best time to visit India

The state of Rajasthan and the popular touring route of India's Golden Triangle experience a desert-like climate with dry, hot summers with very high temperatures. This means the cooler winter months of November to March are the ideal time to visit, though December and January can get particularly cold. Check out our guide on visiting Rajasthan for more detailed info.

Goa is India's most popular beach destination and travellers come here seeking sunshine, clear skies and warm temperatures. And if that's what you're after, the best time to visit Goa is mid-November to mid-February when the weather conditions are ideal for sun-lounging and swimming. It's also popular with visitors thanks to a number of colourful festivals and Christmas/New Year celebrations that take place during this period.

The state of Kerala draws travellers looking to cruise the lush backwaters, go wildlife spotting in national parks and spend a few days relaxing on golden sands. December to February is considered the best time to visit, when the skies are clear, temperatures cooler but still warm, and humidity bearable. Perfect for relaxing on the beach or heading out to explore!

Don't write off the monsoon season from June to November though! Although much wetter, the scenery comes alive with rushing waterfalls at their fullest, forests a vibrant green and fewer tourists, meaning you can explore at a slower pace. An added bonus is it is likely to be much cheaper in this quieter season! For more information see our guide to visiting Kerala.

The Himalayas incorporate a large area of northern India and climatic conditions vary with the altitude. In the scenic foothills where you'll find Darjeeling in the east and Shimla in the west, it's possible to travel year-round. However, once you reach over 1,500 metres in altitude it's best to avoid travel between December and February when temperatures plummet and roads are closed due to the snow. Generally speaking the best time to visit India's Himalayas are March to June and September to November.

The weather in southern India is largely determined by monsoon patterns. It's a tropical region with temperatures that hover somewhere between moderate and high with humidity and incessant rain. To avoid the worst of it, visit between December and March when the weather is mostly pleasant.

Families come together all across India to celebrate Diwali Festival of Light and the triumph of light over dark, good over evil. Small diyas (lamps) are lit and placed outside homes with firework displays at night. Over the course of five days various prayers and rituals are performed and it's a wonderful time to check into a guesthouse to share the festivities with local Indian families.