Best (and Worst) Times to Visit India 2024, Rainy Season?

Generally, the best time to visit India is from December to February, when it is warm during daytime and cool at night in most areas of India. December marks the beginning of the peak travel season with higher-priced accommodation and flights.

It starts to get hot from March and the temperature reaches its average high point of 45°C (113°F) in May. If you can bear the heat, traveling India from April to May, you can expect the benefits of smaller crowds as well as big promotions from hotels and airlines (usually 50% off).

India's rainy season starts from June and lasts until September. North India is less affected by downpours than central and southern parts. You could still enjoy a good experience if you visit north Indian destinations like Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and other Rajasthan areas. Many national parks are closed because of floods and landslides. Goa becomes a "ghost city", with few travelers and many beach resorts closed. Ladakh, located in the far north is cool, and little affected by the rainy season, and it starts to welcome its high travel time from June to August.

Rain starts to ease from the middle of September. In October, most areas of India have dry weather. Though it is still hot, it feels much more comfortable than in May. Traveling in October and November, you'll not be drenched, while enjoying better deals than in December-February.

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Best Times for Tiger Safari, Festivals, Low Price
Worst Times to Visit India
Travel Guide by Month

Best Times to Visit India for Tiger Safari, Festivals, Low Prices, etc.

Although most people consider the best time to visit India to be from December to February, India is a large country that contains many different climates with extremely different weather patterns. When you should visit India varies greatly depending on what/where you want to see, budget, and weather preferences.

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Best Time for Tiger Safari in India

For most comfortable weather, December to February are the best months to travel. You can enjoy clear skies and all kinds of outdoor activities in most of the country. It is also a good time for a tiger safari as the undergrowth is low and the animals are more active in cool weather.

Get some inspiration about How to Plan an Affordable Luxury Trip to India.

9-Day India Golden Triangle with Tiger Safari Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Ranthambore National Park

Best Time for Mountain Hiking in India

If you're a mountain hiking lover, visiting Ladakh from June to August or doing a Himalayan trek from March to early June or from late September to November would be rewarding with cool weather and little rain.

Himalayan mountains get extremely wet from late June to early September!
The passes and roads in Ladakh are blocked by snow September to April.

14-Day India, Nepal, and Bhutan Tour Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Kathmandu - Thimphu - Punakha - Paro

Best Time for Festival Experiences in India

If you're interested in attending India's colorful festivals, Holi and Diwali are two most celebrated festivals in India. Holi is typically observed in March, occasionally in late February.

Best Time for the Cheap Price in India

April to June is the best time for the lowest prices in general. The heat prohibits many travelers (international and domestic) from traveling around India. You may find only a few visitors in the temples, and you can expect lower prices, with 30–50% off offered by many hotels and flights.

An Insider's Guide to the Best Time to Visit India for Good Weather With Better Prices:

March, October, and November could be seen as middle ground periods. During these months, you don't need to bear extreme hotness like in April to June, while you can expect less crowding and more affordable prices than in December to February.

14-Day Rajasthan Tour Package for Westners Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Jaisalmer - Jodhpur - Udaipur

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The Worst Times to Visit India

Strictly speaking, there is no worse time to visit India. No matter which month you travel, India has somewhere with suitable experiences that are not too negatively affected by the weather.

For first-timers to India, the travel routes usually focus on Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur (Pink City) with Varanasi, or Mumbai, Goa,and Kerala in the south. With time permitting, you can also extend your trip to Jodhpur (Blue City), Udaipur (White City), and Jaisalmer (Golden City) in the western desert, Rajasthan. For these areas:

If you cannot stand the burning hotness, avoid April to June.
If you don't like heavy rain, avoid August. The monsoon will approach to India from June and fade away after September. August is the wettest month. But you can still find some hours for sightseeing during the rest of monsoon season as the rainfall might not last for several days.
If you'd like to experience a desert camp in the western desert, avoid May and June as some resorts in the desert are closed because of the heat. Accommodations in city areas is still OK to stay in. The desert is a good destinations in rainy season as it's hardly affected.
If you want to relax on the beach in Goa, avoid June to August as summer's big sea currents are not safe for swimming and many resorts will close.

Read further about 9-day itineraries and 10-day options in India.

9-Day India Golden Triangle with Varanasi Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Varanasi

India Travel Guide by Month

Click the sign of each month to check the travel guide information.

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Visiting India in January: Pleasant Weather

Average temperature ranges: 7 to 20°C (46–68°F) in the north (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur), 20 to 30°C (68–86°F) in central and south India (Goa, Mumbai, Kelara)
Key festivals: Bikaner Camel Festival, Republic Day (January 26th)

Many travelers from America and Europe come to India from the end of December to January to celebrate Christmas and New Year. January has pleasantly warm days and cool nights, which are great for outdoor activities. Though there might be some fog in early morning, January is generally good for traveling throughout India, except for the highlands and far-north mountain areas.

The weather in the south is much warmer than in the north in January. It's a great time to celebrate the New Year on beaches in Goa or join in a camel festival in the desert of Bikaner.

2-Week Luxury India Tour Delhi - Varanasi - Agra - Jaipur - Udaipur

Visiting India with Asia Highlights

Want to explore all of the incredible destinations India has to offer while avoiding extreme heat and heavy rains? Here at Asia Highlights, we can help you navigate India's changing seasons and help you pick your perfect time to see the famous sites you want to see most. Some India tours are recommended below for inspiration.