The short answer
- Diwali
- 8 November 2026, 29 October 2027
- Holi
- 22 March 2027
- Busiest month
- Late December
- Quietest months
- May to August
Use this planner to match your dates to the right part of India. Weather varies enormously from north to south, and festivals can make a trip unforgettable or turn hotel prices upside down.
Festival dates follow the Hindu lunar calendar and move every year. Dates below are for 2026 and 2027; confirm them with your tour operator before booking.
Month by month
| Month | Weather | Festivals and events | Where to go |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Cool, sunny days; cold, foggy mornings in the north | Republic Day parade in Delhi (26 January), Jaipur Literature Festival | Rajasthan, Kerala, Goa, tiger reserves |
| February | Warm and dry almost everywhere | Desert Festival in Jaisalmer, Rann Utsav in Kutch | Golden Triangle, Varanasi, Kerala |
| March | Warming up in the north | Holi (22 March 2027) | Mathura and Vrindavan for Holi, Rajasthan, tiger reserves |
| April | Hot on the plains | Baisakhi in Punjab | Tiger reserves, Darjeeling, Sikkim |
| May | Very hot on the plains | Few major festivals | Himalayan hill stations, tiger reserves |
| June | Monsoon reaches Kerala; north still very hot | Hemis festival in Ladakh (June or July) | Ladakh, Spiti |
| July | Monsoon across most of India | Rath Yatra in Puri | Ladakh, Kerala for Ayurveda |
| August | Wet and green | Independence Day (15 August), Onam in Kerala (August or September) | Ladakh, Kerala |
| September | Rains easing | Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai | Ladakh until mid month, Kerala |
| October | Dry, warm, clear | Durga Puja in Kolkata, Dussehra, Diwali (29 October 2027) | Rajasthan, Golden Triangle, Varanasi |
| November | Dry and pleasant | Diwali (8 November 2026), Pushkar Camel Fair | Rajasthan, Varanasi, Kerala, Goa |
| December | Cool and dry, foggy mornings in the north | Christmas in Goa and Kerala, Hornbill Festival in Nagaland (1 to 10 December) | Goa, Kerala, Rajasthan |
Festivals worth planning around
- Diwali, the festival of lights: Homes and streets glow with lamps and fireworks. Wonderful in Jaipur, Udaipur and Varanasi, though trains and flights are busy.
- Holi, the festival of colours: Coloured powder fills the streets for a day. The most famous celebrations are around Mathura and Vrindavan, near Agra.
- Pushkar Camel Fair: Thousands of camels and traders gather at the holy lake town in November, with music, races and pilgrims.
- Hornbill Festival: Nagaland's tribes gather near Kohima every December for dance, music and food.
Temperatures and rainfall by month
For the region by region picture and the months to avoid, see our guide to the best time to visit India.
Average daily high / low and monthly rainfall
| Month | DelhiAgra is similar | Jaipurmost of Rajasthan | Varanasi | KochiKerala coast | Goa | LehLadakh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 20° / 8°19 mm | 22° / 8°8 mm | 23° / 9°18 mm | 32° / 23°20 mm | 32° / 20°1 mm | -2° / -14°10 mm |
| Feb | 24° / 11°21 mm | 26° / 11°7 mm | 27° / 12°18 mm | 32° / 24°25 mm | 32° / 21°0 mm | 1° / -12°8 mm |
| Mar | 30° / 15°17 mm | 32° / 16°4 mm | 33° / 17°9 mm | 33° / 25°40 mm | 32° / 23°1 mm | 6° / -6°10 mm |
| Apr | 36° / 21°16 mm | 37° / 22°5 mm | 39° / 22°6 mm | 33° / 26°130 mm | 33° / 25°10 mm | 12° / -1°7 mm |
| May | 40° / 26°30 mm | 40° / 26°15 mm | 40° / 26°15 mm | 32° / 26°330 mm | 33° / 27°100 mm | 17° / 3°7 mm |
| Jun | 39° / 28°74 mm | 39° / 27°60 mm | 38° / 28°105 mm | 29° / 24°750 mm | 30° / 25°900 mm | 22° / 7°4 mm |
| Jul | 35° / 28°210 mm | 34° / 26°190 mm | 33° / 27°290 mm | 29° / 24°600 mm | 29° / 24°1000 mm | 25° / 11°15 mm |
| Aug | 34° / 27°225 mm | 32° / 25°200 mm | 32° / 26°300 mm | 29° / 24°380 mm | 29° / 24°600 mm | 24° / 10°15 mm |
| Sep | 34° / 25°125 mm | 33° / 24°80 mm | 32° / 25°230 mm | 30° / 24°300 mm | 30° / 24°270 mm | 21° / 6°9 mm |
| Oct | 33° / 19°15 mm | 33° / 19°15 mm | 32° / 21°40 mm | 30° / 24°340 mm | 32° / 24°120 mm | 14° / -1°4 mm |
| Nov | 28° / 13°6 mm | 29° / 13°4 mm | 29° / 14°10 mm | 31° / 24°170 mm | 33° / 23°30 mm | 7° / -7°3 mm |
| Dec | 22° / 9°8 mm | 24° / 9°3 mm | 25° / 10°5 mm | 32° / 23°40 mm | 33° / 21°5 mm | 1° / -11°5 mm |
Rounded long term averages. Blue shading marks the wetter months. Individual years can be hotter, colder or wetter.
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Frequently asked questions
Which month is cheapest to visit India?
May to August is the low season, with the lowest hotel and tour prices. It is very hot on the plains or wet with monsoon rain, so it suits Ladakh, the hills and Ayurveda in Kerala best.
When is Diwali in 2026 and 2027?
Diwali falls on 8 November 2026 and 29 October 2027. The celebrations run over five days around those dates.
When is Holi in 2027?
Holi is on 22 March 2027, with the Holika Dahan bonfires on the evening of 21 March.
Sources we checked
India month by month
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