Best time to go to India for a perfect weather and where to go?
Get the best time to go to India from seasonal norms in many locations like Taj Mahal (Agra) or Hampi, below.
When is the best time to go to India?
India is ready for a tour all year round, because if the climate in one region is less favourable, than in other regions the climatic conditions can be pleasant or ideal. In order to choose when to visit India and discover the territory, both in the north and in the south, it is important to simply emphasize the period from mid-November to late March which is the perfect timing from a the weather's point of view. One will have the opportunity to relax in the beautiful region of Rajasthan or marvel at the splendors of the Taj Mahal without having to worry about the upcoming temperature.
The months of May and June are the hottest and according to the region, rain can be heavy or moderate. For this reason, hiking and trekking in the mountains of Jammu and Kashmir or for enjoying the climate in Himachal Pradesh, this period can be interesting. Furthermore, as tourists are few at this period of time, one is faced with a unique chance at discovering a world totally apart and authentic.
So, when is the best time to go to India? Here's some more information to help you in your decision:
- In India, the weather is good everywhere in January, February, March and December
- The best months to go to Delhi are January, February, March, April, September, October, November and December
- On average, the warmest months in Delhi are April, May and June, and the coldest month of the year is January
- The rainiest months in this city are July and August
- The cities with the best climate are Nandi hills (Nandi betta) and Coimbatore, with good weather at least 11 months a year
- The sea temperature is suitable for swimming all year round in Chennai
Annual weather in India
For information about the climate and the weather city by city in India for a specific month, click on the corresponding line below:
| Month | Our opinion | View Details | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -22°F to 94°F | perfect weather* | |||
| February | -18°F to 95°F | perfect weather* | |||
| March | -11°F to 103°F | good weather* | |||
| April | -4°F to 110°F | good weather* | |||
| May | 5°F to 113°F | tolerable weather* | |||
| June | 18°F to 112°F | tolerable weather* | |||
| July | 31°F to 104°F | very bad weather* | |||
| August | 32°F to 99°F | very bad weather* | |||
| September | 20°F to 97°F | tolerable weather* | |||
| October | -0°F to 99°F | good weather* | |||
| November | -11°F to 95°F | perfect weather* | |||
| December | -18°F to 94°F | perfect weather* |
Best time to travel to India by cities
Delhi
The best months to go to Delhi are january, february, march, april, september, october, november and december.
Agra (Taj Mahal)
The best months to go to Agra (Taj Mahal) are january, february, march, september, october, november and december.
Bangalore (Karnataka)
The best months to go to Bangalore (Karnataka) are january, february, march, april, may, june, july, november and december.
Climate and Weather in India
A very vast country among the continent of Asia, India has a very wide access to the sea and many inland neighbors such as China, Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Thanks to its great extent in latitude, India boasts a wide variety of climates and temperatures that allow for enjoyment all the time and in all seasons, depending on where one is. In order to best describe the Indian temperatures, we can divide the country into two: Northern and Southern India, where the seasons are not quite the same.
Climate in Northern India
Hot and humid in the summer, Northern India at this time may face climates that are very hard to bear. The end of the monsoon season, that ranges from June to September, does not help in decreasing the overall temperatures, despite the very heavy rainfalls. Beware though, because in the winter the temperatures can drop significantly and sometimes well into the negative, particularly due to the presence of several mountains.
The West
Very green, this part of northern India which is located along the Western Ghats, benefits from an almost tropical climate with lush vegetation. During the monsoon season, the rains are abundant.
The Indus Region
The climate of India in this part of the country, which is particularly home to the cities of Rajasthan and Jaipur, is fairly barren. Despite the fact that it is very hot during the day, one can feel the cool settling in once night falls.
The North-East
The north east including Assam, Sikkim and the eastern Himalayas is surprising with its lush vegetation, savannas and rainforests. Greenery is of course a result of the many rains during the monsoon season. Due to the mountainous regions, the temperatures fall very very low - both at night and in the winter.
Climate in Southern India
The summer climate of southern India is quite painful to endure, due to the high heat and high humidity that prevails throughout the entire season. Furthermore, there are less temperature fluctuations than in the north of the Ganges, except towards the southern tip where it is generally much hotter. During the monsoon season from June to September, but equally in November and December towards Madras, the country is completely covered by the continuous rainfalls.
The Southern Tip
The southern tip is one of the nicest parts of India and it is very hot, allowing for the enjoyment of the many beaches within this area of the country. Therefore, towards Pondicherry, the same temperatures are enjoyed as its neighbor - Sri Lanka and its capital, Colombo. It is important to note that the monsoon season extends until November or even until December in certain years.
The West Coast
The climate is mild, however, this part of India has a very long rainy season. The latter affects five to six months of the year, characterized by particularly heavy rainfall.
South East
For the southeast coast of India, especially around Madras, the risk of cyclones is quite important, just as with its neighbor, Burma. In fact, the Bay of Bengal is highly and commonly exposed to natural disasters.
Central India
The center of India, unlike the northern and southern parts, is particularly dry. The winters are also quite mild and dry with rather dangerous temperatures in the month of April. During the monsoon season, which ranges from June to September, the rain is rare and rather irregular.
Temperatures and rainfall in India
On these 3 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of India and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Delhi, Agra (Taj Mahal), Bangalore (Karnataka), Chennai and Darjeeling, as well as the month-by-month sea temperature for coastal cities.
Peak visitor numbers and tourist seasons in India
Find out when India has its high tourist season (the period when the influx of tourists is highest) and off-peak tourist season using our data and figures.
Tourist seasons in India
The months with low numbers of tourists are: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November. The number of visitors to India is high in: December.
- Very low season in India: February, March, April, May, July, August and September.
- Low season in India: January, June, October and November.
- Peak season in India: December.
Figure: Visitor index for India month by month
Average price for flights to India
A return flight between London and Delhi is generally cheaper if you go in may ($ 585 on average): this is the best time for travellers on a tight budget. In contrast, you may end up paying $ 211 more for your airline ticket to Delhi if you go in august.
Where to go in India?
This table allows you to see the maximum temperature for each city and our opinion on the weather month by month (see colour legend below the table).
| Cities | jan. | feb. | mar. | apr. | may | jun. | jul. | aug. | sep. | oct. | nov. | dec. |
| Delhi | 74°F | 81°F | 92°F | 104°F | 112°F | 112°F | 103°F | 97°F | 97°F | 97°F | 88°F | 77°F |
| Agra (Taj Mahal) | 76°F | 83°F | 95°F | 106°F | 113°F | 112°F | 101°F | 97°F | 97°F | 97°F | 88°F | 79°F |
| Bangalore (Karnataka) | 85°F | 88°F | 94°F | 97°F | 94°F | 86°F | 83°F | 83°F | 83°F | 83°F | 81°F | 81°F |
| Chennai | 83°F | 85°F | 88°F | 92°F | 95°F | 94°F | 92°F | 92°F | 90°F | 88°F | 85°F | 83°F |
| Darjeeling | 59°F | 65°F | 72°F | 76°F | 76°F | 77°F | 76°F | 76°F | 76°F | 72°F | 67°F | 61°F |
| Goa | 94°F | 94°F | 94°F | 94°F | 94°F | 86°F | 83°F | 85°F | 86°F | 90°F | 94°F | 94°F |
| Himachal Pradesh (Shimla) | 61°F | 65°F | 74°F | 83°F | 88°F | 88°F | 83°F | 81°F | 79°F | 77°F | 72°F | 65°F |
| Hyderabad | 86°F | 92°F | 99°F | 104°F | 104°F | 94°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 88°F | 86°F | 85°F |
| Kerala | 88°F | 94°F | 95°F | 97°F | 90°F | 83°F | 81°F | 83°F | 85°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F |
| Kolkata | 85°F | 92°F | 99°F | 104°F | 103°F | 101°F | 94°F | 94°F | 92°F | 92°F | 90°F | 85°F |
| Manali | 67°F | 72°F | 81°F | 92°F | 99°F | 101°F | 94°F | 90°F | 88°F | 86°F | 77°F | 70°F |
| Mumbai | 90°F | 90°F | 94°F | 94°F | 94°F | 88°F | 85°F | 85°F | 86°F | 92°F | 94°F | 92°F |
| Pondicherry | 83°F | 85°F | 88°F | 92°F | 95°F | 94°F | 92°F | 92°F | 90°F | 88°F | 85°F | 83°F |
| Rajasthan | 76°F | 83°F | 94°F | 103°F | 108°F | 108°F | 99°F | 94°F | 95°F | 95°F | 86°F | 79°F |
| Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) | 79°F | 86°F | 97°F | 108°F | 112°F | 108°F | 97°F | 95°F | 94°F | 94°F | 88°F | 81°F |
| Andaman Islands | 83°F | 83°F | 85°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F |
| Dharamsala | 68°F | 74°F | 83°F | 94°F | 103°F | 106°F | 101°F | 95°F | 94°F | 90°F | 81°F | 72°F |
| Gangtok | 50°F | 54°F | 59°F | 65°F | 67°F | 70°F | 70°F | 70°F | 68°F | 65°F | 59°F | 52°F |
| Haridwar | 72°F | 77°F | 88°F | 99°F | 104°F | 106°F | 95°F | 92°F | 92°F | 90°F | 83°F | 74°F |
| Ladakh | 5°F | 11°F | 18°F | 23°F | 31°F | 36°F | 45°F | 47°F | 38°F | 25°F | 16°F | 7°F |
Legend:
perfect weather
good weather
tolerable weather
bad weather
very bad weather
About India
What can I do in India?
Beaches / swimming
Nature and countryside
Culture and heritage
Sports
Family travel
Crafts / shopping
Gastronomy
Nightlife
Is this weather information for India reliable?
Climate data for India has been gathered every day since January 2009. The analysis of these meteorological data for India allows us to determine the average for each month in Delhi, Agra (Taj Mahal), Bangalore (Karnataka), Chennai, Darjeeling, Goa, Himachal Pradesh (Shimla), Hyderabad, and 92 other cities.
So yes: this data is reliable except in cases of temporary climate disruption in the region.