India

I decided to go backpacking in India for a month, carrying only a 40L bag (to save on check in luggage) and a small drawstring bag for my personal stuff. From a plan to only go hiking in Kashmir for 5 days, it became a month long backpacking trip across North India. I started off by flying into Kashmir, taking domestic transport in between and ending it at Kolkata, where I took a flight home.

The Plan

Kashmir (5 days)

• Hike up to Gangabal Lake at Mount Haramukh
• Camping for 3 nights
• 2 Nights at Dal Lake boat house

Leh (10 days)

• 2 day trek to Stok La Pass
• Motorbike road trip to Shey Mosque
• Bouldering

Jodhpur(3 days)

• Makhaniya Lassi
• Mehrangar Fort
• Blue City

Jaipur (3 days)

• Roam around the city

New Delhi (2 days)

• Street food hunting like the Food Ranger

Agra (1 day)

• Taj Mahal

Rishikesh (5 days)

• White water rafting
• Neer Waterfall

Lucknow (Day trip)

• Briyani pit stop

Varanasi (2 days)

• See the famous Ganges River

Kolkata (1 day)

• Catch flight home

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Total cost = $1,300

Flight= $600

Expenses= $700 (transport, food, accommodation and activities)

Packing List

To save money and to be mobile, I opted to pack light, carrying only essentials in my bag. Bringing only 3 sets of clothing, just enough to rotate between them. To save even more money, I brought my own washing detergent to wash my clothes whenever necessary.

Clothing:

• T-shirts x3
• Bottoms x3
• Underwear x5
• Heattech innerwear set x1 (top+bottoms+socks)
• Thick pullover x1
• Gloves x1
• Socks x3
• Multipurpose buff
• Gore-tex jacket

Equipment:

• Headlamp
• Sunglasses
• Running shoes
• Flip flops
• Sleeping bag
• Disposable camera
• Hiking shoes
• First aid kit with medications
• Portable charger x2
• Universal plug
• Notebook + pen
• Water bottle
• File for important documents

Health products:

• Sunblock*
• Hand sanitizer***
• Anti-bacterial powder*
• Soap
• Diarrhoea pills**
• Paracetamol pills
• Water purification pills**
• Toothbrush
• Clothes detergent

Documents:

• eVisa***
• Photocopy of passport**
• A copy of travel insurance plan***
• Booking documents of flights and trains

*Important

**Very Important

***Extremely Important