What to Wear in Delhi
India · 4 monthly packing guides
Delhi runs Indian heritage with full-coverage loose cotton — May 39°C / 102°F pre-monsoon dry heat (the loo wind from the Thar Desert); June-September monsoon with humidity climbing to 80%. The dressing register: lightweight cotton or khadi (the hand-spun heritage Indian textile), modest cuts (knee-length minimum, shoulders covered at religious sites — Akshardham Temple, Lotus Temple, Jama Masjid, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib), slip-on sandals (remove at every temple/mosque/gurudwara). Indian heritage register: Sabyasachi (Mumbai but Delhi Khan Market flagship — most-internationally-known contemporary Indian designer); Anita Dongre (Delhi DLF Promenade flagship); Rohit Bal (Delhi-based since 1990); Ritu Kumar (Delhi-founded 1969, the heritage Indian designer); FabIndia (Delhi-founded 1960 — handwoven cotton heritage); Manish Malhotra (Delhi Emporio Mall flagship, Bollywood-couture). Independence Day August 15 brings tricolor flags across the city. Dengue/malaria precautions monsoon.
Choose your month below to match your layers and shoes to the weather. Across the months covered, average daily lows reach 26°C / 79°F in May; average highs reach 39°C / 102°F in May.
Compare Delhi by month
Monthly averages help compare packing needs; check the forecast before departure. Only months with published guides are listed. See the source notes below for station and measurement differences. Scroll across the table to see all weather details on a small screen.
| Month | Average low | Average high | Rain days | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May packing guide | 26°C / 79°F | 39°C / 102°F | 3 | 13h 40m |
| June packing guide | 28°C / 82°F | 39°C / 102°F | 5 | 13h 50m |
| July packing guide | 27°C / 81°F | 35°C / 95°F | 10 | 13h 30m |
| August packing guide | 26°C / 79°F | 33°C / 91°F | 10 | 13h |
Choose your Delhi packing list
Delhi in May is pre-monsoon dry heat at 39°C / 102°F — the hottest pre-monsoon month, the loo wind blowing hot from the Thar Desert, the temperature gap between Old Delhi outdoors and metro AC differential 18°C / 32°F.
In this capsule: Lightweight cotton or khadi tunic — FabIndia (1960 Delhi heritage); Cotton kurta + cotton churidar/wide-leg trousers; Long cotton dupatta or shawl — for religious-site shoulder cover.
Delhi in June is the loo-then-monsoon month — 39°C / 102°F afternoons through mid-June, then the monsoon arriving late June bringing humidity from 30% to 75%.
In this capsule: Lightweight cotton or khadi tunic — FabIndia; Cotton kurta + churidar/wide-leg trousers; Long cotton dupatta or shawl.
Delhi in July is peak monsoon — 35°C / 95°F afternoons, 27°C / 81°F nights, 10 rain days. The southwest monsoon at full force; humidity 80%; afternoon thunderstorms reliable.
In this capsule: Lightweight cotton or khadi tunic — FabIndia; Cotton kurta + cotton churidar/wide-leg trousers; Long cotton dupatta or shawl.
Delhi in August is peak monsoon continuing — 33°C / 91°F afternoons, 26°C / 79°F nights, 10 rain days. Independence Day August 15 brings tricolor flags across the city.
In this capsule: Lightweight cotton or khadi tunic — FabIndia + tricolor option for August 15; Cotton kurta + cotton churidar/wide-leg trousers; Long cotton dupatta or shawl.
Climate sources by month
These credits follow the source recorded on each monthly guide. Climate figures inform the packing advice; outfit combinations and illustrations are editorial suggestions.
- May: India Meteorological Department · monthly climate averages
- June: India Meteorological Department · monthly climate averages
- July: India Meteorological Department · monthly climate averages
- August: India Meteorological Department · monthly climate averages
Frequently asked questions
Start with your travel month. The 4 published guides cover May, June, July, August. Compare the average low as well as the high: among these months, May has the lowest average low at 26°C / 79°F, while May has the highest average high at 39°C / 102°F. For a trip spanning two months, read both lists before deciding which layers to bring.
No. They are monthly climate averages for planning, not temperatures promised for a particular day or hour. Check the local forecast close to departure and adjust your layers and rain protection. The source, station and averaging period are listed for each month where recorded; different stations or rain-day definitions can affect comparisons.
No. Treat the capsule as a set of clothing functions: walking shoes, a base outfit, weather protection and any change for dinner or a venue's dress code. Start with equivalents you own. Adjust quantities to your trip length and laundry access; the illustrations are outfit suggestions, not a shopping requirement.