Summer in North India is intense. From April to June, temperatures in Delhi and Jaipur often climb past 40°C, and when the monsoon arrives in July, the dry heat gives way to humidity and sudden downpours. Projects carry on through both, so it pays to look after yourself from your first day. Here is the common-sense routine that keeps volunteers well.
One thing first: this isn’t medical advice. See a travel clinic six to eight weeks before you leave, and talk to them about vaccinations and anything specific to your health.
Drink before you’re thirsty
Carry a refillable bottle and top it up with filtered water at your accommodation before you head out. Away from home, drink sealed bottled water (check the cap hasn’t been opened) and skip tap water and ice. You lose salt as well as water when you sweat, so keep a few sachets of oral rehydration salts, sold as ORS at every pharmacy, in your bag. Coconut water straight from the shell is another local favorite, and nimbu pani (fresh lime water) and chaas (spiced buttermilk) are traditional summer coolers, as long as they’re made with filtered water.
Coffee, fizzy drinks and alcohol are no substitute for water. Alcohol isn’t allowed at our accommodation anyway.
Keep the sun off
Loose, light-colored clothes that cover your arms and legs keep you cooler than shorts and a tank top, and they are what your project expects anyway. Put on sunscreen before you leave and reapply it through the day, wear a hat and good sunglasses, and carry a cotton scarf for your neck. Plan sightseeing for early morning or late afternoon, and save museums and shopping malls for the hottest hours.
Eat light, fresh and hot
Don’t skip breakfast. It’s included at our accommodation in both cities (Monday to Saturday in Delhi), and it sets you up for a long day. Heavy, oily food sits badly in the heat, so lean on lighter dishes such as dal and rice, idli and sambar, or vegetable curry with roti.
Street food is part of the fun. Choose busy stalls where the food is cooked hot in front of you, eat fruit you peel yourself, such as bananas, mangoes and oranges, and be wary of raw salads and cut fruit that has been sitting out. Wash your hands or use sanitizer before you eat.
Keep mosquitoes away
Mosquitoes are most active around dawn and dusk, and they multiply in the monsoon. Use repellent on exposed skin, wear long sleeves in the evening, and ask your travel clinic what else they recommend. Repellent is sold at every pharmacy in India, so you only need to pack a small bottle.
Rest and pace yourself
The heat is tiring, especially in your first week, while you are still adjusting to the time difference and the food. Get a good night’s sleep (rooms at the Delhi hostel are air-conditioned in the hot months, and the Jaipur volunteer house has air coolers), rest in the afternoon if your project finishes early, and resist filling every weekend with long journeys. A slow weekend in the city is a perfectly good weekend.
If you feel unwell
If the heat makes you dizzy, queasy or headachy, get into the shade, sip water or ORS, rest and tell someone. For anything more, or anything that doesn’t pass, tell your coordinator: our team can be reached at any hour and can help you see a doctor. Your travel and medical insurance, which is compulsory, should cover treatment in India; our insurance page explains what to look for.
Packing for the heat? Our summer packing list covers what to bring, and our summer volunteering guide has start dates and the programs that suit a summer break. For any other questions, email info@volunteeringindia.com.