What to Wear in Ayodhya

Dressing for darshan

Every temple in Ayodhya expects modest clothes. For the Ram Mandir, long trousers or a long skirt and a top that covers your shoulders are the safe choice; shorts and sleeveless tops are best left at the hotel. A kurta with trousers or a salwar suit works for women, and a kurta or plain shirt with trousers for men. Many devotees wear saffron, yellow or cream, but no colour is required. Because you cannot carry a bag into the Ram Mandir, clothes with deep zipped pockets are handy for an ID card and a little cash.

Shoes you can take off

You remove your shoes at every temple, often several times a morning. Slip-on sandals save time. Some temples have shoe stands, but at the Ram Mandir you deposit shoes before the queue, so note the counter number. The stone floors get hot by midday in summer, so thin socks are worth carrying for courtyards where they are allowed.

Season by season

From April to June, the afternoons are very hot, often above 40 °C. Wear loose, light cotton in pale colours, and a hat for the walk between temples. In the monsoon, July to September, it is humid and wet; quick-dry clothes and sandals with grip matter more on the wet ghat steps than an umbrella does. October, November, February and March are mild. December and January are the exception: nights can be cold and mornings foggy, so bring a sweater, a warm shawl and socks, especially for an early queue or the evening on the river.

Buying locally

The shops along Ram Path sell cotton kurtas, stoles, tulsi-bead malas and devotional saris in saffron and yellow. They are handy if you arrive without something suitable for the temples. See the traditional looks for Kanak Bhawan and the riverside at Ram ki Paidi.