India Road Trip
Checklist

Everything Amit packs, checks, and does before every long drive in his Tata Tiago XTA — built from years on Indian highways, mountain roads, and forest tracks.

Tata Tiago XTA 8 Sections · 79 Items Short & Long Trips

Start the night before, not the morning of. Fuel up, sort your documents, check tyre pressure while the car is cold. The trip starts well when you don't start it in a rush.

— Amit Chilka

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You're off to a good start.

The first section is free. Get all 8 sections — Amit's personal breakdown kit, campsite checklist, safety kit, and budget tracker — delivered to your inbox.

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Navigation & Maps

Signal disappears on mountain roads. Always plan for the offline scenario.

Google Maps: offline maps downloaded for entire route Maps.me installed and area downloaded — better for remote terrain Phone holder / screen mount fitted on dashboard Car charger or USB-C cable for navigation Know major waypoints and distances roughly — don't fully depend on GPS Nearest petrol stations on your route noted (critical on remote stretches) Local SIM with data or a plan that works in hill stations

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Food, Water & Supplies

Carry more water than you think you need. And yes — the chocolates matter.

Minimum 4 litres of water per person per day Water purification tablets or filter straw as backup Dry snacks: nuts, chikki, roasted makhana, energy bars Chocolates — for energy, morale, and sharing with kids at dhabas Fruit that travels well: bananas, apples, oranges Instant noodles or ready-to-eat meals as emergency rations Thermos or insulated bottle for chai — makes every stop better Cooler bag for dairy or medicines in summer heat Reusable cutlery and a cloth napkin

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Budget & Money

Always carry cash. UPI fails in the mountains, at dhabas, and at toll booths. Always.

Cash in ₹10, ₹50, ₹100 notes for tolls and dhabas FASTag loaded for all major highways UPI and debit card as primary payment Credit card as backup — inform your bank of travel dates Rough daily budget calculated: fuel, food, accommodation Buffer of 20–30% on top of estimated budget for surprises Petrol prices vary by state — note them on your route

India Road TripChecklist

You're off to a good start.

India Road Trip
Checklist