Best time to visit India

India in this dataset covers 18 cities with distinct NASA POWER grid cells (plus nearby cities that share a cell). Annual rainfall among those cities runs from 525 mm in Jaipur to 2508 mm in Mumbai. The monthly-average temperature swing is 6.5–21.2°C depending on the city.

Every city we list in India falls in a monsoon climate with a sharp wet-dry split.

Regional contrasts in India

The hottest peak in the sample is Nagpur in May (36.7°C). The coldest monthly average is Delhi in January (14.6°C). Mumbai takes the most rain (2508 mm a year, wettest in July); Jaipur takes the least (525 mm).

Warmest-month averages in the set range from 28.6°C to 36.7°C. Use the city pages for the month-by-month table; this page is the contrast between places.

Best months by region

Southern cities: typical hottest-month average 30.0°C and about 1079 mm of rain a year. Best-scoring months — Bengaluru (December, January, and February); Chennai (January, February, and March); Coimbatore (December, January, and February).

Central cities: typical hottest-month average 33.2°C and about 1409 mm of rain a year. Best-scoring months — Hyderabad (November, December, and January); Indore (February, November, and December); Kolkata (February, November, and December); Mumbai (December, January, and February); Nagpur (November, December, and January); Pune (December, January, and February); Surat (November, December, and January); Vadodara (November, December, and January); Visakhapatnam (December, January, and February).

Northern cities: typical hottest-month average 35.3°C and about 837 mm of rain a year. Best-scoring months — Ahmedabad (November, December, and January); Bhopal (February, November, and December); Delhi (March, October, and November); Jaipur (February, November, and December); Kanpur (February, November, and December); Lucknow (February, November, and December).

Ahmedabad in India

Ahmedabad sits at 23.03°, 72.59°. It is a monsoon climate with a sharp wet-dry split. May is the warmest month at 35.2°C (high 43.6°C); January is the coolest at 20.8°C (low 11.9°C). The gap between those monthly averages is 14.4°C.

The monsoon runs from June to September. The three highest-scoring months for a visit are November, December, and January. That ranking uses the same 22°C / low-rain / 60% humidity score as the city pages. Population in the GeoNames record is 6,357,693. The wettest month is July (267 mm, 19 days with at least 1 mm); the driest is February (1 mm).

Bengaluru in India

Bengaluru sits at 12.97°, 77.59°. It is a monsoon climate with a sharp wet-dry split. April is the warmest month at 28.6°C (high 35.6°C); December is the coolest at 21.2°C (low 14.9°C). The gap between those monthly averages is 7.4°C.

The monsoon runs from July to October. The three highest-scoring months for a visit are December, January, and February. That ranking uses the same 22°C / low-rain / 60% humidity score as the city pages. Population in the GeoNames record is 8,495,492. The wettest month is September (151 mm, 18 days with at least 1 mm); the driest is January (3 mm).

Bhopal in India

Bhopal sits at 23.25°, 77.40°. It is a monsoon climate with a sharp wet-dry split. May is the warmest month at 34.8°C (high 42.2°C); January is the coolest at 18.0°C (low 9.5°C). The gap between those monthly averages is 16.8°C.

The monsoon runs from June to September. The three highest-scoring months for a visit are February, November, and December. That ranking uses the same 22°C / low-rain / 60% humidity score as the city pages. Population in the GeoNames record is 1,798,218. The wettest month is July (418 mm, 24 days with at least 1 mm); the driest is April (6 mm).

Chennai in India

Chennai sits at 13.09°, 80.28°. It is a monsoon climate with a sharp wet-dry split. May is the warmest month at 32.1°C (high 36.5°C); January is the coolest at 24.6°C (low 21.0°C). The gap between those monthly averages is 7.5°C.

The monsoon runs from July to December. The three highest-scoring months for a visit are January, February, and March. That ranking uses the same 22°C / low-rain / 60% humidity score as the city pages. Population in the GeoNames record is 4,681,087. The wettest month is November (292 mm, 17 days with at least 1 mm); the driest is February (6 mm).

Coimbatore in India

Coimbatore sits at 11.01°, 76.97°. It is a monsoon climate with a sharp wet-dry split. April is the warmest month at 29.2°C (high 35.3°C); December is the coolest at 22.7°C (low 17.3°C). The gap between those monthly averages is 6.5°C.

The monsoon runs from May to November. The three highest-scoring months for a visit are December, January, and February. That ranking uses the same 22°C / low-rain / 60% humidity score as the city pages. Population in the GeoNames record is 2,136,916. The wettest month is October (192 mm, 22 days with at least 1 mm); the driest is January (6 mm).

Delhi in India

Delhi sits at 28.65°, 77.23°. It is a monsoon climate with a sharp wet-dry split. June is the warmest month at 35.8°C (high 42.0°C); January is the coolest at 14.6°C (low 6.9°C). The gap between those monthly averages is 21.2°C.

The monsoon runs from July to September. The three highest-scoring months for a visit are March, October, and November. That ranking uses the same 22°C / low-rain / 60% humidity score as the city pages. Population in the GeoNames record is 11,034,555. The wettest month is July (217 mm, 21 days with at least 1 mm); the driest is November (4 mm).

Hyderabad in India

Hyderabad sits at 17.38°, 78.46°. It is a monsoon climate with a sharp wet-dry split. May is the warmest month at 33.5°C (high 40.1°C); December is the coolest at 21.8°C (low 14.9°C). The gap between those monthly averages is 11.7°C.

The monsoon runs from June to September. The three highest-scoring months for a visit are November, December, and January. That ranking uses the same 22°C / low-rain / 60% humidity score as the city pages. Population in the GeoNames record is 6,993,262. The wettest month is August (190 mm, 20 days with at least 1 mm); the driest is December (3 mm).

Indore in India

Indore sits at 22.72°, 75.83°. It is a monsoon climate with a sharp wet-dry split. May is the warmest month at 34.2°C (high 42.2°C); January is the coolest at 20.0°C (low 11.4°C). The gap between those monthly averages is 14.2°C.

The monsoon runs from June to September. The three highest-scoring months for a visit are February, November, and December. That ranking uses the same 22°C / low-rain / 60% humidity score as the city pages. Population in the GeoNames record is 1,994,397. The wettest month is July (288 mm, 22 days with at least 1 mm); the driest is February (4 mm).

Jaipur in India

Jaipur sits at 26.92°, 75.79°. It is a monsoon climate with a sharp wet-dry split. June is the warmest month at 34.6°C (high 40.5°C); January is the coolest at 15.6°C (low 7.8°C). The gap between those monthly averages is 19.0°C.

The monsoon runs from June to September. The three highest-scoring months for a visit are February, November, and December. That ranking uses the same 22°C / low-rain / 60% humidity score as the city pages. Population in the GeoNames record is 3,046,163. The wettest month is August (172 mm, 18 days with at least 1 mm); the driest is December (3 mm).

Kanpur in India

Kanpur sits at 26.47°, 80.35°. It is a monsoon climate with a sharp wet-dry split. May is the warmest month at 35.9°C (high 43.3°C); January is the coolest at 15.9°C (low 8.3°C). The gap between those monthly averages is 20.0°C.

The monsoon runs from June to September. The three highest-scoring months for a visit are February, November, and December. That ranking uses the same 22°C / low-rain / 60% humidity score as the city pages. Population in the GeoNames record is 2,823,249. The wettest month is July (258 mm, 23 days with at least 1 mm); the driest is November (4 mm).

Kolkata in India

Kolkata sits at 22.56°, 88.36°. It is a monsoon climate with a sharp wet-dry split. May is the warmest month at 32.3°C (high 37.6°C); January is the coolest at 17.8°C (low 10.6°C). The gap between those monthly averages is 14.5°C.

The monsoon runs from May to October. The three highest-scoring months for a visit are February, November, and December. That ranking uses the same 22°C / low-rain / 60% humidity score as the city pages. Population in the GeoNames record is 4,631,392. The wettest month is July (333 mm, 28 days with at least 1 mm); the driest is December (9 mm).

Lucknow in India

Lucknow sits at 26.84°, 80.92°. It is a monsoon climate with a sharp wet-dry split. June is the warmest month at 35.6°C (high 41.3°C); January is the coolest at 15.6°C (low 8.0°C). The gap between those monthly averages is 20.0°C.

The monsoon runs from June to September. The three highest-scoring months for a visit are February, November, and December. That ranking uses the same 22°C / low-rain / 60% humidity score as the city pages. Population in the GeoNames record is 2,472,011. The wettest month is July (283 mm, 24 days with at least 1 mm); the driest is November (4 mm).

Mumbai in India

Mumbai sits at 19.07°, 72.88°. It is a monsoon climate with a sharp wet-dry split. May is the warmest month at 32.2°C (high 38.0°C); January is the coolest at 24.3°C (low 16.6°C). The gap between those monthly averages is 7.9°C.

The monsoon runs from June to October. The three highest-scoring months for a visit are December, January, and February. That ranking uses the same 22°C / low-rain / 60% humidity score as the city pages. Population in the GeoNames record is 12,691,836. The wettest month is July (834 mm, 29 days with at least 1 mm); the driest is January (0 mm).

Nagpur in India

Nagpur sits at 21.15°, 79.08°. It is a monsoon climate with a sharp wet-dry split. May is the warmest month at 36.7°C (high 44.1°C); December is the coolest at 20.7°C (low 12.4°C). The gap between those monthly averages is 16.0°C.

The monsoon runs from June to September. The three highest-scoring months for a visit are November, December, and January. That ranking uses the same 22°C / low-rain / 60% humidity score as the city pages. Population in the GeoNames record is 2,405,665. The wettest month is July (361 mm, 25 days with at least 1 mm); the driest is December (3 mm).

Pune in India

Pune sits at 18.52°, 73.86°. It is a monsoon climate with a sharp wet-dry split. May is the warmest month at 29.8°C (high 37.2°C); December is the coolest at 20.4°C (low 13.3°C). The gap between those monthly averages is 9.4°C.

The monsoon runs from June to October. The three highest-scoring months for a visit are December, January, and February. That ranking uses the same 22°C / low-rain / 60% humidity score as the city pages. Population in the GeoNames record is 3,124,458. The wettest month is July (515 mm, 29 days with at least 1 mm); the driest is January (1 mm).

Surat in India

Surat sits at 21.20°, 72.83°. It is a monsoon climate with a sharp wet-dry split. May is the warmest month at 33.2°C (high 39.8°C); January is the coolest at 23.9°C (low 15.5°C). The gap between those monthly averages is 9.3°C.

The monsoon runs from June to September. The three highest-scoring months for a visit are November, December, and January. That ranking uses the same 22°C / low-rain / 60% humidity score as the city pages. Population in the GeoNames record is 4,591,246. The wettest month is July (572 mm, 27 days with at least 1 mm); the driest is January (1 mm).

Vadodara in India

Vadodara sits at 22.30°, 73.21°. It is a monsoon climate with a sharp wet-dry split. May is the warmest month at 35.3°C (high 43.3°C); January is the coolest at 21.4°C (low 12.5°C). The gap between those monthly averages is 13.9°C.

The monsoon runs from June to September. The three highest-scoring months for a visit are November, December, and January. That ranking uses the same 22°C / low-rain / 60% humidity score as the city pages. Population in the GeoNames record is 1,822,221. The wettest month is July (331 mm, 22 days with at least 1 mm); the driest is January (1 mm).

Visakhapatnam in India

Visakhapatnam sits at 17.73°, 83.32°. It is a monsoon climate with a sharp wet-dry split. May is the warmest month at 31.4°C (high 34.2°C); December is the coolest at 23.8°C (low 21.2°C). The gap between those monthly averages is 7.6°C.

The monsoon runs from June to October. The three highest-scoring months for a visit are December, January, and February. That ranking uses the same 22°C / low-rain / 60% humidity score as the city pages. Population in the GeoNames record is 1,728,128. The wettest month is September (224 mm, 25 days with at least 1 mm); the driest is January (5 mm).