What to Wear in Jaipur

Dressing well in Jaipur balances three things: strong daytime sun reflecting off marble and sandstone courtyards, respectful coverage in a traditional Rajasthani city, and surprisingly chilly evenings if you visit between November and February. Best of all, Jaipur is India's capital of hand-block-printed cotton, so you can easily pick up airy kurtas, scarves and shirts in the local bazaars on your first afternoon.

Fabrics, sun protection and winter evening layers

• Loose, breathable cotton and linen covering shoulders and knees: whether you visit in the pleasant 25°C days of winter or the 38°C heat of spring, loose-fitting trousers, maxi skirts, cotton chinos and long-sleeved linen shirts keep the sun off your skin while respecting local modesty norms across the walled Pink City and rural Amer village.
• A sweater, fleece or quilted jacket from November to February: visitors packing for India often forget how quickly desert air cools after sunset. Early morning jeep rides up to Amber Fort and open-air dinners on haveli rooftops in December and January drop below 10°C; bring a warm jumper, pashmina shawl or light down layer.
• Broken-in walking trainers and easy slip-on shoes: the flagstone ramp up to Amber Fort, the steep cobbled zigzags climbing to Nahargarh and the uneven pavements of the bazaars call for cushioned closed-toe shoes or sturdy sandals. At Hindu temples such as Galtaji, Govind Dev Ji (inside the City Palace grounds) and Birla Mandir, as well as inside certain marble mausoleums at Gaitore Ki Chhatriyan, you must remove your shoes at the threshold; wearing socks protects your feet from hot stone in summer and cold marble in winter.

Colourful photo outfits and scarf essentials

Against the warm terracotta-pink facades of Hawa Mahal and Patrika Gate and the pale yellow walls of Amer, solid jewel tones (cobalt blue, emerald green, mustard yellow or crisp white) photograph wonderfully. Carry a lightweight cotton scarf (dupatta) in your daypack at all times: it serves as instant shade in unshaded courtyards like Jantar Mantar, covers your head or shoulders when stepping into a neighbourhood shrine, and shields against dust in open auto-rickshaws. Review monthly weather in Jaipur before packing.