India has a pleasant climate throughout the year except in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Delhi and a few other places, where it can get very hot and dry during the summer months. In most other states in India, summer is bearable, even for the foreign tourist
Light colored cottons are best suited to India’s climate for most of the year. Cargo trousers or shorts, sweat shirts and other casual attire are recommended. When it comes to footwear, sneakers or slippers/ sandals/ flip flops are always comfortable.
Many religious places like temples and some heritage monuments require you to leave your footwear outside. There’s a counter provided were you can deposit them for a small fee. You’ll always be given a token.
No footwear is allowed inside the theTaj Mahal at Agra. You are provided with slip-ons and well advised to use them. The other option is to walk barefoot, but be informed that it’s hot marble, and your feet may not take kindly to it.
As a western tourist, you’ll never need warm clothing at most places in India, but places like Delhi, Himachal Pradesh (Kulu Manali), Shimla, the north eastern states, and some places in the south can get very chilly during the winter months.
You may carry a light sweater and basic winter wear, irrespective of the season. You will need gloves in Delhi and a few other places, as temperatures can drop considerably during the winter months.
There is a possibility that you may encounter light non seasonal showers at some places, when you least expect it. An umbrella and/ or a light rain jacket should be a useful accessory. Anything more in India would be unnecessary.
If you have kids with you, it’s essential that you carry warm clothes and basic monsoon gear for them.
TIP – At some places, though rare, there may be no facility to deposit your footwear. You may be forced to leave them outside unattended, increasing chances of theft. Always buy and use cheap footwear and if your backpack can accommodate it, carry another light pair of slippers in case you need them.
While it’s advisable to wear cottons, which are best suited to the pleasant warm climate for most of the year, it’s wise to avoid revealing outfits. People may not trouble you, but India is a very conservative country and it’s best to respect local sentiments.
It’s been often observed that locals are more inclined towards tourists that dress in a locally acceptable way. Nobody expects you to wear a formal jacket and tie. What we do mean are skimpy outfits, and those are best avoided.
Trousers/ shorts/ sweat shirts should be perfect for both men and women. Many western female tourists also wear Indian outfits like churidars, which actually look very chic on them. Locals love to see foreigners in Indian clothes. It could help you to connect better.
Likewise, while holding hands is pretty common, that’s as far as it gets. Public display of affection like kissing is best avoided. Nobody will ever stop you, but it does affect people’s sensibilities and you will most certainly manage to draw a crowd.
Public Toilet Facilities
Public toilet facilities in India are pathetic to say the least. Some social service organizations have been constructing good clean public toilets for a long time now but they are not available everywhere.
What you can do is walk into some hotel you come across and use their facilities. Most hotels won't refuse tourists and you could also pay a small fee as a token of appreciation.
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