India is a vast subcontinent! Its many climate zones mean you can travel here all year round. Read on for a guide to the weather regions and travel seasons.
North India: Himachal Pradesh. Dharamshala, Manali, Parvati Valley, Kasol, Kashmir, Shimla, Chamba, Spiti, Kinnaur, Ladakh — Leh and the surrounding area. WhatsApp group link - North India https://chat.whatsapp.com/BNq1X5OdlGD7Ll473Gk1nv
Central India: Rishikesh, Delhi, Agra, Varanasi, Rajasthan (Pushkar, Bundi, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur, Jodhpur). WhatsApp group link - Central India https://chat.whatsapp.com/FFP5oSodAw78n0ephpDeuu
South India: Andaman Islands, Mumbai, Goa, Hampi (Karnataka), Gokarna, Mysore, Kerala (Munnar, Alleppey, Varkala, Kochi), Tamil Nadu (Vattakanal, Kodaikanal, Pondicherry, Auroville, Chennai, Mamallapuram, Kanyakumari). WhatsApp group link: South India - https://chat.whatsapp.com/E42rjbDyOWeDsHIgoTvB4M
Month-by-month guide
January
Peak season in the south: prices soar over New Year, and Goa and the beaches are at their busiest. From January until mid / late February, the season is in South India: Mumbai, Goa, Hampi, Gokarna's beaches (Om Beach and Kudle Beach), Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the rest of the south, especially the Andaman Islands. Rishikesh and Rajasthan are very cold, but still attract plenty of Israeli travelers. The Chabad houses in Pushkar and Rishikesh are open and welcome all Israeli visitors. North India is snowy! (WhatsApp groups to join for suitable destinations in South India)
South India General,
Arambol, Goa,
Palolem, Goa,
Goa General,
Hampi,
Om Beach,
Varkala,
February
It is still the season in the south, but this is the final month before it winds down. The south is heating up and already getting very hot. Time to head to Central India, where the season is about to begin and the weather is gorgeous, especially comfortable and better for exploring than anywhere else in India. Around mid-month, travelers start heading to Central India: Pushkar, Rishikesh, Delhi and Kasar Devi. (WhatsApp groups to join for suitable destinations in South and Central India) South India General,
Goa General,
Hampi,
Pushkar,
Rishikesh,
Delhi
March
It is the season in Central India. Pushkar fills up ahead of Holi, while the season in the south is ending and shops are already closing for the off-season. (WhatsApp groups to join for suitable destinations in South India)
Pushkar,
Rishikesh,
Delhi
April - A transition season: Central India heading > North India.
The season begins in North India.
Across the south, the heat is unbearable and tourist areas are closed.
In Central India (Rajasthan), the weather starts getting hot. Most Israeli travelers leave the heat of Central India for the north at this time. (WhatsApp groups to join for suitable destinations in South and Central India)
North India General,
Kasol,
Manali,
Dharamshala,
Pulga,
May
It is the season in North India: Manali, Kasol and Dharamshala. In Central India (Delhi, Rajasthan), “scorching” is a better description of the heat. Skip the south and central regions; this is the time for the north, where the mountains are especially pleasant. It is an excellent season for trekking in Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh.
June
It is the season in the north. Avoid Central and South India. The weather in North India is warm and very pleasant. It is trekking season in Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. Mountain passes open this month, allowing overland travel to Ladakh and crossings of Rohtang La and Kunzum La from Manali to Spiti. The monsoon may reach the north toward the end of the month.
July
The weather in the north is pleasant, with rain on and off. It is peak season in Ladakh and Spiti, the only regions in India without rain. Avoid Central and South India. The northeastern states and Sikkim are also very rainy.
August
It is the season in the north, especially the far north (Ladakh). The usual northern destinations (Kasol, Manali, Dharamshala) are very rainy, with heavy monsoon rains, but conditions are still tolerable and comfortable. Spiti and Kinnaur also get a little rain. August is the off-season in Central and South India.
September
It is still the season in the north, but the season in Ladakh is ending. Trekking in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand is still possible. The monsoon ends in the north during September (Dharamshala, which is rainy for much of the year, still gets rain). Temperatures start becoming comfortable in Central and South India, but it is still the off-season. During September, the roads to Srinagar and Manali close. The mountain passes between Manali and Spiti may also close due to the weather toward the end of September.
October - A good time to explore two regions: North India > and Central India.
South India has monsoon rains, making travel impractical and uncomfortable. It is the season in Central India and the nearer parts of North India. The season continues in the north, and tourism also picks up in Central India. This is a good time for trekking in Sikkim. The passes to Ladakh in the far north are closed, and the passes from Manali to Spiti close during this month.
November
It is the season in Central India, with a little activity still in the north. South India is not recommended yet: monsoon rains continue and the beaches are still closed. If you head down to Goa, you will not be able to enjoy swimming or the sea. Wait until December to visit the south and Goa.
December
The season has begun in the south, and the monsoon rains have stopped. Goa's swimming beaches have opened to tourists. It is time to enjoy Goa's beaches, Hampi's natural scenery and the south's traveler-friendly villages. The season stays in the south until mid / late February, when we head back to Central India and farther north.
India destinations for Israelis on the Hummus Trail
Goa and India's beaches
Heaven on earth. The best time to visit is from late October or early November to March. In early January, Goa is packed with tourists and prices are high because of Christmas. After a week or two, prices drop again. Here is what to know about Goa's beaches: “The farther north you go, the more noise, parties and tourists. The farther south you go, the more laid-back, calm and quiet it gets.
Northern beaches: Arambol, Anjuna, Ashwem.
Southern beaches: Palolem.
Off-season: From mid/late February, the season ends and all the market stalls and guesthouses close. From April to December, it is extremely hot, with monsoon rains throughout the region.
Hampi, Mysore, Bangalore
For us, Hampi is a must-visit. One of India's most beautiful and magical places, it is perfect for renting a scooter and exploring stunning lakes and rivers. Its season follows the rest of the south, from October or November to March. Monsoon rains arrive in late March, marking the end of the season in the area.
Kodaikanal, Vattakanal, Munnar
Vattakanal is a quiet, mind-blowing little town in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. It is one of the most beautiful places around. Imagine sitting on a balcony, looking out at clouds below you and clouds above. Yes, you are at the altitude of a freaking Boeing 757. The best season to visit Vattakanal, Kodaikanal and Munnar is from November to April. The area is cool and sometimes rainy even in peak season because of the altitude.
Madurai, Pondicherry, Auroville, Chennai, Mamallapuram
The best time to visit follows the southern travel season, from November to April.
Andaman Islands
If paradise exists, it's surely in the Andaman Islands. The best time to visit is from October through the end of April, with hotter weather from March through the end of April.
Rajasthan
Rajasthan is India's desert region. The travel season runs from September to March. By late March, the season ends and the region stays very hot until June. July and August are still hot and rainy, but the monsoon ends around late August and the season begins again.
Delhi and Agra
Delhi is India's capital: The best months to visit Delhi and Agra are October to March. During the rest of the year, the heat and air pollution are unbearable. Even so, you'll find Israeli travelers in Delhi year-round. Delhi's Chabad House is also open to travelers all year.
Varanasi
India's city of death—and not without reason. Varanasi can be intense: the Ganges is the main attraction, and death is visible everywhere. Even so, we wouldn't skip it. This is the real India. The best months to visit Varanasi are October to March. You can get there by train or domestic flight.
Off-season: April to September brings extreme, unbearable heat.
Northeast India
The travel season in Northeast India runs from November to April. However, higher elevations in the northeast can be cold and freezing from May to September.
Sikkim
The best time to visit Sikkim is April to June, when trekking is also possible. Outside the season and during the monsoon, roads to Sikkim can be dangerous, flooded or blocked.
Ladakh (including Leh)
Ladakh is snow-covered and inaccessible by road for most of the year. Flights operate for much of the year, but visiting outside the season is not recommended, as the weather is unsuitable for sightseeing. July-August is peak season, when the mountain passes open and tourism is at its busiest. Daytime weather during these months is very pleasant for exploring. You can reach Ladakh by road via Manali and Srinagar from when the passes open until they close around late September.
Kashmir
Winter in Kashmir lasts from December to March. The recommended time to visit is April to October, when the weather is pleasant.
Dharamshala
Dharamshala is in northern India and is one of the rainiest places in the world. From late October to April, it is chilly, rainy and snowy. Mid-April to October is peak travel season, with weather especially suited to day trips. From July-August through mid-September, the monsoon brings heavy rain on most days, though temperatures remain comfortable.
Himachal Pradesh (Parvati Valley, Kasol, Manali, Kinnaur, Shimla)
In terms of visitor numbers, the tourist season runs from May to September. Himachal Pradesh is cold and snowy from November to early April, which is the travel season in southern India. April to June and September to October are the best months for weather, with excellent trekking conditions. The monsoon returns in July and August, but temperatures remain pleasant. Parvati Valley is recommended during this period. In Kinnaur, landslides and road closures are frequent at this time.
Amritsar
November to March is the best time to visit. From April to June, the heat is unbearable, peaking in June. The monsoon begins in July and ends sometime in September, bringing some relief from the heat. October is dry and hot, but more bearable. Mumbai and the surrounding area - November to February is ideal. March to May is unbearably hot and humid, and July and August bring monsoon rains.
Spiti
Spiti Valley is snow-covered and cut off from the outside world for almost the entire year. You can reach Spiti by road from Manali, crossing mountain passes along the way. The passes open in June and remain open until September-October, when snow closes them again.
