When To Visit India

For most areas of India this is the best time to visit the country. Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu experience warm, clear days, Rajasthan, Gujarat, central and eastern India are, similarly, warm and dry although, in the north, there can be morning fog and evenings can be surprisingly chilly. This coolness fades from February and daytime temperatures edge up throughout India as March arrives. March is also an excellent time for wildlife viewing.

Nagaland’s Hornbill Festival is held during the first week of December and is North East India’s pre-eminent cultural event where the region’s dress, dance, music and traditions are celebrated. March is synonymous with Holi, the famous festival of colour which marks the arrival of spring.

Temperatures increase exponentially throughout India in April, rising further in May before the summer monsoon rains arrive. Northern India, Rajasthan, central and eastern India will see the mercury top 40°C and in other regions of India these temperatures will be accompanied by increased humidity too. In contrast, the Himalayan foothills, particularly the hill stations of Shimla, Manali and Darjeeling, offer welcome respite from the heat.

April is an excellent time for wildlife. The heat, scarcity of water and dying foliage, particularly in the reserves of central and northern India, leads to increased sightings with wildlife congregating around the few remaining water sources.

The mountainous Himalayan region of Ladakh comes into its own over the summer months. Inaccessible for much of the year, from June winter snows recede and days are sunny and clear. Due to the high altitude, temperatures fall rapidly once the sun sets so it is important to pack accordingly. The rest of India is in monsoon season with rains arriving in the south then moving steadily north. Expect short, sharp, sporadic but heavy downpours although holidaying is counterbalanced by fewer visitors.

Held either in June or July, Hemis Tshechu is one of Ladakh’s most important Buddhist festivals. Complete with masked dancers and beautifully attired monks, it takes places within the precinct of historic Hemis Monastery.

From September monsoon rains slowly abate and by October the northern India including the Himalayan foothills, central and eastern India and most national parks welcome warm, sunny weather making autumn an excellent time to travel. In contrast, the weather in the southern state of Tamil Nadu is unsettled with rainfall throughout October and November due to the north-eastern ‘retreating’ monsoon.

October and November have a number of important celebrations and fairs with the best-known being Diwali. This ancient Hindu ‘festival of lights’ is India's largest and signifies the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness. Colourful animal fairs and religious melas also take place including those at Bateshwar and Pushkar.