What to Wear in India: A Comprehensive Guide for Travelers

Trying to decide what to wear in India? This comprehensive guide covers all you need to know to navigate the culture and climates in style!

India is an absolutely BEAUTIFUL and diverse country to explore! Given the different cultures and climates across the country, it can be difficult to know what to wear in India. This post is meant to help you understand what will work best for your trip and ease the stresses of packing!

What to wear in India will depend a lot on where you are traveling within the country. I’ll share tips for whether you’re traveling in the north, south, big cities or villages – and also what kind of weather to expect for all of them.

So many people have questions about what to pack and what to wear in India. It’s a totally different culture and of course you want to be respectful. But honestly, it’s hard to know what to really expect just by what you see online.

When I first moved to India in 2017, I ended up bringing a lot of clothes that I didn’t even end up wearing! It was so difficult to know what to expect and I wanted to be appropriate. Now that I’ve lived in the country and been traveling around for the past 7 years, I have a lot of tips I want to share for first-time travelers!

This post is all about what to wear in India.

What to Wear in India for Travelers

There is so much to unpack when talking about what to wear in India! This post gives advice related to culture, climates, men’s vs women’s clothing, footwear, swimwear, accessories and tips.

Considering Culture When Deciding What to Wear in India

You do not have to wear Indian clothes when you travel in India! Many Indians dress in western clothes, especially in larger cities. Where you’re traveling will determine a lot of what you wear, but overall it is true that culturally people dress more conservatively than in western countries.

What to Wear in Big Cities VS Small Towns

If you’re traveling to a big city like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, etc., it’s totally appropriate to wear western clothes. While you won’t often find people out in shorts and low-cut tank tops, big cities tend to be more progressive. When it comes to nightlife and going out, you’ll find many girls wearing dresses or more revealing clothing when in big cities.

When traveling outside big cities, you should expect to dress modestly. Pants or long skirts with a shirt that covers your shoulders is best. Avoid super tight fitting clothing and low-cut shirts for women. 

One exception for all of these suggestions is if you’re traveling to Goa. Goa is the one place in India I’ve been to where women are in bikinis and shorts/tanks and it’s totally normal. There are a lot of foreigners who travel there so the expectations are a bit different. Albeit, if you go to a really uncommon beach in Goa where there’s not foreigners, then expect it to be more modest.

Overall, you should expect to dress modestly and see Indian people dressing modestly, even in western wear. You can dress a little more freely in big cities though.

Religious Sites

If you’re going to a temple or religious site in India, you need to dress modestly. Wear pants which cover your legs (even men shouldn’t wear shorts) and shirts which cover your shoulders. Avoid anything too skin-tight too.

Many women wear a scarf which isn’t required, but I always suggest for women to travel with one because you never know when it can come in handy! Just wearing it around your shoulders to cover your chest is also very normal.

You should also be prepared to remove your shoes whenever you go near a temple or religious site. So, if you’re planning to see a lot of them, you may want to pack shoes which are easy to remove. 

Traditional Events – Weddings, Religious Ceremonies, Festivals

India is fulllllll of rich traditions throughout the country! When it comes to traditional celebrations like weddings or festivals, it’s common for people to also wear traditional Indian clothes. While it’s still okay to wear western clothes if you’re a tourist traveling during a holiday like Diwali, weddings are definitely a time to wear traditional clothes!

Dressing in traditional clothes is actually a lot of fun. I’ll talk more about what’s appropriate for men and women to wear when it comes to Indian clothes later in this post. But, if you’re interested in getting some traditional wear, I highly encourage you to enjoy it!

What to Wear in India’s Different Climates & Regions

India’s climate varies from the snow-capped Himalayas in the north to the sun-drenched beaches of the south. Similarly, its cultural landscape is just as varied, with traditional attire changing from one region to another. All these aspects can play a role in deciding what to wear in India!

Summer Essentials

India can get HOT! The summer hits most of the country between the end of March – beginning of June. If you are traveling in the south or central part of the country (basically just not the mountains), it gets seriously warm. 

Lightweight, breathable fabrics like cotton and linen are perfect for the summertime. Loose-fitting clothing can also help you stay cool and is in line with modest dressing norms.

In the mountains, it can still get warm, but naturally the further into the mountains you are the cooler it will be.

Monsoon Must-Haves

The monsoon season brings heavy rains, especially in the coastal regions. Monsoon varies by each state, but generally it falls between June-October. In many places, it’s not just rain every few days. Expect all-day, every-day rain!

Waterproof footwear and a sturdy umbrella are absolute must-haves. It will also help to have quick-dry clothing because chances are you’re bound to get wet at some point. I always carry a light rain jacket when I travel during monsoon season.

Winter Wardrobe for Northern VS Southern India

Northern India experiences COLD winters. You’ll need to wear layers, coats and warm clothing. It will also be snowy in the mountains, so be prepared. Depending how far north you travel, you may want to carry hats, gloves and scarves as well.

In contrast, southern India remains relatively warm, where light sweaters or shawls suffice for cooler evenings. If you are traveling from a colder country, it will honestly still just feel hot for you most likely! But it does feel relatively cooler especially in the evenings.

Regional Differences

If you are a tourist traveling around India, you’ll be fine wearing western wear anywhere you go. But you might notice some differences in the Indian wear you see! Styles vary by every state and region when it comes to traditional clothing, so try to observe what you notice to learn more.

Women’s VS Men’s Clothing

What to Wear in India for Female Travelers

When it comes to women’s clothing, modest western wear is the best option for travelers. Wear pants, long skirts, or long dresses and avoid low-cut tops. If you’re traveling outside a major city, it’s best to wear something that also covers your shoulders.

When living in Mumbai, my go-to outfit was jeans and a tank top. Big cities tend to be more progressive, but it’s still rare to see women in shorts. Overall, no matter where you travel in India, expect to wear something that covers your legs and chest. Otherwise just be prepared for lots of staring!

My absolute essential item when traveling in India is a scarf! It’s super easy to throw on over any shirt and makes it more modest, mostly because it hides your chest. Many women wear scarves even with western wear across India.

Traditional Indian Women’s Clothing

If you’re interested in wearing traditional clothing or have a special event to attend, you can definitely try them out! Common daily wear can be a salwar kameez or kurti, which is a longer top with bottoms. You can also find dressy ones for special events. You should also wear a dupatta, which is an Indian women’s scarf.

Sarees are also traditionally worn. I would only suggest this if you are attending a wedding or traditional function, otherwise it’s kind of laughable to see a tourist in that. You can buy ready-made ones that you don’t have to learn to tie.

While it’s not expected for tourists to dress in Indian clothes while traveling, it can be a cute thing in smaller cities. If you’re really interested then absolutely go for it! If you are indifferent, I would suggest that it’s not needed. You’ll get a lot of stares and people will surely love to see you in traditional wear, but you’ll also stand out as a tourist.

What to Wear in India for Male Travelers

Doesn’t it always seem that men have it easier when it comes to clothes? Haha, well that’s how I feel at least! It’s totally appropriate for men to wear western clothes. Shorts are not very common among Indian men, but it is okay if you wear them unless you are visiting a temple. A typical outfit will be pants and a t-shirt or shirt. Tank tops are not very common either but likewise, acceptable.

For business, a button up shirt and dress pants are appropriate with a tie, as well as a suit if it’s that dressy. Western business clothes are completely acceptable and common. Unless suggested otherwise by your employer, you don’t need to wear anything traditional.

Traditional Indian Men’s Clothing

There is no need for men to wear traditional clothing unless you’re attending a wedding or special event that requires it. Look for kurta pajamas which are made up of a longer shirt and loose pants. Honestly, it’s pretty simple being a guy!

Footwear

Naturally, depending on where and when you travel in India you’ll need to dress for the weather. In warmer places, it’s common to wear easy-to-remove footwear daily. Many places will require you to remove your shoes if you go indoors, like if you’re visiting someone’s home or a temple. With the weather and that in mind, sandals are a practical choice for men and women.

On a side note, flip-flops are not regarded as nice shoes and you won’t find people out wearing them. Not that they are high class fashion pieces in western countries either, just know that it’s not really typical to see people out in them around major cities.

It’s also important to just dress comfortably! If you know you’ll be walking a lot, take a good pair of shoes that will make you feel nice. You’d rather be comfortable than have aching feet while traveling!

Accessories

As I mentioned, a scarf is my biggest recommendation for ladies! It’s easy to add to any outfit and is perfect for when you need to look a bit more modest.

If you’re interested in Indian fashion, you’ll definitely want to check out some bangles or jewelry! I love buying earrings when I travel to different places in India, but I suppose it’s a personal preference what kind of accessories you like! Jhumka is a popular style of earring if you’re interested in getting something with an Indian touch.

Swimwear

Unless you are traveling to Goa, leave the bikinis behind! When I’m talking about swimwear, it’s mostly important for women. As usual, men have it easy and are fine in any shorts. 

Swimwear is very modest when you travel around India. In fact, most places you go you will just see women in their regular clothes for swimming in the ocean or in nature (it seems so impractical to me, but it is what it is!). Usually when I travel, I bring capri yoga leggings and a quick dry t-shirt for my swimwear. I recommend quick dry clothes that cover all the main portions of your body.

If you are traveling to a hotel or resort where there’s a shared pool, you can definitely wear a real swimsuit. I suggest opting for a one piece or something as modest as you can find (avoid lots of cleavage). 

Of course, if you prefer to wear your bikini or any other swimwear, there’s not any rules or anything against it. Just be prepared that there will be A LOT of stares from men, and personally I find that uncomfortable.

The only exception that I know of regarding swimwear is Goa! Since so many foreigners travel to Goa, it’s common to see women in bikinis and shorts if you’re at a popular beach.

Shopping for Clothes in India

There are a ton of different shopping experiences you can find across India. You can shop from street markets (remember to bargain!) to high-end boutiques. It’s also easy to find traditional and western clothing.

If you’re interested in clothing that is western but has an Indian flare, I recommend checking out Fabindia! It’s a chain store that you can find all over, but they have really nice quality clothes with natural materials and dyes. It’s a bit pricey but it’s my favorite place to shop for anything with an Indian twist.

What to wear in India depends a lot on where you are traveling, the time of year and your personal style! Leave a comment if you have any questions and wishing you all the best for your journey (:

This post was all about what to wear in India.