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This article contains a Rajasthan fashion and packing guide suggesting you what to wear in Rajasthan.
What to pack for Rajasthan? What to wear in Jaipur? What clothes to wear in Udaipur? Is it appropriate to wear shorts in Rajasthan? If you haven’t traveled to Rajasthan or even India then you might have a few doubts regarding the right clothes to pack for Jaipur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Pushkar in Rajasthan. Furthermore, if you’re a fashionista who loves to post pictures on Instagram then you might want to know what clothes would stand out in the majestic palaces and forts of Rajasthan. This Rajasthan fashion guide answers all your questions and presents a packing guide to Jaipur and all the other places to visit in Rajasthan.
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What to Wear in Rajasthan for Women: Rajasthan Packing Guide
1. Maxi Skirts – A Favorite Item to Wear in Rajasthan
There’s nothing more appealing and photogenic than twirling around in a bright maxi skirt against the beautiful facades of Rajasthan. Because Rajasthan is colorful, full of culture and majestic, your clothes need to match them. In summer, the loose skirts will be a sigh of relief to your legs whereas in winter you can simply wear a thermal legging underneath.
2. Palazzo
The ‘palazzo’ is a popular piece of bottom wear in India among women. It’s essentially a loose trouser that’s a little wider at the bottom near the ankles. A palazzo can come in all colors, prints and lengths as well. They can be paired with tops, blouses, kurtas, shirts or t-shirts which makes them the perfect piece to pack for Rajasthan. In case you’re coming from outside India, you can shop for them at any local market in India. Furthermore, don’t shy away from accessorizing them with dupattas, scarves and jewelry.
Must Read: A Complete Udaipur Travel Guide
3. Pants / Trousers
Living in Europe, I know for sure that women here love to pair trousers with blouses and shirts. This ubiquitous piece of clothing works splendidly in the conservative and striking Rajasthan as well. If you’re not comfortable wearing flashy or bright clothes, you don’t have to pull your hair apart worrying about what to pack for Rajasthan. Pair your trousers or pants with either a simple top-wear or a bright one. Moreover, you can always add a bright scarf or even a head scarf to add color to your outfit.
4. Kurta
A ‘kurta’ is the Indian version of a tunic that comes in various lengths – from the waistline to the ankles. Although, a typical kurta ends just above the knees. It can be worn with literally any bottom wear – leggings, palazzo, trousers, pants, jeans or even with a skirt. For a traditional Indian look, pair them with complimentary colored leggings or if you wanna go for an Indo-western get-up then wear them with jeans. Whether you choose one or the other, you can never go wrong with a kurta. Because Rajasthan is still a little conservative, a kurta won’t draw unwanted attention and it goes well with the vibe of the place. To make the outfit stand out, you can always opt for fancy fabric patterns as they come in many varieties.
5. Salwar Kameez
There is nothing more feminine and divine than a traditional Indian salwar kameez. The salwar is a loose trouser that is tied around the waist, baggy around the knees and then slightly narrow towards the ankles. Imagine Aladdin’s pants but more feminine. On the other hand, a kameez is the tunic that is worn with the salwar and it’s similar to a kurta but usually fixed in length, unlike the kurta which can come in various lengths. The salwar kameez is almost always worn with a dupatta and the colors of all three are either monochromatic or complementary. Again, just like palazzo and kurta, this can be bought at any clothing shop in the local market and it’s a suitable clothing to wear in Rajasthan.
6. Maxi Dress – An Essential Item to Pack for Rajasthan
Never forget your pretty, flow-y maxi dresses when you’re packing for Rajasthan. A brightly colored maxi dress looks elegant, fitting and one of the best clothes to wear in the castles of Jaipur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer and Jodhpur. Not just that, they are even an appropriate dress to wear in Rajasthan. The colors red, green, orange and blue will particularly stand out against the stone structures. To add layers to the outfit, add a scarf, shrug or shawl to the outfit. Try to avoid off-shoulder dresses since it might attract some unwanted attention.
7. Shirts, Tops and Blouses
A simple white shirt is a staple in every woman’s closet. You can pair them with jeans, trousers, skirts, palazzo – literally anything and pull off a great outfit. While packing for Rajasthan, you can never go wrong with this basic clothing item. I personally love to pair my white shirt with a printed palazzo or with a maxi skirt. Additionally, I usually add a statement necklace to accentuate the outfit. The best part about packing a white shirt or blouse is that you can create so many combinations using just one item. I wore mine with a striped trouser in Delhi, a blue maxi skirt in Jaisalmer, a pink and white palazzo in Udaipur and a yellow maxi skirt in Jodhpur. A plain white top/ blouse/ shirt is the safest and most useful item of clothing to pack for any trip, not just for Rajasthan.
8. Traditional Rajasthani Leheriya Dupatta
Rajasthan has a rich culture, a glorious past, delightful folk music and colorful prints. ‘Leheriya’ is one of the most famous prints in Rajasthan. The word ‘leheriya’ is derived from the Hindi word ‘leher’ which means wave. So the print looks like a bunch of waves and you’ll see a number of women in Rajasthan wearing sarees or dupattas with this type of print on them. I borrowed a blue fabric with the leheriya print from my mom’s closet and wore it with a plain white kurta and white palazzo. My monochrome outfit let the leheriya dupatta stand out on its own and it looked so gorgeous when I wore it in the City Palace of Udaipur.
9. Scarves
You have got to pack and wear scarves in Rajasthan. Not only will they provide protection from the harsh rays of the sun but they also help cover up when you’re out and about in the crowds or if you want to enter a Hindu temple. Most temples require women to dress modestly, covering their shoulders. So having a scarf on you will be beneficial in more than one way. You can pick up nice silk scarves from the Bapu market in Jaipur. Moreover, you can even wrap them around as a headscarf for a more trendy and chic look.
10. Statement Jewelry
We spent so much time talking about what to pack and wear in Rajasthan in terms of clothing but let’s not ignore jewelry. I found that wearing a nice big statement piece looks better than wearing several items. However, that is completely your choice and solely depends on your fashion sense. You will find many beautiful ornate earrings and necklaces in the markets of Rajasthan, in any city. My mom shopped for several items in Jaipur whereas I bought statement pieces from Udaipur.
What to Wear in Rajasthan in December / January in Winter?
The temperature in Rajasthan can be anywhere between 10 to 28 degree Celsius during the winter months of December and January. So you must be prepared to wear thermals and jackets in Rajasthan in winter. You can always wear thermals underneath your regular outfits and still get great pictures. Alternatively, add a colorful shawl or a cool jacket to your maxi skirts to get an interesting outfit. There are multiple ways to stay warm and still look fashionable! We girls always know how to do that 😉
What to Pack for Rajasthan in Summer?
If you’re from out of India and are wondering whether you can pack bikinis/shorts/short skirts for Rajasthan for the summer then you couldn’t be more wrong. The scorching rays of the sun and the extreme heat can be a little too much to handle but you must avoid wearing short, revealing clothes in Rajasthan. When I was travelling through Jaisalmer, Udaipur and Jodhpur in march, I wore maxi skirts and trousers but I still got leery looks from the men on the streets. I can’t imagine how much worse it would have been had I worn short clothes.
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