Where to go each month in India

Best Places to Visit in India by Month

Know when you're travelling to India but not sure where's best to go during your visit? Here we provide inspiration for what each month of the year can offer across the country and where you can best take advantage of the weather conditions.

January

As the north of India experiences some of the coldest temperatures the country will see during the year, the south of India is ideal in January, with pleasant temperatures in the cities and perfect weather along the coast and inland regions.

If you're visiting for New Year's, the beaches of Goa are the place to be with all-night parties and firework displays. If you prefer your beaches a bit quieter, consider the Andaman Islands for glorious sunny days, comfortably hot temperatures, great diving conditions and the chance to see nesting turtles.

Don't let the winter conditions in the north put you off, however, as it's possible to take advantage of these colder temperatures. There are opportunities for skiing and snow-based adventure in Auli, India's premier ski destination, while some of Rajasthan's most beautiful cities come alive with colourful festivals. The weather remains warm during the day, with sunny days, though the mercury does drop at night so remember to pack warm clothes.

February

By this point of the year the temperatures in the north are slowly starting to rise, marking the beginning of the end of the winter season. This makes it a wonderful time for sightseeing in the north of India, with pleasant daytime temperatures. The Pink City of Jaipur, in particular, is ripe for exploring in February.

Elsewhere in India, the national parks are shedding vegetation after months without rain so it's an ideal time for wildlife safaris. Lying on the edge of the Eastern Himalayas, Kaziranga National Park is a great choice for those looking to grab a glimpse of a Greater one-horned rhinoceros. And for those in search of majestic tigers, Ranthambore National Park makes the perfect addition to a tour around India's Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.

In the south of India the weather is still glorious, ideal for beach breaks in places such as the Lakshadweep Islands.

March

The month of March is a particularly colourful time to visit India, with the paint-throwing festival of Holi taking place across the country. One of the best places to join in the celebrations are the temple towns of Mathura and Vrindavan, just a few hours outside of Delhi. Celebrations last a week here, with a particularly vigorous and well-attended throwing of colours taking place at the Dwarkadheesh Temple in Mathura. March is also the month that the Hola Mohalla festival takes place in Anandpur Sahib, with three days of simulated battles in which Sikhs demonstrate their martial art skills.

A short-lived spring season begins in Darjeeling, allowing travellers to enjoy clear skies and pleasant temperatures, perfect for soaking up the incredible mountain vistas. Landscapes are decorated in blooming flowers, making it a particularly scenic time to visit. It's a similar story on the other side of the country with the Tibetan enclave of Dharamsala ripe for scenic treks.

It's still prime tiger safari season in March so consider heading to Bandhavgarh National Park to explore the fort and take a jeep ride through the terrain in search of Bengal tigers. Alternatively, visit Pench National Park, said to be the inspiration for Rudyard Kipling’s famous Jungle Book.

April

If you want to get off the beaten track in India, head to the state of Assam in the northeast of India for the beautiful and wild Nagaland, home to fiercely independent and proud ethnic tribes. In April the traditions of the Koyank people are celebrated in the town of Mon with custom rituals and merry making. For wildlife viewing without the crowds, try the lesser-visited Sunderbans National Park for mangrove forests and majestic tigers.

In Srinagar you can visit Asia's largest tulip garden with the flowers in full bloom come April. Backed by snow-capped mountains with a view of Dal Lake, the garden is just one attraction with the chance to stay on a traditional house boat and visit floating markets more great reasons to visit Kashmir at this time of year.

It's starting to heat up across India with humidity levels rising in anticipation for the impending monsoon but this is good news for wildlife enthusiasts as animals are gathering around watering holes and more easily spotted out on safari. For tigers, Kanha National Park is a good choice and also boasts a population of barasingha, a type of deer that once faced extinction. If you'd prefer somewhere a little quieter, try the lesser-visited Nagarhole National Park, which offers attractive jungle and rich wildlife.

May

May heralds the beginning of the monsoon rains, which start in the south and creep north across India. While the northern regions of the country wait for the rains, temperatures are at their hottest but there are still parts of the country that offer respite from the heat. The Himalayas are ideal at this time of year with the high altitudes resulting in bright, sunny days with comfortable temperatures. Intrepid travellers can relish the opportunity to visit Leh and Ladakh, India's remote far-eastern corner, which is characterised by rugged mountain scenery and grand Buddhist monasteries.

For those planning a visit to Rajasthan at this time of year, follow the lead of the locals and head to Mount Abu, the only hill station in the region. At an elevation of 1,220 metres the scenic town experiences cooler temperatures than the other cities in Rajasthan that perfectly suit touring the pretty Jain temples.

While the north stays dry, May's a good time to visit Shimla with warm weather yet still a chance of seeing snow on the surrounding mountain ranges. The landscapes will also retain some of their spring colours, while pine trees blanket the hills in green.

June

Come June and most of India is experiencing rainfall with the monsoon having started in earnest, especially in the south. It's not the time to be looking at a beach holiday but it is a good time to book that relaxing Ayurvedic retreat in Kerala. Not only will the resorts be a fair bit quieter - and cheaper - at this time of year, it's also recommended to stay out of the sun when undertaking Ayurvedic treatments. So the monsoon clouds will help you resist the temptation to spend the afternoon on a sunlounger, and the damp climate is also thought to make treatments more effective.

This is the last month of the season for wildlife safaris in India, with national parks closing for the monsoon at the end of June. Stick to the north of India where you're less likely to experience heavy rainfall with Corbett Tiger Reserve offering the chance to spot wild tigers and other animals.

July

The monsoon rains are in full swing by July but that isn't a reason not to travel to the copuntry. Some parts of the country are actually more beautiful at this time of year, with colourful, lush landscapes and rich nature. The historical town of Orchha is particularly attractive, with the surrounding forests carpeted in green, while the network of streams that meet here swell with water, providing a theatrical backdrop to the exquisite medieval temples and palaces.

Another place that benefits from the rejuvenating powers of the yearly rains is Munnar, a hill station in Kerala surrounded by tea plantations and attractive colonial estates. In July the region is particularly fresh and green, creating a dazzling landscape to be enjoyed with a cup of tea or even a G&T from the veranda of a cosy guesthouse as the rains pour down.

August

The country is in the middle of the monsoon but the state of Rajasthan receives far less rain than other regions thanks to its desert location, so sightseeing is still possible in August. The romantic city of Udaipur takes on a particularly magical appearance at this time of year with Lake Pichola filled with water and the surrounding mountains of the Aravalli Range thick with greenery. It's also the perfect time to take advantage of the Monsoon Palace, located high above the city on a nearby hill and built for the royal family so that they could watch the monsoon clouds rolling over Udaipur.

The south of India is lush with vegetation after months of rain making it a good time for green scenery but not so ideal for sightseeing as precipitation levels are still high, though this perfectly suits a leisurely cruise on the backwaters around Alleppey. Aboard a traditional Keralan houseboat you can sit back and absorb the palm-fringed landscapes beneath dramatic clouds. August is also the month that the Nehru Trophy Boat Race takes place with snake-shaped canoes taking to the waters with hundreds of eager rowers from the local villages.

September

By September, the monsoon rains are beginning to ease, though heavy downpours remain common. Landscapes thick with vegetation and heavily discounted prices are two great reasons to visit Kerala at this time of year.

It's also good time to visit Amritsar and its famed Golden Temple, with the tail-end of the monsoon bringing more pleasant temperatures and enough rain to quell the dry, dusty conditions of the hotter months without dampening sightseeing too much. Bargains are also to be found in September before next month's holiday season brings a price hike across tourist services.

October

October is an exuberant time to visit India with a number of festivals taking place this month including the ancient Hindu festival of Diwali, which kicks off at the very end of October and sees people across the country light small oil lamps known as diyas and place them outside their homes and businesses. The holy city of Varanasi is a wonderful place to enjoy the celebrations with the ghats along the Ganges River illuminated with candles and the skies lit up with fireworks. Elsewhere in India the Durga Puja takes place in Kolkata early October. It's one of the most important festivals in the region with raucous processions carrying idols of the goddess Durga through the streets and down to the river.

The monsoon is fading into memory and temperatures are still comfortably warm and ideal for sightseeing or outdoor pursuits. The sacred city of Rishikesh offers meditation and yoga alongside adventure sports ranging from river rafting to bungee jumping and October is a great month to visit before it gets too cold but while the rivers are still heavy with water.

On the first day of October India's national parks reopen so tiger safaris are now once again possible.

November

It's a great month to visit much of India with the rains well and truly past and temperatures still warm enough for outdoor pursuits and sightseeing. These conditions perfectly suit exploration of Hampi and the evocative ruins of the 14th century Hindu city of Vijayanagar. The same goes for the erotic temples of Khajuraho, intricately carved with scenes very much in line with the Kamasutra.

For wildlife, there's a host of national parks to choose from now that they're all open for business but the Keoladeo Ghana National Park near Bharatpur is particularly attractive for keen birdwatchers as migratory species from Siberia and Central Asia make their way to northern India.

For Rajasthan at its most spirited, head to the attractive town of Pushkar which hosts the annual Pushkar Camel Fair with thousands of camels and other livestock brought here for trading and to participate in races. It's accompanied by dance performances and a longest moustache competition.

December

By the end of the year India is in its winter season, though the cold temperatures that engulf the north of the country do not have such an impact in the south. It remains warm, sunny and dry in places such as Madurai and Chennai, which experiences its most pleasantly cool temperatures in December with a number of events taking place including the Madras Music Season.

The Christmas period is unsurprisingly a busy time to visit India, with travellers flocking to the country for the holidays. Those looking for a city break should consider Mumbai, where you can stroll through parks and along Chowpatty Beach or take a ferry to the rock-cut temples of Elephanta Island.

In the north of the country, Sikkimese New Year is celebrated with vigour across the state with traditional Chaam dance performances and archery contests. The capital, Gangtok, is the best place to stay with good accommodation options and transport links to the venerated Rumtek monastery, where the biggest celebrations take place.