Proper Tourist Dress Code
 

As I finish final preparation for my Agra trip in a couple of weeks I have a couple of questions that do not come up in any searches. I am traveling with my sister. From the travel books I have read I understand we can both expect a lot of stares no matter what we wear. We want to be comfortable but do not want to be rude. Here are my questions:

1. Is it true that most locals do not wear shorts?
2. It is my understanding that while people might not have an issue with me in shorts, if my sister is wearing them it might be considered rude. Is this true?
3. We are doing strictly tourist stops, is their a dress code for the Taj Mahal?
4. We are having dinner at Bukhara, are jeans ok, or should wearing khakis?
5. We are packing real light and just want to bring one pair of shoes, are sneakers ok?

Bonus question while I have the floor, we are spending one night at the Mughal Agra. Everything I have read here about the restaurants at the hotel says they are sub par. Anyone have a dinner recommendation in close proximity to the hotel?

The poor wear what they have and can, but it is true that the upper classes do not.
I'm not sure "rude" is the right word, but a woman wearing shorts would certainly attract unwanted attention. Even as a male I, personally, wouldn't wear shorts outside the gym.
No.
I'd recommend wearing khakis throughout your trip, they're lighter and comfier than jeans.
Yes. Beware that you'll need to leave them outside many temples, and fancy ones occasionally disappear.

I wouldn't wear shorts anywhere in India.

None that I'm aware of, as long as you don't dress too sloppy. I wouldn't even bring jeans to India - they aren't comfortable in the heat and humidity. Stick with khakis, as the previous poster said.

Should be fine.

I ate at the Mughal Sheraton's restaurant in early 2007 and thought it was pretty good, but maybe we were just lucky.

I second what jpatokal said.

Sneakers are mostly fine, but you might want to pickup cheap flip-flops
to visit places that require you to remove footwear. You can buy them
cheap once you arrive.

Thank you for the responses. Looks like I will just stick with a pair of light khakis and my sneakers. I read about having to take your shoes off at the Taj and how your socks will be black by the time you leave. My plan is to carry an old pair with me to slip over my regular ones and simply discard when done.

ttjoseph, do you know which restaurant you ate at there? They have:

Mahjong Room - which apppears to be find dining

Bagh-e-Bahar - multi cusine in the garden by the pool

Taj Bano - Buffet meals

Peshawri - Indian Northwest Frontier Cuisine

As we are only in the country for 2 nights I want to try and get the best experiences I can.

I presume you're well prepared for malaria in case of shorts. I always recommend cotton full sleeves t-shirt and cotton pants to avoid on mosquito bites.

But then people feel cooler when wearing shorts compared to cottons khakis for some reason.

My fav hotel in agra. But then rates between 700-2000$ night. breathtaking views from your hotel room.

http://www.oberoiamarvilas.com/index...o=1&leftitem=1

I read about this place in a previous post but the cost for the amount of time I would be in the hotel was not worth it. The Mughal Agra will end up costing me $30 and 1600 SPG points.

However, I will be there for a full moon and was planning to go to the bar at the Oberoi Amarvilas and hopefully get some nice pictures.

Yes you can go to the bar and get some good pictures including pictures from your own room if you are staying there. This month (March) full moon is on Friday March 21 and the Taj Mahal is closed every Friday except for prayers at the mosque. There will not be any night viewing allowed on that Friday night from within the Taj Mahal compound. Normally the two evenings before full moon, the evening of full moon and the two evenings following full moon have night viewing in small groups of visitors. During the night viewing one is not allowed to get close to the Taj and the viewing is restricted to a very short time to allows several small groups.

We will be there for the night of March 23 but as I understood it you need to arrange the viewing way in advance and I did not do that. I also read that there in places right in back of the Taj that allow the same view as if you were taking the tour in the front.

You can wear shorts .. they're just fine. Just make sure you dont wear anything that makes you look like a Hooters Waitress and you should be fine (even those are fine.. just that theres no shortage of lechers who try to look down your shirt or feel you up in crowds .. and India has lots of crowds)

There are stares (oh, look, a foreigner) - though thats far less common now, especially in a tourist trap like Agra - and there are stares (of the lecherous variety).

A tshirt and a pair of longish, non figure hugging shorts, is just fine. As are stretch pants, khakis etc.

Whatever it is, cotton. Lots of cotton. The heat and humidity are going to be killers. And carry gatorade, salt pills, whatever you want to stay hydrated.

shorts will get u unwanted attention. besides, most temples and sacred place u svisit, u cant wear shorts or sleeveless shirts. ANother good point is mosquitos. wear long pants and sleeves to protect ur self. take lotsof mosquito repellent. jeans are ok everywhere. take lots of wet wipes coz u will need them, maybe even for ur feet when u have to take ur shoes off at some temples.

We had Indian food, so I guess it was Peshawri.

On a side note, Agra itself is a dump, so I think it's a good idea to stay in the hotel (or else go to the Oberoi) for dinner.