Regarding the question of
“when to visit India”, the best
time to visit India for tourists is the winter
season. The season lasts from October to February.
It is a pleasure to visit India during these
cooler months, when the heat of summer is
no more. Around this time, the usually wet
areas of Northeast also become dry, making
it easier to travel there. Even the hot South
India is blessed with cool weather and rain
on beaches in this peak season for India.
Another reason to visit India in these months
is that they coincide with the celebration
mood in India. This is the time when maximum
well-known festivals of India are celebrated.
In October - November falls Dussehra, Durga
Puja and Diwali. Also in November is the Pushkar
Fair (in Rajasthan), the largest cattle fair
in India. In January is the Republic Day of
India and Lohri - the festival of Punjabis.
In March falls Holi, the festival of colors.
Then there is Id, Easter, Christmas and a
number of another festivals, each celebrated
in totally Indian fashion. You can experience
true India, in all its richness, by attending
these festivals.
The summer months of March to May are very
hot and humid. If you are planning to visit
India during summers, then the best thing
is to go to the hills and enjoy the scenic
beauty. If you are interested in trekking
or mountain climbing, then, the Himalayas
are for you. Months of March to May, September
and November are ideal for trekking in the
Himalayas.
With clear sunny days
and mild to cold nights, October to March
is generally the best time to visit the sub-continent.
The monsoon rains break in coastal Kerala
in May or June and travel inland to reach
Delhi in July, lasting till early September.
May and June are extremely hot except in the
hills. The coastal and mountain areas get
more rain than the central plains. Regional
variations are outlined below.
North
Northern plains are at their most temperate,
dry and sunny from October to March. Delhi
and neighbouring areas can experience light
to heavy fog from mid-December to mid-January
but the areas south of Delhi such as Rajasthan
remain largely unaffected. In mid-winter night
temperatures in the plains north of Delhi
can touch freezing point. May and June are
extremely hot with July and August being monsoon
months. Many visitors travel in these months
as the rain is not incessant and air-conditioning
tempers the heat. The game reserves in the
north normally open from November to May (Ranthambore
opens a month earlier in October) with the
hotter period better for sightings.
Himalayan Foothills and Beyond
The hilly regions are at their best from March
to October except in July and August when
it rains. There is often snowfall from late
December to early February in hill stations
such as Shimla, Mussoorie and Darjeeling.
Ladakh and Kashmir lie beyond much of the
monsoon rains; here the months of July and
August, with their warm days and cool nights,
are peak season.
East & West
Kolkata, Mumbai and neighbouring coastal areas
such as Orissa, Gujarat and Goa remain hot
and humid throughout with winter months being
somewhat cooler, especially inland. The monsoon
is from June to August. The Kaziranga National
Park is open from November to April.
South
There is significant variation in weather
among the southern states, with November to
April being the best months. It remains hot
throughout with only the hill stations requiring
a light pullover in winter. For those keen
on swimming in the sea we recommend the three-month
period of December to February. The wildlife
parks here remain open throughout. The monsoon
is at its peak along the west coast from June
to August - the east coast remains relatively
dry with minimal rainfall in the central highlands.
Rain falls on the east coast from October
to December.
India is vast and the
main problem for first-time travellers is
what to see in a limited time. Inevitably
there are sights that will have to be missed.
Initially many visitors feel their first trip
to India might be their only trip. We tell
all our clients that they will probably return
and most of them do. Gradually and region
by region, many of them come to explore the
country rather well. Almost everyone agrees
the key to a successful and enjoyable visit
is not to try to cover too much ground in
a short trip.
Most first-time travellers tend to visit the
"Golden Triangle" (comprising Delhi,
Jaipur and Agra) along with a longer tour
of the desert state of Rajasthan or the temples
of Khajuraho and the holy city of Varanasi.
Tours are often extended with a relaxing stay
at a wildlife sanctuary, a hill station or
a beach.
Kerala, rich in natural beauty, is another
extremely popular destination, with convenient
tour extensions encompassing the neighbouring
temples and palaces of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
In truth all corners of India - whether popular
and frequently visited or low key and off
the beaten track - have strong yet varied
attractions.
