The short answer
Camp where it is allowed, on flat, dry, durable ground, away from water, steep slopes, dead trees and animal paths. Use a stove instead of a fire, pack out all rubbish, and leave the site looking as if you were never there.
Do
- Check the rules and ask permission
- Choose flat, dry, durable ground
- Camp away from dry riverbeds and dead trees
- Use a stove, and keep fires to where they are allowed
- Pack out everything, including food waste
Do not
- Camp in dry riverbeds or under loose slopes
- Light fires in forests or on dry ground
- Leave rubbish, even biodegradable
- Wash with soap in streams
- Camp where you are not allowed
Choosing the site
- Rules first. Many forests, parks and border zones restrict camping or need a permit. Ask the local authority or landowner
- Flat and dry. Avoid hollows where water collects
- Away from water. Camp well back from streams and lakes, and never in a dry riverbed, where flash floods can arrive without warning
- Look up. Avoid dead branches, loose rock above and unstable slopes
- Think about animals. Avoid animal trails, water holes and anywhere with fresh signs of wildlife
- Think about the wind and the sun, and the exit if you have to leave in the night
Setting up
- Arrive with daylight left to see the site and set up calmly
- Park first, facing out, with the handbrake on and in gear, and chocks if on a slope
- Pitch the tent on flat ground, with the door away from the wind
- Set up the kitchen away from the tent and the car, on a stable surface
- Store food sealed, away from where you sleep
- Agree a spot for toilet use, well away from water and camp
Leave no trace
The Leave No Trace principles are widely used around the world, and they fit Indian conditions well.
- Plan ahead and know the rules
- Camp and travel on durable surfaces that will not be damaged
- Dispose of waste properly: pack out all rubbish, and bury human waste in a small hole well away from water and camp, or pack it out where required
- Leave what you find: do not pick plants or move rocks and artefacts
- Minimize fire impact: use a stove, and fires only where allowed
- Respect wildlife: watch from a distance, and never feed animals
- Be considerate: keep noise and lights low, and respect other people and local communities
Fire, waste and water
- Fires: forest rules often ban them. A stove is safer and leaves no scars
- Rubbish: carry it out, including food scraps and tissue
- Washing: use biodegradable soap well away from water, and wash dishes far from streams
- Noise and lights: keep them low, especially near villages and wildlife
Pick your site
Tap a site type to see the main things to watch.
Tap a site (6 to try)
The call for Open grassland
- The call
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- Details
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Common mistakes
- Camping in a dry riverbed. Flash floods arrive without local warning.
- Lighting fires in forests. Many are banned, and fires spread.
- Leaving rubbish. Carry it out, always.
- Camping where it is not allowed. Ask first.
- Camping under dead branches or slopes. They fall without warning.
- Feeding wildlife. It harms animals and endangers people.
A final word. Camping rules in India vary widely, and some areas are restricted for safety and security. This is general guidance. Check local rules, get permission where needed, and choose sites that are safe and legal.