Copyright © 1982-1998 Jayesh Bellare. Permission is granted for reproduction for personal use if done with this copyright notice intact. However, please note that the information under this link is mostly obsolete, and is kept here only for archival purposes. Please get the latest information from colleagues and seniors presently there.

This list is for a person wanting to go fairly well equipped from here. If you have some sort of support system in place at your destination (e.g., relatives, friends, or seniors who can help you right from the time you arrive), you can definitely prune this list. Almost everything listed below, and more, is available there (often better quality and more appropriate for local use), but you will take a while to discover where to buy them, and you may also take a while to save up for them. Sooner or later you will replace many (or all) things you take from here with their local equivalents. This list assumes that you will want to cook for yourself, which is something you may not do, especially if you stay in the dorm (hostel). The estimated budget for the list below is more than Rs. 15,000. In addition, you are likely to spend Rs. 50,000 on an economy (APEX) one-way air ticket, and Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 33,000 ($500 to $1000) for your RBI approved dollars. You will need part of these start-up dollars for deposit and rent on your housing. It is recommended that you take at least $500 and if possible $1000 as it may take two to four weeks for you to collect and encash your first scholarship cheque. Apply for all local scholarships/loan fellowships to assist with travel. This list may be biased towards a Bombay-based male single student on scholarship; make appropriate changes if you are not.

Pants/Jeans/Sari+blouse+slip 4

Suit, 2-pc./Coat+blouse+skirt 1

(in black or very dark blue)

Jhabba suits (Nehru Suit) 1

Jhabba/Kurta 2

Pyjama/Nightie+pyjama 4

Banian 6

Underwear/Panty & bra 6

Turkish Towel full size 2

Bath Robe 1

Handkerchief 6

Panchas (thin towels) 2

Small Towels (napkins) 2

Kitchen towels 2

Sling Bags (cotton/canvas) 1

Neckties/Scarf (silk) 4

Leather Belts 2

Sweaters, woolen, turtleneck 1

Sweaters, woolen, plain neck 1

Woolen gloves 1

Leather gloves 1

Monkey caps, thick woolen 2

Nylon socks, dark colour 4

Woolen socks, thick & long 2

Tape bundles for pyjama, 12m 1

Bed sheets, double size 1

Bed spread, double size 1

Pillow Covers 2

Woolen Blankets, thick 1

Umbrella, folding, small 1

Bata Ambassador shoes 1

black (1 size higher than usual)

Sneakers (wear on flight) 1

Kohlapuri Chappal 1

Bathroom (Hawaii) chappal 1

Spare Shoelaces 2

Boot polish 1

Boot brush 1

Shaving Set 1

Comb, big 2

Comb, pocket 2

Hair oil or cream 1

Portable mirror 1

Toothpaste 1

Shaving Cream 1

Toothbrush 2

Toothpicks box 1

Toilet Soap & soap dish 2

Surf washing powder 1

Cold cream, Ponds 1

Talc face powder 1

Nail cutter 1

Small scissors 1

Safety pins bunch 1

Sewing thread, white, black, gray 1

Sewing needles 6

Sewing thimble 1

Spare buttons (shirts and pants) 12

Travelers alarm clock, quartz 1

Penknife, Swiss, folding 1

Torch (flashlight, penlight cells) 1

Candles, small 2

Mosquito mats / heater 1

Dispo Plastic carry bags 6

Stapler, Pen, pencils, pointer 1

Spare Spectacles (Eyeglasses) 2

Spectacle prescription 1

Fever thermometer 1

Disprin (aspirin) (strip of 10) 3

Dristran/Vicoryl (strip of 10) 3

Deriphyllin 1

Crocin (strip of 10) 3

Stematil (strip of 10) 3

Enteroquinol (strip of 10) 3

Lomotil (strip of 10) 3

Avil (strip of 10) 3

Septran (strip of 10) 3

Streptomycin bulbs (for oral use) 3

Savlon bottle 1

Nebasulf dusting powder 1

Bandage rolls 1" & 2" 1

Band Aids, washproof 1

Band Aids, assorted box 1

Adhesive plaster (JohnsonPlast) 1

Cotton wool roll, small 1

Neosporin ointment 1

Betnovate N ointment 1

Candid B ointment 1

Imidil ointment 1

Acks/Pirox Gel tube 1

Caladryl lotion, small 1

Zinco-Sulfa eyedrops 1

Locula eardrops 1

Chap Sticks 1

Vicks Vaporub 1

Doctor's prescription for

all the above 1

Prestige pressure pan, small 1

Small containers for pressure pan 2

Spare gasket+safety valve 2

Set of 3 stacking SS utensils+lids 1

Small water imm. heater for tea

S.S. Dinner plates 2

S.S. bowls 2

Table/Teaspoons/Forks 2

Dinner knife 2

Kitchen knife (Fiskars) 1

Cooking Tongs for utensils, S.S. 1

Tea strainer 1

Ladles for serving rice 1

Ladles for serving dal 1

Tumblers, S.S. 2

Rolling pin & board, wooden 1

Small water heater: cup size 1

Masalas etc. (OK with US customs if sealed in orig. packing with label.)

Tea powder 0.25 kg.

Tea egg

Milk powder

Nescafe refill pack 0.05 kg.

Dhania-Jeera powder 0.25 kg.

Red chilli powder 0.25 kg.

Turmeric powder (haldi) 0.25 kg.

Pickle masala, Bedekars 0.10 kg.

Cloves (lavang) 0.02 kg.

Black Cardamom 0.02 kg.

White Cardamom 0.02 kg.

Cinnamon 0.02 kg.

Mustard seeds 0.25 kg.

Cumin (jeera) seeds 0.10 kg.

Asafoetida (hing) powder 0.10 kg.

Pickles 1 bottle

Papads packet 2

(Get the latest book list from your department grad. advisor; buy all)

Reference books set 1

Perry's Chem. Engg. Handbook 1

CRC Hndbk of Chem. & Phys. 1

Kreysig: Engg. Math. 1

American Dictionary, Big 1

Cookbooks; Ind. & West. style 1

Recipes from family & friends 1

Scientific calculator 1

Passport, I20, Air tickets etc. 1

International Driving license 1

Stamp-size+passport-size photos 20

Transcripts+Degree Certificate 1

Chest X-ray+Mantoux test report 1

All medical & dental records 1

Filled-out address+phone Book 1

Insurance policies for:

travel+baggage+medical 1

Trav. cheqs. for most of your $

If possible, buy international Credit card, Visa or Mastercard only.

Maps / Camera

Rs. 1 / 25 cent coins (for phone)

Drinking water for airport waits

Plastic bags for trash / emergency

Rs. for airport departure tax + for buying $50 entitlement.

Visiting Cards: yours, parents

VIP bags for USA travel set of 3

(2 are allowed free in flight; you'll need an extra if you carry all this; costs about $125. For 2 pcs, l+b+h<107"; typically 55" and 65" bags each <32kg. Handbag <5kg)

Brief case 1

Back pack for books 1

Raymonds store at Fountain

Gold Filled Leath. Wrks, Girgaum.

Bombay Swadeshi Stores, &

Khadi Bhandar, Fountain

Milan Stores, Dadar T.T.

Shops opposite G.T. Hospital.

RR or Dawn Mills retail shops.

Bata/Carona stores

"Seconds" can be a good value; Bata, VIP, RR, Dawn etc. have them. Check a yellow pages.

Learn: To: Drive,Touch-Type, Cook

Computers (wordp.,123, DBase,C)

Formal Dining (with knife & fork), Banking procedures, Credid Card use

Buy: Insurance: baggage, overseas Mediclaim, Books, Gift Items

Study maps and know geography.

Version of 01 March 2001. Previous version: 01 March 1998. Revised several times, but is likely to be out of date, especially with regard to RBI matters and ticket rates.

This list has evolved over the years from the experiences narrated to me and to Jayesh and his mother by students and their parents. Please suggest changes to this list as you and your experiences think fit. If this list has helped you, it will help the next generation of students even more. Kindly send your comments to: bellare@vsnl.com Thank You, Bon Voyage, and Best Wishes!