When to go to India
India is such a vast country that it is difficult to pinpoint the best time to visit for a family holiday. In Rajasthan and the north (except in the Himalayas), September through to March is the ideal time to visit, warm but not too hot, and fairly dry. By April it is starting to get hotter and more humid and May and June are best avoided due to extreme humidity. July and August are an okay time to visit but it will be very hot and you will need to avoid sightseeing in the middle of the day. There may be occasional rain during this period but it is usually quite light.
The south is perfect for a visit from November to March making this the ideal destination for a Christmas holiday. By April it is starting to get very humid before the monsoon arrives, and some families may find the heat too much. July and August can be very wet and although there may be days of sunshine, rain can be persistent and heavy so this time of year is best avoided.
The weather is summarised by month in the table below for the north (including Rajasthan) and the south (Kerala). The weather can differ a bit between the two, however most travellers visit either one area or the other, and not normally both on the same itinerary, due to the distances involved.
January
North – A great time to visit. It will be warm and dry (although foggy at times) and will usually be sunny in the daytime and cooler at night.
South – This is an ideal time to travel as it is warm but not too hot, with plenty of sunshine.
February
North – This is a wonderful time to visit with plenty of sunshine but not too hot.
South – An ideal time to travel with plenty of sunshine.
March
North – March is still a great time to visit although as the month progresses it will start to get hot.
South – As in the north, it starts to get hot and increasingly humid in March but this is still a great time to visit.
April
North – A good time to visit. However, April is hot so any itinerary needs to be at a fairly slow pace to allow for plenty of time to sit in the shade.
South – By April it is starting to get very hot and humid and many families may find this difficult, particularly those with younger children.
May
North – It will be extremely hot and humid such that this is not a great time to visit.
South – As in the north, it will be extremely hot and humid and this is not a great time to visit.
June
North – This is not a good time to visit. It will be very hot and humid with some rain.
South – The monsoon arrives in June so it will be very wet. This is not a good time to visit.
July
North – It is hot and humid with occasional light showers, but temperatures are not as high as in May and June and plenty of families travel during the summer holidays. We will ensure that the itinerary is not too fast-paced. Note that Ranthambore National Park is closed in July, August and September.
South – This is not a good time to visit as the monsoon is in full flow and it will be very wet.
August
North – This is a reasonable time to visit. Although it will be hot and there may be the occasional shower, plenty of families visit Rajasthan in August. Note that Ranthambore National Park is closed.
South – This is not a good time to visit as the monsoon is in full flow and it will be very wet.
September
North – This is a good month to visit as the temperatures are warm and it is becoming drier. There may still be occasional showers however it is increasingly pleasant for travelling. Note that Ranthambore National Park is closed.
South – This is the tail end of the monsoon period. It is not a great time to visit as there will still be quite a lot of rain but by the end of the month this is usually starting to clear away and there is a chance of some good sunshine.
October
North – The perfect time to visit. It will be warm and dry with lots of sunshine. Ranthambore National Park re-opens on October 1st.
South – There may be some rain but this is generally a good time to visit, with warm temperatures and some sunshine.
November
North – The perfect time to visit. It will be warm and dry with lots of sunshine.
South – A good time to visit. There may be some rain but there will be lovely warm temperatures and plenty of sunshine.
December
North – The perfect time to visit. It will be warm and dry with lots of sunshine although cooler at night. Towards the end of the month there may be fog at times.
South – An ideal time to visit with lots of sunshine and blue skies.
Call us and we will be happy to provide you with a free-of-charge no obligation itinerary and quotation designed for you.
01728 752751
India in pictures
