20 Things You Must Carry While Traveling To North East India

Are you planning to travel to the beautiful North East India? Still, confused about things you must carry while traveling to North East India? Read this article fully to understand the 20 things you must carry while traveling to Northeast India. In this article, we will discuss the top 20 things a traveler must carry while embarking on a beautiful trip to the Northeastern part of India and why you need them in detail based on my experience. These travel essentials for North East India are not just normal things but some of the very important things you must carry during your visit as a tourist. However, you should remember that some things may change based on the season. For example, clothes to take to Shillong during March and July are different, Similarly, what to wear in Tawang in December is different from what to wear in Darjeeling during summer. Keep reading to know more details.

20 Things You Must Carry While Travelling To North East India

1. First Aid Kits

I suppose this is not specific to traveling to Northeast India, however, a travel first aid kit while traveling to Northeast India makes extra sense. Like it or not, some of the parts and roads are far away from a medical clinic, and just in case you will need a light travel first aid kit. This must include a bandage, cotton, Moove or Volini, and other general first aid items. This will come very handy if anything happens while trekking or traveling to a far-flung area. This is the most important thing you must carry while traveling to Northeast India. You can get many first aid items from Amazon too.

Even though many models are available from Amazon, consider a waterproof one. I like the Glives Waterproof Medical Kit. You can follow the link here to buy from Amazon. Keep in mind that it is only the bag, the contents inside it, you have to buy from your local stores. Remember I am not talking about a full-fledged first-aid kit that is bulky and hard to travel with. You must consider a small and handy one.

Or you can check out the alternatives but the price is a little bit higher.
ECTROPRIME Travel Portable Handbag Medical Kit.

2. “Basic” survival kit. Like a matchbox, a knife, a tent, etc. might save your life.

Apart from the basic first aid kit, a basic survival kit is necessary but don’t put too much as most of the areas are a sensitive area and too much stuff may raise some eyebrows from the officials. By “basic” survival kit I mean a knife, a tent, a matchbox, a water boiling pot, if possible some filter kit, and some dry fruits. I have experienced conditions where I spent nights on the roads due to vehicle breakdown, landslides, etc. So, during such conditions, a basic survival kit will help you a lot. This is why a basic survival kit is one of the must-carry items while traveling to Northeast India. These basic items are easily available from Amazon and you can check out my picks below

Survival Knife from Amazon
Coleman Sundome Camping Green Tents
Dry Fruits

3. A pair of thick cloths in you are traveling in winter

YES! You may think, that’s enough but trust me, it is not. If you are traveling to places with extreme weather like Tawang or Gangtok, you might need some extra clothing, especially in winter. Check out the weather below for Tawang and see the difference with your current location so that you can get an idea. In the winter, the weather of Tawang is guaranteed to be below freezing point.

So, an extra pair of thick clothing is necessary if you are traveling during the winter season. Consider buying a full icy and winter outfit if you are traveling to Tawang, Mechuka, etc.
Winter thermal inner from Amazon India.

If you are looking at what to wear in Tawang in December, then, you should bring complete thermal proof thick clothes with complete coverage of your body. Believe me a simple thick cloth with a normal shoe will not work and will lead to extreme conditions for your body. For clothes to take to Shillong or to Meghalaya, reduce whatever you planned for Tawang by 30% in terms of thermal insulation. Shillong is a very cold place but not like Tawang but still very cold.

For the packing list for Darjeeling, it is a relatively cold place but not so cold. Hence, normal winter wear will do the job. What to pack for Sikkim trip? Sikkim is like a little brother of Tawang in terms of weather. So, if you are traveling in December, expect some extreme weather and plan accordingly.

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Click here to buy RageCoffee.

4. Enough amount of cash but not too much

You might be thinking this is a common practice but there is a difference in the context of Northeast India. While traveling, most people avoid carrying too much cash to prevent being looted or from being scammed. But in Northeast India, do not expect ATMs everywhere but also do not think there are no ATMs around. In a simple sense, if you are planning a trip to rural areas, carry enough amounts of cash for that and if you are reaching a town, expect an ATM.

Many ATMs may not be fully functioning. If you are a foreigner, the exchange counters are available at the airport. Consider exchanging the money outside the airport if available to prevent your money from being sucked into heavy exchange fees. So, the rule is to carry cash based on the locations you are going to. Also, do not expect to use your debit card or credit card to pay as most will not accept it. CASH is King.

5. Enough underwear and other undergarments.

This may make you cringe but I am including this in the list because, whatever you think is enough for you, make it +2 because clothes may remain wet for days, and if you don’t have a washing machine and during rainy days, this is guaranteed. You must carry more than enough underwear and other undergarments items while traveling to Northeast India. Before going any further on the things you must carry during your trip to North East India, you must know the following things about North East India. Check out the links below.

Click here to check if it is safe to visit Northeast India.

Ever wonder when to visit Northeast India? It depends on trips. You can check out different times for different purposes by clicking here.

6. An umbrella. You will know the benefits later.

Be it winter or summer or rainy season, carrying a small umbrella is always a good practice in Northeast India. There is always a chance that rain will be there anytime. This is very real for Shillong, even though other areas are also applicable. During rainy seasons, a simple umbrella may not be enough. Consider making it waterproof whenever possible. You don’t need to carry a long large umbrella while traveling to North-East India, but a foldable umbrella will do the job perfectly.

7. Minimum of 7 pairs of socks.

If you are on a 5-day trip, carry 7. Follow this rule for others also. When you are trekking or taking a long walk, your socks will get wet and may need to change while on the way. Do not wear a thin one because this may cause inflammation to the skin. Apart from wearing it during trekking or walking, you may need to use it for other applications like as a carry bag or other uses.

8. Carry a power bank (20000 mAh) and this will save you from a lot of problems.

I think this is one of the most important items you need to carry while traveling to Northeast India. Do not expect a 24*7 power source. Most of the journeys from one city to another city are more than 6 hrs, and you may need to use the power bank to charge your gadgets. Not only this, but traveling to major tourist spots, some are very far and may need the whole day to return to your place, so a power bank is a must. You can check out the best 20000 mAh power banks in India here.

9. A small note of local languages and dialects. Most people will tell you to learn to say hi, hello, and goodbye in the local language but don’t forget to learn “HELP ME”.

I think this is self-explained, and you should write those on a small piece of paper, not on your smartphone. Check out the different words for HELP ME in different NE languages

Manipuri – Mateng Pangbi o (or Mateng amta pangbiyo)
Assamese – Olop Xohai Koribo paribo
Bengali – Sahai
Comment down below with your own dialect and I will add here.

10. Google Maps is your best asset, so download offline maps of the areas you are traveling.

Did you know that you can download a portion of Google Maps and you can see it without any internet connection? Downloading an offline version of the areas you are traveling will help tremendously since, in the hilly region, internet connectivity will be difficult. A detailed tutorial is available from Google itself on how to download a portion of the map offline and use it to navigate. Click here to know more from Google. Since most of the Northeast is covered in hilly regions, carrying a downloaded map of the areas you are traveling to is a must thing while traveling to Northeast India.

11. Minimum of 2 SIM cards. Don’t expect to always get good network coverage, even for a simple phone call.

Keep your hype and expectations at a minimum with regard to technology in Northeast India. The area is covered with thick jungles, and you can not have a very good network everywhere. I remember when only BSNL used to provide network coverage. Still today, it is a good practice to opt for BSNL if you are going to an extreme inner part of Northeast India. But, in villages, towns, and cities, you can expect good network coverage, including 4G internet.

12. Written notes of places you are staying, just in case.

I think this is also self-explanatory, and remember to write down the contact numbers also. This will help you find your safe place if anything goes wrong while you are on a trip to Northeast India. Make sure the links are not washable in rain and are stored in a waterproof area and always near to you.

13. Carry some medications for anti-vomiting if you are one of those uncomfortable on curved roads.

Personally, I am not one of those who feel uncomfortable while riding on a hilly road and curves. But, I know many friends who always vomit whenever they hop onto a vehicle. If you are planning for a trip to Northeast India, I would remind you that most of the places are hilly regions and roads are very curvy in nature, and you will feel uncomfortable for sure. I suggest you carry some pills or tablets to reduce this problem. But, if you take these pills, you will miss the natural beauty. Taking care of your health is the ultimate goal, and if you are not 100%, then you won’t be able to enjoy it at the destination.

14. A waterproof shoe.

You may be thinking that everything I listed here is a bunch of some normal things but these are important but often neglected items. A waterproof shoe makes things much easier when handling the problems of trekking, long walk in rains, etc. Carrying a waterproof shoe while traveling to Northeast India means one less problem for you. Check out more waterproof shoes from Amazon here.

15. Mosquito repellents.

And yes, my mosquito repellents, I mean normal repellents or sprays, not electrical repellents. When there is no electricity, you can not use electrical mosquito repellents. I mean one of those shown in the below image. You can find plenty of options from Amazon. This might be one of the most important items if you are planning to spend some nights in the jungle. Mosquito repellents not only repel mosquitoes but also other small insects and leeches. It is in number 15, but it is a very important item you must carry while traveling to Northeast India.

16. Waterproof cases for your gadgets like smartphones, cameras, and other gadgets.

You have read Waterproof a couple of times in this post because waterproof items are important while traveling to Northeast India. Suppose you are traveling to Shillong and Cherrapunji and heavy rain suddenly storms, and you don’t have any waterproof cases and bags to prevent your gadgets from being wet. So, always carry a waterproof bag that can hold your important gadgets like smartphones, money, documents, etc. If you are wondering when is the best time to travel to Shillong and Cherrapunji, check out the post below to know in detail.

I have selected my favorite waterproof bag for traveling. Check it out from Amazon.

17. Any medicine that normalizes your stomach from indigestion or too many peppers.

Yeah! Northeastern people love red hot chili, and your stomach may not like it at first but will eventually handle it. So, for the first two to three days, make sure to use some remedies or avoid eating such foods.

18. Written cellphone numbers of some of the locals if you are contacting them

You may be thinking this is a repetition of point number 12, but make sure you have written this on a different piece of paper and stored it in a different area or bag than the number 12. So, just in case if you lose the other in the rain or for any reason, you have a backup. Contact details of your travel agency is a good choice.

19. A travel neck pillow.

This will provide you extra stability during those curvy roads and help to reduce the discomfort you feel during the journey. Also, this is good for long journeys, which will be during your time in Northeast India.

20. ILP, passport, and other identification documents.

Yes, everybody knows this, carry your documents carefully and, if possible, carry them most of the time. If you are a foreigner, try to carry your passport all the time. If you are an Indian, carry ILP pass if you are traveling to Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Nagaland. If you don’t have the ILP pass do not worry, you can get it from the gate, but in Mizoram, you may find it a little bit of a problem as they will ask for friends inside the state. Other states will also ask, but not so problematic. It is always a good practice to get your ILP pass before going there. You can easily apply for ILP in Arunachal Pradesh online by following this link, and it is a very easy process.

Before recapping the post, check out the beautiful photos from Mechuka, Arunachal Pradesh in the webstory below or you can check it out by clicking here:

20 things to carry while traveling to North East India

To recap the post and make it easier for you to remember, here are the 20 things to carry while traveling to North East India are:

1. First Aid Kits. Even a simple bandage will save you in many cases.
2. “Basic” survival kit. Like a matchbox, a knife, a tent, etc., might save your life.
3. A pair of thick clothes if you are traveling in winter. A strong thermal inner is recommended.
4. Enough amount of cash, but not too much.
5. Enough underwear and other undergarments.
6. An umbrella. You will know the benefits later.
7. Minimum of 7 pairs of socks.
8. Carry a power bank (20000 mAh) and this will save you from a lot of problems.
9. A small note of local languages and dialects. Most people will tell you to learn to say hi, hello, and goodbye in the local language but don’t forget to learn “HELP ME”.
10. Google Maps is your best asset, so download offline maps of the areas you are traveling to.
11. Minimum of 2 SIM cards. Don’t expect to always get good network coverage, even for a simple phone call.
12. Written notes of places you are staying, just in case.
13. Carry some medications for anti-vomiting if you are one of those uncomfortable on curved roads.
14. A waterproof shoe.
15. Mosquito repellents.
16. Waterproof cases for your gadgets like smartphones, cameras, and other gadgets.
17. Any medicine that normalizes your stomach from indigestions or too many peppers.
18. Written cellphone numbers of some of the locals if you are contacting them.
19. A travel neck pillow.
20. ILP, passport, and other identification documents.

Thank you, everyone, for reading this, and I hope that I have covered all the things you must carry while traveling to Northeast India. I know I left some things intentionally because these are common things, and everybody should know them, like the basic lavatory items, typical dresses, travel plans, routes, detailed schedules, etc. However, if you think some things are left, and it must be there on the list of things you must carry while traveling to Northeast India, then comment down below, and I will extend the link.

Share this post with your friends planning to travel to beautiful Northeast India and let them know. Stay tuned for more interesting posts. Don’t miss to check out the related posts below.