What to Wear in Agra

Winter mornings are cold

Between December and mid-January, dawn on the Yamuna can be close to freezing, damp and foggy, and most people's first Taj visit is at dawn. Wear a warm layer and a shawl or light jacket you can take off by 10 am, when the day warms up. October, November, February and March need only a light layer for the early start.

Summer means cover, not less

From April to June, afternoons often pass 45 °C and the hot loo wind blows. Long, loose cotton or linen keeps the sun off better than shorts and a vest. Add a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Walking the Taj garden or the Fatehpur Sikri ridge at noon is punishing, so plan to be indoors from about noon to four.

Your feet at the Taj and at Sikri

At the Taj Mahal, you keep your shoes on and pull free shoe covers over them before you step onto the marble platform. Wear shoes that are easy to cover. At the Jama Masjid and Salim Chishti's tomb in Fatehpur Sikri, you take shoes off and walk across a wide sandstone courtyard. By late morning in summer that stone burns. Go early, or carry socks you do not mind getting dusty.

Covering up

The Taj complex has an active mosque, and Fatehpur Sikri's courtyard is a working mosque and Sufi shrine. Covered shoulders and knees are expected at both. Carry a scarf to cover your head inside Salim Chishti's tomb; men can use a handkerchief. Nobody polices dress at the fort or the gardens, but modest clothes draw less attention in the old city.

Colours against marble and sandstone

Against the Taj's white marble, soft colours or one strong colour work better than pure white, which disappears into the stone. Deep red, emerald or mustard stand out against the red sandstone of the fort and Sikri. A Chikankari kurta in pastel suits both backdrops.

Pack light for security

The Taj has a strict bag check. Food, tobacco, headphones, tripods and most electrical items other than cameras and phones are not allowed. A small bag with water, sunscreen and your phone gets through fastest.