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What should I pack when moving to India?

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We asked people living in India to list three things they wish they had brought and three they wish they had left behind. They responded...

"When moving to India, it is important to pack both warm and cool weather clothing, appropriate for the different climates of India. For standing up to the heat, make sure to bring light-colored, breathable fabrics like cotton and linen. For the colder months, pack jackets, sweaters, and scarves. A variety of umbrellas and sunglasses are also recommended. Make sure to bring personal items you won't find in India, like any must-have skin-care products, toiletries, and your favorite snacks. Lastly, be sure to pack all necessary supplies for your religion, such as prayer rugs and books," remarked another expat in India.

"Three things I wish I had brought: a good pair of winter slippers, because houses here are uninsulated, so the winters can be cooler inside than out; another set of good kitchen knives, since ones we have found here are not of very good quality; another pair of indestructible sandals from some of the big name brands, since here you can get cheap sandals custom-made...but they also require resoling, and have no arch support! Thee things I wish I had left at home: electric blanket, because even despite a transformer & converter, it still blew and now the fancy function doesn't work; our queen-size fitted sheets that we were told to bring, because you can't get fitted sheets here--only to find out that 'queen size' is really closer to king, it being two single beds pushed together; my winter coats, because you can manage just fine with a sweater and t-shirt, silk underwear and normal clothes, and so on - winter coats are a waste of space and it's not cold enough," said a member in Mussoorie, India.

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What should I pack when moving to India?

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About the Author

Betsy Burlingame Betsy Burlingame is the Founder and President of Expat Exchange and is one of the Founders of Digital Nomad Exchange. She launched Expat Exchange in 1997 as her Master's thesis project at NYU. Prior to Expat Exchange, Betsy worked at AT&T in International and Mass Market Marketing. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a BA in International Business and German.

Some of Betsy's articles include 12 Best Places to Live in Portugal, 7 Best Places to Live in Panama and 12 Things to Know Before Moving to the Dominican Republic. Betsy loves to travel and spend time with her family. Connect with Betsy on LinkedIn.

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