India is a land of diversity which is blend of many cultures and religions. The country is full of breathtaking landscape which can hardly be described in words or even in pictures. In order to feel the beauty that India offers, it is necessary to travel through it, live it and feel it to get an idea. Every year, millions of people head off to India to enjoy its culture and landmarks. From hundreds of years old historical palaces in Rajasthan to the Bollywood feels of Mumbai to the beaches of Goa to picturesque beauty of north, India has it all. Not to forget its vibrant culture and mouth-watering cuisine.

While the extreme royal culture of some parts of India will amaze all the tourists once they arrive in the country and the people will welcome you with all their heart, on the other hand, the Taj Mahal will leave you breathless when you see it. But you already know about this for sure. Are you planning a trip to India but have a doubt about what is the best time to visit?

Let’s give you a brief idea of the best time to visit India. See below our month-by-month guide to visit this incredible country:

January

January is winter time in India, and perhaps one of the best times to visit the country. The weather is very pleasant, with the central and southern parts experiencing a cool, comfortable temperature and providing ample sunshine to relax in while the north experiences some of its lowest temperatures. The weather mainly depends on the location you’re planning on visiting. Since the north is very cold and snowy, there aren’t a lot of tourists around however, Goa and the beaches in the south are a popular destination for local and foreign travelers. Average daily temperature remains 25 C degrees with lowest at 16 C and maximum at 22 C degrees.

February

Although February is still considered to officially be a part of inters in many countries, in India however, it is the very beginning of the summers with temperature ranging from 18 C to 32 C degrees. The south is still cool and pleasant enough for you to enjoy a lazy afternoon at the beach, whereas the north is not brutally cold either. Also, tourist seasons starts to come to an end hence many sight seeing spots are relatively crowd free. It is a great time to visit the deserts of Rajhastan, for later they become unbearably hot to travel in.

March

The weather in March starts to become warmer and drier with the temperatures fluctuating between 27 to 35 degrees in popular tourist destinations like Goa. The good thing about visiting Goa (specifically) in the month of March is that there is almost no chance of rain, so you don’t have to worry about sand getting wet and muddy. This is also when the tourism season officially ends because the temperatures have begun to rise but there are still many activities that can be enjoyed, such as sight seeing the ancient parts of Delhi, enjoying the traditional food, visiting the historical city of Jaipur etc.

April

Since April falls in the middle of summers in India, the temperatures all across the country are very high with average of 30 C degrees. So, if you want to beat the heat, head on over to the northern and north eastern sides to enjoy magnificent mountains, beautiful landscape and a pleasant weather. There are a number of activities that can be enjoyed in the North such as parachuting and zorbing on the hills of Manali, cycling in Ladakh, to name a few.

May

Since the summers are still going strong, it is again advised to avoid the hot and stuffy central regions and instead enjoy a summer retreat in the hill stations in the north or the beaches in the south. May also has the highest recorded temperature of all months with average daily temperature of 24 C. Many routes to the Himalayas are open and less dangerous during this month.

June

Since June is when the summer holidays begin in school and universities, it is also the time when the tourist season for locals start as well. There are definitely popular places that will host crowds of people, but there are still many locations one can visit if they want to be somewhere quiet. Since the temperatures are high with average of 30 C degrees, the north is the most ideal place to go to. Coorg, also known as the Scotland of India, boasts numerous waterfalls and Auli in Uttarkhand allows one to enjoy skiing in the popular hill resort.

July

July is also undeniably a great month to travel to the North of India. While the central and southern regions are facing the monsoon season, the north has a great many places and activities to offer. For example, watching llamas and riding a double humped camel in places like Zanskar Valley and Hemis National Park and trekking and enjoying a jeep safari in Spiti Valley, which is also known as the Mecca for mountain lovers and adventure seekers.

August

August is one of the wettest months in India because of the monsoon season which makes places in the south and southwest, such as Goa and Kerala hot and wet while the northern regions are nice, dry and sunny. The list of activities one can enjoy in India at this time are endless; from Elephant Safari at the Carmelagiri Elephant Park to visiting the Rose Garden and Munnar Tea Museuem in Munnar, boating in the Kundale Lake to backpacking at the Edakkal Caves. Paragliding, camel ride and Camping in Jaipur are also some of the famously enjoyed activities during this time. You’ll experience precipitation of about 175 mm on average during August.

September

September is the beginning of the colorful and culturally rich festival season. The whole country is immersed in festivities throughout the month such as the 11 days Ganesh Chaturthi festival honoring the elephant headed god Ganesha, the 10 days festival celebrated in Kerala, called Onam and the Onam Pulikkali Tiger Play which showcases hundreds of men dressed up as tigers parading the streets. If you want to experience the rich culture of India, September is definitely the time to visit. Temperature is also pleasant with average of 23 Celsius. However, it can drop down to 16 C at night and can go high up to 30 C degrees. You’ll also see rainfall on some days during September.

October

Since October marks the beginning of Autumn in the country, the leaves change color and the temperatures start to come down, although it is still pretty warm in many parts of the country. The best places to visit in October are thus the ones in North where you can witness Nature in all its glory. Jammu and Kashmir are great places to visit for you can experience living in a house boat in Srinagar, camp, ski and spot rare animals. Similarly, paragliding in Bir-Billing is an exhilarating adventure of its own which should definitely be on your list of things to experience if you’re planning on visiting India in October.

November

The winter tourist season starts to begin with the onset of November because the temperatures are mild and pleasant, making many places enjoyable. It is the perfect time to visit India because the places are still not as crowded as they would become in the peak tourist season which falls in December. Moreover, although it depends on the lunar calendar, Diwali usually falls between Mid-October and mid-November so if you’re lucky, you can get to see the vibrant colors of Diwali, eat the delicious traditional food and take part in the celebrations of Diwali with the locals.

December

December again is a time for a number of festivals and holidays hence making it an ideal time to visit if you plan on experiencing the exciting culture of India. Since it is the middle of the tourist season, many places are crowded, and booking for hotels must be done in advance. Also, must be kept in mind that many prices hike so you would have to really look hard if you’re planning on landing a decent deal. Despite the cold and all the snow, Northern areas are still popular travel destinations for many people, with places like Auli, Shimla and Dalhousie always bustling with tourists.

CONCLUSION – BEST TIME TO VISIT INDIA:

October to March is undoubtedly the best time to visit India. While you’ll see the colors of autumn in October, other months offer nice and chilly weather to the tourists. March is the month when the weather is warm but not too warm to go out. If you are planning your trip in November or December, make sure to book everything in advance as it’s the peak season of tourists due to the cold weather. But that doesn’t mean you cannot travel the country in other months. If hot weather doesn’t bother you, you can also visit India in warmer months and enjoy your trip to the fullest.

Check out the German website Backpackertrail for more details about what to expect during your trip to India.