When's the best time to visit India?

Monsoon season or festival time? Here's when to visit India.

As a guide, the best time to visit India is in the cooler, dry season between October and March. Weather patterns vary throughout the country – and at different times of the year – so, you can expect sunny days and blue skies in other months, too. It all depends on where you want to go... Want some more detail? We’ve got you covered below.

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WHEN'S INDIA AT ITS HOTTEST?

In southern India, you can expect high temperatures in April, however, they hover around the mid-twenties all year round, even in winter. Meanwhile, in the north, sunny days are most common in May.

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WHEN'S INDIA AT ITS COOLEST?

For travellers who like to keep things cooler, temperatures are lower in December and January in northern parts of India. So, if you want to explore famous UNESCO World Heritage sites like the Taj Mahal, the winter months are your best bet. The same goes for the iconic Golden Triangle route – it’s tricky to explore in the hot summer temperatures.

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WHEN'S INDIA’S MONSOON SEASON?

India’s wet season runs from June to September. Starting in the south of the country, the monsoon spreads north, across central India, until the entire country is covered. July and August are India’s rainiest months overall. And, if you’re after a beach holiday in Kerala or Goa, don’t travel in August and September, as it’s still pretty rainy until the very end of the monsoon season.

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WHEN'S INDIA’S DRY SEASON?

The monsoon season’s heavy rains are well and truly over by the end of October, and the weather stays dry until the rains kick off again at the beginning of June. If you want to visit Kerala for its impressive national parks, visit between October and December when it’s all super-green from the recent rains. If you’re after a beach holiday in Kerala, hold off until around February and April when it gets sunnier. Meanwhile, chilled-out, sunny holidays in Goa are best taken between November and February.

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WHEN'S INDIA’S FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS?

Diwali takes place over five days in the second half of October or first half of November. The date’s decided according to the Hindu lunisolar calendar – the main celebration is always on the darkest night of the year. If you visit India at this time of year, you can expect fireworks, plenty of festivities, and lots of lit lamps. In fact, the name Diwali means ‘rows of lighted lamps’.

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WHEN'S INDIA’S HOLI FESTIVAL?

This celebration – known as the festival of colours – has its roots in Hinduism. It takes place during spring, over two days at the end of February or the middle of March. The event’s celebrated in different ways throughout the country, but always revolves around festival-goers flinging brightly coloured powder or water over each other.

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Decided when to jet off?

Now it’s time to book your holiday to India. Plus, find out more about the best places to visit in India, how you can see India on one of our Multi-Centre holidays and discover what’s included on our Golden Triangle tour.

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Author: Hannah Stratton

Last updated: 26.04.2019