What is the best time to visit India?

Best Time to Visit India

The best time to travel to India is during the winter season (November to February) and the summer season (March to June).

Winter Season in India

Winter in India is a pleasant time to visit, with temperatures ranging from 10°C to 30°C. This season is ideal for sightseeing and exploring the country’s many attractions. During winter, travelers can expect clear skies and sunny days. Popular attractions include the Taj Mahal, the Golden Temple, and the Ajanta and Ellora Caves. Festivals such as Diwali and Christmas are celebrated during this time.

Summer Season in India

Summer in India is hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from 25°C to 40°C. This season is ideal for beach holidays and exploring the country’s many temples. During summer, travelers can expect clear skies and sunny days. Popular attractions include the beaches of Goa, the backwaters of Kerala, and the temples of Khajuraho. Festivals such as Holi and Raksha Bandhan are celebrated during this time.

Month-by-month guide for traveling in India

India in January

Weather

January is the coldest month of the year in India. Temperatures in the northern parts of the country drop to as low as 5°C, while the southern parts of India experience temperatures between 20-25°C. January is also the driest month in India, with no rainfall in most parts of the country.

Events

• The Kite Festival is celebrated in Gujarat on 14th January. People fly kites of different colors and shapes in the sky, and the festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm.
• The Republic Day of India is celebrated on 26th January. It is a national holiday in India, and the day is marked with a grand parade in the capital city of New Delhi.
• The Pongal Festival is celebrated in Tamil Nadu on 14th January. This harvest festival is celebrated with great pomp and show, and people exchange gifts and sweets with each other.
• The Magh Bihu Festival is celebrated in Assam on 14th January. People gather around bonfires and feast on traditional delicacies to celebrate the festival.
• The Makar Sankranti Festival is celebrated all over India on 14th January. People fly kites, exchange sweets and take part in various festivities to mark the day.

India in January

Weather

The weather in India in January is generally cool and dry. Temperatures in the north tend to be cooler than the south, with temperatures ranging from the mid-teens Celsius in the north to the low-thirties Celsius in the south. January is the coldest month of the year in India, and snowfall is common in the northern mountain regions.

Events

• Republic Day: India celebrates Republic Day on January 26th each year, commemorating the adoption of the Constitution of India in 1950. The day is marked with parades, flag hoisting ceremonies, and other festivities.
• Kite Festival: The International Kite Festival is held in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, in January each year. The festival is celebrated with kite flying, music, dance, and other activities.
• Pongal: Pongal is a four-day harvest festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu in January. The festival is marked with feasts, prayers, and other festivities.
• Magh Mela: The Magh Mela is an annual Hindu pilgrimage held in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, in January. Hundreds of thousands of devotees gather to bathe in the holy waters of the Ganges River.
• Lohri: Lohri is a harvest festival celebrated in Punjab in January. The festival is marked with bonfires, feasts, and other festivities.

India in March

Weather

March in India is the beginning of the hot summer season. Temperatures start to rise and the weather is generally dry and hot. The average temperature in March is around 27-29 degrees Celsius.

Events

• Holi – Holi is a Hindu festival celebrated in India in March. People gather in large groups and celebrate by throwing coloured powder and water at each other.
• International Women’s Day – International Women’s Day is celebrated on 8th March in India. It is a day to celebrate the achievements of women and to spread awareness about gender equality.
• Maha Shivratri – Maha Shivratri is a Hindu festival celebrated in honour of Lord Shiva. It is celebrated on the 13th night of the Hindu month of Phalgun.
• Ugadi – Ugadi is the Hindu New Year celebrated in the states of Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. It is celebrated on the first day of the Hindu month of Chaitra.
• World Wildlife Day – World Wildlife Day is celebrated on 3rd March every year. It is a day to raise awareness about the importance of conserving wildlife and to promote sustainable use of natural resources.

India in April

Weather

April in India is typically warm and humid. Temperatures range from a low of around 20°C (68°F) to a high of around 35°C (95°F). Rainfall is common, with some areas receiving up to 100mm (4 inches) of rain during the month.

Events

• Baisakhi: This Sikh festival is celebrated on April 13th or 14th and marks the beginning of the New Year in the Punjab region. It is celebrated with parades, singing, and dancing.
• Ugadi: This Hindu festival is celebrated on April 6th or 7th and marks the beginning of the New Year in the Deccan region. It is celebrated with prayers, feasts, and exchanges of gifts.
• Easter: This Christian festival is celebrated on April 4th and marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is celebrated with church services, feasts, and egg hunts.
• Mahavir Jayanti: This Jain festival is celebrated on April 17th and marks the birth of Mahavira, the founder of Jainism. It is celebrated with prayers, fasting, and donations to charity.
• Good Friday: This Christian festival is celebrated on April 2nd and marks the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is celebrated with church services and fasting.

India in May

Weather

May is the hottest month in India, with temperatures ranging from 25-45 degrees Celsius. The monsoon season begins in May, bringing heavy rains and thunderstorms to many parts of the country.

Events

• International Labour Day is celebrated on May 1st, and is a national holiday in India.
• Buddha Poornima, the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha, is celebrated on May 8th.
• The Indian Premier League, a cricket tournament, begins in May.
• The International Day of Yoga is celebrated on May 21st.
• The annual Kumbh Mela, a Hindu pilgrimage, takes place in May in the city of Ujjain.

India in June

Weather

June is the start of the monsoon season in India. The temperatures during this month range from 25-35°C (77-95°F) with high levels of humidity. Rainfall is common throughout the month, with the heaviest rains usually occurring in the western and southern parts of the country.

Events

• International Yoga Day is celebrated on June 21st. This day is dedicated to the practice of yoga, which originated in India. People from all over the world come together to practice yoga and celebrate its benefits.
• The Rath Yatra Festival is celebrated in the state of Odisha on June 23rd. This festival is dedicated to Lord Jagannath and involves a procession of chariots carrying the idols of the deities through the streets.
• The Hemis Festival is celebrated in the state of Ladakh on June 29th. This festival is dedicated to the Buddhist deity Padmasambhava and involves traditional music, dance, and other cultural activities.
• The Kailash Fair is held in the state of Uttarakhand on June 30th. This fair is dedicated to Lord Shiva and involves a procession of devotees who walk around the sacred Mount Kailash.
• The Guru Purnima festival is celebrated on June 5th. This festival is dedicated to spiritual teachers and involves offering prayers and seeking their blessings.

India in July

Weather

July marks the beginning of the monsoon season in India. The temperatures drop significantly and the humidity increases. The average temperature in July usually ranges between 25-35°C (77-95°F). The coastal regions of India receive heavy rainfall during this month.

Events

• Rath Yatra: This Hindu festival is celebrated in the month of July in the eastern states of India. It is celebrated in honor of Lord Jagannath, who is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
• Guru Purnima: This festival is celebrated in honor of the guru-shishya tradition. It is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of July.
• International Yoga Day: This day is celebrated on 21st July every year to promote the practice of yoga.
• Independence Day: India celebrates its independence from the British rule on 15th July every year.
• Teej Festival: This Hindu festival is celebrated in the month of July in the northern states of India. It is celebrated to mark the arrival of the monsoon season.

India in August

Weather

August is the beginning of the monsoon season in India, with temperatures ranging from hot to cool depending on the region. The average temperature is around 25°C (77°F). The humidity is high, making it feel much warmer than it is.

Events

• Raksha Bandhan is celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Shravana (August). This festival celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters.
• Independence Day is celebrated on August 15th to commemorate the day India gained independence from the British in 1947.
• Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on the fourth day of the Hindu month of Bhadrapada (August). This festival celebrates the birth of the Hindu god Ganesha.
• Onam is celebrated on the first day of the Malayalam month of Chingam (August). This festival celebrates the harvest season and is celebrated mainly in the state of Kerala.
• Janmashtami is celebrated on the eighth day of the Hindu month of Bhadrapada (August). This festival celebrates the birth of the Hindu god Krishna.

India in September

Weather

September marks the end of the monsoon season in India. The weather is usually hot and humid in the northern parts of the country, while the southern parts experience milder temperatures. Rainfall is still common in some parts of India.

Events

• Ganesh Chaturthi: This Hindu festival celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha. It is celebrated on the fourth day of the bright half of the lunar month of Bhadrapada (August-September).
• Onam: This is a harvest festival celebrated mainly in the state of Kerala. It is celebrated for ten days, starting on the 22nd day of the Malayalam month of Chingam (August-September).
• Independence Day: India celebrates its independence from British rule on 15th September. Flag hoisting ceremonies and parades are held in all major cities.
• Navratri: This Hindu festival is celebrated for nine nights and ten days. It is celebrated in the month of Ashvin (September-October).
• Durga Puja: This Hindu festival celebrates the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura. It is celebrated in the month of Ashvin (September-October).

India in October

Weather

October in India is a pleasant time of year. Temperatures are generally mild, with average highs ranging from the mid-70s to the mid-80s Fahrenheit (23-30°C). Rainfall is common in October, especially in the southern parts of India.

Events

• The Navaratri festival is celebrated in October, with colorful processions, decorations, and traditional music and dance.
• Dussehra is celebrated in October, marking the victory of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana.
• Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated in October.
• The Pushkar Camel Fair is held in October in the state of Rajasthan.
• The Kumbh Mela is held in October, a religious event that attracts millions of pilgrims from around the world.

India in November

Weather

November marks the transition from the monsoon season to the winter season in India. Temperatures begin to drop and the weather is generally pleasant. In the northern parts of India, the weather is cold and dry. In the southern parts, the weather is hot and humid.

Events

• Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated on the new moon day of the Hindu month of Kartik. It is one of the most important festivals in India. People decorate their homes with lights and candles, exchange gifts, and enjoy fireworks.
• Guru Nanak Jayanti is celebrated to mark the birth of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. People visit Gurudwaras and offer prayers.
• Children’s Day is celebrated on 14th November. It is a day to honor children and recognize their contributions to society.
• The Kumbh Mela is a Hindu pilgrimage that takes place every 12 years. During this festival, millions of devotees gather at the banks of the Ganges river in the city of Allahabad.
• The Pushkar Camel Fair is held in the town of Pushkar in Rajasthan. It is a week-long event that attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world.

India in December

Weather

December is the coldest month of the year in India. The average temperature in the northern parts of India is between 10-15 degrees Celsius, while the average temperature in the southern parts of India is between 25-30 degrees Celsius. The days are usually sunny and pleasant, but the nights can be quite cold.

Events

• The festival of Christmas is celebrated on 25th December in India with great enthusiasm and joy. People decorate their homes, exchange gifts, and attend church services.
• The festival of Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti is celebrated on 5th December in India. This is the birth anniversary of the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh.
• The festival of New Year is celebrated on 31st December in India. People celebrate this day by organizing parties, exchanging gifts, and making resolutions for the coming year.
• The festival of Makar Sankranti is celebrated on 14th January in India. This is a harvest festival celebrated by Hindus all over India.
• The festival of Pongal is celebrated on 15th January in India. This is a four-day harvest festival celebrated by Hindus in the southern parts of India.