The whole list in one minute
Cover, but stay cool: loose clothes over shoulders, cleavage and knees are both respectful and cooler in the sun than shorts.
Pack half, buy half: Jaipur sells beautiful, inexpensive cotton made for this climate. Many of our guests buy their best travel clothes on day one.
- Pieces
- Ten to twelve, for one or two weeks
- Fabrics
- Cotton, linen, light wool for winter
- Laundry
- Same day or next day at most good hotels
- Sockets
- 230 volts, mostly round-pin C, D and M
- Luggage
- Soft bags for flights, trains and fort stairs
- Layers, not bulk: a winter morning can start in a shawl and end in a cotton shirt by noon.
- Two scarves: one for temples and dust, one pretty enough for dinner.
- Shoes that slip off: you will remove them at every temple, many times a day.
- Read the basics too: our packing guide covers everyone, and our guide for women travellers covers everything beyond the suitcase.
Three rules the women in our family pack by
Loose beats tight: it is not about hiding, it is about drawing less attention. Loose, light cloth that skims the body is what Rajasthani women wear, and it works in the heat.
Everything must cross over: a piece that suits a morning temple and an evening terrace earns its place. A piece that only suits one rarely does.
- Think in layers: in winter the desert can drop close to freezing at night, while Jaipur's mornings often start around 8°C and warm quickly.
- Inside the hotel, wear what you like: swimwear at the pool, an evening dress at dinner. Add a wrap when you step out of the gates.
- Modesty matters most in villages and holy towns: Pushkar, Nathdwara and the rural Marwar villages are more traditional than Jaipur or Udaipur's lake front.
A capsule wardrobe for one or two weeks
Tops
Three or four loose tops or tunics: cotton or linen, with at least elbow-length sleeves and a modest neckline.
- One long-sleeved shirt: for the sun, for mosquitoes at dusk and for conservative villages.
- A kurta or two: the long tunic of north India, worn over trousers. Buy them in Jaipur if you do not own one.
Bottoms and dresses
Two pairs of loose trousers: palazzos, linen trousers or soft cotton pants, ideally one pair quick-drying.
- One long skirt: below the knee, full enough to sit cross-legged on a temple floor.
- One or two maxi dresses: with sleeves, or worn with a light cardigan or shirt over them.
- Leggings or slim trousers: under a long kurta, as many young Rajasthani women wear them.
Scarves and wraps
A large cotton scarf: a dupatta or odhni, long enough to cover your head at a dargah and your shoulders in a temple.
- A dressier stole: silk or fine wool, for palace dinners and cool evenings.
- A pashmina or wool shawl in winter: the best warm layer there is, and easy to buy here.
For evenings and the pool
One smart outfit: palace hotels are elegant but rarely formal. Smart casual is right almost everywhere.
- A swimsuit and cover-up: the hotel pool becomes the centre of the afternoon from March onwards.
- Something for a special night: many guests have a kurta, a sari blouse or a dress made in Jaipur or Udaipur, where tailors can often stitch in a day or two.
What each season asks of your suitcase
October and November, and March
The weather: warm days in the high twenties and low thirties, cooler evenings.
- Pack: light cotton and linen, one light jumper or fleece and a light jacket for the evenings and early safaris.
- Easiest months: if this is your first trip, these are the kindest to a suitcase.
December to February
The weather: sunny, comfortable days, but cold mornings and nights, colder than most visitors expect.
- Pack: cotton for the day, a warm jumper, a proper insulated or down jacket, a warm hat, thin gloves and a wool scarf.
- Essential for: dawn safaris at Ranthambore and nights at a desert camp. Old stone palaces are cosy, but a layer at dinner is welcome.
April to June
The weather: very hot, often above 40°C and up to 45°C in the desert.
- Pack: the loosest, lightest cotton you own, in pale colours. Long sleeves shade your skin and keep you cooler.
- Add: a wide-brimmed hat, good sunglasses and a cotton scarf to protect your neck.
July to September
The weather: warm and humid, with heavy showers that come and go.
- Pack: quick-drying clothes, a light rain jacket or a small umbrella, and sandals that cope with puddles. Leave suede at home.
- Wear green: at Teej the bazaars of Jaipur fill with green leheriya, and you will want to join in.
Dressing for each kind of place
Cities and bazaars
Wear: a kurta or long top over trousers, a long skirt or a maxi dress with sleeves.
- The local touch: a dupatta worn over the shoulders or chest, which is how women here add cover.
- Avoid: tight, short or sleeveless clothes in the old cities, where they draw stares.
Temples, dargahs and gurdwaras
Cover fully: shoulders and legs, with nothing see-through.
- Cover your head: at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, in gurdwaras and in some temples.
- No leather at Jain temples: belts, bags, watch straps and shoes stay outside at Ranakpur and Dilwara.
- More detail: our journal on what to wear in temples.
Villages and the desert
Wear: long, loose cotton that protects you from sun and sand. Modest dress matters more here.
- A scarf over the head: practical in the wind and respectful in conservative homes.
- For a camel ride: long, loose trousers prevent chafing, and closed shoes beat sandals.
On safari
Muted colours: khaki, olive, brown and beige, so you do not stand out in the forest.
- A buff or scarf: for the dust on the tracks.
- In winter: a hat, gloves and a warm jacket. The first hour in an open jeep is the coldest you will be in India. See our wildlife safaris page.
Palace hotels
- Wear what you would at any fine hotel: dresses, swimwear at the pool and something elegant for dinner on the terrace.
- Add a wrap at the gate: the moment you step outside, the rules of the street apply again.
What to buy in Jaipur in your first days
Block-printed kurtas: light, cool and made for this sun. Many guests buy two on day one and wear them for the rest of the trip.
Leheriya and bandhani scarves: tie-dyed in waves or tiny dots, perfect for temples and lovely at dinner. Our page on leheriya and bandhani explains the craft.
- Loose cotton trousers: sold everywhere, and easily shortened by a tailor the same day.
- A pashmina or wool shawl: the best winter layer, and a gift you will use for years.
- Mojaris: embroidered leather slippers that slip off at temple doors. New ones are stiff and soften after a few days.
- A Jaipur razai jacket or quilt: light cotton filled with hand-carded cotton, warm on a desert night.
- Where to shop: go with your guide or to shops you choose yourself. Our shopping guide explains how we avoid commission showrooms.
Shoes for forts, ghats and dunes
One pair for everything: comfortable walking shoes or trainers that slip on and off easily do most of the work.
Sandals you can walk in: for warm days, the ghats of Pushkar and Udaipur and the hotel.
- Main pair
- Slip-on walking shoes with grip
- Second pair
- Walkable sandals
- Evening
- Flat or low heels for stone floors
- Always
- Socks for hot or cold marble
- Flats for dinner: palaces have stone floors and steep steps. Heels and old staircases do not mix.
- Socks in your day bag: marble floors burn in April and freeze on a January morning.
- Barefoot on the dunes: most guests take their shoes off at a desert camp, which is the best way to feel the sand.
Toiletries, periods and the small things
Menstrual products: pads are easy to find in city pharmacies and supermarkets. Tampons and menstrual cups are harder to find outside the big cities, so bring what you prefer.
Your medicines: enough for the whole journey and a few extra days, in original packaging, in your hand luggage. Ask your own doctor what else to carry.
- Sun protection: high-factor sun cream, lip balm with SPF and a good moisturiser. The air in the desert and in winter is very dry.
- Hand sanitiser and tissues: public toilets are scarce, and we plan stops at hotels and clean places. Carry a small pack anyway.
- Insect repellent: especially at dusk, near lakes and after the monsoon.
- Hair ties and a hat: the jeep and the camel will thank you.
- Eye drops and glasses: if you wear contact lenses, bring glasses for dusty days on the dunes.
- More: our health and safety guide explains where to find official travel-health advice.
Bags, jewellery and valuables
A cross-body bag that closes: worn in front of you in crowded bazaars and at festivals.
A small daypack for fort days: room for water, a scarf, a layer and sun cream.
- Leave precious jewellery at home: simple pieces draw less attention, and you may want to buy something in Jaipur's Johari Bazaar. Our jewellery guide explains how to buy well.
- Use the hotel safe: for your passport, spare cash and a second card.
- Soft luggage: many heritage hotels have narrow stairs and no lift. Staff carry everything, but soft bags and good wheels help everyone.
Festivals and weddings
Holi
Wear old clothes: the colour often does not wash out. White shows it beautifully, and it should cover you well.
- Oil first: coconut or another oil on your hair and skin makes the powder easier to wash off.
- Protect your eyes and phone: sunglasses and a sealed pouch. We arrange Holi for women guests in a private setting. Read our Holi guide.
A Rajasthani wedding
Wear colour: pinks, oranges, greens and gold are all welcome, and guests change for each function.
- What to avoid: black alone and plain white can feel wrong at a celebration, and red is usually best left to the bride.
- Have something made: a lehenga or a sari in Jaipur or Udaipur is far more fun than bringing one. Our journal on how to wear a sari helps with the pleats.
Gangaur, Teej and Diwali
Gangaur: in spring, women wear their finest leheriya and bandhani. See Gangaur.
- Teej: in the monsoon, green leheriya and new bangles.
- Diwali: a festival of new clothes. One smart outfit, or a kurta from the bazaar the week before.
Packing for cars, flights and trains
By car: luggage stays in the boot between hotels. Keep a small bag with water, a scarf, sunglasses and a warm layer beside you. See private chauffeur journeys.
On domestic flights: checked allowances are often lower than on long-haul flights and differ by airline and fare. We check yours.
- Power banks: always in your hand luggage, never in the hold.
- On a luxury train: cabins are elegant but compact, so soft bags fit best. We can send the rest ahead by road.
- On a helicopter charter: strict weight limits apply, and we tell you yours in advance.
If you are travelling alone
A wedding-ring style band, if you like: some solo women wear one in the bazaars to deflect questions. It is entirely your choice, and nobody will ask to see a certificate.
Sunglasses you can hide behind: staring is common and usually curiosity. Dark glasses make it easier to ignore.
- A door wedge or travel lock: a small comfort in any hotel, even the best ones.
- A charged phone and a power bank: with your planner's number saved under a clear name.
- A paper copy of your plans: hotel names and your planner's number, kept apart from your phone.
- Clothes that make you feel at ease: if you feel comfortable, you look comfortable, and that changes how the street treats you. Our solo traveller journey is built around this rhythm.
What to leave at home
Very revealing clothes: short shorts, crop tops and plunging necklines, outside the hotel pool.
Heavy formal evening wear: smart casual is right almost everywhere.
- Too many shoes: two pairs and a sandal is plenty.
- Camouflage or military-style prints: best avoided, especially in the border districts of the Thar.
- Anything that cannot get dusty: Rajasthan is a dry land, and dust is part of its beauty.
- A drone: it needs official permission and is not allowed near monuments or in national parks.
Our list, ready to print
Clothes: three or four loose tops with sleeves, two trousers, one long skirt, one or two maxi dresses, one smart outfit.
Wraps: one large cotton scarf, one dressy stole, a warm layer, and a jacket from December to February.
- Shoes: slip-on walking shoes, sandals, flats for dinner and socks.
- Swim and sun: swimsuit, cover-up, sunglasses, a hat and high-factor sun cream.
- Health: your medicines, menstrual products, insect repellent, hand sanitiser and tissues.
- Tech: a universal adaptor, a power bank and your chargers. See SIM cards and internet.
- Papers: passport, visa printout, copies, insurance details and two bank cards.
- Space: room in your suitcase for kurtas, scarves and a quilt.