What to wear when travelling in India
IF YOU ARE PLANNING to visit India, you may be wondering how to dress, you may want to know: What do female tourists wear in India? Knowing what to wear when travelling in India can really make a difference to the success of your trip. Before I left for my first trip to India, I found a great piece of travel advice on the Journeywoman website for women. Someone said, wear Indian clothes in India. So I did. From the start of my travels in 2005, I have largely worn modest, comfortable Indian outfits such as kurtahs (tunics), scarves, pashmina shawls, salwar kameez, Indian dresses, and even sarees. Yes, you can wear a saree (sari) in India!
I have been travelling extensively in India over the past 13 years and have had very few really negative incidents, so I think wearing Indian clothes has really helped. In spite of what you see in Bollywood movies, India is still largely a traditional society, and most Indians still favour modest, traditional clothing – and you may find that you enjoy your time in India more if you do, too.
Wearing modest clothing in India is a good idea for many reasons, and one of them is that it shows cultural respect. I also think it’s actually safer. If you wear skimpy, tight, western clothing, you could be sending the wrong signal. Read on for tips on how to dress and what to wear in India.
What should tourists wear in India?
Women tourists to India have to pay more attention to modesty than they’re probably used to. If you are in some parts of Delhi, Mumbai, and Goa, you can get away with wearing western clothing, as long as it is not tight, skimpy, or revealing. But otherwise, you should always make sure your legs and cleavage are covered, and in many cases, also that your shoulders are covered. Flowing, loose, cotton clothing is ideal in India. It’s affordable to buy in stores or markets, it’s cool and comfortable, it shows cultural respect and it suits the need for modesty.
You can buy loose, flowing, cotton kurtahs (tunics) and trousers almost everywhere, and in every price range. Be warned, though: clothes at the lower end of the price spectrum (100 to 200 rupees) won’t last for more than a few washings!
Can you wear shorts in India?
Shorts are not really worn in India, they’re not popular or traditional, and I would not recommend wearing them for sight seeing or in the city. However, if you are in a popular beach destination like Goa, shorts are acceptable — but please err on the side of modesty and avoid short-shorts or anything too revealing.
Can you wear jeans in India?
Jeans are super popular in India and everyone wears them. They are particularly suitable for wearing with a kurtah (long tunic shirt). However, a lot of the time it’s too hot for jeans, plus they take forever to dry after washing, and take up a lot of suitcase room. I would only recommend them if you know you will be travelling somewhere with cool or cold weather.
Can you wear leggings in India?
Yes! Leggings are huge in India, everyone (women) wear leggings with a kurtah (long tunic shirt) over top. Your butt should be covered by your top to pull off this look.