When to visit India
Introduction
Broadly speaking, India is defined by three seasons, the hot, the wet and the cool. The coolest and most pleasant time to visit is after the monsoon is over, from October to March. That said, Rajasthan, which stays largely dry in the monsoon (loosely May to September) is worth considering in the off-season as hotels are better value and attractions are quieter. And bear in mind the monsoon moves across the country, breaking in Kerala in May and then moving northeast across the country, so it should be possible to plan your trip to avoid it - or like author Alexander Frater, who wrote the wonderful Chasing The Monsoon, to follow it. There are many regional variations, and weather patterns have become less predictable in recent years.
Rajasthan
- 50
- 40
- 30
- 20
- 10
- 0
- 320
- 240
- 160
- 80
- 0
The best time to visit Rajasthan and the northern plains is between October and March, when the days are clear and sunny, with temperatures between 16 and 30 degrees, and the nights pleasantly cool. Throughout April and May the temperature and humidity builds as the summer monsoon approaches (July to September), bringing short, sharp downpours and fewer crowds.
Kerala
- 40
- 30
- 20
- 10
- 0
- 960
- 720
- 480
- 240
- 0
As with much of India, the best time to visit Kerala and its surrounding southern states is during the dry winter months. From November to March, the coastal resorts of Goa and Kerala bask in almost constant sunshine and temperatures hover around the mid to high twenties. The hill stations of the Western Ghats are cooler, so it’s worth packing something warm. In Tamil Nadu, the dry season starts slightly later, with the monsoon extending through to November.
Himalayas & Foothills
- 30
- 20
- 10
- 0
- 520
- 390
- 260
- 130
- 0
The best time to visit India’s Himalayan region is from March to May, when the spring brings warmer weather and the slopes are carpeted in rhododendrons. From October to December, following the summer monsoon, is also a popular time, with the views of the high mountains at their sparkling best.
Agra & the Taj Mahal
- 50
- 40
- 30
- 20
- 10
- 0
- 360
- 270
- 180
- 90
- 0
The Golden Triangle
- 50
- 40
- 30
- 20
- 10
- 0
- 360
- 270
- 180
- 90
- 0
Delhi
- 50
- 40
- 30
- 20
- 10
- 0
- 280
- 210
- 140
- 70
- 0