Sandhya Garg · Travel Guide
India
The Taj Mahal · Temples · Rajasthan · Weddings · From a Designer Who Grew Up There
Quick Answer
Cover shoulders and knees, especially at temples, in villages and in small towns. Wear loose, breathable fabric and shoes you can slip off. Carry a scarf for gurdwaras, temples and sun. Colour is welcome everywhere. The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays, and an Indian wedding calls for colour and embellishment, not white or black.
I was born in India, and nearly everything I design traces back to it. My Truly Taj print is drawn from the Taj Mahal: the jali lattice screens, the inlaid marble flowers and the moonlight garden across the river.
This is the guide I give friends before their first trip. It covers the rules that matter, what to wear in each place, and the print that was made there.
In This Guide
The Rules, From Someone Who Grew Up There
I grew up in India, and I wrote about how that shaped my work in My Desi Heritage. The short version for visitors: dress modestly, wear all the colour you like, and always carry a scarf.
The baseline
Shoulders and Knees
Big cities are relaxed. Temples, villages and small towns call for sleeves and a long hem.
Temples and homes
Shoes Off
Wear shoes you can slip off quickly, and carry socks for hot stone floors.
Head and shoulders
A Scarf, Always
For gurdwaras, where everyone covers their hair, for temples, and for sun and dust.
Not just allowed
Colour Is Welcome
India is the most colourful place I know. Beige is the only way to stand out.
In India, nobody will mind your colour. They'll mind your shoulders.
What to Wear, Place by Place
| Where | What to wear | From this edit |
|---|---|---|
| Taj Mahal, Agra | Light, modest, shoes you can slip off. Closed on Fridays. | Jaali, Mehtab |
| Temples & gurdwaras | Long sleeves, long hem, a scarf for your hair. | Jali Top + trousers, Bagh |
| Jaipur, Udaipur & Jodhpur | Bold print by day, a palace-hotel dress at night. | Mahal, Haveli, Carolina |
| Goa & Kerala | A kaftan or long linen. Beachwear stays at the beach. | Taj Kaftan |
| An Indian wedding | Colour, embellishment, a pre-stitched saree. No white or black at most ceremonies. | Jahan, Firdaus |
The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays, so plan your Agra day around it. For more on how Indian design shapes my prints, read Indian Fusion Fashion and Sari.
The India Edit · Truly Taj Print
Twelve Pieces Drawn From India
Ten pieces from the Truly Taj print and collection, plus two from the new collection.
The Truly Taj Print: For Agra and the Mughal Cities
Rajasthan: Palaces and Havelis
For a Wedding While You're There
From the Latest Collection
Dresses run XS to 3XL and jackets XS to XL. Stock is limited, so check the size selector on each product page · Size chart · Made to measure
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a woman wear when visiting India?
Loose, breathable clothes that cover your shoulders and knees: a maxi or midi with sleeves, a long tunic over trousers, or a kurta. Cities like Mumbai and Delhi are more relaxed; temples, villages and small towns call for more coverage. Carry a light scarf everywhere.
What should I wear to visit a temple in India?
Cover your shoulders and knees, and expect to take off your shoes. At a Sikh gurdwara, such as the Golden Temple in Amritsar, everyone covers their hair, so bring a scarf. Socks are useful on hot stone floors.
What should I wear to the Taj Mahal?
Light, modest clothes and shoes you can slip off or cover, since the main platform is protected. Colour photographs beautifully against the white marble. Plan your dates around the fact that the Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays, as Business Traveller reported.
Can a foreign guest wear a saree to an Indian wedding?
Yes. Most families are delighted. A pre-stitched saree dress makes it easy, because a traditional saree takes practice to drape. See What to Wear to an Indian Wedding, Event by Event for every ceremony.
Keep Reading
Heritage
My Desi Heritage
How growing up in India shaped my designs.
Weddings
What to Wear to an Indian Wedding
Event by event.
Style
Indian Fusion Fashion
Eastern heritage, Western shapes.
Next Stop
What to Wear in Morocco
Fes, Marrakech and the Sahara.
About the Writer
Sandhya Garg is a Project Runway Season 13 designer who won two challenges on the show and presented her collection at Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week. She studied womenswear at London College of Fashion and has worked at Alexander McQueen, Gucci, Liberty London and Alice Temperley. Her label has been featured in Marie Claire US, Elle, Cosmopolitan and Vogue online. Every print is drawn by Sandhya in Los Angeles and printed and made in India. Read her story.
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