Best Time to Visit India: A Month-by-Month Guide
Being a geographically blessed country and having a rich culture, tourism in India is possible all through the year. India varies from snow-covered mountains, warm beaches, and colorful celebrations, the best time to visit India clearly depends on the place and the people’s interest. As every month has its advantages and disadvantages with unique attractions, it gives importance to the selection made. In this blog, we make a month-by-month calendar and pinpoint the several regions when it is best to explore them so that you will have no trouble in planning your trip to maximum delight in the sights and civilization of incredible India. Make all the preparations to know which period will be perfect for you to go to India.
January: Winter Wonderland
Best for: Rajasthan, Kerala, Goa, North India
January, is the Best time to visit India, as it becomes a magical landscape of snow-capped mountains, which is accompanied by some pleasant and cool climatic conditions. This is the right season to check out the famous places you can visit in India in January. The state of Rajasthan boasts of massive unique structures and unexplored sandy expanses while Kerala and Goa are the hot spots where sundry beaches and a tropical climate beckoning tourists thrive. Journeying towards the north, places such as Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh with tourist spots such as Shimla have amazing white, snowy views for the lovers of winter and winter-related sports. The Agra and its wonder The Taj Mahal becomes all the more fascinating to the tourists during this period as the scorching sun is at rest.
Events:
- Jaipur Literature Festival
- Pongal (Tamil Nadu)
- Makar Sankranti (across India)
February: Romantic Escapes
Best for: Rajasthan, Kerala, Varanasi, Rishikesh, Puri, Goa
Warm weather and rich cultures combine to make February a romantic escape. Some of the best places to visit in India in February see a lot of activity especially travel as the weather is usually favorable. For instance, the allure of Rajasthan with its magnificent palaces and forts, as well as the calm waters of Kerala. Varanasi to explore some of its temples and Rishikesh for some fun-filled excitement like river rafting. Or the Himalayan foothill regions trekking or yoga. In Goa, a timely energetic Carnival is held while across the nation in temples the lighting and decorations in honor of Maha Shivratri reach astounding heights.
Events:
- Goa Carnival
- Maha Shivratri
March: Spring Blooms and Festivals
Best for: Hampi, Varanasi, Shillong, Coorg, Lakshadweep, Kodaikanal
March marks the arrival of spring in India, making it one of the best time to visit India. The best destinations in India in March include Hampi, Varanasi, Shillong, Coorg, Lakshadweep, and Kodaikanal. These places have a pleasant weather and scenic beauty. March is also known for many celebrations, one of which is the Holi festival, the festival of colors and joy celebrated all over the country, and the Elephant Festival which takes place in Jaipur as well. This month is suitable for tourists who love to travel for traditions and into the greens.
Events:
- Holi Festival
- Elephant Festival (Jaipur)
April: Pre-Summer Warmth
Best for: Darjeeling, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Dalhousie
With the arrival of April, there is already some pre-summer warmth making it the best time to travel to the hill stations in the Northern part of the country. The best places to visit during April in India that are great to enjoy the heat of Indian summer include Darjeeling, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Dalhousie, Dharamshala, and damp Cherrapunji where cooler climates can be experienced. Besides their picturesque surroundings, these places have some vibrant tea estates, mountain trekking, centers of yoga, and so many more. To add, the month of April is also pleasant because of the locals and the tourists who come in to take part in the celebrations for festivals like Baisakhi in Punjab and the Mewar Festival in Udaipur. By mid-April however, those traveling to the hills will find pleasant weather making this period the peak travel and the best time to visit India for the comfort seekers with nature, culture, and peace.
Events:
- Baisakhi (Punjab)
- Mewar Festival (Udaipur)
May: Hill Station Escapes
Best for: Himachal Pradesh, Tirthan Valley, Kashmir, Ladakh, Sikkim, Mcleodganj, Mount Abu
The sweltering summer of India almost everywhere in the month of May gives the most valid reason to head towards the cool hilly regions. While the best places to visit in May in India include Himachal Pradesh, Tirthan Valley, Kashmir, Ladakh, Sikkim, McLeodGanj, and Mount Abu. Especially the beautiful mountain landscapes, leisure, and thrilling activities by these adventurous places are the reason why people visit these regions. Extremes of climates and rugged terrain in Ladakh draw adventurists longing for challenging and high-altitude trekking. Kashmir and Sikkim are also known for their exotic and amazing nature. Hill stations of Himachal Pradesh like Mcleodganj and Tirthan Valley are more of a comfortable and pleasant place to go about discovering. Mount Abu offers the Summer Festival which is colorful and entertaining hence adding cultural value to the trip. Places here are pretty much perfect for May, and the best time to visit India is the ideal escape from the scorching heat of summer.
Events:
- Summer Festival (Mount Abu)
June: Monsoon Begins
Best for: Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Uttarakhand, Tawang, Cherrapunjee, Ooty, Spiti Valley
June and July are regarded as the onset and high point of the monsoon in India, respectively, causing the country to be completely green and beautiful. The best places to visit in India in June include Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Spiti Valley, where one can appreciate beautiful sights and better cope with the downpours. Greenery takes over the land of Kerala, the state that is most suitable for Ayurveda and houseboat tours. Northeast offers stunning views too, most especially in the regions of Cherrapunjee and Tawang.
By July, the monsoon is quite prominent and hence, makes the best adventure for all nature lovers. The best places to visit in India in July include Kerala, Goa, the Western Ghats, and North East India, as this is the period when most of the regions are rain-soaked and beautiful. This is also the time when both straggling and booming Meghalaya rejoice in all its glory despite the years of neglect.
Events:
- Sindhu Darshan Festival (Ladakh)
- Rath Yatra (Odisha)
- Hemis Festival (Ladakh)
- Teej Festival (Rajasthan)
August: Festivals and Greenery
Best for: Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, North East India, Valley of Flowers, Munnar, Valley of Lahaul Spiti, Diu, Alibaug, Agumbe, Darjeeling, Pondicherry
There are innumerable celebrations and lots of green, which makes the month of August the best time to visit India. Monsoons bring life to places like Kerala that are known for the most famous festival, Onam, which is filled with pomp and grandeur and lots of food. Hill stations in Himachal Pradesh, as well as the Valley of Flowers, are a delight, especially for photographers and nature lovers. Visit the calm waters of Munnar or the beautiful hills of Darjeeling. Enjoy the temple circuits in Tamil Nadu or the breathtaking scenery of North East India. This brings ample opportunities to travel to many incredible places to visit in August in India, be it the festivity of Onam or the green cover prevalent across the entire nation, thus making it a great month to remember.
Events:
- Onam (Kerala)
- Independence Day (National)
September: Monsoon Retreat
Best for: Udaipur, Amritsar, Srinagar, Ooty, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Coorg, Puducherry (Pondicherry), Mumbai, Goa, Mahabaleshwar, Wilson Hills. Ziro Valley, Digha
India is a great place to explore in September considering that the monsoon is over and everything looks picturesque. The best places to visit in India in September include Udaipur’s royal architecture, the calmness of Srinagar, the forests of Coorg and Ooty – all these places are alluring this month. The only downside is that the Andaman & Nicobar Islands are rife with beautiful beaches while Puducherry has very nice French buildings to offer. Beach resorts in Goa come to life once again; ideal for a quiet holiday. You can stay back in Maharashtra for Ganesh Chaturthi or travel to Ladakh during the period of the Ladakh Festival. Due to these reasons and more, September is considered one of the best time to visit India.
Events:
- Ganesh Chaturthi (Maharashtra)
- Ladakh Festival
October: Pleasant Autumn
Best for: Leh Ladakh, Jaipur, Rishikesh, Nainital, Hampi, Kodaikanal, Alleppey, Mysore, Port Blair, Daman
October is undoubtedly one of the most preferable and best time to visit India as the pleasant autumn weather marks the beginning of the tourist season. A great sightseeing places to visit in India in October are Rajasthan, with its magnificent deserts and beautiful forts, which is now a riot of culture and activity. In Kerala, thanks to the backwaters of Alleppey and hills of Kodaikanal, there is tranquility. Goa, on the other hand, is getting set for its fun filled beach season, and for the history lovers, the temple trails in Karnataka are highly recommended. Other popular ones such as Leh Ladakh or Jaipur and Rishikesh are surely some breathtaking places that also have a spiritual touch as well. There is also the quite active Durga Puja celebrations in the state of West Bengal and the other regions of the country getting ready for the Diwali festival. October is indeed a good month to explore the different places one can tour in India.
Events:
- Durga Puja (West Bengal)
- Diwali preparation (across India)
November: Cultural Festivals
Best for: Varanasi, Dharamshala, Goa, Pondicherry, Munnar, Kashmir, Pushkar, Sundarbans, Manali, Ziro, Kalimpong
One of the most favorable and the best time to visit India is certainly November with its cool and clear weather suited for outdoor activities. It is a month that is full of many cultural festivals, thus cities like Varanasi with its famous ghats, and Dharamshala the center of Tibetan Buddhism became indispensable. The Pushkar Camel Fair held in Rajasthan is colorful yet so entertaining. Goa and Puducherry are perfect because of their beaches. The other places to visit in India in November are the green hills of Munnar and the picturesque state of Kashmir also calls for some adventure. There is also the opportunity to partake in the festive celebrations during Diwali, which is the festival of lights enjoyed by people throughout the country. Considering all these enthralling activities, some of the best places to visit in India are lined up in the month of November, loading every traveler’s bucket list.
Events:
- Diwali (across India)
- Pushkar Camel Fair (Rajasthan)
December: Festivities and Mild Winter
Best for: Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, Dawki in Shillong, Goa, Manali in Himachal Pradesh, Auli in Uttarakhand, Srinagar in Jammu & Kashmir, Rann of Kutch in Gujarat
Out of the many months in a year, December is one of the best months for visiting India. The weather particularly in winter is conducive to celebrating many events. This month has a lot to do from looking at beautiful architecture in the states of Rajasthan whose capital is Jaisalmer, and Jammu and Kashmir to sights in straightforward Srinagar. Coastal regions particularly beaches in Goa and Kerala are overjoyed with Christmas rapture, hence they are ideal for vacations in warmth as well as for Christmas celebrations. For winter sports lovers, it is the best time to visit India, there is Auli situated in Uttarakhand perfect for snow, while Dawki, in Shillong, boasts of the most clear waters. The lively Sunburn Festival in Goa is also one that should be keenly looked at.With so many enchanting places to visit in India in December, it promises an unforgettable travel experience.
Events:
- Christmas Celebrations
- Sunburn Festival (Goa)
Conclusion
No matter what the month, India has something to offer that is unique and special, be it in terms of culture, nature, or adventure. In order to fully enjoy the many treasures that this beautiful country has to offer, it is wise to know the season in each region when the weather or events are at their best.