India Bound - YouLookFab Forum

We are considering a trip to India in Feb-March (22 days) via the Roads Scholar program. It is more focused on the spiritual and cultural, the Golden Triangle and Holy Ganges River. We'll start in Delhi, then Jaipur, Kolkata and 6 days on the Ganges River (visiting several places along the way). Marketed as an "active" trip with 2 miles hiking/walking daily at the minimum. We'll avoid the monsoons and really hot weather. Still, I'll need suitable clothing for warm clothing. I have always wanted to go to India. I've taught comparative religion in college and studied Sanscrit. It's amazing I haven't been before now and I'm 69! Even Rick Steves the travel guru who focuses on trips to Europe says India is the place he most likes to travel. Of course, I've heard the discouraging words about the water and getting sick, etc. And all the what if's of traveling abroad. I embrace a trip that potentially can turn me upside down and around, in a good way, totally outside my culture in Idaho. The major minus for me is the very long plane ride to and from.

Do any of you live in India or have lived there or plan to travel there? I am interested in any and all suggestions for clothing to take. Since we're moving about fairly frequently, I need to pack efficiently. I was thinking of items like the following for starters. Thank you for any information on traveling to India and taking clothes that work (incl shoes)! My husband is fully on board. I do have to dress him as well.

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7 years ago

Ledonna N.

Veteran

How wonderful for you. I will follow closely. I think Maneera lives there currently. You could reach out to her. She is a wonderful soul.

Anonymous

How exciting! I have always wanted to go there, monsoons or not. It's always good to expand your horizons like this.

Maneera is probably making a list for you, even as I write! She is the Indian style goddess of YLF.

rabbit

Hopefully locals will chime in with good tips. Some things that first come to mind (I lived in Maharastra - outside Mumbai for about two years and didn't travel further north, mainly south) is that very comfortable walking sandals that are easy to slip on and off, especially when you are carrying things are quite useful. Sneakers are great to walk in, but my experience was that the ones with laces were harder to take off going into temples, and US/European brands had a higher tendency to go missing from shoe racks depending where you are visiting so it's good to have other options too. A woolen shawl, which you can buy there is also invaluable for cool mornings and chilly interiors, as are warm socks you can wear with or without shoes/sandals. Pants you can easily sit cross-legged or kneel in. You will need to check local weather guidelines but I remember in winter wide swings in temperature from early morning to mid-day, so having layers was useful, and a way to carry the layers I took off .

For modest clothes to wear into temples -- the guidelines I followed were longer tunic length tops or jackets that cover the hips when wearing pants. Shoulders covered. Skirts or loose pants below knee length (no jeans, sweatpants, shorts or tight clothes except maybe leggings under loose long tunic length tops). Having a shawl is good to put over shoulders if needed or wrap around your waist if you are wearing a shorter skirt or something.

I have to say the monsoon was the most beautiful time I was there, but can be a more difficult time to travel.

Maneera

(website)

Hi CJ,

I live in India. In Delhi. And I'll be happy to help!

Rabbit's tips are good but there is a lot of difference between North India & South India ....in regards to weather, culture and more.

The time frame you've mentioned is the Indian Winter/Spring. It's cooler, so you can definitely wear all kinds of pants. Infact, since you're a tourist and will be all over the place, I highly recommend pants of all kinds. By that I mean joggers, trousers, cargo pants and even track pants. Longer tunic length tops are great. Especially since your focus is the cultural/spuritual side of India; not the modern metro cities. Indians dress very modestly and like to cover their legs and arms and show bare minimal skin. Since you're coming in winters (or cooler months), this shouldn't be tough.

I like your capsule. Add to it jeans, tunic length tops, longer tunics and leggings, and you'll be just fine. Another point - clothing AND footwear is far far cheaper in India than in the USA, you can always shop in the cities. Also - scarfs. A lot of temples and poojas (prayer services) ask the ladies to cover their head in respect. But scarves are also much cheaper here and easy to buy everywhere, Incase you don't want to carry.

This year has been an exception and it was summer by mid-February. Usually it's much much colder (around 4 deg to 15 deg C) and I don't think you'd need sleeveless tops. Regular tops are just fine! I'll update you on weather conditions as your travel dates comes closer...

Since your trip involves a lot of walking, please bring very comfortable walking sandals and sneakers. If you'll visit lots of temples, slip on sneakers are a great option. India is dirty, the roads are bad, and you don't want to get anything pricey at all.

You can PM me with any questions. I have lived in North India (born near Rishikesh & Haridwar, very popular tourist spots for Ganges....and my parents still live there).

Hope that helps.

Ever so helpful Maneera and Rabbit! I will PM you two as I come up with questions and will run by possible "finds" for this trip. I do need tunics though I have a couple, more pants (esp looser fit ones so I can sit cross-legged), etc. As far as I can tell from the trip description, there won't be a lot of time allotted to shopping. I would like to pack economically so I don't have to lug a heavy suitcase around. This is all so very helpful already. I find it overwhelming to think about, to be honest, so starting now is a good thing for me. Angie's travel capsules were always instructive with emphasis on versatile items that combine well with other items rather than separate outfits. I like classic colors to travel in--black, navy, grey, esp for bottoms (pants and skirts/dresses), adding color and style with tunic/top/scarf. I will wear bold colors occasionally but usually they are integrated.

do you think global warming has something to do with the earlier summer in 2015? our summer here was especially hot last year and our spring came early this year.

Sure CJ....glad to help. I wear just regular jeans with stretch when I need to sit cross-legged. It's not uncomfortable. Track pants & leggings are great too. In fact, Indians wear leggings ALOT with long tunic type tops we call 'kurtis'. I'm adding pictures. It's real simple to wear.

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