This article contains the personal choices of the author. Written and posted on the 23rd of July 2023 by Anoop Prathapan. This is intended to be read by medical personnel who might need to take duty at Sabarimala.
Being a doctor in Government Service, I was posted at Sabarimala for a week of duty, this month. There are five locations where you could be posted to
Nilaykkal
Pampa
Neelimala
Appachimedu
Sannidhanam
Of these, the first two are at sea level and the rest are at various levels/heights of the Sabarimala. So if you are posted at Nilaykkal or Pampa and if you go there by car, there could be a lot of stuff which you could take with you from home, to make your one week over there a lot better.
Below are my personal choices
Toilet Soap
Washing soap/liquid detergent
Towel
Hand towel
Shampoo
Shaving set - foam/gel, brush, razor, scissors
Deo spray
Perfume spray
Extra combs
Bucket and mug (the mug and bucket in your room will be so dirty that you won't feel like rinsing your towel in it or pouring water on your own body from it)
Water bottles -1L - at least half a dozen (you cannot be sure of the availability of drinking water at least for the first 72 hours)
extension cord - mandatory item (most rooms have just one plug point which might be damaged as well)
electric kettle (you need to have this because the chances of you getting tea/coffee at the time you prefer, will be limited)
coffee mug
sugar/sugar-free powder, of your choice
tea bag/coffee powder
milk powder (forget buying milk - if you have milk powder you will drink your favourite beverage, else you will drink only black tea/coffee)
Plastic rope and three hangers at least (if you wish to hang your clothes properly, keep the rope and the hangers. You won't be provided with a cupboard to keep your stuff)
Laptop computer + charger
Mobile phone + charger
Tablet + charger
Bluetooth Speakers + charger
BSNL SIM card activated at least 24 hours before travelling (Except at Sanidhanam you do not have any other network other than BSNL)
Bed sheet x 2
Pillow with pillow cover (you might be able to guess the quality of the pillows and cots in the hospital especially when they are used just seven days a month and are left unattended for the remaining days)
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Tongue cleaner
Hand wash - small bottle
A pair of Scissors
A knife
dhoti or casual pants x 7
T-shirt or casual shirt x 7 (No formal wear is required in any of these hospitals during duty hours. So try to stack in the maximum number of casual wear. Why maximum number - your chances of washing them and drying them in sunlight might be limited especially when there is rain outside)
one formal shirt and pants (just in case some VIP visits the Sabarimala and you are expected to be in formals)
inner wears as required (and for this as well, take sufficient numbers for a week - as I said - washing might not be possible or easy)
warm clothing as required - if you are posted during the winter season.
A box or two of paper-tissues
Pain-killer medications of your choice
Pain killer gel or spray of your choice
Tab. Pantoprazole + Domperidone combination - sufficient numbers (your stomach might get upset with the quality of food that is provided, so this might come in handy)
Cap. Racecadotril 100mg - sufficient numbers- in case you are so lucky enough to get loose stools with that food.
ORS Packets (hope I do not need to explain this)
any other routine medicines that you regularly take
eatables - anything dry of your choice including but not limited to biscuits, cup noodles, banana chips, lays, wafers, and branded juice packets - that lets you survive amidst OR supplement, the unpleasant food that is provided onboard. Being a Hindu pilgrim area, non-veg food including eggs is not allowed anywhere in Sabarimala. Therefore please be careful to take ONLY veg food along.
Packets of Knorr veg soup powders in case you like them and know to make it yourself.
Homemade pickles (if possible) or at least a bottle of branded pickles from the supermarket. Again, vegetarian ONLY, please.
"Dosappodi" with a small bottle of oil (The kinds of curries being served alongside dosa and idly are out of the world and quite unheard of, so you will feel desperate for not bringing this)
A tight plastic container for keeping food packets that have been opened.
Take some fruits along - like bananas or apples or oranges - you won't get them after you leave Pathanamthitta and enter the woods.
Books that you wished to read but could not, at home OR documents of any unfinished work that you could not complete at home (for you have plenty of time to do it there unless you are posted during the season)
a packet of rubber bands (might come in handy for multiple reasons)
Old newspapers in case you might need to spread them anywhere
some waste linen to wipe dusty or unclean surfaces
One or two plastic/cloth bags - to take your used clothes back home
As far as your car is concerned, fill in full tank petrol and check your air/nitrogen, latest before you leave Pathanamthitta town and enter the woods. There is just one petrol station at Nilaykkal and it closes at 6pm. Also if you know basic repairs of your car like changing a flat tyre etc, make sure you carry the tools for that as well.
Just for your information - the distance between Pathanamthitta Central Junction and Pampa is 65Km and that between Pampa and Nilakykkal is 20Km.
The dining halls in these hospitals have all been provided with an induction cooker by the authorities. So if you can carry a couple of vessels with an induction base, you might be able to cook noodles or make a ready-made soup or make pasta. Alternatively, if you wish to carry your personal induction cooker along, it is your choice.
Sadly carrying all these along is possible only if you travel by car and only if you are posted at Nilaykkal or Pampa. Carrying so much uphill is next to impossible.
Hope this helps someone in need.
Anoop Prathapan
23/7/2023
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