1. Check the seasonal temperatures of the region you will be visiting. The Northern Mountains vs. Mumbai will make a huge difference in what you will need to pack.

2. Wear things that are light and comfortable. 
Pack items that are easy to throw in a suitcase and you don't have to worry about it getting wrinkled.

3. I've heard different people's opinion on wearing sandals vs. closed toe shoes, but unless you are going through the slums where there could be hazardous waste on the streets, sandals are fine. Pick a versatile (and comfortable) sandal that you can wear day to night.

4. Be considerate of the culture and keep your shoulders and knees covered. Shorts are fine but wear them at a decent length.

5. Bring a small cross body bag for day trips to prevent theft, so you aren't carrying around all of your valuables with you. Backpacks are not recommended unless worn at the front.








Are you planning a trip to India?
I'd love to hear about your plans. I hope these packing tips helped.

We spent day 2 of our time in India touring around New Delhi in typical Indian style; on a Tuk Tuk!

We visited one of the towns famous tombs, called Humayun's tomb. He was one of the emperor's in Delhi long ago, and the tomb was commissioned by his wife upon his death. There are several smaller tombs leading up to it which were used to house other family members after their deaths.

This was the first structure to use red sandstone at such a scale and has been named one of UNESCO World Heritage Site's.

I thought I would start sharing some photos from our trip so far. We are still in the middle of it, but there is just so much to share that I couldn't wait! I have wanted to visit India for a very long time (see this post), so it was incredible to actually be there.


Our first day, we arrived in Delhi, India at 3:30am, and were pleased to drive up to this beautiful hotel that we would call home for the next few days. The history behind it made it that much more special and not just another hotel. Maidens Hotel is one of Delhi's oldest hotels, and was built in the early 1900's during the Mughal reign.


One of the biggest culture shocks for us was the traffic. It's crazy! (to put it mildly) There are people on bikes, mopeds, motorbikes, packed into cars, tuk tuk's, you name it, they drive it! It's unbelievable to see what people will carry on their bikes.


We went out for dinner at a very well known restaurant called Bukhara. Apparently when high profile people come to town, this is the place they eat. The food was good, but I particularly enjoyed the giant naan bread!

The artwork in this hotel was over the top, and the main lobby area had a beautifully hand painted ceiling.

That's just a brief look at Day 1, I hope you enjoyed seeing a little bit, and I will be sure to share more with you when I get a chance.

Back in 2011, I wrote this post - Dreaming of India.
It's one of those things that was simply a dream, but I am so excited and thankful that I will soon be traveling to India for a few short days on our way to Australia.
While preparing for this trip, I found this really helpful article with some tips for travelling to India.


What time to visit
It's more worth your time to avoid the crowds and visit the Taj Mahal at sunrise. However, if you’re not a morning person, time your visit for sunset and stay as long as you can.
A 30-minute night-viewing ticket of the monument is available five days every month, but instead book a room at one of the several hotels with a view of the Taj Mahal all night long.

 

Hope these tips were helpful! If you have any tips of your own please leave them in the comments!