The short answer
In short: October to March suits most of the country: the plains are cool and dry, Rajasthan is at its best, and the south is comfortable. April to June is Himalayan season — the high passes open and the plains become unbearable. July to September is monsoon, which is glorious in Kerala and the Northeast and difficult almost everywhere else.
October to March suits most of the country: the plains are cool and dry, Rajasthan is at its best, and the south is comfortable. April to June is Himalayan season — the high passes open and the plains become unbearable. July to September is monsoon, which is glorious in Kerala and the Northeast and difficult almost everywhere else.
Month by month
| Month | At its best | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| January | Rajasthan, Kerala, Goa, Tamil Nadu | High Himalaya (snowbound) |
| February | Rajasthan, Karnataka, Kerala, Varanasi | Nothing much — the sweet spot |
| March | North India, Hampi, Rann of Kutch | Plains after mid-March get hot |
| April | Himachal, Uttarakhand foothills | Rajasthan, Delhi, Agra (heat) |
| May | Ladakh (opening), Sikkim, hill stations | The entire plains belt |
| June | Ladakh, Spiti, Kashmir | Everywhere below 1,500m |
| July | Spiti, Ladakh, Valley of Flowers | Coastal roads, Northeast landslides |
| August | Ladakh, Kerala monsoon ayurveda | Himalayan road travel after heavy rain |
| September | Meghalaya waterfalls, Ladakh | Tail-end monsoon on the west coast |
| October | Almost everywhere — festival season | Very little |
| November | Rajasthan, Varanasi, Kerala, Goa | High passes closing |
| December | Kerala, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan | North Indian fog delays flights and trains |
Festivals worth planning around
In short: Holi (Feb–Mar) — colour festival, best experienced in Rajasthan or Vrindavan with a local host. Diwali (Oct–Nov) — lamps and fireworks nationwide; book accommodation months ahead. Pushkar Camel Fair (Nov) — Rajasthan's most photographed gathering. Onam (Aug–Sep) — Kerala's harvest festival, with snake-boat races. Hornbill Festival (Dec) — Nagaland, the Northeast's cultural showcase.
- Holi (Feb–Mar) — colour festival, best experienced in Rajasthan or Vrindavan with a local host.
- Diwali (Oct–Nov) — lamps and fireworks nationwide; book accommodation months ahead.
- Pushkar Camel Fair (Nov) — Rajasthan's most photographed gathering.
- Onam (Aug–Sep) — Kerala's harvest festival, with snake-boat races.
- Hornbill Festival (Dec) — Nagaland, the Northeast's cultural showcase.
Fog, heat and monsoon in practice
In short: Late December and January fog delays northern flights and trains — never plan a same-day international connection. Above 40°C, sightseeing has to be dawn-and-dusk only. Plan hill states instead. Monsoon travel is fine with flexibility; it is not fine with tight, non-refundable connections in the mountains.
- Late December and January fog delays northern flights and trains — never plan a same-day international connection.
- Above 40°C, sightseeing has to be dawn-and-dusk only. Plan hill states instead.
- Monsoon travel is fine with flexibility; it is not fine with tight, non-refundable connections in the mountains.