What to do with belongings at monuments?

New to this site.
While in India if I am backpacking around agra, delhi, mumbai etc...are backpackers allowed to take their belongings into the monuments? If not where can they be stored (if no car)? Is it safe to leave it anywhere?
Also, what about shoes?

Thanks in advance.

ichaugule - as you can see I have moved your post to make a thread of its own in the India for Beginners Forum.

If you scroll to the bottom of this page there is another thread on a similar theme, which might be helpful for you.

Generally you are required to hand over bags and the like at the entrance. You'd have to leave your backpack there. Bring small locks to lock all the pockets. This is one reason why backpacks are not the most practical for traveling, but you must already be familiar with the drawbacks. Another reason is the situation at airports. So make your backpack lockable.

Shoes at monuments are generally not a problem, except at temples. Many larger temples have special rooms where shoes are guarded, where you get a token to reclaim them.

Of course, you cannot just leave your bag anywhere. But in officially designed storage places it would not be a problem. Of course, you cannot take your bag into, say, the Taj for (its) safety reasons. You can leave your things also at hotels for a fee, even if you do not have a room there. It is an accepted practice.

What's the situation at airports regarding backpacks? I didn't have any issues, so am curious to know

Oh, and for shoes, don't leave a pair you have some emotional connection with.

On a serious note, there are places where (a) they won't allow you to take in any bags, and (b) they won't have any storage place to store your bags. If you face this situation, avoid giving your bag to local shopkeepers around (this might get recommended by either guards or other people nearby) if you're carrying camera or any other valuables in it.

Now that the mujahadin have started ramming bombs up their own asses, who knows what security measures will be put in place?

Correct me if I'm wrong but I'm sure I read somewhere that in Dehli or Mumbai there are places with lockers where you can leave belongings/purchases for the day. I don't know if these would be suitable for backpacks but might be worth checking out. Good luck with your trip.

This is not correct. You do have Cloak rooms at Railway Stations and Bus stations in a lot of places, but not anywhere else. Also with bomb threats it is now almost impossible to trust anyone or anyplace.

Do small purses/handbags count as "bags" that cannot be taken into certain temples/monuments? Or are we talking only about bigger bags, like backpacks and shopping bags?

Normally Ladies purses and handbags are allowed. Anything larger, may be not. It depends on the place and the threat perception in that place.

Generally, If you are traveling by train. You can place you belongings to railway-station shelf provided by the authority. Moreover in India there are arrangements by the authorize people where you visit.

Backpackers may be allowed in some monuments in India. Not all in India is a tajmahal

My husband and I are to travel (backpacking) around India for a month or two after having done two months of climbing and mountaineering courses in the Himalayas, meaning we'll be loaded with heavy gear and bulky winter clothing, which we're trying to work out where to leave - we really don't want to carry around our crampons, snowshoes and skiis! It would probably be convenient with a big(!) locker on a railway station, but do they come that big and a month or two seems like a long time for that solution? Any ideas...??

From time-to-time, I travel around India with female traveling companions. I recommend a possible solution that solves several of the issues raised in this thread. We've found that in some places a lady can carry a small purse but in several, even this is prohibited. My female friends wear a "vest" designed for traveling - like a photographer's vest - with many closed pockets, etc. The travel clothing stores (TravelSmith, Magelan, etc.) sell these. They are attractive, designed for women and for travel. And they can replace a light jacket. They even have hidden security pockets on the inside. Not only does wearing one avoid having to leave a bag, it helps reduce pickpocketing, dropped items, trying to hang onto a purse in crowded situations and dirty toilets, etc. And it provides a little more coverage against unwanted attention. We've never encountered any objection to wearing one of these into any venue.

Happy trails!

I have one of those and its a variation on what is worn by some in Pune. Very handy if a bit hot in summer..