When to go where in India
Due to India’s vast regional diversity, from the coastal areas to the mountainous range, it is imperative to know which part of the country you wish to visit before you set off.
The Himalayas
The famous mountain of the Himalayas are best explored from late May to September, during the summer months as temperatures during winter can dip below minus.
Not only that the unforgiving weather conditions during winter isolates much of the region from the rest of the country with frequent landslides, power outages and road-blocks. It is, therefore, best to travel to any one of the mountainous states – Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh – when the sun illuminates the snowy hilltops, making its numerous trekking routes, temples, waterfalls and lakes easily accessible.
The Plains
The Northern Plains of India, including the desert state of Rajasthan, are known for their extremely hot summers, distinctly cold winters and continuous rain during the monsoon months of July to September.
The perfect time to travel to this part of the country is between mid-October to mid-March, when the weather is at its best and most conducive to various tourist activities. It is the ideal time do some sightseeing in Delhi, visit Agra, see the Holy City of Varanasi and wander around the historical ruins, monuments and palaces dotted around Rajasthan. Not only that, if you are lucky enough, you’ll also get to enjoy some of North India’s festivals held during this time of year so be sure to take a camera with you!
Western India
This part of India, comprising of the states of Goa, Gujarat, and Maharashtra, is renowned for being hot pretty much all year round. The climate does vary, however, from state to state ranging from tropically wet, to dry, to semi-arid. The temperatures in the coastal region remain pretty steadfast throughout the year, starting from around 20°C.
It is best to visit West India during the winter months as summer temperatures in the state of Maharastra, Goa, and Gujarat can reach as high as 45°C. Mumbai and northern Goa, however, experience cooler winters with minimum temperatures of about 15°C so be sure to take some suitable clothes to keep the chills away. West India offers a wide range of sights and activities from the Konkan seaside to the legendary forts, grand palaces, national parks and shrines found in Gujarat and Maharashtra.
The best time to visit is between November and February.
Southern India
The most opportune time to visit the tropics of South India is during the winter months, between December and February.
Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the state of Karnataka are best explored while the temperatures range from about 25 °C to 30 °C and the humidity levels are at their lowest. It is, however, worth noting that the hill-station towns, such as Munnar in Kerala, tend to get pretty chilly both in the morning and the evening. The coastal region of Karnataka offers an ideal escape from the heat with a dip in the Arabian Sea. It is worth keeping in mind that while the temperatures are relatively high during the day in some parts of the region they tend to drop in the evenings so keep a lightweight shawl handy.
Eastern India
The region, comprising of the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, lies in the humid-subtropical zone which experiences extremely hot summers from March to June, the monsoon from about July to October and mild, pleasant winters from November to February.
You should certainly visit East India if you are interested in exploring a varied region renowned for its historic monuments, temples, its wildlife sanctuaries, city sights and dance and music festivals. Along with having some of the most interesting cultural, historic and social exponents in the whole of India, the region is famous for its love of cricket and is home to the Eden Gardens cricket stadium in West Bengal.
Best time to visit is during winter, from early November to late February when the temperatures hover around 25 °C to 35 °C.
North Eastern India
This part of the country is both most culturally and politically diverse altogether comprising eight states including, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. It has a subtropical climate and sees the heaviest rains during the monsoon, with many places receiving as much as 80 inches of annual perspiration during the summer. Cherrapunji, on the Meghalaya plateau, is officially one of the rainiest places in the world, so if you plan to travel there please be advised to pack heavy-duty rain-protective gear.
The highest summer temperatures occur in West Tripura, frequently reaching around 40°C. This particular region has some of the Subcontinent’s last remaining rainforests, as well as some of the most exquisite natural wildlife preserves in the world.
The mountainous areas of Arunachal Pradesh, the Himalayan ranges in the northern border with India and China has the lowest temperatures, which tend to drop well below zero and are known for heavy snowfall.
The best time to visit North East India is between November and April.
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