7 Things To Bring When You Move To Dehradun- And 4 To Leave Behind

Deciding how to handle your belongings is one of the first major decisions you need to make when moving to Dehradun. What should you bring from abroad? Can you buy good appliances in Dehradun? What is cheaper in India? Here we’ll give you 11 things to bring, leave, or buy on arrival.

BRING

High-end Electronics: If you are a photographer, videographer, or just a tech enthusiast, you will find that electronics are often cheaper abroad (especially in the USA). Do some research though, and make sure you check into compatibility issues so you can have a reliable way to charge your electronics in India.

Preferred Brands: You can find everything you need in India EXCEPT your particular brand. If you can’t live without a certain brand of toiletry item, over-the-counter medicine, supplement, etc., you should plan to pack a supply with you when you travel.

Special Cooking Supplies: If you love to cook, you may be disappointed at the selection of supplies and equipment easily available in India. If you have special cooking equipment that makes cooking a joy for you (high quality knives, baking supplies like food coloring, special flavorings, etc.), you may want to bring it along.

Mementos: Portable memories or special mementos can help make any homestay, flat, or hotel room a home! Consider bringing along some small things that will help make your life here feel connected to your previous life. Some examples might be pictures, special decorations and celebration items for holidays, and special books or toys for kids.

Medications (With Prescription): If you take medication, be sure to get a few months’ supply. Bring it along in the original packaging, along with your prescription. If you decide to transition to a locally available (likely far cheaper) form of the same medication, this will give you some time to get the medications and dosages figured out with a local pharmacist.

International Medical Insurance: While not a physical item, it’s important to have insurance that will cover you for any medical surprises or emergencies. Make sure your insurance covers evacuation and repatriation as well; and make sure you review the procedures for making a claim before you travel!

Kid’s Comfort Items: A portable crib like a Pack ’N Play is a lifesaver for parents with babies or toddlers, as it will give them a place to sleep no matter where you find yourselves. With jet-lag, culture shock, and lots of overwhelming new experiences, a good sleep setup is essential. It will be best if the little one is used to sleeping in the crib before you travel.

A well-rested family is a happy family! Anything special that you use for bedtime routines, like lotions, soaps, essential oils, blankets, stuffed animals, bedtime books, etc. are worth their weight in gold for a family in transition.

LEAVE BEHIND

Electrical Appliances: besides being bulky and heavy, foreign appliances’ power and plugs may not be compatible. Appliances available in India are made for the Indian market, and made to work on the Indian power grid, and are made to handle the frequent fluctuations, spikes, and outages.

Phones: There’s no problem bringing your phone if you like, but make sure it’s unlocked and GSM-compatible. Even then, phones made for one country’s mobile system may have compatibility issues in India, so if you are looking to get a new phone, you’ll find lots of great options in India that are fully unlocked, inexpensive, and have handy features like dual-SIM capacity.

Research where to live: You may not be able to secure your ideal home before you arrive, but there are some things you can do to help narrow down your search! Get to know Dehradun a bit through Google Maps, and check out our neighborhood walkthroughs to get a feel for some of these locations! If you’d like a little more help house hunting prior to travel, check out my services below.

Too Much Clothing: Most of the clothing you will need in India you can buy on arrival. Not only will it be less expensive, it will fit in with the local trends.

Some important exceptions: High quality technical outdoor gear is best brought from abroad, and if you need larger sizes, you will find it hard to get a good fit in India, as sizes run smaller than in the west. Some clothing like blue jeans are hard to find in a variety of sizes and styles. You’re better off bringing a pair you like with you than trying to find them on arrival.

Cash: Converting physical currency is expensive, so don’t bring a big stack of cash. A little bit is okay - maybe two or three hundred USD - just to have some emergency cash on arrival, but using ATMs and cards will give you a much better exchange rate.

ABOUT ETHAN
Ethan moved to Dehradun in 2015 with his family, and has enjoyed introducing people to this amazing city ever since. He loves exploring new places, spending time outdoors, and geeking out about culture. Ethan stays busy developing and running cross-cultural trainings, helping out newcomers to the area, and taking pictures of this incredible part of the world in his spare time.

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