Before you go

Best time to visit India

For most of India, October to March is the best time: the monsoon has gone, the heat has not arrived, and Rajasthan, the plains, Goa and Kerala are at their easiest. The Himalaya runs on the opposite calendar, with Ladakh at its best from late spring to early autumn.

The short answer

India is too big for one season. The plains, Rajasthan, Goa and Kerala are at their kindest from October to March, when the southwest monsoon has gone and the heat has not yet arrived. The high Himalaya works the other way round: Ladakh opens up in late spring and summer, when snow closes the passes everywhere else in the calendar.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) describes two monsoons. The southwest monsoon brings most of the year's rain from June to September. The northeast monsoon (October to December) matters mainly for the south of the peninsula, where it brings a second rainy season just as the north dries out. Between them sits the hot season: in Jaipur, IMD counts March to May as summer, with May maximums of 40–47 °C.

So the question is less "when" than "where, and when". The table and cards below match the two.

Region by region

city Northern plains: Delhi, Agra, Varanasi

Best: October to March. Hard: April to June, when the plains are very hot. The monsoon reaches Delhi around the end of June and starts leaving the northwest around 17 September. Winter has its own catch: from October to February the air over Delhi and the plains is poor (worst in November and December), and in December and January fog often delays flights, especially early in the day.

desert Rajasthan: Jaipur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer

Best: October to March, with clear skies most days. In Jaipur, IMD counts winter from mid-December to mid-February: January is the coldest month, with normal night lows around 7–8 °C, so pack a warm layer for desert evenings. Hard: March to May, the hot season, with dust storms. July and August are the rainiest months; by around 1 October the monsoon has left most of the state.

mountain Himalaya and Ladakh

Best for Ladakh: late spring to early autumn. According to the Leh district administration, the Srinagar–Leh highway is open from May to November or December, and the Manali–Leh highway from May or June to September or October. Outside those months you fly in, and winter in Ladakh is serious: the district administration says night temperatures fall to around −30 °C. Ladakh lies at 8,370 ft (about 2,550 m) and higher, and the administration advises two full days of rest after flying in. The monsoon reaches Ladakh around the end of June, and in the hill states (Himachal, Uttarakhand) the rains make mountain roads slow and unpredictable, so check conditions there from July to September.

beach Goa and the west coast (with Mumbai)

Best: October to March or April. By IMD's normal dates the southwest monsoon arrives in Goa (Panaji) around 5 June and in Mumbai around 11 June, and withdraws around 8 October from Mumbai and 14 October from Panaji. Until then the coast is green, wet and quiet, with rough seas. The beach season gathers pace once the rain has gone in October.

palm Kerala and the south

Best: roughly January to March, between the two monsoons. Kerala is where the southwest monsoon lands first, around 1 June; IMD's long-term averages for Kerala are about 556 mm of rain in June and 659 mm in July. From October to December the northeast monsoon brings a second rainy season to the south of the peninsula, Tamil Nadu above all. The monsoon months suit Ayurveda retreats and green backwaters more than beach days.

forest The Northeast: Assam, Meghalaya, Sikkim

Best: October to April or May. The monsoon reaches Northeast India early, around 5 June by IMD's normal dates, and it stays until the general withdrawal in October. October and November, after the monsoon withdraws, are usually the clearest window.

Month by month

Monsoon dates are IMD's long-term normals: in any single year the rain can come or go a week or two either side.

January	Plains and Rajasthan cool and dry, Delhi foggy with poor air; south coast between monsoons; Ladakh roads closed. One of the busiest months.
February	Much like January, slowly warming. The second-busiest month for international arrivals.
March	The hot season starts on the plains and in Rajasthan; still pleasant in Goa and Kerala.
April	Hot on the plains. Hill stations come into their own.
May	The hottest month in Rajasthan (Jaipur 40–47 °C). Ladakh roads start opening. The quietest month for arrivals.
June	Monsoon reaches Kerala (about 1 June), Goa (about 5 June), Mumbai (about 11 June) and Delhi (about 27 June). Ladakh season under way.
July	Monsoon covers the whole country by about 8 July. Ladakh is the main dry-weather option.
August	Monsoon everywhere; green landscapes, rough seas, landslide risk on mountain roads. Ladakh still open.
September	Monsoon starts withdrawing from the northwest around 17 September. Manali–Leh may close from late September.
October	Monsoon gone from the north by about 1 October and from most of the country by 15 October; the northeast monsoon begins in the south. Delhi's air starts to worsen.
November	Season opens across the plains, Rajasthan and Goa; rain in Tamil Nadu; Delhi's air at or near its worst.
December	The busiest month for international arrivals. Cool north, foggy Delhi mornings, dry west coast.

Heat and monsoon: are they deal-breakers?

Heat. From April to June the northern plains are very hot. People there plan the day around it: out before 11 a.m. and after 5 p.m., shade and water in between. If these are your only free months, head for the hills or Ladakh rather than Agra and Jaipur.

Monsoon. Rain does not mean a lost trip. The southwest monsoon comes in bursts rather than as one endless downpour, the landscapes turn an almost unreal green, and prices and queues ease off. The trade-offs are real, though: flooded streets in big cities, landslides on mountain roads, rough seas that close some beaches, and more mosquitoes. Dengue is most active after the monsoon, roughly July to November, so repellent is part of the kit. The [monsoon guide](/en/guide/monsoon/) covers travelling in the rains in detail.

Crowds and peak season

The calendar of arrivals follows the weather. Ministry of Tourism figures for 2024 show December (10.66% of the year's foreign arrivals), February (10.37%), January (9.86%) and November (9.79%) as the four peak months: together about 41% of all arrivals. May was the quietest month (6.25%), with April, August and September close behind.

What that means in practice: for December to February, book trains, flights and well-located hotels early, especially around Christmas and New Year, and expect queues at the Taj Mahal and the Rajasthan forts. Shoulder months (October, March) give most of the good weather with fewer people. Festivals shift the picture locally: a city during a big festival fills up whatever the month.

Winter in the north: two small catches

From October to February Delhi's air is poor, worst in November and December: if you have asthma or travel with small children, keep Delhi short and carry a respirator mask. In December and January, fog often delays flights out of Delhi, especially early ones, so pick afternoon departures and leave slack in connections.

Mountain roads follow the snow, not the calendar

Opening and closing dates of the Ladakh highways shift every year with snowfall. Check the current status with the local administration or your driver before committing to a road trip, and keep a day in reserve. If you fly into Leh, the altitude hits at once: the district administration advises two full days of rest, and ask a doctor about prevention before the trip.

❓ Questions people ask

What is the single best month to visit India?

For a first trip covering Delhi, Agra and Rajasthan, November to February: dry and mild. November is slightly less crowded than December to February, though it is also when Delhi's air is at its worst, so keep Delhi short.

Is it worth going during the monsoon?

Yes, if you choose the place: Ladakh is dry in July and August, and Kerala in the rains suits Ayurveda and backwaters. Expect delays and rough seas on the coast.

Where can I go in May or June?

The mountains: Ladakh as the roads open, Himachal and Uttarakhand hill towns, Sikkim. The plains and Rajasthan are at their hottest.

When is it cheapest to travel?

The quiet months, April to September outside the mountains, have fewer visitors, so rooms and tickets are easier to find. There is no official data on seasonal price changes, so compare rates for your own dates.

Can I do both Goa and Ladakh in one trip?

Only around the edges of the seasons, for example late May to early June or late September, and even then one end will be off-peak. They suit different trips.

Is it cold in India in winter?

In the south, no. In the north, nights are cool (Jaipur's January lows are around 7–8 °C), and the Himalaya is properly cold: winter nights in Ladakh drop to around −30 °C.

Sources (10)

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