What is the cheapest time to visit India?

May to September is the cheapest window. Prices drop 30 to 60 percent on hotels and flights outside of peak Ladakh season. Avoid Rajasthan and the plains in May and June because of extreme heat.

Is monsoon a bad time to visit India?

Not everywhere. The Western Ghats, Kerala, Meghalaya, Ladakh, and Spiti are all excellent during monsoon. Rajasthan, Goa beaches, and Delhi tourism are not.

When does Ladakh open for tourists?

The Manali-Leh road usually opens late May or early June and closes by mid October. The Srinagar-Leh route stays open slightly longer. Winter travel to Leh is possible by flight only.

When should I book hotels for peak December?

At least eight weeks ahead. New Year in Goa and Christmas in the Himalayas sell out four months in advance.

Best Time to Visit India: A Month-by-Month Regional Guide

India is not one climate but half a dozen. This month-by-month guide breaks down the best time to visit each region so you can time your trip perfectly.

The short answer

For most of India, October to March is peak season. Cool, dry, and pleasant. April and May are hot in the plains but open up the Himalayas. June to September is monsoon: wet in Kerala, punishing in Rajasthan, and magical in Meghalaya.

Best time by region

Region	Peak season	Avoid
North India (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur)	Oct to Mar	May to Jul
Rajasthan	Nov to Feb	Apr to Jun
Kerala backwaters	Oct to Mar	Jun to Aug
Goa beaches	Nov to Feb	May to Sep
Himachal and Uttarakhand hills	Mar to Jun, Sep to Nov	Jul to Aug landslides
Ladakh and Spiti	Jun to Sep	Nov to Apr closed roads
Andaman islands	Nov to Apr	May to Sep monsoon
Northeast (Meghalaya, Assam)	Oct to Apr	Jul to Sep flooding

Month-by-month breakdown

October

Perfect month across most of India. Monsoon has just ended so the south is emerald green. The north is cooling down. Prices have not yet spiked. Best choice if you want to avoid crowds.

November

The most balanced month. Diwali usually falls here, which is spectacular but also busy. Kerala backwaters and Rajasthan deserts are both at their best. Book stays six weeks ahead.

December to January

Peak season and peak prices. Rajasthan and central India are ideal. Delhi and the north can get foggy and cold with morning smog. South India stays warm. Book everything, especially New Year in Goa, months ahead.

February

Still peak but prices soften late in the month. Best time to visit Ranthambore and Kaziranga wildlife parks. Holi celebrations start late Feb into March.

March

Shoulder season starts. Days warm quickly but nights are still pleasant. The last good window for Rajasthan before summer hits. Holi usually falls this month.

April to May

Hot everywhere in the plains, sometimes brutally so. Now is the time for hill stations like Munnar, Ooty, Manali, and Shimla. Ladakh roads open around late May. Prices drop except in the hills.

June

Monsoon lands in Kerala first. Ladakh becomes accessible. The rest of the country holds its breath. Great for waterfalls in the Western Ghats.

July to August

Deep monsoon. Skip Rajasthan and Goa. Consider Ladakh, Spiti, Meghalaya, or a monsoon Ayurveda retreat in Kerala. Prices at lows.

September

Monsoon retreats. Northeast India comes alive. Late September is a great shoulder month with post-monsoon greens and pre-peak prices.

Time your trip around a festival

Diwali (Oct or Nov): every Indian city lights up. Best in Jaipur, Varanasi, and Ayodhya.
Pushkar Camel Fair (Nov): only place in India where 200,000 camels meet in one week.
Holi (Mar): colors, chaos, and cheer. Best in Vrindavan, Jaipur, and Udaipur.
Onam (Aug or Sep): Kerala's harvest festival with snake boat races.
Ganesh Chaturthi (Aug or Sep): Mumbai loses its mind for ten days.

How Winnie times your trip

Winnie factors in the season automatically. Tell it you want Kerala in July and it will steer you toward Ayurveda retreats and monsoon waterfalls, not backwater cruises. Tell it Rajasthan in May and it will warn you about the heat and suggest morning-only sightseeing. Try it at trywinnie.com.