Best Time to Visit India

India's topography is so diverse. If you are planning to visit India, you should first decide the destination as the best time to travel to India can vary according to the place. India witnesses a wide range of weather conditions throughout the vast continent which ranges from deserts to forests, mountains, and the beaches. The climatic conditions of India range from equatorial to alpine. The temperature can differ drastically from one region of the country to another. If we talk in general, then October to March is the best time of the year to travel to India. During this time, most parts of the country experience comfortable and pleasant weather.

The best time to visit North India as well as to the western parts of the country is from October to March. The season of a massive heatwave and humidity have passed and the pleasant breeze started to blow in these areas, during this period. The best time to visit South India is from December to February. This is the time when you will find the most comfortable temperature with the least precipitation. If you wish to explore the Himalayan region of India then May to September are the most recommended months. When it comes to visiting East India, then October to January is the suggested time. During these months, the eastern states of India experience the least humidity and the enjoyable weather.

Best Time to Visit India by Region

Golden Triangle October to March	Himalayan Region October to June
North India October to March	North East India October to March
South India December to February	West India October to March
East India November to March

General Information about India

India is the seventh-largest country in the world. It is one of the oldest civilizations in the world with the kaleidoscopic variety and rich cultural history. India is situated in south Asia but still, it stands apart from the rest of the continent with its distinctive geographical entity. It is bordered by the mountains and the seas. India shares land borders with Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, while it shares maritime borders with Thailand and Indonesia. Sri Lanka and the Maldives are also in the vicinity of India from the Indian Ocean.

India has a varied climatic condition and due to which it has a diverse flora and fauna. The landscape of India ranging from the high Himalayan peaks to the backwaters of Kerala on one end and the other it stretches from the Aravalli ranges of Western Ghat to the rainforest and mangroves of the eastern part. India is a megadiverse country. It is home to numerous species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, animals and several endangered species. Bengal Tiger and Ganges Dolphin are the endangered animals that are found in the subcontinent. Great Indian Bustard, Indian white-rumped vulture, crocodilian are critically endangered animals which can spot here. One of the popular tourist destinations in Udaipur, Jaipur, Agra, Kerala, Goa, and Delhi. However, Yoga and Ayurveda have their origin in India. A lot of foreign tourists attracts to this and come here to rejuvenate.

What is the Weather in India Like?

India is a vast country and it has a large variation in the climatic conditions. Weather in India entirely depends on where you are. The region belongs to tropical rainy climate group experience persistent high temperature which does not go below 18 degrees like Western Coastal Plains and the Western Ghats which includes South Gujrat, Konkan region of Maharashtra and Goa, Kerala, Kanyakumari, West Bengal, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Tamil Nadu and all the 8 states of North-East India experiences high temperature throughout the year, even in mountains.

The regions of the Dry Climate group are mostly the dry region where rainfall experiences not very much and winter temperature is also near about 20 degrees to 24 degrees in few places. The maximum temperatures reach there during summer are around 40 degrees to as high as 50 degrees. This group consists of the Kutch region of Gujarat, the Thar region of Rajasthan, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and central Maharashtra. Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and western Uttar Pradesh have sub-tropical semi-arid climate. The maximum temperature goes here up to 45 degrees and this region does not experience humidity except during the monsoon.

The regions of the Sub-tropical humid climate group experiences the temperature fall between 18 degrees to 0 degrees during the coldest months. Punjab-Haryana plain adjacent to the Himalayan region experiences the dry-winters. Whereas the trans-Himalayan belt is the arid, cold and generally windswept. The Great Himalayan regions witnesses the heavy snowfall and severe cold during winters. Jammu Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, northern districts of West Bengal and Sikkim experiences this kind of temperature.

Summer

In northwestern India, summer starts from early April and continues till July. For the southern and western parts of the country, the hottest month is the April while for north India it is May. During summer, the temperature in Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu goes as high as 45 to 50 degrees. While in the eastern Himalayas and mountainous regions, the temperature is near about 20 degrees. The coastal regions are relatively less hot but they are more humid.

Monsoon

The rainy season in most parts of the country generally starts from early July and continues till the mid of October. In the Malabar Coast of Kerala, and in Mumbai monsoon strikes a bit early then the rest of the country. The monsoon arrives here in early June. The whole country is drenched by the end of July and receives heavy rainfall during the second half of July and August. During the monsoon, the temperature has fallen but most of the country experiences the humidity.

Winter

The winter season starts in the mid of October till March. December and January are the coldest months of the year. Most of the country experiences moderately cold weather. The winter is mild in most of the country, and freezing temperatures are almost unheard of, except for parts of Punjab, Rajasthan and the Himalayan regions (Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Northern Uttarakhand, and Northern Arunachal Pradesh).

This is the climatic phenomenon of India.

Month by Month Guide

The best time to go to India is from October to March, but due to its diverse climatic conditions, one should experience the country in different seasons and during different festivals. Here is the list which will guide you about the best time to travel to India.

If you are a nature lover and moreover an adventurous person who loves to go for trekking and explore the Himalayan region then April to June and September to October is the best time. While for Chadar Trek, January and February are the favorable months. Hiking in the southern regions like Kudremukh and Agumbe, the ideal time is from October to January
To feel the thrill of the gushing rapids, you need to plan your trip for River rafting in Rishikesh, in Brahmaputra River or Indus River. The best time for river rafting varies according to the destination. For Rishikesh River rafting the best time is from mid-September to mid-June, while for Indus River rafting you need to visit there in July to August. While June to October is the best time for enjoying the river rafting in Mandovi River. To enjoy the thrill rides in Brahmaputra River, November to March is the most appropriate time.

Wildlife Safari tours in Nameri National Park, Gir National Park, Bandipur National Park, Periyar National Park, Bandhavgarh National Park, Ranthambhore National Park, Sunderban National Park, and Jim Corbett can be enjoyed during November to April. These are the most favorable months to explore the national parks, biosphere reserves, and Tiger reserves.

If you wish to witness the magical beauty of the landscape, the deep blue sea, glittering sand from the above and you want to do acrobatics while soaring high in the blue sky while doing paragliding in Bir, Manali, Nandi Hills, Kunjapuri, Sikkim, and in Gangtok then the best time visit is March to June. While in Goa and Aravalli Hills the appropriate time is October to March.

The water sports activities such as scuba diving, parasailing, jet-skiing, kayaking, canoeing, banana boat ride, windsurfing, surfing, underwater walk, and snorkeling can be enjoyed in Kerala, Andaman Nicobar Islands, Goa, Puducherry, and Lakshadweep Islands during November to March.

The adventurous activities of Skiing, heliskiing in Gulmarg, Kufri, Manali, Auli, Munsiyari, and Hanuman Tibba can be enjoyed during December to March.

Camel Safari, Dune Bashing, Desert Camping in Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner, and Pushkar can be enjoyed during October to March. While the best months for enjoying the Bacterian two-humped camel safari in Ladakh are from June to September.

Monsoon is the best time for the Ayurveda retreat. From June to September, the weather remains cool and dust-free which helps to open the pores of the body and making it more receptive during the therapy.

Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, are best explored during March to May. The weather during this season will be pleasant. While Jammu should be explored during September to March. And the best time to visit to the Ladakh and Spiti Valley is from June to September, as rest of the year this region is covered with snow and sometimes it is inaccessible for few months of the year.

Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra are best explored during November to February. This time is well-suited due to the pleasant weather. In summers it is difficult to bear the intolerable heat wave. While few places like Udaipur, Mount Abu, Pachmarhi, Orchha, and Saputara can be enjoyed during the time of monsoon. These are one of the best monsoon destinations in India.

The best time to visit to the North-east Indian states is during November to April. As during these months, this place blooms to its full grandeur. Sangai festival in Manipur, Ziro Festival in Arunachal Pradesh, and Hornbill Festival in Nagaland organizes in these months.

Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu can be enjoyed during November to March. While the hill station like Coorg, Kodaikanal, and Ooty are year-round destinations.

Winter season is the best time to visit to the West Bengal. During October to February is the best time to visit here. Visiting the Sunderbans, the world's largest delta can be best explore during such time and the Royal Bengal Tiger can also be spotted here.

Odisha enjoys tropical type of climate throughout the year and Bihar enjoys Humid Sub tropical climate. While Jharkhand varies from Humid subtropical in the north to the tropical wet and dry in the south. The months between the October to March are the best time to visit all these states. Bhubaneshwar, Konark, Puri, Bodhgaya, Nalanda, Ranchi, and Deogarh are the famous places which should be explored during the visit.

Best weather to visit to India varies from place to place. If you are planning to visit India then you should plan and book your accommodations as well as your itinerary in good time.