When we first landed in India, our boys Harry and Oscar were just 4 and 6 years old. They were tiny, wide-eyed, and navigating the sights, sounds, and crowds of the subcontinent for the very first time. Fast forward through six incredible family trips, and they are now 11 and 13. As we plan our seventh trip back to India for next year, we can confidently tell you: what your kids wear in India matters, but it changes completely as they grow!
One of our absolute favourite things about India is the kaleidoscope of colourful, traditional, and vibrant clothing worn by men, women, and children alike. While local kids aren’t dressed in heavy traditional garments all the time, getting your own kids outfitted in local styles is a special privilege and an amazing way to connect with the culture.
So, pulling from our personal family packing lists at Away with the Steiners, here is our ultimate guide to kids clothing realities to answer what should kids wear in India, what to wear for different ages, and where to go shopping.
Daily Kids Wear: Hardy Travel Gear
Let’s be completely practical first. While we love buying traditional outfits, our boys usually only get one special traditional outfit each per trip. The rest of the time, they live in a well-worn reliable, functional travel outfit.
For boys, a lightweight t-shirt paired with hardy, moisture-wicking travel trousers (we swear by Macpac or Kathmandu) is the best answer. These pants are designed for adventure, dry incredibly fast after a mid-journey laundry wash, and are tough enough to survive train floors, rickshaw rides, and scrambling up desert forts.
They also keep their knees covered – which as far as what kids wear in India is a huge cultural plus!
What Should Boys and Girls Wear?
India is a deeply modest country, and dressing your kids appropriately shows a sign of respect to the local communities.
For Boys:
Boys have it relatively easy. A standard t-shirt, polo shirt, or lightweight button-down shirt with long trousers or loose, below-the-knee shorts works perfectly. Avoid tank tops or shorter-shorts when out in public.
For Girls:
As girls hit their pre-teen and teenage years, modesty expectations shift to align more closely with adult women.
- Toddlers & Young Girls: Things are very relaxed! Cotton dresses, t-shirts, and leggings are completely fine.
- Older Girls (Tweens & Teens): It is best to avoid tight leggings, skinny jeans, short skirts, or tank tops. Instead, go for loose-fitting linen trousers, maxi dresses, or a Kurti (a beautiful, traditional long cotton tunic top) paired with loose pants.
Do Girls Need to Wear a Headscarf?
No, girls do not need to wear a headscarf on standard city streets. However, when entering active mosques or specific shrines, anyone identifying as female (including older girls) will need to cover their hair.
Keeping a lightweight scarf (dupatta) tucked directly into your family daypack is good for quick temple cover-ups. Plus, it doubles as a sheet, blanket, wrap, tablecloth for those train seats; you name it! 🙂
Dressing for the Iconic Spots
There are a few spots in India where it’s more important to plan for what kids wear.
What to Wear at the Taj Mahal for Kids
You might be surprised to learn that the Taj Mahal doesn’t actually enforce a strict, legal dress code at the security gates. However, because it is an active Muslim mausoleum holding the tombs of Emperor Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, conservative clothing is expected out of cultural respect.
- For the Kids: Keep shoulders and knees covered. Loose, lightweight cotton clothing is your best friend here because the white marble reflects the intense sun, turning the complex into a giant oven by midday.
- The Secret Photo Tip: Skip dressing the kids in white or pale cream – they will completely blend into the white marble background! Instead, put them in those vibrant traditional outfits you bought at Sarojini Nagar Market. (More about that later!). The colours will create the most incredible contrast against the Taj for family photos.
- Shoes & Socks: You have to remove your shoes or slip on fabric shoe covers (provided with your adult ticket) to walk up onto the main marble dome structure. Pack a spare pair of socks in your daypack for the kids. In the summer, that marble gets scorching hot, and in the winter, it turns cold!
What Should Kids Wear to Jama Masjid?
Delhi’s iconic Jama Masjid is an active mosque, and its rules are much stricter than the Taj Mahal.
- Strict Coverage: Both adults and older children must have their shoulders covered and wear full-length pants or skirts down to the ankles. No shorts are allowed inside the gates.
- For the Girls: Older girls (especially tweens and teens) are required to cover their heads with a scarf before entering. Female travellers are often required to rent a colourful, full-length robe at the entrance gates for a small fee (around ₹50) to ensure complete modesty.
- Mind the Feet: Like all mosques, shoes must be left at the entrance or carried inside your daypack. You can wear socks, so the kids aren’t walking barefoot across the massive stone courtyard where thousands pray.
What to Wear on the Streets and City Tours (Delhi & Jaipur)
When you are navigating the chaotic and high-energy streets of Old Delhi or touring the famous forts of Jaipur, your kids’ outfits need to balance cultural respect with just pure and rugged survival!
What Should Kids Wear in India for Day-to-Day Travel?
The general rule of thumb for walking city tours or just walking in the cities is to keep shoulders and knees covered.
For our boys, this is where their Kathmandu or Macpac travel trousers are the best. They protect their legs from the dirt, dust, and engine heat of auto-rickshaws but they are breathable and won’t get too hot. This is what they are designed for, right?!
For girls, loose cotton trousers or a cotton kurti over leggings keeps them comfortable, culturally appropriate, and cool(ish) under the intense Rajasthan sun.
Footwear is Everything
I wouldn’t recommend letting the kids wear open-toe flip-flops on city walking tours.
The streets of Old Delhi and pathways in Jaipur can be dusty, uneven, and crowded.
A sturdy, broken-in pair of sneakers or more supportive, closed-toe walking sandals will save their feet from stubbed toes, dirt, and long hours of walking.
Sun and Heat Protection
Delhi and Jaipur get hot – fast. It is worth carrying (or wearing) a sun hat and sunglasses. If you are taking an open-air auto rickshaw ride through the bustling markets of Chandni Chowk or up to the forts in Jaipur, a light scarf or bandana to wrap around their faces is good for blocking out sudden clouds of city dust and exhaust.
What to Wear at the Amritsar Golden Temple?
Visiting the stunning Sikh Golden Temple in Amritsar with kids is a totally unique spiritual experience.
But the dress code here is very strict, even for what kids wear:
- Cover Your Legs and Shoulders: Both boys and girls must wear clothing that covers past their knees and completely covers their shoulders (no shorts or sleeveless tops allowed).
- Cover Your Hair: Everyone – men, women, boys, and girls – MUST cover their heads before stepping foot inside the temple complex. You can bring your own large cotton scarf, or you can purchase a simple head covering from the vendors right outside the gates for a few rupees.
What Should Kids Wear for a Camel Safari in Jaisalmer?
If you are heading out into the Thar Desert for an epic camel safari in Jaisalmer, you can swap out the traditional wear for functionality. You will be literally riding a camel and then sleeping out under the stars!
- Long Pants are Mandatory: Riding a camel in shorts is a recipe for
disasterpainful chafing against the rough saddle. Put the kids in their trusty travel trousers. - Closed-Toe Shoes: Keep their sneakers on to protect their feet from the hot desert sand and prickly brushes.
- Dust & Sun Protection: Pack a light scarf or neck buff to shield their faces (and yours) from desert dust and winds, alongside high-SPF sunscreen and sunglasses.
Read Jaisalmer With Kids.
Where to Buy Kids’ Wear Outfits in India
One of our favourite India traditions is going clothes shopping when we touch down in Delhi.
Our number one spot is Sarojini Nagar Market. It is a somewhat chaotic, bustling maze of stalls, but it is an absolute goldmine for kids’ wear and traditional clothing. (For adults too!).
You can find beautiful, lightweight cotton Kurta-Pyjama sets (long tunics with matching loose trousers) for boys, and gorgeous, colourful stitched suits for girls at insanely cheap prices.
Though in fairness, beyond Sarojini, you can find kids’ traditional wear everywhere in India – from local neighbourhood bazaars in Rajasthan to established Indian department store chains like Fabindia or Pantaloons (if you prefer a quieter, fixed-price, air-conditioned shopping environment).
Read Shopping at Sarojini Market for Indian Clothes to Wear in India.
The Ultimate Quick Packing List for Kids
Keep it minimal! You can easily utilise quick hotel or 24-hour local laundry services along your route, so avoid overpacking.
| Category | What to Pack (Per Child) |
| Hardy Bottoms | 2 pairs of lightweight, long travel trousers (Macpac/Kathmandu) plus 2 longer shorts |
| Modest Tops | 4 breathable cotton t-shirts or short-sleeve shirts |
| Traditional | 1 local Kurta or traditional tunic set (Buy this in Delhi!) |
| Footwear | 1 pair of worn-in sneakers + 1 pair of slip-on walking sandals |
| Sun/Dust Care | 1 wide-brimmed sun hat + 1 lightweight cotton scarf/bandana |
| Essentials | 5 pairs of quick-dry socks + 1 light fleece jacket for cool train nights |
Don’t Panic About What Your Kids Wear in India
Traveling through India with your kids is a beautiful, chaotic, life-changing adventure. By packing the right functional gear and picking up a few colourful local pieces along the way, your kids will stay comfortable, look respectful, and blend beautifully into the magic of the country – and those epic photos!
Questions answered and ready to plan your adventure? Check out our Ultimate Golden Triangle Itinerary to see how to link Jaisalmer with Jaipur and Agra!
Safe travels, adventurers!
Read More India Inspiration
- Our Detailed & Easy 2-Day Itinerary Of Jaipur.
- Train Travel In India.
- India Tourist e-Visa: Our Step-By-Step Guide.
- 10 Things To Do In Mumbai.
- 10 Things To Do In Kochi & Kerala.
- Best Tourist SIM Card For India.
- What To Wear In India.
- 4-Day Kochi & Kerala Itinerary.
- Travelling India By Bus: Intercity, Tourist & Sleeper Buses.
Travel Planning for India & Beyond
These are the companies we use while traveling and that we would recommend to anyone planning and booking travel.
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. It’s easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally.
- 12GoAsia – Book trains anywhere in Asia through 12Go.
- Skyscanner – Our favourite flight search engine. They can search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.
- GetYourGuide – A huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world. Everything from walking tours to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
- SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country.
- World Nomads – Travel insurance tailored for short or longterm travel and nomads (including those who have already left home). Especially for your first time in India and travel in India with kids!
Hi! I’m Sarah. I am the self-confessed dreamer, travel-schemer and the main editor behind this blog. I love to write, and it is a dream come true to share so many experiences together and inspire others in our stories.
