Short answer: October to March is the best time to visit most of India: the cool, dry season brings sunshine and comfortable temperatures to Delhi, Agra, Rajasthan, Varanasi, Goa and Kerala, and the big festivals, Diwali among them, fall in autumn. It is also peak season, with the highest prices around Christmas and New Year, and December and January bring cold, foggy mornings in the north. The Himalaya runs on a different calendar: April to June for the hill stations, and June to September for Ladakh.
This page explains India’s three seasons and two monsoons, what each month is like from the Himalaya to Kerala, and when the main festivals and park closures fall, as of October 2026. For e-Visas, trains and monument tickets, see our India travel guide, and plan your days with our AI trip planner.
Best time to visit India at a glance
| Goal | Best months | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall weather | October to March | Dry and sunny across the plains, Rajasthan and the south |
| Golden Triangle (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur) | October to March | Days of 20–33 °C (68–91 °F); February, March and October have the cleanest air |
| Goa and the beaches | November to March | Calm seas and almost no rain; no swimming or water sports in the monsoon |
| Kerala | November to February | Dry, sunny weather for the backwaters and Kochi |
| Himalayan hill stations | March to June, September to November | Escape the heat of the plains in Shimla, Manali and Darjeeling |
| Ladakh | June to September | Roads open and the high desert stays dry during the monsoon |
| Tiger safaris | October to June (March to May for sightings) | Ranthambore’s main zones close from July to September |
| Lowest prices | April to September (plains and coasts) | Heat and monsoon low season; hotel rates fall |
| Festivals | October to November, March | Dussehra and Durga Puja, Diwali (November 8, 2026), Holi (March 23, 2027) |
India weather month by month
Weather month by month
The climate table shows average daily highs and lows and rain for each month from the 1991–2020 climate normals of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), as submitted to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). India has three broad seasons. The cool season, from October to March, is dry in most regions: New Delhi averages 20 °C (68 °F) by day and 8 °C (46 °F) at night in January. The hot season, from April to June, peaks in May, when New Delhi averages 40 °C (104 °F) and Jaipur 41 °C (106 °F). Then the southwest monsoon arrives: by IMD’s normal dates it reaches Kerala on about June 1 and covers the whole country by about July 8, and it withdraws from about September 17 in the northwest to mid-October. Mumbai gets about 920 mm (36 in) of rain in July alone and Goa about 955 mm (38 in), while Chennai and the southeast get most of their rain from the northeast monsoon in October to December. In the Himalaya, the seasons depend on altitude: Leh, at 3,500 m (11,500 ft), averages −13 °C (8 °F) at night in January and gets only about 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain a year.
India month by month
January
Sunny and warm in the south and in Goa, cool by day and cold at night in the north, where dense fog often delays morning flights and trains in Delhi and the Ganges plain. Kites fill the skies of Jaipur for Makar Sankranti (January 14, 2027), the Jaipur Literature Festival runs from January 14 to 18, 2027, and Republic Day (January 26) brings a parade in Delhi. Peak season everywhere south of the Himalaya.
February
Warm and dry across most of the country and one of the best months overall, with clearer air in Delhi and days of about 24–26 °C (75–79 °F) in Delhi and Jaipur. Jaisalmer‘s Desert Festival is usually in late January or February. In Kerala, Eravikulam National Park near Munnar closes for the Nilgiri tahr calving season, usually from February 1 to March 31.
March
Warming up, at about 30–32 °C (86–90 °F) in Delhi and Jaipur, and the last month of the cool season. Holi, the festival of colors, is on March 23, 2027 (with bonfires the night before), and is wildest in Mathura and Vrindavan. Maha Shivaratri falls on March 6, 2027, a big night in Varanasi, and Eid al-Fitr on about March 10. Srinagar‘s tulip garden opens in late March.
April
Hot in the plains, at about 37–39 °C (99–102 °F) in Delhi, Jaipur and Varanasi, and the start of the hill-station season in Shimla, Manali and Darjeeling. Baisakhi (April 14, 2027) is celebrated in Amritsar and across Punjab. Tiger sightings improve as the forests dry out.
May
The hottest month in the north, with average highs of 40–41 °C (104–106 °F) in Delhi and Jaipur and heatwaves above 45 °C (113 °F). Prices in the plains are low, the hill stations are busy with Indian families on summer holidays, and the high roads to Ladakh begin to open. Pre-monsoon showers start in Kerala.
June
The monsoon reaches Kerala in early June and Mumbai by mid-month, with about 530 mm (21 in) of rain in Mumbai and 890 mm (35 in) in Goa; beaches have red flags and water sports stop. The north stays very hot until the rains arrive late in the month. It is the start of the season in Leh and Ladakh.
July
Monsoon across almost the whole country: the wettest month on the west coast, with heavy rain in the hills too, and landslides can block mountain roads. Ranthambore’s main safari zones close from July to September. Ladakh, in the Himalayan rain shadow, is dry and sunny, at about 28 °C (83 °F) by day in Leh. The low season brings the year’s best hotel deals in the plains and on the coasts.
August
The wettest month in Delhi (about 227 mm / 8.9 in) and Varanasi, and in Shimla (about 350 mm / 13.8 in). Alappuzha hosts the Nehru Trophy Boat Race, every August, and Independence Day (August 15) brings flag-raising across the country. Janmashtami falls on August 25, 2027.
September
The rains ease and begin to withdraw from Rajasthan late in the month, leaving green landscapes and full lakes in Udaipur. Ganesh Chaturthi (September 4, 2027) brings giant processions to Mumbai, and Kerala celebrates Onam (September 12, 2027). Rafting reopens at Rishikesh, and Ladakh has its last clear, quiet weeks.
October
The season opens: dry, warm and clear in most of the north and west, with highs of about 33 °C (91 °F) in Delhi. Dussehra falls on October 20 in 2026 (and October 9 in 2027); Mysuru‘s Dasara runs from October 11 to 21, 2026, and Kolkata‘s Durga Puja peaks in the days before. In the southeast, the northeast monsoon begins: October is Chennai‘s second-wettest month.
November
Dry, clear and pleasant across the north and west, and beach season begins in Goa and on the Andaman Islands. Diwali, the festival of lights, falls on November 8, 2026 (October 29 in 2027), with heavy travel around it. On the Kartik full moon (November 24, 2026), Varanasi celebrates Dev Deepawali, Sikhs mark Guru Nanak’s birthday, and the Pushkar fair reaches its peak. Chennai has its wettest month (about 374 mm / 14.7 in), and air quality in Delhi often worsens.
December
Warm and sunny in the south and Goa, cool in the north, with foggy mornings and cold nights around 8 °C (47 °F) in Delhi. Christmas and New Year are the busiest, most expensive weeks in Goa and Kerala, so book early. Chennai’s music season fills December and January.
Best time to visit by region
Delhi, Agra and the Golden Triangle
October to March. December and January have cold nights and dense morning fog; February, March and October have the cleanest air of the season. April to June is extremely hot, and July to September is humid and rainy. See Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, and Amritsar in the Punjab.
Rajasthan
October to March, with November to February best in the desert. Jaipur gets only about 600 mm (24 in) of rain a year, almost all in July and August, and the lakes of Udaipur are fullest after the monsoon. See Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Ranthambore.
Varanasi and the Ganges plain
October to March. November brings Dev Deepawali, when the ghats are lit with countless oil lamps; winter mornings are misty and cold. See our Varanasi guide.
The Himalaya
March to June and September to November for Shimla and Manali, with snow from December to February; March to May and October to December for Darjeeling, with the clearest mountain views in autumn; April to October for Srinagar. Leh and Ladakh are best from May to September; the Manali–Leh highway is usually open from May or June to September or October. Rishikesh is best from September to November and February to April.
Mumbai and Goa
November to February for Mumbai and November to March for Goa, when it is dry and less humid; December and New Year are the peak. From June to September, these coasts get about 2,400–2,700 mm (95–105 in) of rain, and Goa’s beaches close to swimming and water sports.
Kerala
November to February for Kochi and the backwaters of Alappuzha; September to May for the tea hills of Munnar. The monsoon brings heavy rain from June to October, but also green landscapes and the traditional Ayurveda season.
Chennai, Karnataka and the southeast
The southeast is the exception: Chennai and Puducherry are best from December to March, after the northeast monsoon. Inland, Bengaluru, Mysuru, Hampi and Hyderabad are best from October to February.
Kolkata and the east
October to March. Kolkata gets about 1,810 mm (71 in) of rain a year, mostly from June to September, and its Durga Puja in September or October is one of the world’s great street festivals.
The Andaman Islands
November to April, with calm seas and dry weather; January to March is ideal for diving. See our Andaman Islands guide.
Best time for beaches, trekking, safaris and festivals
Beaches and diving
November to March in Goa and Kerala, November to April in the Andamans. See our beaches and diving guides.
Trekking and rafting
May to June and September to October in Himachal and Uttarakhand; June to September in Ladakh. Uttarakhand Tourism says rafting on the Ganges at Rishikesh is best from September to June; it stops during the monsoon. See our hiking guide.
Tiger safaris
October to June. March to May is very hot but gives the best tiger sightings, as animals gather at water; Ranthambore’s zones 1 to 5 close from July to September.
Festivals
Dussehra and Durga Puja in October, Diwali in October or November, Holi in March, and regional festivals all year: Pongal and Makar Sankranti in mid-January, Onam in August or September, and Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai in August or September. Most follow lunar calendars, so dates move each year.
Seasons to plan around
The southwest monsoon (June to September): heavy downpours flood city streets, landslides block mountain roads in the Himalaya and the Western Ghats, and trains and flights run with delays. Goa’s beaches close to swimming. Follow IMD forecasts and alerts.
The northeast monsoon (October to December): heavy rain in Chennai, Puducherry and southern Tamil Nadu, the main rainy season there.
The hot season (April to June): highs above 40 °C (104 °F) in the northern plains and Rajasthan, with heatwaves above 45 °C (113 °F). Sightsee in the early morning and evening.
Winter fog and smog (December and January): dense morning fog in the north often delays flights and trains for hours, and winter smog in Delhi and the Ganges plain pushes air quality to very poor levels, especially from November to January.
Busy holidays: Diwali, Christmas and New Year, and the May–June school holidays in the hill stations fill trains, flights and hotels; book trains as early as your schedule allows.
How long to stay
A week covers the Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur; ten days adds Varanasi or Udaipur; two weeks lets you add Amritsar, more of Rajasthan, or a southern loop of Mumbai, Goa and Kerala. Pick the region by season, and see our India travel guide for sample 7-, 10- and 14-day itineraries.
Best time to visit India: FAQ
What is the best month to visit India?
February or November: dry, sunny and comfortable across the north, Rajasthan, Goa and Kerala, without the fog of December and January. November also brings Diwali in some years.
When is monsoon season in India?
June to September. By IMD’s normal dates, the monsoon reaches Kerala around June 1, covers the whole country by about July 8, and withdraws from the northwest from about September 17. The southeast coast gets its rain from October to December.
What is the cheapest time to travel to India?
April to September, the hot season and the monsoon, when hotels in the plains, Rajasthan, Goa and Kerala offer their lowest rates. Hill stations are the exception, busiest in May and June.
Is December a good time to visit India?
Yes for Goa, Kerala, Rajasthan and the south, which are warm and dry. In Delhi and Agra, expect cold nights and foggy mornings that can hide the Taj Mahal until late morning and delay trains and flights.
When is Diwali in 2026 and 2027?
On November 8, 2026, and October 29, 2027, according to the Government of India’s holiday lists. Expect busy trains and flights in the days around it.
When is the best time to visit Ladakh?
May to September, with June to August the peak and September clear and quieter. The high desert stays dry in the monsoon, and the road from Manali usually opens in May or June.
Sources · last reviewed 9 Oct 2026
Researched and last reviewed by TravelerCenter on 8 October 2026. Monthly temperatures and rain come from the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) 1991–2020 climate normals as submitted to the WMO (archived by NOAA NCEI); monsoon onset and withdrawal dates from IMD’s revised normal dates; holiday and festival dates for 2026 and 2027 from the Government of India’s central holiday lists; Mysuru Dasara from the official Dasara website; the Manali–Leh highway season from the Leh district administration; rafting from Uttarakhand Tourism; the Eravikulam closure from the park; Goa’s monsoon rules from Goa Tourism. The Jaipur Literature Festival dates, the Ranthambore closure, the tulip, Desert Festival and music seasons and price patterns come from secondary sources and are flagged for checking. Check event dates before you travel.
Also: IMD normals 1991–2020, New Delhi (Safdarjung) (climate)
Data: Wikidata (CC0)