Starting to panic about what to pack! Solo female needs advice please!!

HollyF9986

Hi! This will be my first trip to India, and I will be traveling alone for 6 weeks, leaving on April 7.

I certainly don't want to offend, and am completely willing to respect Indian dress but I'm a little torn. I just got back from a backpacking trip through Thailand and Laos. I was told for that trip as well to dress very conservatively and all of that, but when I got there, I had all the wrong things. I only wore 3 things that I packed, and those things were the more "western" type clothes that I brought. When i wore the conservative stuff, I just looked like a hippie backpacker trying to be respectful...does anyone understand where i'm coming from??

I definitely don't want to overpack, so what is the minimum I should bring for 6 weeks?? I'm getting so freaked out by all the stories I've been reading, and am getting really nervous! I don't want people giving me dirty looks for wearing cheap flip flops with a nice salwar kameez (I think it was on these forums that I read that)!

I'd really really appreciate some advice!! Thanks in advance! (I'm 21 years old by the way, in case that's important)

Darmabum

First of all . . . don't freak out . . . plenty of time for that later

Sounds like you've read around this Forum a bit, and yes, lots of information on what to wear/what not to wear; in the end, it's all up to you, especially regarding how conservatively you want to go.

Being an old guy (my first trip to India was in '82, my fifth trip in 2006, never less than four months at a time, max of six) I tend toward the conservative; I've never felt "like a hippie backpacker trying to be respectful" (that too, in the end, is your own take on yourself). Once there you'll see (as you must have in Laos/Thailand) the whole gamut of clothing. My way is to assume that I'm going to someone else's house and house rules apply. My bansuri teacher just lights up when I wear traditional clothing. Whatever I've "felt like" when wearing traditional Indian clothing, I've never gotten anything but a nod and a smile from the locals.

It's gonna be hot when you're there, unless you're heading into Ladakh. I have no idea of your budget, not sure if AC rooms are in it . . . whatever, on the streets and possibly in your room, it's going to be hot and HUMID. My last trip was Varanasi and Varanasi only for six months, from February through August. In April it was starting to warm up, June was the hottest.

A suggestion: take what you want as far as your western clothes, then get clothes made there. See how you feel once you're there, get an idea of how you want to dress. Some of the cottons are amazing and made for that climate.

Relax . . . breath . . . again . . . You'll bee fine. Have a Great Trip.

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fajitanumerouno

It all varies depending on where you go. But it will be hot. Some kind of shawl is always good. I used a pareo kind of thing I had that doubled as beach blanket, sheet and shawl as required. So could cover arms or whatever and still have a picnic blanket later. It was lightweight and easy to pack also. Mine had some designs on it, but a solid one would have looked better. Sure I looked like a hippie on holiday or something but I guess that is what I am to some degree. Sure the shoes never truly went with the punjabi, but then we went inside and left them by the door anyhow so I did not care.

When I was in Ahmedabad it was easier to blend in and such with more traditional clothing yet when I went south to the tourist areas in Kerala it was much more western dress overall. Even among Indian tourists. In Ahmedabad and places it seemed only little boys wore cargo pants so I probably looked pretty wacky at first with my cargo capri's on. But then I got to go shopping because buying here in US would make it expensive anyhow.

You can buy a whole outfit for as little as $7 there and have it tailored. You could drop into FabIndia and buy stuff you could even wear when you get home, but it will be more then $7, which would then be expensive. Pack light with variety and leave room to shop as you go. Many places have tailors on the premisis that will adjust outfits as required in minutes. Its pretty cool.
Val

Brisso

Holly - noone gives a rats what you wear. The men might get a bit leery if your pups are on display, but I think you are aware of that.

India has become an modern urban society - the steroetypes you are responding to belong in the '70s.

Pack light - everything you need can be obtained relatively cheaply.

Nick-H

Seventies? Even in the 90s they were alive and well Here in Chennai they belong to 2005, and there are still plenty of people for whom they are very much alive.

Yes, things are changing fast, and there are plenty of girls on the street in jeans and tea shirts, but the majority are still going for salwar and even saris still. All sorts of other alternatives, including Western ones are perfectly acceptable, but best not to show off the flesh or the figure.

Nobody will care about the cheap flipflops --- and footware is cheap here anyway. Buy local shoes to go with your local dress.

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Brisso

Fair comment Nick - what I was trying to communicate is that Indian folk do not expect tourists to wear Indian clothing ...

zoltan

Hi Holly,

Firstly, pack the "women's things" that you may not be able to get in India (ie. sanitary items; contaception; etc.)

Next, it will be hot during the time you are going, so make sure you pack cotton items, nothing synthetic.

Generally, clothing can be made for you in India easily & without too much expense. You could always get something made up for you that would suit your requirements.

I would suggest that you either take (or purchase there), a hat to help keep the sun off your head and, some good sunblock.

And finally, go with the mindset of having a great time there - don't worry what people will think of the way you are dressing.

Cheers
Zoltan

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NeeliAankhen

I'd say basically - bring enough clothes so as not to have to do laundry for about five days.

Bring what you feel attractive/comfortable in when it's hot out, but leave out low-cut tops and short skirts. Or one such thing if you expect to go to all-western places to socialize.

And then bring or acquire while there at least one loose-fitting long kurta with some kind of pants to go under it, and also one cotton shawl/dupatta you can put over your head -- I think it's good to have one totally concealing/head-hiding outfit -- sunglasses, too -- just for any place you encounter where you want to make yourself disappear as much as you can. Once or twice I wrapped up like this and it did diminish the harassment factor I believed.

mollyb

On my last trip to South India I packed only underwear, sandals, vitamins and essential toiletries with the intention of buying several salwars my first day there. Salwars are beautiful, comfortable, and inexpensive. I got compliments on my attire from Indians the entire trip. As it turned out, British Air lost my luggage, but other than having to rinse out my underwear every night and forego my vitamins, I was fine.

Nick-H

Yes, Brisso, you are right.

And you, Zoltan. People agonise over this question as if India were some sort of fundamentalist country, which it is not.

It does have its corners of conservatism, though.

reneeautumn

My mom and sister plan to buy a salwar kameez each as soon as they land. I will probably just keep one of theirs when they leave. I'm attached to cargo pants b/c I like putting all my things in the pockets and having my hands free and not carrying a purse.

reneeautumn

also: do I need to wear closed toe shoes? I feel like it's going to be so hot when I go (May to July) I'd rather wear open toe shoes. Also, it's stereotyping, but I feel I almost never see Indians in the States wearing closed-toe shoes, so I figured Indians in India would almost all be wearing sandals.

Nick-H

Some people suggest wearing closed-toe shoes for the safety and security of your toes!

As long as it isn't falling apart, no-one will care what you wear on your feet: it is 100% your comfort decision.

I wear open-toed sandals every day (maybe once a year I get to wade through flood water in a pair of boots). In the Chennai climate I would be absurdly uncomfortable wearing anything else, and if it keeps me out of the night clubs and the posh bars, that's fine because I didn't want to go there anyway! Everywhere else, no problem.

What I take care of when buying my sandals is that the sole is long enough to protect the toes at the front and the heel at the back. The road dust is going to contain all manner of unmentionables, and you do not want cuts on your feet.