NRI Pilgrimage Packing & Preparation Checklist

## Why a Pilgrimage Packs Differently A pilgrimage is not a holiday. The pace is earlier, the clothing is more modest, and the days move between sacred spaces, dusty lanes, and long temple queues. NRI travellers, particularly those returning after many years, often pack for an Indian holiday and find themselves underprepared for darshan logistics, dress codes, and weather extremes. This checklist is built from the questions our NRI families ask us most often. ## Clothing Bring breathable cotton — Indian summer humidity will defeat anything synthetic. - **For men**: kurta-pyjama or dhoti-kurta for darshan, full-length trousers and modest shirts for general wear - **For women**: saree, salwar-kameez, or modest kurta with leggings; a stole or dupatta for covering the head at temples - **Footwear**: easy slip-on sandals (you will remove them many times a day), one comfortable walking shoe for the city, and inexpensive flip-flops for the ghats - **A warm shawl** for early mornings, particularly November to February - **A second set of clothes** for the day you take a Ganga or Sangam snan - **A waterproof poncho** if travelling July to September ## Documents Carry both physical and digital copies. Place originals in a separate inner pocket of your hand luggage. - Passport with valid Indian visa or OCI card - A printed copy of your itinerary and confirmed darshan bookings - Hotel confirmations - Travel insurance card - Vaccination record if requested by your home country - Aadhaar or PAN if you hold one — speeds up domestic flight check-in ## Money - Carry US$300–500 in cash for emergencies, but most expenses can be paid by UPI or card - Inform your bank of travel dates to avoid card blocks - A small bag of ₹10 and ₹20 notes for small offerings, boatmen, and prasad vendors - Avoid carrying large amounts of cash inside temple complexes ## Health The single most important category for NRI travellers. - Prescription medicines in original packaging, with a doctor's note for controlled substances - Oral rehydration salts (ORS) — heat exhaustion is the most common NRI ailment - Mosquito repellent, particularly for evening boat rides - A basic first-aid kit: paracetamol, antidiarrhoeal, antihistamine, electrolytes, plasters - N95 masks if you are sensitive to dust - Hand sanitiser and wet wipes We strongly recommend a travel medicine consult two to four weeks before departure to discuss typhoid and Hepatitis A boosters. ## Devices and Connectivity - A universal adapter (India uses Type C, D, and M sockets) - A power bank — temple queues are long and you may need to step outside the complex to charge - An Indian SIM card or international roaming plan; Jio and Airtel offer the best coverage in the pilgrimage cities - A small offline map saved on your phone — Old Varanasi's lanes confuse most navigation apps ## What NOT to Bring Into Temples - Mobile phones (often not permitted inside the sanctum) - Cameras (not permitted at Ram Mandir, Kashi Vishwanath, and many sanctums) - Leather items — belts, wallets, bags — are not allowed at Kashi Vishwanath and several other temples - Large bags, water bottles in some complexes Most major temples have lockers near the gates for a small fee. ## Before You Fly Two weeks before departure, walk through this list: - Reconfirm darshan and puja bookings; share the booking IDs with your service provider - Share your gotra and family details for any sankalp pujas - Confirm hotel pickup, cab service, and pandit arrival timings - Notify your bank and mobile carrier - Buy travel insurance that covers medical evacuation - Photograph your passport, visa, and credit cards; email the images to yourself ## On Arrival - Drink only bottled or filtered water for the first three to four days - Stick to freshly cooked, hot meals during the first week - Build in a half-day of rest after arrival before beginning darshan - Wear an inexpensive watch on the dominant wrist if you wish to keep your finer watch in the safe ## A Word on Cultural Preparation Beyond physical packing, prepare yourself spiritually. Re-read the Ramayana or the Shiv Purana, depending on the cities on your itinerary. Discuss with your family what you wish to pray for. Carry a small notebook to write down the names you wish to include in your sankalp. The pilgrimage feels different when you arrive prepared in heart and mind, not only in suitcase.