When to go
India is huge and climatically diverse, so the "best" time depends on where you're headed. As a rule, October to March is the sweet spot for most of the country: dry, sunny, and comfortable. The hot season runs roughly April to June, and the monsoon sweeps in from June to September.
The three main seasons
- Winter (October to March) is peak travel season. Delhi, Rajasthan, and the Taj Mahal in Agra are at their best, with daytime highs around 20 to 28 degrees Celsius. Nights in the desert can get cold.
- Summer (April to June) is brutal on the plains, often topping 40 degrees Celsius. This is the time to head up to hill stations like Shimla, Manali, or Darjeeling, and to Ladakh, which only opens up as its passes thaw.
- Monsoon (June to September) brings heavy rain to most regions. Kerala and the Western Ghats turn lush and green, and Goa is quiet and cheap, though many beach shacks close.
Peak vs shoulder season
The Christmas-New Year window and the cooler winter months are the most crowded and expensive, especially in Rajasthan and Goa. For thinner crowds and lower prices, target the shoulder months of late September, October, and March, when the weather is still pleasant but tour rates and hotels ease off.
Festivals by month
- January Republic Day on the 26th; the colourful Jaipur Literature Festival.
- February to March Holi, the festival of colours, usually falls in March and is spectacular in Mathura and Vrindavan.
- August Independence Day on the 15th, plus Krishna Janmashtami.
- September to October Durga Puja transforms Kolkata; Dussehra and the camel-trading Pushkar Fair light up Rajasthan.
- October to November Diwali, the festival of lights, is the biggest celebration of the year, dazzling across the whole country.
Regional quick tips
- For Kerala backwaters and beaches, November to February is ideal.
- For the Golden Triangle (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur), October to March.
- For Ladakh and high Himalaya, June to September only.
- For wildlife and tiger safaris in parks like Ranthambore, March to May offers the best sightings around waterholes.
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