When to go
Use the seasonal notes below as broad planning guidance. They are not a forecast or a measured climate dataset. Check the local meteorological service, transport operator and site opening calendar for your dates.
Use the seasonal notes below as broad planning guidance. They are not a forecast or a measured climate dataset. Check the local meteorological service, transport operator and site opening calendar for your dates.
Best months for what you actually want to do
- Golden Triangle: Delhi, Agra, Jaipur — November to February offers 20–27°C days — the only comfortable window for fort and Taj sightseeing. The Taj is closed on Fridays; sunrise entry is cooler and calmer in every season.
- Rajasthan deserts and festivals — December and January bring cold nights (7–10°C) but perfect desert days and the region's festival calendar — Jaipur's literature festival in January, Jaisalmer's desert festival in February.
- Budget travel and monsoon travel — May to September is the low season: steep hotel discounts but 33–39°C heat and July-August monsoon downpours. Hill escapes (Shimla, Rishikesh) soften the summer.
Shoulder season strategy
October and March are the transition months: hot but manageable (30–33°C), cheaper than peak winter, and the Taj's marble is survivable before 10:00. Holi (March, lunar calendar) is spectacular in the right place and chaotic in the wrong one.
December-January fog can delay trains and flights across the northern plains — build slack into Agra day trips. Diwali (October-November, lunar calendar) is a beautiful time to be in cities, but book trains weeks ahead.
Put the window together with the ready-made itinerary, the daily budget breakdown and the full North India guide. For general trip-timing advice, see our itinerary planning guide.
FAQ
When is the monsoon in North India?
July to September, arriving first in the Himalayan foothills. Delhi sees 13 heavy-rain days in a peak July month — travel works with flexible plans, but heat plus humidity makes July-August the least comfortable sightseeing stretch.
How hot does it get in summer?
May and June hold 38–39°C days in Delhi and 45°C-plus in the Rajasthan plains. Sightseeing shifts to dawn and evening; this is the season for the hills, not the Golden Triangle.
Is winter cold in North India?
Days are mild (20–25°C) but nights drop to 5–10°C in December-January, and fog is common on the plains. Pack real layers — hotels are variable on heating — and allow buffer time for fog-delayed transport.