Mosquito nets

Hi everyone,

I am traveling to Delhi and surrounding areas from July 28 - August 26. I will be staying in youth hostels arranged by the non-profit group that I am traveling with. Does anyone know whether I should purchase my own mosquito net prior to leaving for India, will one be provided in a hostel, or should I buy one in India? Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Hello Norky13 - Welcome to India Mike! I've never used one myself but it might be better to pick one up before you head off. I believe the wedge shapped ones are more readily available in the west and easier to assemble. If you look at the bottom of this page you will see links to other threads on this topic. Best of Luck!

I am a religious user. Keeps out the insects and keeps the rats and their droppings from falling on you. Never expect one to be provided. You can buy them there. However, I prefer wider choice and not having to interrupt travel to get one..

Yes you will be glad to have one, and Yes you should buy before you go - the ones in the States will be lighter, more durable, and more practical. They are rarely provided in India, and if they are, there is no guarantee they won't be full of holes. As a single backpacker, the wedge-type is definitely the one to go for.

See my packing list for other packing-related comments:
http://www.mapability.com/travel/pack.html

Tim in Ireland

[QUOTE=edwardseco]I am a religious user. Keeps out the insects and keeps the rats and their droppings from falling on you.
It's so true, I feel very safe under a mosquito net

They are very cheap here, maybe 1/10 the price. Also the ones sold here will be tiger-proof as well as rat-proof.

Well --- at least the first part of that is true!

Also, if you buy here it might take a couple of days to find the shop etc.

Remember: sleeping under a net is good, but does not mean not taking anti-malarial precautions.

Nick's comment about the price of nets available in India may very well be true, but that's about the only good thing going for them. The problem is, if you decide to buy purely on price, and wait until you get to India, you then have no other option if you then decide that the products available in India are not to your liking. That is why I would strongly recommend you buy your net in the US. If I am proved wrong, at the worst case you have just wasted a few extra dollars. If I am proved right, you will have a dependable net, suitable for the purpose, that you will be happy to carry around and use in India. If you find a better one in India, you can discard the first one. (But I bet you won't!)

Tim in Ireland - 7 times in India, and still waiting to see an Indian mossie net I would like to backpack with.

I think Indian mosquito nets are made by mosquitos, for mosquitos. They're also quite heavy to carry around compared to nylon nets.

I'm going to the same area at the same time as you - and I'm definitely getting my net before I go. So in my opinion gdon't leave home without one. There's a great shop in London that does all that sort of stuff - plus nets bought here (or in the uS in your case) will be guarenteed - you know there's no holes - plus you can get ones that are covered in mozzie repellent as well - an added bonus.

And remember - cute little anti malarial drugs are all well and good - but the only true thing that will stop you getting Malarial, Dengue etc etc is to not get bitten in the first place.

I didn't use one when I travelled in India. Some places you stay dont have anywhere to hang them which can be a bit of a pain.
There are these devices which look like air fresheners that plug in to an electrical outlet which keep the mosquitos away. I was in a room that had one and didn't get bit all night. I think you can get these anti-mosquito plug ins at local general stores.

Hanging mosquito nets can call for a bit of ingenuity at times !! The secret is to have two lengths of cord, 5m long. Normally 1 is sufficient, and the other takes on a role of laundry-line, but on very rare occasions, both are needed: for instance 1 to go across the room, and the other to tie on to it, and then down to the net. But normally there is a pipe, nail, wall bracket, window bar, light fitting etc etc that can be used. Sometimes you might need to move the bed a bit.

I have a further item in my pack that is used when all else fails: 1 of those screw hooks, about 1" long. It looks like a wood-screw with a circular eye on the end. With one on those, you can find the edge of a piece of wood in the wall, or the top of a wardrobe that doesn't show, or a small crevice in the plaster, and use that to attach the line. I don't like doing it, and only do it 1 time in a 1000, but sometimes its necessary. Using these methods I have always been able to hang my net, 100% of the time.

Tim in Ireland

What Tim says.

I managed with just the one 5m length of rope and either light fittings, jamming it in the doors, the bottom half of bolt lock are good hoops, curtain rails, bar on the windows and anything else that looked secure. Sometimes moved the bed to get it under the net.

I used the economy treated net from here:-

http://www.safariquip.co.uk/acatalog...to_Nets_1.html

though the untreated one would be just as good, never saw one die from sitting on it. Nice and big but very light to carry and packs down small. The size is important because the bigger it is, the more comfortable it is, you can sit up in bed reading without hassle from mozzies or if its hung a bit low you can tuck it under the mattess so your away from the sides. If you touch the sides when asleep they will bite you there.

Indian ones are for permanent fixture, have a wider weave for comfort but are bulky heavy things.

Mozzie nets are you number one purchase for india as pretty much NO hotel room I stayed in had one.

Hi all .
Im off to India for the First time in January and ive got most of the items i'll need but i havn't yet got a Mosquitoe net.
Im traveling on my own for 6 weeks but expect that many of the rooms i will stay in will be doubles so im wondering wether to get a double net? I will be in Delhi,Haridwar, Rishikesh, Varanasi, Agra and Vrindavan for my trip. Are the Mosquitoes bad in these part january and February? (Hopefully the ansawer will be no lol). What do you good folks think? All help gratefully recieved as ever.
Peace
Si

January and February are not, typically, high mosquito months, especially in the areas you'll be traveling. Not to say there won't be any, but not as many as later in the year. Depends too on you; are you a mosquito-magnet? I am not, and have rarely used a net (I find them confining and not airy enough for my liking.) You can buy them in India. In my guest house in Varanasi last year they provided a net for me; it was a single net, but flared enough at the bottom to accomodate my double bed.
Happy Trails . . . some cool places your off to.

Hi Darmabum
Thanks for your reply. I dont think im gonna bother with a net, if i need one ill get one in Delhi. Ive only been nashed twice by mozies so hopefully they dont like me. Carnt what to head off.
Peace
Si