Packing list for IIT Kharagpur (or any college hostel)

What to pack when you’re leaving for a college in India, what to be ready for, and what to do in the first few days once you’ve entered the campus. If this helps you, please let me know, it would make me happy to know I helped you! Medium has a comments section, as I discovered in July 2020, in the middle of the pandemic, 1 year after I wrote this article.

It’s the college admission season again, JEE Advanced 2019 results were out last week, and all I can think about is that it was four whole years ago that I was in this phase, and time flies! I will be a fifth-year at IIT Kharagpur now, and it’s going to be weird because half of my friends and most of my best friends have graduated, but I stayed back for a Master’s course. When I was packing for IIT Kharagpur in 2015, there were no packing lists on Google, except one by Vivek Gunawat, which has since been taken down. Now there are many, but I have always planned to write an article about a packing list, so here it is!

IIT Kharagpur campus (a tiny fraction of our >2000 acres)

It’s divided into multiple categories. Unless there’s an “OR” or “/”, when there are two things mentioned, you’ll need both. I have included brand/product names which you can buy if you’ve never shopped for yourself before. If you live in a city, you can get these delivered from Amazon Pantry, Big Basket or Groffers. I have marked separately those items that you get inside the campus.

Backpacks/Luggage bags

If you’re buying luggage bags now, and don’t already have some you can use then read this before buying. You will be travelling multiple times a year, by train/plane/cab, not just back home, but to your internships/foreign trips too. So it’s better to buy one good set of bags to last 4–5 years, as a one-time investment. I had a horrible time when returning to KGP from Canada because my luggage bag, the largest one, got a problem in its wheels.

1. Hard luggage large check-in bag: Most durable bags, can handle all the train/plane/cab travel that you will do. Buy the 76' to 78' version, that’s the maximum allowed in planes as check-in luggage. Even if you don’t plan to travel by air now. Also should be lightweight. [e.g. American Tourister, VIP] Don’t buy it online, better buy in stores, test the durability and check weight etc.
2. Backpack cum trolley bag: (because who likes to carry stuff when you can wheel it away?) Buy in the cabin bag dimensions, even if you don’t plan to travel by air now. I take mine on each and every long/short trip, can be used for one-day trips, one-week trips, and as a supplementary to the large bag on longer trips. But it’s real uses are endless. On my internship, I used it as a bag to get my groceries home, as a laundry bag, I used it when I was touring Europe in one-day or weekend trips, as a shopping bag, to take my stuff to the beach, and virtually any stuff that would have required me to carry a not-so-heavy bag for a long while, or a heavy bag for a short while.
3. Backpack: a small one-compartment bag to take to classes. You don’t need to take books to classes, and not many notebooks either.
4. Separate laptop backpack: you can also use the laptop backpack as a college bag although it is not recommended unless you’re taking your laptop to college every day. You can use the small bag for classes and the laptop bag for going to the library during exams.

Documents

Always carry the originals in one folder, photocopies in another folder, and one set of attested or “true copy” stamped photocopies in a third folder, and store them in separate places, keep the originals in the bag closest to your body, e.g. laptop backpack, when travelling. Although, once you are registered in the college, you won’t need the originals unless you’re applying for a passport, PAN card, etc.

1. XII Marksheet, Leaving certificate, Passing certificate
2. Other JEE related documents required for Registration when you come to the campus
3. Recent passport-sized photographs: It’s better to get them clicked in the visa format: 45mm*35mm, with 70–80% area occupied by face, i.e. face height around 32mm.
4. Birth certificate, Aadhar Card, Pan card (apply if you don’t have it.)
5. Passport: if you have one, otherwise apply for it as soon as you start college, we have a Passport Seva Kendra in the campus! :D
6. Driving license: Bhutan is very near to Kharagpur, and this is a valid proof for entering Bhutan.
7. In your wallet: Aadhar card, driving license, Debit card, and Institute ID card when you get it. Always keep your Institute ID card with you. You never know when you will need it. If someone asks for an ID, always show your Institute ID card.

Body care/Hygiene

Everything is also available inside the campus, in Technology Market or TechM for short, but it’s better to buy the first lot at home, because you’ll be busy with other stuff when you come here, and TechM has less variety of brands. These are suggestions for BOTH boys and girls. Boys don’t lose their masculinity if they apply moisturiser, seriously. Girls don’t lose their femininity if they shave, seriously.

1. Nail cutter, filer
2. Shaving kit, scissors
3. Handwash, sanitiser
4. Shampoo, conditioner, hair oil: You’ll need all three because most IITians have tremendous hair loss. It’s better to buy one normal shampoo, and one anti-dandruff shampoo and use them alternatively. [e.g.: Himalaya/Garnier Fructis shampoo, Himalaya/Garnier Fructis conditioner, Bajaj Almond Drops hair oil]
5. Body soap OR wash OR gel
6. Facewash: choose according to skin type. [e.g.: Himalaya]
7. Intimate wash: [e.g. V-wash, Himalaya, try both and see which suits you the most]
8. Moisturiser OR body lotion: It’s very dry during the winters. [e.g.: Himalaya Cocoa Butter Body Lotion]
9. Face cream: [e.g.: Nivea creme, i.e. blue coloured round case]
10. Vaseline OR lip balm: [e.g. Himalaya lip balm is cheap and good]
11. Face wipes: Indian summers are very hot + Global warming. [e.g.: Himalaya or Kara] But if you’re environmentally conscious, skip these. Wet wipes, even bio-degradable, take a loooong time to degrade.
12. Sunscreen: SPF50 but not higher. [e.g. Lotus]
13. Deodorant and Perfume: Deodorant for exercise, sweat-inducing activities, and when you don’t bathe. Not taking a bath sometimes is okay, but not masking your smell is not. Ugghh!! Spare thy neighbour! Perfume for your clothes, when you shower and want to feel fresh, and for fancy days. [Those in Mumbai could try DSP Perfumes. They have good options.]
14. Odomos: there are many mosquitoes in KGP during the spring
15. Bug spray: too many insects in KGP, though if you don’t mind the insects you don’t need this: can buy in TechM.
16. All out/Good night machine for your room: can buy in TechM.
17. Cleaning clothes: bar and detergent powder/liquid both: buy one that has a measuring cup. [e.g. Surf Excel bar, Surf Excel Matic detergent powder/liquid]
18. Cleaning utensils and scrubber without sponge: The sponge gets dirty and then it’s difficult to clean your kettle: can buy in TechM. [e.g. Vim liquid]
19. Cleaning spectacles: liquid and cloth/cleaning tool: It’s very sweaty and oily in Kharagpur during summers.
20. Cleaning laptop/mobile screens: liquid and cloth: because life is simpler when you have cleaning liquids for everything.
21. Cleaning woollens: can buy in TechM. [e.g.: Ezee]
22. Set of toothbrushes and toothpaste: [e.g. Colgate Zigzag Medium toothbrush, Sensodyne]
23. Comb, hairbrush
24. Optional extra cleaning: Mouthwash, Floss, tongue cleaner, loofah, body/face scrub
25. Soap case: can buy in TechM.
26. Small pouch in which you can put toothbrush, toothpaste, comb and facewash: A lot of us brush our teeth on our way to the morning lecture/mess and some brush in the washrooms of the lecture hall complex. Also, easier for train/plane travel.
27. Room freshener: if you like those things. [e.g. Ambi Pur] There’s a “Spencer’s” shop 3–4 km away from the campus, they ALWAYS have a deal on room fresheners of their home brand, I loved them.
28. Shoe polish: If you are a perfectionist.

Medicine kit/First aid box

1. Tiffin/container/dabba for putting all of this together.
2. Pudin Hara: (treats loose motions, indigestion, constipation, stomach pain, gas, mild acidity, oxidative stress, uneasiness, nausea, heartburn, burping, flatulence, etc.) Whenever you feel slightly uneasy, unwell, low, moody or irritable+, take a little Pudin Hara, it solves most problems in 10 minutes.
3. Bandaids: buy ten at least. There are minor cycle accidents every day.
4. Paracetamol: Paracip: fever
5. Gelusil tablets: acidity, if not cured by Pudin Hara.
6. Crocin Pain relief
7. Antiemetic: ask the pharma store person to suggest one.
8. Pain relief spray: [e.g.: Volini]
9. Antiallergic: Cetirizine (very cheap but sleep-inducing for some), Allegra (no sleep, very effective but expensive): You never know what you’re allergic to.
10. Cotton ball
11. Soframycin: for applying to cuts, scratches
12. ORS: low BP, fainting, when you feel weird.
13. Savlon: to clean wounds, doesn’t hurt as much as Dettol.
14. Don’t buy cough syrup: you get it for free when you see a doctor at the BC Roy hospital, plus the doctor will know best if you need the dry cough or wet cough variety.
15. NEVER SELF-PRESCRIBE ANTIBIOTICS/SPECIAL DRUGS.

Electronics/Appliances

You don’t get good electronics in Kharagpur. So buy all of this at home.

1. Casio Fx991ES plus Calculator: Don’t buy second hand. You’ll need one in all branches, in almost all courses, in all lectures in the first and second year, in all exams. What if it stops working in the middle of a test? So, don’t compromise on quality.
2. Mobile phone + charger: obviously
3. Laptop + charger: if you don’t have one, it’s okay, you don’t need one if you have a smartphone that can open PDFs. Buy one after coming to Kharagpur, say in your second year by consulting the internet and friends.
4. Pendrive: can order online. You’ll want to take notes, books, PPTs and movies from friends. Sandisk 32GB or 16GB.
5. Optional: for entertainment only: Bluetooth speaker: can order online. [e.g.: Boat]
6. Power bank: can order online. [e.g.: Ambrane]
7. Earphones: if your phone didn’t come with earphones. Can order online. [e.g. Boat]
8. Study Lamp: for when you study until late night/don’t sleep at all.
9. Extension cord: optional
10. Iron: buy a small portable version that you can put in your bag and carry for internships, field trips, foreign trips, vacationing, etc.
11. Kettle: Inductions aren’t allowed but kettles are. One of my friends found a kettle Baltra Glair BTC-101 in which you can make food, and it’s super easy to clean! You can make Maggi, pasta, soups, Upma, all MTR stuff, and if you have the expertise, real food as well!
12. Optional but very helpful: Kindle: Your eyes can get strained due to overuse of laptop and mobile screens. But since Kindle uses e-ink instead of an LCD screen, you won’t experience a strain on your eyes or headaches. You can use transfer books and PDFs to it and study from a Kindle. The catch: Kindles may not connect to KGP’s WiFi (they changed the WiFi after I graduated so I don’t know). You can use the USB cord to transfer PDFs and ebooks so I don’t recommend buying the unlimited 4G version. Amazon Big Billion Days ALWAYS has a sale on the basic Kindle.

Clothes: Personal

1. Raincoat AND umbrella: It rains all-year-round in Kharagpur. You’ll have to cycle to class during rains.
2. Casual: Shirts, tee shirts, tops, jeans, kurtas, cotton leggings, skirts, don’t get dupattas, cycling with dupattas is too much effort, and dupattas being a symbol of decency/character is a patriarchal logic anyway. Buy clothes with pockets large enough for your mobile phone and cycle keys! Cycling with sling bags is so inconvenient. And some cycle baskets fall off/get damaged in one month.
3. Formal: 1 set of one white shirt, and black trousers OR skirt. I don’t think it’s needed in the first year, although it’s good to have one set.
4. Don’t need blazer in the first year.
5. Diwali/Illumination: Everyone wears traditional: Boys: preferably Kurta-Salwar, remember to get fancy shoes for your kurta. Girls: saree. Seriously, Saree. The only day where everyone wears sarees. Buy a saree, get your blouse stitched, buy bangles, bindis, earrings, necklaces, whatever, AT HOME. Boys can also wear saree if they want to, but girls, please get a saree.
6. >5 pairs of socks
7. >5 pairs of handkerchiefs
8. Shorts: KGP summers are hot and humid + Global warming. Your jeans will stick to your legs.
9. >5 sets of undergarments
10. Pullovers, sweatshirts, hoodies, leather jackets: there are thunderstorms, so suddenly one night it will be windy and chilly. Buy many so that you can use them and wash all at once, with Ezee. Also, 2019 January had us braving 7°C, so prepare for it. Buy normal pullovers now, for the chilly wind during thunderstorms, about 20 degrees, but when you go back during Durga Puja vacations, bring warm clothes to tolerate below 10 degrees. You can order online too!
11. Tracks/gym clothes: running shorts, track pants, cotton round neck tees OR sweatshirts: we have grounds, various sports courts, stadiums and gym too! Also, exercise/playing a sport is a must for everyone, more so for the girls. Even if you’re healthy. Even if you think you don’t have time. Women can get an incurable syndrome: PCOS (Google it) if they don’t exercise regularly.
12. PJs: cotton pyjamas, comfortable cotton tees, night suit: [e.g. from Dmart]
13. Swimming costume: we have a huge swimming pool!
14. Fancy clothes: fancy jackets, shirts, one-piece dresses, palazzos and all! Things get boring, so we dress up and treat ourselves often! Girls, remember to check if it has pockets before buying it; otherwise, you can’t cycle to the location. Cycling in a dress is easy, but cycling with a sling bag on is not.
15. Lab coat: required for the first-year chemistry lab: if you have one from school, bring it, otherwise you can buy it here.

Fabrics: Room

1. Blanket and Blanket covers: Washing blankets is a nightmare, so buy a blanket cover.
2. Mattress cover: Even though you put bedsheets, use a mattress cover, because you can’t wash mattresses.
3. Double bed bedsheets (2 sets, with pillow covers): Buy double bed bedsheets, so you can tie them behind your bed, and you don’t have to tuck them in every freaking day. 2 sets because you should change and wash bedsheets every 2 weeks. Also, matching pillow covers, you’ll appreciate the presence of a well-made bed when you have crazy sleeping hours, and also, it makes you feel closer to home.
4. Mattress: buy in Kharagpur/order online. Box-shaped, foam on top, medium hard are the best: Nilkamal, Kurlon. Also, a tip: a mattress has a top and bottom side. The top should face you; it’s the softer side, meant for sleeping on. One of my friends was sleeping on the wrong side of the mattress for three years!
5. Pillow: buy in TechM.
6. Hand towels: for wiping hands. Don’t wipe them on your clothes. Ewww!
7. Towels: two for drying your body, one for your hair.
8. Microfiber cloth: one for spectacles, one for mobile/laptop screens.
9. Cleaning clothes: one for tables, cupboards and semi-dirty room stuff, one for cleaning dusty/dirty stuff, one for shoes, one for when you spill something on the floor, one extra because who knows what dirt the future has for you?
10. Window curtain: buy online, get it delivered to Kharagpur.
11. If you are unfortunate, you’ll have to buy a curtain for your door-less cupboard, because most rooms don’t have doors on their cupboards.

Food items

Mess food: It’s not as horrible as it sounds, actually. The taste, initially feels tolerable, and some dishes are delicious even. It’s the feeling, the fact that you’re not eating home food, that your dad makes better chicken curry, or your mom makes better Daal. And it’s also the fact that you have to eat vegetables that you didn’t eat at home, dishes that you’re unfamiliar with, etc. So, I have some tips:

1. Cereal for eating with milk in the morning: Baggrys Fruit ‘n’ Nut Muesli is better than the Kellog’s version. Everyone should drink milk, especially women because most women have calcium deficiency or borderline calcium levels. Also, calcium deficiency makes you age faster. But drinking plain milk is not an easy task for most, including me. I buy cereal at home, because you don’t get as many options in Kharagpur (except Spencers), as much as in Mumbai, or any major city.
2. If you eat Saunf, Mukhwas or Badishep at home after meals, buy it.
3. Horlicks OR Bournvita OR Weikfield/Hersheys Cocoa powder for milk: can buy in TechM/Spencers.
4. Home-made laddoos
5. Farsaan, Fafda, Papdi, Biscuits, any munchies: Studying makes you hungry. Farsaan is available in TechM but you might not like it.
6. Tea OR Instant coffee OR filter coffee powder: If you buy a kettle, you can make tea/coffee: Tea can be bought in Kharagpur, but coffee cannot (except Spencers/Amazon). If you have a specific coffee brand you like, it’s better to get it from home. If you’re going to buy a coffee machine, Bayar’s coffee from Amazon works best with it. Buy a creamer too. For all those late nights and submission deadlines.
7. Instant food: Wai Wai and Ching’s are strong competitors of Maggi, IMO, so try something new! Instant MTR is available, I think, in TechM, or Big Bazaar, and we also have a new supermarket coming up, near Food Studio.
8. Pickle, tomato ketchup Pichkoo-sized, Schezwan sauce palm-sized sachet with a cap, don’t remember the brand that sells these. Spencers has some options.
9. Ching’s Schezwan fried rice masala: can buy in TechM: put it over anything, mix it well, and that thing will taste better. Rice, sabzi, curd, daal, kuch bhi!
10. Salt, pepper, Mirchi: because sometimes the mess food needs these additions: can buy in TechM.
11. Ghee: bring whatever Ghee is used in your home in a small bottle. Put it on mess Rotis, after dusting off the excess flour from them!

Accessories and Miscellaneous

Some of these aren’t available in Kharagpur.

1. Belt(s)
2. Cap
3. Spare spectacles: there is no spectacle repair shop inside the campus, so it’s better to have a spare.
4. Wrist-watch: for exams, and to be on time everywhere.
5. Safety pins: can buy in TechM.
6. Sewing kit: (some thread rolls, buttons, hooks, safety pins and needles) You can learn sewing from Youtube (I did that) when some clothes get torn or your button falls off, but you still want to/have to wear that piece of clothing.
7. Earrings, bracelets, pendants, whatever.
8. Clips and pins, all kinds of. You don’t get a variety in Kharagpur.
9. Badminton racket OR whatever sport you like.
10. Water Bottle: can buy in TechM.
11. Keychain: it’s weird how difficult it is to find a normal keychain in TechM.
12. Lock and key: can buy in TechM. I highly recommend giving the spare keys to your friends.
13. One set of cutlery: plate, spoon, fork, knife (blunt for sandwiches, sharp for fruits and carrots), mug, glass: for having food in room. Also, some hostels don’t give mugs for milk. You can buy in TechM, but if you have a favourite plate or spoon at home, get it.

Footwear

You don’t get good footwear in the campus. There is Sreeleathers in Kolkata which is like a leather/faux leather supermarket, but Kolkata is too much effort in the first year.

1. Floaters/waterproof sandals for rain.
2. Running shoes: (I think some sports call for non-marking shoes, so if that’s your extra academic activity, you’ll need those)
3. Fancy shoes: for parties and treats (optional)
4. Slippers for home (hostel room)
5. Slippers for washrooms. Don’t wear your room slippers to the washroom, it’s not very clean, especially if you’re living in a boys’ hostel.
6. Formal shoes: you won’t need them in the first year, I think.
7. Covered shoes: for labs. They won’t let you enter the lab.

Stationery

Don’t bring anything from home. TechM has an awesome shop called Technology Cooperative Stationery or something like that. It has everything that you will need.

Makeup that’s not “Makeup”

You could get your makeup kit if you have one, otherwise, for those who’ve never applied makeup/don’t know how to, you need only 2 things! First, Kajal (no, it doesn’t burn/hurt your eyes) [e.g. Lakme Eyeconic: cheaper than all the rest, and works like a charm], and second, coloured Lip Balm with not much colour [e.g. Himalaya]. Applying lip balm is super easy, and you can always find someone who will apply Kajal to your eyes. Also, you’ll quickly learn how to apply Kajal on the lower eyelid, it’s super easy.

You can also buy foundation [e.g. Lakme perfecting liquid foundation is perfect for beginners]. Foundation could be for special occasions like Diwali, but it will get expired before you can finish it so don’t buy an expensive one (above 200 rs for 30mL is expensive). If you’re a guy who wants to try makeup, check out Ankush Bahuguna.

For periods

You can get sanitary napkins in all hostels and TechM. But get one pack for emergencies. We also have pad vending machines in some locations in the Academic area where there aren’t stores. But there’s another alternative called menstrual cups, and it’s more manageable in the KGP scenario. You’re cycling, exerting, hurrying to classes, and you don’t want to be slowed down by your periods. It also helps with menstrual cramps. There’s a good and fun YouTube video on menstrual cups by Vitamin Stree. Do watch it. If you’re buying one and need help, I’ll be only one message away on Facebook! :)

After reaching campus

Some items (not comments) are taken from MetaKGP’s guide. Buy this from TechM or your hostel. And also items from the above lists which you didn’t buy at home.

1. SIM card: Vodafone’s network has been the best inside Kharagpur campus, I ported from Airtel to Vodafone for that reason. But now Airtel put up a tower near the campus, so I don’t know the current comparative status.
2. Cycle: MUST. It’s easy to learn cycling, a lot of people do that, but you are at a MAJOR disadvantage if you don’t have a cycle. In the later years, especially. But you won’t have time to learn cycling in the later years. There are buses but usually, they are too crowded and easy to miss. For e.g., A bus comes at 7:40–7:45 am for an 8 am class. Most of us don’t wake up until 7:45 am for an 8 am class. KGP has separate cycling tracks too! When going around any circle remember to KEEP LEFT!
3. Bank Account: SBI IIT Kharagpur will have a stall for freshers.
4. Mattress and pillow (described above)
5. Bucket, mug and soap cases
6. Hangers, clotheslines, hanging clips, laundry basket
7. Stationery: buy unruled notebooks because we get unruled papers in the exam, and you’ve probably forgotten how to write complete sentences and complete solutions in the 2 years of JEE prep.
8. Dustbin
9. LAN cable (for connecting your laptop to KGP’s high-speed internet or DC++)
10. Long metal rod with multiple hooks: get it nailed in your room.