When is the Best Time to Visit India?

Exploring the Different Regions

Travelling around India is one of the highlights of visiting the country, whether by train or private transfer, you can see a lot in a couple of weeks. It’s best to stick to one region though, unless you have a lot of time or want to take internal flights, so take your pick from the north, south and central areas. The best time to visit northern India is between October and March before it gets too hot in April and too rainy in June.

Meanwhile, if it’s the south of India that appeals to you, such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu, you have a slightly larger window of opportunity. The best time to visit India’s south is between November and April, however, the monsoon season (June to August) only brings with it slightly more rain than usual so doesn’t affect travel plans as much as it does in the north.

Central India is best between October and March, however, September and April still offer up a nice climate, with April being very hot (mid-40s) and September the end of the rainy season, when everything is green and lush.

The Himalayas have their own climate, different to the rest of India. The foothills, such as Shimla, are best in October/November and May/June, while further north around Ladakh and Leh, you’re best going between June and September, otherwise, it is extremely cold.

Visiting Beaches and Wildlife

India is known for its epic culture, temples, and palaces, all rich with history. However, its natural beauty and wildlife are also crying out to be discovered. The best time to go to India for beaches is December to April when the temperature in India’s coastal areas will be between 30°C and 36°C. Head to the likes of the Andaman Islands between January and April for barefoot bliss on Havelock Island, or hit Goa’s beaches between December and April, while Kerala’s are best in February and March.

Most of India’s wildlife is found in the central regions, where many of the national parks are. This part of the country has its best weather between October and March, with temperatures between 34°C and 38°C. Monsoon season does affect this part of India quite dramatically; however, some people find the safari experience amongst the tropical rain even more thrilling. Parks remain open and you’ll have fewer crowds and better value accommodation.

Iconic Landmarks

The most iconic landmark in India, the Taj Mahal, is best seen almost any time of year. Agra and Delhi don’t get affected by the monsoon, but it does get almost unbearably hot in April and May, so is best avoided then. Peak travel season in India is December to January and March when it will be the most crowded, but any time between October and March is a great time to see the Taj Mahal.

To visit India’s other iconic landmarks, such as the Red Fort in New Delhi, the Amber Palace in Amer, the Gateway of India in Mumbai, and the Hawa Mahal in Jaipur, travel between September to April.

Festivals and Events

India's rich cultural diversity spans across its many regions, religions and communities, each with its own array of festivals, from Hindu to Sikh. Some may be better known like Diwali, the festival of lights, which falls somewhere between mid-October and mid-November and is celebrated all over India (apart from Kerala), with special meals, parades, and lots of lights. Then there is Holi, the Hindu festival of colour in March, during which people throw coloured powder, marking the end of winter and symbolically destroying the bad so that the good can triumph. Holi is celebrated in northern India, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Delhi.

Onam is a harvest festival, held in September in Kerala, where you’ll see street parades including cultural dances, musicians, and decorated elephants, and Eid-Ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan for Muslim communities. You’ll see people celebrating with a three-day festival in Delhi, Calcutta, and Mumbai among other places. The focus during this festival is on food, with amazing street stalls and feasts found around the cities.

While festivals are happening, accommodation and transport can get very busy so it’s important to book ahead if you want to travel to India during the festival periods. It will be days off for schools and work, so attractions are likely to be shut too. It’s best not to travel around on these days and just enjoy the atmosphere wherever you are.

The streets and towns can get very busy, particularly during Holi, when people are throwing coloured powder, and it can become quite overwhelming, especially if you’re travelling to India with children. Many hotels will hold their own celebrations, so you can enjoy the fun in a calmer setting.