Best Time to Visit India

The winter is a great time to be in India. More than 90% of the country experiences pleasant weather at this time, so you can explore multiple different regions and see as much as possible.

This is also considered to be the best time to visit the golden triangle cities of Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra. It's also a great time to see the Taj Mahal.

In winter, destinations in southern India like Kerala and Goa are warm and pleasant places for beach holidays and the central Indian cities such as Mumbai and Kolkata have comfortable weather for exploring markets and temples.

There are also quite a few gorgeous festivals that take place in winter.

The Sankranti Kite Festival occurs every year around January 14th. This festival makes for beautiful phots with skies that are filled with colorful kites. The festival also has a tradition of kite fighting which is a game where people try to cut the strings of another's kite. The last kite flying wins.

Bikaner Camel Festival takes place every year in late January in the city of Bikaner, Rajasthan. This festival includes many camel events from races to colorful dance displays. The purpose of the festival is to honor camels as an important part of life for desert people.

The hot season is an especially great time to visit the far northern states which are untouched by the heat due to their closeness to the Himalayas and higher elevation.

Places like Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand are great places to visit for trekking, adventure sports, and beautiful views. In northeast India, the hill stations in Darjeeling and states of Assam and Sikkim are beautiful destinations this time of year.

The hot season is the best time to see wildlife in the national parks of Central India. Because of the high temperatures, many animals such as tigers, elephants, and rhinos are easier to spot as they leave the dense forests in search of water. Our favorite national park is Ranthambhore.

Another great reason to visit India in the summer is to experience Holi Festival which takes place every year in March. Holi is often called the Festival of Colors and involves a country-wide colored powder fight to celebrate the triumph of good over evil.

The monsoon season is actually the best time to visit Ladakh which is a beautiful mountainous region in the states of Jammu and Kashmir. While the rest of the country experiences humidity and thunderstorms, Ladakh normally has clear skies with dry cool weather.

Ladakh is a great place to relax while taking in mountain views, hike, or explore Buddhist monasteries. We especially love the quaint city of Leh.

While Kerala experiences heavy monsoon rains during these months, this is one of the best times to visit the state to join a yoga or Ayurveda retreat. The monsoon season is actually considered to be the best time for healing according to traditional Ayurvedic beliefs.

In late August, you can also experience Kerala's Onam Festival which honors the return of a mythical king with large feasts, parades, and dances.

In September, the rains in northwestern India start to slow. At this time places like Rajasthan, Delhi, and Agra are great to visit because you can get low hotel prices and are not as likely to see bad weather.

September is a good time to visit the Taj Mahal to get great photos of the beautiful structure with fluffy white clouds in the sky.

For those who want to observe the daily life of locals, the post-monsoon season is a great time to take a cruise along the Ganges because the river is high from months of rain.

While traveling the Ganges River, visitors will have the opportunity to see rituals being performed, people washing laundry, and others performing yoga asanas along the river's banks.

In late September to early October, travelers can experience the chaotic Durga Puja celebrations in West Bengal. Durga Puja is a celebration that takes place to honor the goddess Durga. During this festival, every neighborhood in the city builds a giant temple that contains an idol of Durga.

Mumbai's Ganesh Festival also occurs every year in September and is a 10-day celebration full of large Ganesh statues, music, rituals, and delicious treats.

One of the biggest festivals of the year, Diwali, happens in late October or early November. Diwali is an ancient Hindu festival that celebrates light over darkness. This is the most important festival on the Hindu calendar and includes beautiful displays of marigold flowers, lit candles, and fireworks.

Another famous autumn festival is the Pushkar Camel Fair which takes place in Rajasthan. This festival is a unique holiday that celebrates the importance of camels in desert cultures and includes many camel events such as the most beautiful camel competition.