For any trip in India, pack in this order: documents first (government photo ID, tickets, hotel bookings, insurance, cards and some cash), then tech (phone, charger, power bank), then clothes for the weather, then toiletries and a small medicine kit. Add a short list for your trip type (beach, hills, business or travelling with a baby) and run a "before you leave" check at home. Keep the power bank in your cabin bag, not your checked bag.
1. Documents and money
- Government photo ID: Aadhaar, passport, driving licence or voter ID. You'll need it at the airport, for reserved train travel and at hotel check-in.
- Passport and visa for international trips.
- Tickets and PNRs, saved offline on your phone and ideally printed.
- Hotel bookings and addresses.
- Travel or health insurance details.
- Debit/credit cards, UPI on your phone, and some cash for places where networks are weak.
- Emergency contacts written on paper, in case your phone dies.
2. Tech
- Phone and charger, plus a power bank in your cabin bag (airlines don't allow power banks in checked baggage).
- Earphones, and a universal adapter for international trips.
- Laptop and charger for work trips, and a camera if you use one.
3. Clothes
Plan outfits per day, then add one spare. A light shawl or jacket is useful even in summer, for air-conditioned trains, buses and flights. Pack comfortable walking footwear, and modest clothing for temple visits (shoulders and knees covered).
4. Toiletries and a small medicine kit
- Toothbrush and paste, face wash, moisturiser, sunscreen, deodorant, hair care and sanitiser.
- Your regular prescription medicines, in their original strips, with enough for a few extra days.
- A basic kit: ORS sachets, plasters, antiseptic cream, mosquito repellent, and any over-the-counter medicines your doctor has advised for you.
5. Add-ons by trip type
| Trip | Add these |
|---|---|
| Beach (Goa, Kerala, Andamans) | Swimwear, sunglasses, hat, flip-flops, beach towel, after-sun lotion |
| Hills (Himachal, Uttarakhand, Northeast) | Thermals, woollens, gloves and cap, trekking shoes, lip balm, torch |
| Business | Formal outfits, visiting cards, laptop, notebook, iron-free shirts, presentation files |
| With a baby | Diapers and wipes, baby food, bottles, spare clothes, a carrier and a favourite toy |
6. Before you leave home
- Turn off the gas cylinder and switch off appliances at the plug.
- Lock doors and windows, and empty the fridge of anything that will spoil.
- Water the plants, take out the trash, and tell a neighbour.
- Pause milk and newspaper deliveries.
- Check your bag weight, charge your phone, and have tickets ready on it.
Before you head home, check under the bed, unplug chargers and empty the room safe.
Printable checklists
The Travel Packing List has all of this as tick-box pages: trip details with PNR and hotel fields, a master packing list, beach/mountain/business/baby add-ons, a before-you-leave checklist and two blank custom lists. A4, ₹149. Planning the whole trip? The Travel Planner adds a trip budget in ₹, a bookings log, 6 daily itinerary pages and a travel journal. See all travel planners.
Frequently asked questions
What documents do I need for domestic travel in India?
A valid government photo ID such as Aadhaar, passport, driving licence or voter ID, plus your tickets or PNR and hotel bookings. Keep digital and printed copies.
Can I carry a power bank in checked baggage?
No. Airlines require power banks and spare lithium batteries to be carried in cabin baggage, not checked bags.
What should be in a travel medicine kit?
Your regular prescription medicines with a few days' spare, ORS sachets, plasters, antiseptic cream, mosquito repellent and any over-the-counter medicines your doctor has advised.
What should I pack for a hill station trip?
Add thermals, woollens, gloves and a cap, trekking shoes, lip balm and a torch to your usual packing list.
What should I check at home before leaving for a trip?
Turn off the gas and appliances, lock doors and windows, empty the fridge, water plants, take out the trash, inform a neighbour and pause deliveries.
Rules for ID and baggage can change; check your airline's and railway's current rules before you travel.