North India is not one climate. December mornings in Jaisalmer are genuinely cold; May afternoons in Delhi are above 45°C. Pack for the month, not for the country.
October to March
Layers. Days are warm enough for short sleeves, mornings and evenings need a fleece or a jacket, and desert nights in December and January need more than people expect. A scarf does double duty — warmth in the morning, head covering at religious sites.
April to June
Loose cotton and long sleeves, which protect from the sun better than bare arms. A hat, sunglasses and more water than you think. Sightseeing shifts to early morning and late afternoon by necessity.
July to September
Quick-drying clothes and sandals you do not mind getting wet. An umbrella is more useful than a raincoat in the humidity.
All year
- Shoes that slip on and off — temples, mosques and gurudwaras all require removing them
- Clothes covering shoulders and knees for religious sites
- A scarf for covering your head at Sikh and Muslim sites
- Hand sanitiser and any medication you rely on, in original packaging
- A power bank; long sightseeing days drain phones fast
- Copies of your passport and e-Visa, printed as well as on your phone
What to leave behind
Drones, which need permits almost nobody gets. A tripod, unless you have checked each monument's rules. And most of the clothes you packed — Indian laundry is same-day and costs very little.
