India is one of the largest countries in the entire world, meaning that the weather and best time to visit varies from region to region. Travel and experience the beautiful landscapes of North India’s deserts and down to South India’s tropical greenery. From there and everywhere in between you will find endless experiences of food, people, culture and views. To help you make the best of your upcoming trip, we have developed this extensive guide breaking down the best times to visit India by its different regions:
NORTH INDIA
It is recommended you head to North India sometime between October through March, with the peak season falling in the months of December and January. You will want to avoid visiting from July to September as that is when the rainy season falls and daylight is at a minimum. The climate in the north of India is known for being sub-tropical. Northern India is most well known for its tourist attraction of Rajasthan. This section of the region is one of the hottest in the entire country, so the cooler season from November to March is the most pleasant time to visit. If planning on visiting the famous Taj Mahal in Agra, this section of our guide is the one to follow!
HIMALAYAS
Although located in the North region of India, the Himalayas get a separate section of the guide due to its temperatures being influenced by the surrounding altitude and latitude. One can expect pleasantly warm days accompanied by cold nights. No matter the temperature, don’t forget to pack your sunscreen and other sun protection items since you will be high up at around 3,500 meters above sea level. The Himalayas experience two high seasons a year, one being from March-June and the other from October-November. This region serves as a paradise for snowboard and ski enthusiasts. It is important to avoid this area during the monsoon season from July-September as landslides can become extremely common and dangerous.
SOUTH INDIA
If planning on visiting South India, it is very crucial you pay attention to the monsoon season from August to November. Temperatures in this region during the summer can get unpleasantly hot very quickly so avoid visiting from April to June if possible. If looking to make your day last the longest, the months of January and February offer the most sunlight hours. The south is known to be a tropical region, offering moderate to high humidity. Follow this section of the guide if you are visiting the states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Telangana (all in the south of India).
CENTRAL INDIA
In Central India, you will find extremely hot summers but with a mild climate in the winter months of October to March. The heat you will experience in the center of India is very dry compared to the kind one often experiences along the coasts. With being an ideal region for your next Indian safari, February and March are the best months to spot some animals. Visit Jabalpur for access to the Pench, Kanha and Bandhavgarh reserves to get an awesome look at some tigers and other rare animals. Take note- expect some monsoon rain if visiting around July to September.
WEST INDIA
West India is a large region that includes the states of Goa, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. Here you will also find the extensively long Western Ghats mountain range. These mountains protect the coast from rain most of the year except for monsoon season in July which can bring up to 26 days of rain in one month. Say you are visiting a western coastal city such as Mumbai, you can expect a tropical climate with minimal variations in temperature throughout the year. Although the climate may not fluctuate much, the number of sunlight hours in a day definitely does. In April and May one can expect up to 10 hours of daylight and as little as 2 hours in July and August. With that being said, the most optimistic time to visit the west of India would be around October until March.
INDIA’S ISLANDS
If looking for a tropical climate, head to the islands of India. For the ideal beach vacation with warm temperatures and endless hours of sunshine, head to an island between the months of November to March. Avoid during the rainy season from June to September as this is when beaches become flooded and the currents and waves of the ocean become too strong to swim in and enjoy.
While it is common across most destinations around the world to travel during low season if looking to save some money, in India, the low season is also monsoon season. Many hotels and restaurants close during this time so plan ahead when planning your travel route.
BONUS: Festivals & Events
While it is not a surprise that India offers many colorful festivals throughout the year, we have highlighted a few to help you decide when to visit! Holi comes at the beginning of spring and is very popular amongst India’s tourists. Expect colored powder being thrown in the air at parties lit by bonfires. Diwali, the ‘Festival of Light’ usually takes place in October or November. This festival lasts 5 days and is accompanied by many prayers and rituals while small lamps and fireworks illuminate the sky. The Pushkar Camel Fair is every November and is a unique yearly event that brings together the buying and selling of thousands of camel, cattle, and horses. In addition, the fair also has camel races, a mustache competition and a cricket match between locals and foreigners. Now that's something you don't see every day.
