What to Wear in Malvan

Everyday clothes

Cotton and linen are what work here. The air is damp even in winter, and synthetic fabrics cling by mid-morning. A loose shirt or kurta and light trousers or a skirt cover most days. Carry a thin layer only for the air-conditioned bus or a breezy boat ride in December and January.

For the boats

The fort boats and snorkelling trips put you on a wet, open deck. Wear clothes that can get splashed and dry fast. Water sandals with a back strap stay on when you step into the shallows at the fort. Keep your phone and wallet in a small dry bag, because the boats rock as you climb in and out.

For snorkelling and diving

Swimwear is fine on the boat and in the water. Operators give you a life jacket, mask and fins. A rash guard or an old T-shirt protects your back from sunburn while you float face-down. Cover up again before you walk back through town or the jetty.

For the fort and temples

Sindhudurg has the Shivrajeshwar shrine and working temples inside, and families still live on the island. Wear shorts to the knee or longer, and cover your shoulders when you go into a shrine. Shoes come off at temple doors, so slip-ons save time. The fort walls are uneven stone with no railings in places, so avoid heels.

Traditional wear

The nine-yard nauvari saree is draped with the back tucked like a dhoti, and it is what Marathi women wear for weddings and festivals. Men wear a dhoti or kurta with a pheta, the tied turban, on the same occasions. You will see both at Ganesh Chaturthi and at the temple fairs in winter. Shops in the market sell ready-stitched nauvari sarees if you want to try one.

Through the year

From November to February, days are warm and dry. From March to May, add a hat, sunglasses and plenty of sunscreen. In the monsoon, from June to September, bring a proper raincoat, quick-dry clothes and shoes with grip. See the best time to visit page for the full year.