India’s weather varies from the heights of the mountains to the southern coasts. It is something important when considering the best time to visit India. The most influential weather factor would be the monsoon season. During the highs of the monsoon, season flooding can cause serious communication and destructive issues in the jungle regions and low lying lands of Bengal. Landslides are also common in the mountain foothills. Between the rain falls it is likely to experience intense moments of bursts of heat, sunshine and pervasive humidity.
Usually starting in May the monsoon season disperses by the end of the summer but usually takes a few more months before the clouds in the south disappear. Between October and December the East coasts of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, as well as the South of Kerala experience a second helping of rain as the monsoons of the Bay of Bengal, come in. By the end of the year, most of the country is cool and enjoys clear skies.
During the mid-winter season, you can see the true contrast of the temperate subcontinent. Delhi to the North is swept with cold winds from the snowfalls of the Himalayas, while the South and coastal areas such as Tamil and Kerala still experience fierce sunshine. By spring temperatures can reach up to 33 degrees Celsius, causing extreme heat waves and bringing with it the onset of the monsoon season in late May and June.
So the best time to visit India is during the cool, dry season, between November and March. Delhi, Agra, Varanasi, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are ideal at this time, and temperatures in Goa and central India remain comfortable. Aim to be in Tamil Nadu and Kerala between January and March as it gets hot after this. From this time onwards, the Himalayas grow more accessible, and the trekking season reaches its peak in August and September while the rest of the Subcontinent is being soaked by the rains.
▪ Pleasant weather – warm days, cool nights. Peak tourists. Peak prices.
▪ December and January bring chilly nights to the north.
▪ Temperatures climb steadily from February. Shoulder Season (Jul–Nov)
▪ Passes to Ladakh and the high Himalaya open from July to September.
▪ Monsoon rain-showers persist through to September.
▪ The southeast coast and southern Kerala see heavy rain from October to early December.
▪ April is hot; May and June are scorching. Competitive hotel prices.
▪ From June, the monsoon sweeps from south to north, bringing draining humidity.
▪ Beat the heat in the cool hills.