Winter
Dec → Feb20 to 25°
nights 8 to 12°
- 2 rainy days · 13 mm
- 9.4 h of sun
When is the best time to visit India?
In short: October to March, during the cool dry season, with 20 to 33 °C in the afternoon in Agra, for Rajasthan, the Taj Mahal and the beaches of the south. Ladakh is the exception: it is visited from June to September, when the roads from Manali and Srinagar are open and the monsoon soaks the plains.
- The Golden Triangle and Rajasthan: From November to February: 20 to 28 °C in the afternoon in Agra and almost no rain (4 mm in November).
- Beaches of Goa and Kerala: From December to March, once the south-west monsoon has passed, which dumps 427 to 659 mm a month on Kerala from June to August.
- Ladakh and the Himalaya: From June to September: the Manali to Leh road only opens from May or June to September or October, and Leh goes above 30 °C in the afternoon in July.
- Diwali: In October or November depending on the lunar calendar (8 November in 2026): the festival of lights illuminates homes, temples and cities.
- The green monsoon: From June to September: the monsoon reaches Kerala around 1 June and covers the whole country around 8 July, turning the landscapes green again.
Best avoided: April to June in the northern plains, where Agra reaches 37 °C in April and 40 °C in May, then July and August, when the monsoon dumps more than 200 mm of rain a month there.
Sources: mausam.imd.gov.in, leh.nic.in, incredibleindia.gov.in
The weather in India, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20° | 8° | 9.1 h | 23 mm | 4 d | ✓ |
| February | 25° | 12° | 9.9 h | 9 mm | 2 d | ✓ |
| March | 31° | 17° | 11.1 h | 21 mm | 3 d | ✓ |
| April | 37° | 22° | 11.4 h | 12 mm | 2 d | |
| May | 40° | 26° | 11.2 h | 17 mm | 3 d | |
| June | 39° | 29° | 10.7 h | 63 mm | 7 d | |
| July | 34° | 27° | 8.5 h | 231 mm | 22 d | |
| August | 32° | 26° | 8.4 h | 206 mm | 21 d | |
| September | 33° | 25° | 9.8 h | 141 mm | 13 d | |
| October | 33° | 21° | 10.6 h | 23 mm | 2 d | ✓ |
| November | 28° | 15° | 9.9 h | 4 mm | 1 d | ✓ |
| December | 22° | 10° | 9.3 h | 8 mm | 1 d | ✓ |
The four seasons in India, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Taj Mahal, Agra) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May31 to 40°
nights 17 to 26°
- 3 rainy days · 17 mm
- 11.2 h of sun
Summer
Jun → Aug32 to 39°
nights 26 to 29°
- 17 rainy days · 167 mm
- 9.2 h of sun
Autumn
Sep → Nov28 to 33°
nights 15 to 25°
- 5 rainy days · 56 mm
- 10.1 h of sun
Book early for October to March
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in India, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 13h51 of daylight, in December 10h26, a difference of 3h25.
10h36Jan
11h12Feb
11h56Mar
12h47Apr
13h28May
13h51Jun
13h42Jul
13h06Aug
12h17Sep
11h28Oct
10h46Nov
10h26Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Taj Mahal, Agra" (27.18°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in India, month by month
EventsHoliMarchDurga PujaSeptember to OctoberDiwaliOctober to NovemberPushkar Camel FairNovemberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Hiking: January, February, November, December
- Towns & culture: January, February, March, November, December
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall), not from an opinion.
What's on in India, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. These events fill the hotels and push prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- MarchHoli
The whole country throws coloured powder and water for a day, with notable excesses in Mathura and Vrindavan.
- September to OctoberDurga Puja big crowds
Kolkata fills with pandals, temporary structures housing the goddess, for five days of night-time tours from one neighbourhood to the next.
- October to NovemberDiwali big crowds
Oil lamps, garlands and firecrackers for five days: domestic flights fill up and the air in the big cities grows heavy.
- NovemberPushkar Camel Fair big crowds
In November, herders and their animals camp in the Rajasthan dunes around the sacred lake, amid trading, races and contests.
Travelling off-peak
When to visit India, region by region
A country's best time is an average, and it hides big differences. Here is what the records say for each area, month by month: ✓ for a recommended month, ~ for a fair one, a dot for a month to avoid. Hover over a cell for the temperature.
| Area | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇳 Goa | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | · | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇮🇳 Rajasthan | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Month by month, in detail
January
Recommended20°8° at night
- 23 mm · 4 d
- 9.1 h
Busy, without the crush
February
Recommended25°12° at night
- 9 mm · 2 d
- 9.9 h
Busy, without the crush
March
Recommended31°17° at night
- 21 mm · 3 d
- 11.1 h
Busy, without the crush
April
Not recommended37°22° at night
- 12 mm · 2 d
- 11.4 h
Low season, lower prices
May
Not recommended40°26° at night
- 17 mm · 3 d
- 11.2 h
Low season, lower prices
June
Not recommended39°29° at night
- 63 mm · 7 d
- 10.7 h
Low season, lower prices
July
Not recommended34°27° at night
- 231 mm · 22 d
- 8.5 h
Low season, lower prices
August
Not recommended32°26° at night
- 206 mm · 21 d
- 8.4 h
Low season, lower prices
September
Fair33°25° at night
- 141 mm · 13 d
- 9.8 h
Busy, without the crush
October
Recommended33°21° at night
- 23 mm · 2 d
- 10.6 h
High season, book early
November
Recommended28°15° at night
- 4 mm · 1 d
- 9.9 h
High season, book early
December
Recommended22°10° at night
- 8 mm · 1 d
- 9.3 h
Busy, without the crush
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Mild, 20 °C in the afternoon and 8 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 23 mm over 4 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.1 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
February. 25 °C in the afternoon and 12 °C at night. Hardly any rain (9 mm over 2 days). Plenty of sunshine: 9.9 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
March. 31 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. Hardly any rain (21 mm over 3 days). Plenty of sunshine: 11.1 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
April. Real heat: 37 °C at the warmest of the day, 22 °C at night. Hardly any rain (12 mm over 2 days). Plenty of sunshine: 11.4 h a day on average. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. Real heat: 40 °C at the warmest of the day, 26 °C at night. Hardly any rain (17 mm over 3 days). Plenty of sunshine: 11.2 h a day on average. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. Real heat: 39 °C at the warmest of the day, 29 °C at night. Rain stays light: 63 mm over 7 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.7 h a day on average. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
July. Real heat: 34 °C at the warmest of the day, 27 °C at night. A very wet month, 231 mm of rain over 22 days. Expect 8.5 h of sunshine a day. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
August. Real heat: 32 °C at the warmest of the day, 26 °C at night. A very wet month, 206 mm of rain over 21 days. Expect 8.4 h of sunshine a day. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
September. Real heat: 33 °C at the warmest of the day, 25 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (141 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 9.8 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Real heat: 33 °C at the warmest of the day, 21 °C at night. Hardly any rain (23 mm over 2 days). Plenty of sunshine: 10.6 h a day on average. High season: book early.
November. 28 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C at night. Hardly any rain (4 mm over 1 day). Plenty of sunshine: 9.9 h a day on average. High season: book early.
December. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 10 °C early in the morning. Hardly any rain (8 mm over 1 day). Plenty of sunshine: 9.3 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit India?
October to March, during the cool dry season, with 20 to 33 °C in the afternoon in Agra, for Rajasthan, the Taj Mahal and the beaches of the south. Ladakh is the exception: it is visited from June to September, when the roads from Manali and Srinagar are open and the monsoon soaks the plains.
Which month should you avoid in India?
April to June in the northern plains, where Agra reaches 37 °C in April and 40 °C in May, then July and August, when the monsoon dumps more than 200 mm of rain a month there.
What is the hottest month in India?
May, with 40 °C on average in the afternoon and 26 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Taj Mahal, Agra).
What is the coldest month in India?
January, with 20 °C at best during the day and 8 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Taj Mahal, Agra).
What is the driest month in India?
November: 4 mm over 1 day of rain, against 231 mm in July, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in India?
April, with 11.4 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
Does it get cold at night in India?
The gap between day and night reaches 15 °C in April: 37 °C in the afternoon, 22 °C at dawn. Pack an extra layer, even in high season.
When is the best time to hike in India?
January, February, November, December: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Taj Mahal, Agra), the safest windows for walking.
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