Travel Essentials

Best Time to Visit

Month by month, because India has several climates at once.

Month by month

  • January

    Peak season in the north and south; cold nights in the plains. Pongal and Uttarayan.

  • February

    Widely comfortable. Goa Carnival, Khajuraho Dance Festival.

  • March

    Warming in the plains. Holi; International Yoga Festival in Rishikesh.

  • April

    Hot in central India; good for the hills. Bihu, Baisakhi, Thrissur Pooram.

  • May

    Hottest in most of the country. High Himalaya opens up.

  • June

    Monsoon arrives in Kerala and moves north. Hemis, Rath Yatra.

  • July

    Wet plains; Ladakh and Spiti at their best. Valley of Flowers in bloom.

  • August

    Monsoon continues; Ayurveda season in Kerala. Onam, Ganesh Chaturthi.

  • September

    Rain retreats; Northeast is green. Ziro Music Festival.

  • October

    Excellent almost everywhere. Durga Puja, Navratri, Diwali.

  • November

    Clear and dry. Pushkar Fair, Rann Utsav begins.

  • December

    Cool and clear; fog in the north. Hornbill and Konark festivals.