so...i'm planning to land in mumbai late february. i will spend my first couple weeks in goa. after that i'd like to get down to auroville and also up into the mountains. my questions at this point about about dress. will i need any warmer clothes at all? or only lightweight clothing (shorts, skirts) also: what is proper dress for a woman? are tanktops okay? or short sleeves would be more appropriate? are t-shirts okay, or do indians generally respond better to a bit of a nicer ware, such as a light cotton peasant type shirt? will i need anything other than a pair of sandals (flip flops) for my feet? will i need sneakers? i plan to pack very little; i will bring just a small backpack. so there ain't much i'll be able to bring other than the necessities. are there any other 'musts' that i need for this three month trip? i'm simple and don't mind wearing the same clothes over and over. thanks for the help!
Dress MODESTLY while in India. It annoys me soo much to see backpackers/tourists walking around in shorts and tanks. Keep your arms and legs covered. You'll avoid sunburn and a lot of unwelcome stares. Light, loose fitting cotton is nice when it's hot. In Feb you might need a sweater at night. Since you want to pack lightly, I suggest bringing only 2 or 3 outfits and buying clothes here. Please please avoid shorts and tanks. You'll have a better time (less unwanted sexual interest) and people will respect you more. Don't forget the suncream. Have fun in India! How long do you plan to stay and where to you plan to go? If you make it to Hyderabad, you're welcome to crash at my place for a few days (especially if you bring me OREOS or roll-on deoderant)
What Chai said, plus a few bits of trivia which might concern you. Indians have a high tendency of starting at Western tourists. You might feel totally annoyed at some point, but thats how people are over there. And if you wear tank tops etc. the stares might be lot more. T-shirts and pants might attracted lesser attention in comparison with tank tops and skirts.
As a western woman living in India, I stand by what I said. No one will say anything if you dress immodestly, but you will get a better reception if you're not showing too much skin. When travelling abroad, try to blend in as much as possible. Plenty of Western tourists in Goa walk around in bikini tops and shorts and no one harasses them. I guess it depends on what you are going to India for. If you want to hang out in Goa and go to dance clubs with other foreigners (or "Westernized" Indian 20-somethings) then dress in tanks and shorts. If you're going to India and want positive interactions with Indians in general and to experience Indian culture, then cover your arms and legs. It's better for YOU. I have nothing to gain by saying don't wear tanktops, but I can't imagine walking through a crowd of Indian men wearing clothes like that. They gawk at any girls (Indians even) wearing jeans, etc. To the OP post - this is a reply to Retrow and in no way meant to offend you. I'm sure you'll have a great time in India!
The staring is cool you get used to it. When I was in India to blend in I wore a dhoti, also I can speak hindi fairly well so this made it easier.
thanks for all the advice! i will dress modestly. i won't even bring revealing clothing with me, just t-shirts and some loose pants. what about shorts? i do not ever wear revealing shorts, but the loose kind down to my knees. would that be okay? and what about shoes? just flip flops or sandals, or should i consider bringing sneakers and/or hiking boots? much appreciation for your thoughts and responses.
Knee lenght shorts would be fine, you won't need trainers, just flip-flops and you'll only need hiking boots if you are doing some serious trekking. I have to say I love flip-flops. Along with the hammock they are one of mans greatest inventions. I've been in the Philippines the last 2 months and have been constantly wearing my beloved flip-flops.
I can't wear flip-flops without getting blisters. But yeah, you won't need trainers, boots etc unless of course you're going hiking. I've been in India nine months now and not ONCE did I wear my sneakers that I brought. But I didn't want to leave them home because they cost 60 dollars.. I only wear sandals here, which cost me no more than 200rupees (4.5 dollars) You can get flip-flops for 60 rupees (1.35$US) You'll do fine with knee-shorts. Like someone said, people will stare at you no matter what. Just be careful after dusk, the mosquitos can be soo thick. Just cover your legs and feet (and hands and face) with mosquito cream. It isn't dangerous, the brand I use here is called Odomos, it smells good and says it's safe even for babies.. I'm excited for you, I remember how it felt to prepare for my first trip to India. Be sure to post your experiences here! When are you leaving?!
hmm...all good thoughts! i'm leaving mid-february. i have no idea what to expect! i was thinking - a month in goa (i know people there), a month at auroville (if they'll take me) and a month at some sort of ashram. but besides that very very loose plan, i don't know what i'll be doing. i'm a single girl, who might or might not be accompanied by someone some of the time. i'm sure i'll meet all sorts of people along the way. it's so nice to come here and get good advice, since i just have no idea! i was going to go to costa rica, but this sorta just popped up. i figured that i'm young and healthy and happy, and too poor for costa rica! any extra advice would be great. thoughts on auroville? any special ashrams?
You'll have a great time Kayte. India is a very special place. Register with wwoof.org and you can get a list of people in Auroville who take in people in exhange for you doing a bit of work in their veggie garden. I didn't go to any of the ones in Auroville but I've a friend who did and really liked it. Try to go to Varanasi, Rishikesk & McLeod Ganj aswell. Get the lonely planet for India, it's an invaluable resource. Bon voyage! Om Shanti
hmm...i thought i could just kinda show up at auroville and they'd take me in. is it like that, that everyone's land is seperate and thus, i'd have to woof it? i was under the impression that there'd be some community land or projects i could work on in exchange for food and board. the website was a bit vague. i got my visa! the doctor said it only takes 2 weeks for the shots to work, so i can get them and leave in two or three weeks. any experiences with vaccinations? the doctor is telling me to get hep a/b, tetanus, ...forgot what else. what are your thoughts on malaria pills? necessary? i heard they make ya loopy. all comments are much appreciated!
well let me know when your comin to bombay . wel definately meet up someitme...anda also let me know who your coming with and how have u planned your trip...if you dont have anybody den i can even take u to goa if u wan...
Yes, the best time to visit India is between Feb-MArch and October - Novemeber. As far as ur visiting south India, then these dates do not apply, as the south Indian states have a moderate climate. bombay also has a cool climate when compared with Delhi. Do dont worry about the climatic conditions of Bombay.
