What you decide to pack and wear in India will depend on where you are and what time of year it is. The weather across India usually follows the monsoon cycle, so it’s quite easy to plan what to pack when it comes to rain, but temperatures will vary quite a bit from the north to the south.
What to wear in India in winter
In the lower-altitude towns of the Himalaya, like Darjeeling (2402 m/6699 ft), the winter temperatures can drop below freezing and may experience snow. Be sure to pack thermal underwear and clothes that can be layered – a warm fleece, windbreaker, gloves and a beanie are all great ideas, as is a down jacket for the evening.
Further south, in places like New Delhi and Varanasi, light clothes should suffice during the day with a warm jumper or jacket for the cooler evenings. The same applies for Kolkata.
On the southern coast, around Mumbai and Goa, it’ll still be very warm in the winter so pack light clothes with a light jumper for any cooler evenings. It’s also worth bringing an umbrella or light raincoat if travelling to the south-eastern coast as the rain can last into December.
What to wear in India in summer
In the summertime, and in the shoulder seasons for that matter, it’s going to be hot everywhere except in the higher altitudes of the Himalaya. In Darjeeling you’ll need light clothes with a rain jacket and jumper, but if you’re travelling higher it’s best to pack warm clothes or a down jacket as well as a beanie, gloves and scarf.
In all low-altitude regions you’ll need loose, lightweight clothing with a raincoat or umbrella. Parts of India carry the risk of malaria so long pants and a long-sleeved shirt are useful to have for dusk and dawn when those mosquitos are active.
Click here to return to India FAQs
Our tours in India
8 Days
From
775
Take an action-packed eight-day tour through the essential sights and bites of India’s...
15 Days
From
1275
Travel to India and visit the Rajasthan region. Tour from Delhi to Pushkar through...
15 Days
From
1505
Travel to India and Nepal on a tour from Delhi to Kathmandu. Visit the Taj Mahal of...
11 Days
From
630
Get the most out of 11 days in India on this Lonely Planet Experience powered by...
15 Days
From
1990
See the best of Rajasthan on this 15-day tour. Behold the delights of Agra, Jaipur,...
Tailor-Made trips
Take two or more on an exclusive trip and tailor your itinerary
22 Days
From
910
See the essentials of India’s north on a 22-day Lonely Planet Experience through Delhi,...
10 Days
From
915
Take an action-packed family tour of India, following tiger trails, visiting Delhi and...
15 Days
From
1950
Relish the sights and flavours of Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Mumbai and Goa on this...
13 Days
From
1265
Travel to India and visit Delhi, Shimla, Mandi, Dharamsala, Rishikesh and Amritsar on...
15 Days
From
1340
Explore the tropical and spiritual southern India. Ride the toy train in Ooty, relax in...
15 Days
From
950
Discover India in all its glory on this 15-day spice-filled Lonely Planet Experience,...
8 Days
From
635
We've taken a classic adventure through Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, India's Golden Triangle...
16 Days
From
1025
See the landscapes of South India on a 16-day Lonely Planet Experience from Varkala to...
11 Days
From
585
Join us for a jaunt around north India, with rickshaws in Delhi, spirituality in...
13 Days
From
819
Explore India and Nepal with other folks aged 18-29 on this 13-day adventure including...
9 Days
From
1580
Visit ancient temples and colourful cities on this northern India adventure through...
15 Days
From
1022
Get on the road from Kathmandu to Delhi on a trip from Nepal to India, through Pokhara,...
19 Days
From
2215
Spend 19 days touring India and Nepal, departing from Delhi and visiting Jaipur, Agra,...
16 Days
From
662
Get an authentic slice of the real Rajasthan on a trip that takes you to Delhi,...
23 Days
From
1710
From Varanasi's ghats and the Taj Mahal to Hyderabad's Bollywood film studios and...
13 Days
From
1785
Explore the backroads of India’s south on this 13-day tour. Travel from Chennai to...
13 Days
From
880
Explore the best bits of the India on a jam-packed southern adventure, including stops...
37 Days
From
2115
Discover the colours and cultures of India on this Lonely Planet Experience visiting...
15 Days
From
1520
Travel to India and cycle the romantic Rajasthan region. Tour from Delhi to Pushkar and...
11 Days
From
895
Discover northern India on this tour through Delhi, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Nimaj,...
29 Days
From
2760
This 29-day tour traverses India from south to north, winding from Kochi to Delhi and...
10 Days
From
1170
Your whole family will love this incredible sensory adventure into the diverse life of...
20 Days
From
1364
From the deserts of Rajasthan to the holiest river around, India will blow you away....
21 Days
From
3585
Get a cultural insight into India’s north and south, travelling through Delhi, Agra,...
12 Days
From
870
Discover what life is like for women living in Rajasthan, India on this female-only...
23 Days
From
1503
Spend time in Kathmandu and Pokhara and then see where Buddha did his thing. Get active...
19 Days
From
1980
Visit India and tour the famous Golden Triangle of Dehli, Agra, and Jaipur, delve into...
3 Days
From
320
Visit India and travel from Delhi to Agra. Travel to the Taj Mahal and Agra’s Red Fort,...
10 Days
From
1480
From spicy curries and fragrant biryanis to flaky pastries and the scent of coconuts,...
8 Days
From
1085
Travel to Delhi, Jaipur and Agra on this next-level vegan food trip in India’s Golden...
4 Days
From
265
Lift your spirits as you float on the Ganges at dawn in Varanasi, and explore the city...
Â
Â