just so comfy and just so light! They also squish up as small as flip-flops (or thongs, or jandals, depending on where you’re from!)

In India the streets can be kinda dirty, so Toms are perfect as they cover your whole foot, but are cool and lightweight. They’re pretty good for climbing to the top bunk on a sleeper train too (see pic above!).

Socks (if you’re visiting the Karni Mata temple)

See those rats? See the state of the floor? This is the Karni Mata temple (aka. the Rat Temple) and it’s a temple, so you can’t wear shoes. So yeah… you’re gonna want socks. And you’re gonna want ones you won’t mind throwing in the bin as you leave.

A down jacket for the plane

I don’t know how I coped before, but I only discovered down jackets a few years ago. Mine has changed my travel life! I live in the UK (which is often a wee bit chilly!) so, even when travelling to somewhere hot, I need a coat to get to the airport. That used to mean lugging around a heavy jacket in a hot country for weeks/months and not using it!

Down jackets are SUPER LIGHT and can scrunch up to about the size of a tennis ball – perfect for packing light on a multi-climate trip

And obviously…

Underwear, PJs, etc.

Other things to pack for a month in India

Travel hair dryer

The weather can be hot and humid in India, and also the water tends to leave your hair feeling a bit… grubby. So your locks can be harder than usual to tame.

I wrote a post about my favourite travel hair dryer a while back.

Power bank

Electricity in India’s hotels can be somewhat unreliable and you’re highly likely to experience a lot of power cuts whilst you’re there.

Not to mention the fact that it can be difficult to make sure you have the right plug adaptor. Indian builders seem to put in whichever type of socket they have to hand, so whilst one hotel room might have 3-pin UK sockets, the next might be European or American.

So a power bank can be super handy! I have an Anker PowerCore 20100 – Ultra High Capacity Power Bank and I really love it. I took it to Jordan recently and charged my iPhone multiple times without anywhere near running down the powerbank.

Noise cancelling headphones

Travel in India means long train journeys (if you want to know what the trains are like, you can read my post about them). So noise cancelling headphones can be a godsend.

Bose QuietComfort are generally reported as the best, or here’s a review of my favourite budget noise cancelling headphones!

Kindle

Also amazing for passing time on a long train journey, don’t forget to pack your Kindle. Make sure you pre-load it with plenty of good reads before you leave the UK, as the WiFi in India can be somewhat sketchy.

A decent camera

India is one of the places that I’ve taken the most photos. Everything there was interesting to me and it’s great to have the memories captured and printed in a photobook (and posted on Insta…).

If you’re new to photography but don’t trust your iPhone to produce good enough shots, I recommend investing in an entry-level DSLR. I have a Nikon D3500 which I love to bits – it’s light, great for learning and it’s pretty good on Automatic too!

Toiletries

Of course, you’ll need to take your usual set of toiletries (shampoo, soap, etc.) but there’s a couple of other things you’ll want in India too.

Don’t forget to pack insect repellent containing Deet. It stinks, but you do not want to get Dengue Fever.

And make sure you pack some hand sanitiser. Contrary to popular belief, the toilets really aren’t that bad, but the water for washing your hands might not be very clean.

Also, make sure you nab a loo roll or two from your hotel to carry around with you. You’ll appreciate it.

First Aid Kit

Depending on where in India you are travelling, it may be difficult to get hold of good first aid supplies, so make sure you take a decent first aid kit with you.  Don’t forget plasters and antibacterial wipes, plus a good supply of Immodium… (I actually didn’t get sick AT ALL in India, but I was glad to have a safety net!).

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Get started with Yoga…

The easiest way to have a go at yoga is to book yourself on to a local class. Most places allow you to try it before you sign up to a course of sessions. And you can find yoga classes everywhere.

Swetty Betty even offer free yoga classes in many locations in the UK!

A little more Yoga adventure…

If you’re keen to add some spice to your yoga sessions, have a go at hot yoga – practising yoga in a pod heated to 37 degrees celcius!  Check out www.hotpodyoga.com 

Or, if you’re up for more of a yoga adventure, try SUP yoga. Yep – that’s yoga poses whilst on a stand up paddle board! SUP yoga offers an extra balance challenge, plus it’s nice to be outside instead of your local village hall!

Maximum Yoga adventure!

Ready for a real adventure? Yoga holidays are a thing!

A whole week of yoga and relaxation a little too much? Then combine it with learning to surf! Surfing and Yoga work well together and there are a growing number of trips including the two activities every day. Take a look at https://www.soulandsurf.com/ and http://www.surfsistas.com/

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I wasn’t really expecting to like India and honestly I was a bit scared to go there. It surprised me – I absolutely loved it and have not stopped talking about it since (oh, my poor family!).

I believe that India is a country that everyone should visit at least once, because it is just so different to the western world. You will not be able to avoid learning something culturally valuable that will stay with you for life.

Thinking of visiting India? Download the Free Basics Guide

You don’t have to go it alone though – there’s a lot to be said for the security of a group tour in India!

Why choose a group tour in India?

Safety in numbers

When travelling to somewhere like India, where I had heard many a scam story, I wanted to be part of a group. There IS more safety in numbers than alone!

Ease of travelling around

India can be a little scary to navigate if you’ve not been there before. Tuk tuks, Rickshaws and Sleeper Trains are all amazing experiences, but they can be a bit of an acquired taste!

Related Post: What is a sleeper train in India really like?

On a group tour, the transport is all arranged for you by the guide. They make sure that tuk tuks or rickshaws are waiting to take you sightseeing and that you’re at the station in time to catch your train.

A decent guide

I had a brilliant guide on my group tour in India who was an amazing story-teller. A dedicated guide for your whole trip means that you essentially have a local friend. You have someone to tell you the background of the places you visit and someone on hand to answer your many many cultural questions!

I didn’t get sick in India (I repeat, I DIDN’T GET SICK IN INDIA!) and a lot of that was thanks to my guide. Having someone point to your plate and say “Try that, Carys – it’s amazing!” or “CARYS! Put that down – it will definitely make you sick!” is invaluable.

Choosing a tour company

There are a ton of tour companies offering a group tour in India, from big foreign owned corporations to simply booking a guide when you touch down in Delhi.

Personally, as a solo female adventurer, I wanted to know I would be safe and looked after from the moment I arrived in India.

For me, it was between G Adventures and Intrepid Travel because they are well known to me. I had travelled with them before and both have partnered with STA Travel, who I trust.

Plus, they both have different levels of travel style to suit different budgets – from basic to luxury.

I ended up going with G Adventures, so the rest of this post is about that trip.

The down side of a group tour in India

Of course, group tours aren’t for everyone. I don’t always travel this way – I’ve backpacked around Australia alone and arrived in Thailand without a plan.

I love the freedom that solo travel brings – to stop and stay longer in one place if you wish, or to wander a city alone. That is what is missing from a group tour, so it’s swings and roundabouts with the safety aspect!

A group tour in India can be a bit ‘whistle-stop’ – you don’t get long in each place because you are fitting a lot into just a few weeks.

You don’t get a lot of ‘me time’ either – especially if you’ve opted to share a room. But it is safer and I met some awesome people that I’m still in touch with.

Thinking of visiting India? Download the Free Basics Guide

G Adventures Rajasthan and Varanasi: Ancient Temples & The Taj Mahal

The tour I chose was the G Adventures Rajasthan and Varanasi: Trains & The Taj tour.

Check out the full itinerary on their website (…and get lost dreaming of all their amazing tours – they have so many around the world and I want to go on them ALL!)

This one is a 18-to-30-somethings tour, so the most basic type. The accommodation was WAY nicer than I was expecting! Super clean and comfortable, just the odd broken plug socket!

I chose this one because I really wanted to visit Varanasi, and it wasn’t included in the itinerary of many of the less-basic tours.

I worried that I would be hanging around with a bunch of teenagers (I’m 31) but it wasn’t like that at all. There were seven of us aged between 21 and 34.

I’m sharing some of my experiences and photos from the G Adventures Rajasthan and Varanasi: Trains & The Taj tour below to bring it to life a little!

First Stop: Delhi

The first stop was Delhi for that initial culture shock! A guided walking tour led by a former street-kid and a taxi tour to the main city sights.

I pushed my way through crowds of people buying and selling, and learned the hard way why flip-flops (thongs, or jandals – depending on where you are from!) were not the greatest idea!

20,000 Rats in a Temple in Bikaner

Yes – those are rats. Lots of rats. 20,000 in this one temple, would you believe!

We visited the Karni Mata temple in which the rats are fed and looked after. They are believed to be the descendants of an incarnation of a god.

You don’t have to go into the temple, but trust me it is a great story to tell.

Oh, by the way… it’s a temple… you can’t wear shoes!

Riding Camels in the Rajasthan Desert

Who knew that the Rajasthan desert would be so green? Apparently it isn’t always – just the result of some heavy rain.

Are camels comfortable to sit on for two hours? No.

Was it worth doing? Absolutely!

I slept outside under the stars, staring up at the milky way – which is my absolute favourite way to sleep!

Jaisalmer – The Golden City

Jaisalmer is beautiful. It’s called the Golden City because the buildings are made of yellowish sandstone. A day of wandering around the narrow alleyways of the living fort (as in, people still live and work in the fort) taking photos.

Inside the fort you feel you’ve left the hustle and bustle of the city well behind.

The Blue City – Jodhpur, Rajasthan

Jodhpur is known as the ‘Blue City’ – I’ll leave you to hazard a guess as to why!

I visited the Mehrangarh Fort, which is stunning and contains a museum of local heritage. I took a headphone tour which was worthwhile.

Prepare to be treated like a minor celebrity though – most other tourists are from other parts of India and everybody (just everybody) will want a selfie with you!

Relaxing a bit in Udaipur

Udaipur is known as the ‘Venice of the East’. It’s just lovely. Set amongst a series of huge lakes, the scenery is beautiful.

Udaipur was the first place on my trip that it was possible to grab a decent coffee and sandwich (if you fancied a change from curry). It felt almost European sitting on a restaurant balcony looking over the lakes.

I did most of my souvenir shopping in Udaipur – a great spot for silver jewellery, leather bags, and pretty notebooks.

Related post: Udaipur Monsoon Palace, India: Beware of the Monkeys

I also took a visit to the Udaipur Monsoon Palace which has stunning views – just watch out for the monkeys!

Resetting your Karma in Pushkar

One of the more touristy spots, Pushkar was the place I saw the most western tourists. It’s developed a bit of a hippy vibe so you’ll see a lot of dreadlocked backpackers.

The holy lake is beautiful though and it’s worth taking the option to reset your Karma in a ceremony at the lake. I’m not sure whether it worked, but what the heck!

Seeing Village Life in Tordi Sagar

One of the things I like about G Adventures tours is that they normally take you off the beaten track. We visited a tiny village in the middle of nowhere, named Tordi.

The village itself – just a normal tiny village. The houses were little more than huts and the people were some of the poorest you will find. But super friendly.

I didn’t take any photos here – it didn’t really feel right. Too much like being in someone’s home.

We stayed just a few minutes, so as not to disrupt too much.

Checking out Jaipur

Jaipur felt like just another Indian city to me – it’s more about the City Palace and the Amer Fort. Both really interesting places and worth a visit.

I watched my first Bollywood movie here which, bizarrely, was set in my hometown!? I’m sure I might have felt homesick, had they not clearly muddled Cambridge UK with Cambridge, MA!

One fascinating place I visited was Jantar Mantar – a collection of large astronomical instruments. It’s home to the worlds largest sundial (it really tells the time – I checked!) and an instrument for each star sign.

Seeing the Taj Mahal in Agra

Jaipur is the last stop in Rajasthan, after which the Rajasthan and Varanasi tour takes you into the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Agra itself was, honestly, a bit of a dive. The only place on my trip that I was warned, very seriously, to keep a special eye on my personal belongings. We all removed our necklaces, as it’s known for people to snatch them as you walk by.

Besides that though, Agra is home to some of the most beautiful buildings in the world! The Taj Mahal is one of the real highlights of the G Adventures tours. I visited the Taj Mahal for two photo opportunities – a sunset from a distance and a sunrise at the site itself. It really is breath-taking.

The Taj Mahal gets busy as the day wears on, so we left to visit the Baby Taj. Here, there were just a handful of tourists – so it was super easy to get a great shot!

Exploring Varanasi and the Ganges

Varanasi is an incredible experience. Situated on the banks of the holy Ganges river, it is like no other place I have been.

If you imagine India, this is probably the closest to what you are imagining. The streets are crammed full of people, cows, rickshaws, rubbish and beggars tugging at your trouser leg.

On a sunrise boat trip I watched people wash and clean their teeth in the brown, murky water at the Ghats (steps on the river bank), where I frankly wouldn’t dip my toe.

A sunset boat trip showed me where the dead are cremated on bonfires on the banks of the holy river – ensuring their place in heaven.

In the narrow alleyways you will need to step aside as men carry silk-shrouded bodies down to the river.

On the lighter side, there is an amazing candle ceremony every evening on the Ghats, which is a spectacle not to be missed! I watched from a boat on the river, alongside hundreds of other boats.

Would I say I liked Varanasi? Perhaps not exactly. But it was an experience that I am glad to have had.

Finish the G Adventures Rajasthan and Varanasi: Ancient Temples & The Taj Mahal tour in Delhi

Finally, I returned to Delhi – tired but safe in the knowledge that I had and experience of a lifetime and never had to worry about my safety. I would definitely recommend taking the G Adventures Rajasthan and Varanasi: Ancient Temples & The Taj Mahal tour if you are travelling alone.

Other India tours

I thoroughly enjoyed the G Adventures Rajasthan and Varanasi: Ancient Temples & The Taj Mahal tour, but if you’re worried about the ‘basic’ travel style there are heaps of other options for a group tour in India!

Thinking of visiting India? Download the Free Basics Guide

No matter how you choose to travel, do visit India – it will change you for the better.

This article contains affiliate links, which means I will get a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you decide to buy. Integrity is really important to me, so I only recommend products that I really love! Of course, do your own research and if you have any questions about the tour itself or need some advice, please feel free to get in touch – I’d be happy to help a fellow traveller!

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