India is a country of strange gods, majestic elephants and an amazing vibrant culture. Probably everyone dreams at least once to see all the wonders of this country with their own eyes. And the question is, when is it better to go to India to relax and see the sights with comfort?
A definite answer does not exist: India is a rather big country; several climatic zones are located on its territory. And the relief is very diverse: high mountains, the coast of the warm Indian Ocean, desert sand. The weather at the foot of the Himalayas will be very different from the climate of the sultry desert.
Therefore, when planning a trip to India, it’s worth deciding where you want to go: swimming in the ocean or visiting ancient palaces and temples. For different purposes and the optimal dates will be completely different.
Winter and spring in the southern states
The climate in southern India, in the states of Goa, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, is considered tropical and has great contrasts. Therefore, only two seasons can be distinguished here: the dry and hot season (lasts from October to May) and the tropical rain season (from June to September).
In the dry season, temperatures range from "pleasant weather" to "unbearably hot." Usually the highest temperatures occur in May, before the start of the rainy season, and January is considered the coolest month. The time when it is better to go to India to Goa and other popular resorts is traditionally considered the period from November to April.
The weather is mostly sunny and calm, precipitation is rare, 1-3 days a month. Around the middle of March, the temperature begins to rise and hot days come. Even nights do not bring coolness. Coming to rest to the ocean during this period, you definitely need to find out about the availability of air conditioning in the room, otherwise the rest will not bring pleasure.
Since the end of September, the water in the ocean becomes transparent and the best time for diving begins. With luck, you can see huge sea turtles, stingrays and many bright exotic fish.
Goa's rainy season
From mid-May, the time of tropical showers begins, and the once hospitable ocean coast is transformed. Rains can pour for days without stopping. Streams of water are accompanied by a strong wind, which carries ashore heaps of algae and debris.
The water in the ocean becomes muddy and, despite the fact that it is warm, you do not want to swim in it at all. In addition, it is dangerous, often there are large waves and dangerous undercurrents, which are difficult for even an experienced swimmer to cope with.
Showers reach their peak in July, this is the wettest and windiest month on the coast. Humidity reaches 90%, everything seems to be saturated with dampness.
When deciding when it is best to go to India to relax on the ocean, the summer months should be ruled out. Most restaurants and shops are closed, some hotels also do not work. Of course, travel agencies offer minimum prices for this season, but do not flatter yourself, relaxing on the beach during the rainy season will be ruined.
The Golden Triangle of India
If you want to get acquainted with the real life of the country, to see majestic palaces and ancient temples, you need to travel to the cities of the middle part of the country. You can visit only the legendary cities of the Golden Triangle: the pompous capital of Delhi, the pink city of Jaipur and Agra with the famous Taj Mahal mausoleum. Or create a more extensive program and drive through the colorful cities of Rajasthan. The main thing is to choose the right time when it is better to go to India for excursions.
Summer in this part of the country is not as rainy as in the south, but the rainy season will spoil the impression of the country. By the end of April, suffocating heat begins and I don’t feel like walking around the narrow city streets.
From June, monsoon showers and winds have replaced the heat. This is not the best time to travel to India, in addition to the discomfort of constant rains, the risk of contracting malaria is still high.
Fall and winter in central states
With the onset of October, it becomes less rainy, humidity becomes normal, and temperature differences are almost not felt. After an abundance of moisture, a riot of plants begins, everything blooms and turns green. Usually a dry desert landscape blooms, even the usual dust disappears from the air. This is exactly the period when it is better to go on vacation to India.
It is good to travel to the cities of India in winter. Almost all days are dry weather, many sunny days. During the day, the temperature holds + 23 ... + 25 degrees, but the nights get colder. In December and January, frosts occur at nights, so you should take warm clothes and sleeping bags with you. Not all hotels in India are equipped with a heating system, so you need to take care of winter comfort yourself.
But the absence at this time of large crowds of tourists and the ability to quickly move around the country will fully pay off for minor inconveniences.
Holidays in Ayurveda
The vibrant and juicy nature of this Indian state, huge tea plantations, white sand beaches and ancient cities attract many enthusiastic tourists in Kerala.
It is not surprising that in this place more than 5000 years ago the mysteries of Ayurvedic teachings were born, aimed at maintaining health and longevity. It is here that yoga followers from all over the world strive to get.
The weather in Kerala depends on the type of terrain: the heat on the coast, and the coolness in the eastern part of the state, near the mountains. The climate is tropical and highly dependent on the monsoon.
The best time for a beach holiday and excursions is considered to be winter and spring: the winds have died down, tropical rain has ended, everything is covered with fresh greenery. The water is stably warm, and there are almost no big waves and storms. Only in the winter months, in the high season, there are many tourists on the beaches and prices for services soar to the skies. When deciding when to go to India, it is worth considering this period, but you need to book a hotel with meals in advance.
Magic boat swim
During the monsoon season in Kerala is not very comfortable: frequent rains, high humidity, the sea can storm. However, yoga practitioners are sure that it is during this period that the healing of the human body and spirit occurs as efficiently as possible. According to ancient Indian methods, it is at this time that you need to start practicing meditation, do healing, or just spend several days in the jungle alone with yourself. In many cities of Kerala, there are clinics where specialists can choose the treatment, massage course and proper nutrition. For the sake of this, it is worth considering when it is better to go to India to get acquainted with yoga.
Even in the monsoon period, in August, the state hosts the colorful Onam festival. It is considered an ancient harvest festival and lasts ten days. Carpets of fresh flowers are laid out on the doorsteps of houses, boat races in the form of snakes are held on a beautiful lake, and one of the fine days there is an elephant parade.
Holidays in the foothills of the Himalayas
The northern states of India, such as Himchal, Pradesh, Kashmir and others, are completely unlike the south and central part of the country. Here, completely different natural landscapes, snow-capped mountains rise, grasses bloom in the valleys, and the flows of mountain rivers literally break from the sky.
The climate in this area is similar to the weather conditions in the central part of Russia: blooming spring, warm summers and cold snowy winters. Only strong mountain winds often blow, which even in April make their way to the bones.
In winter, only experienced climbers should go here, and even then as part of a group. Very cold, constant snowstorms and landslides on the roads. In addition, there is no heating in the houses, only a stove.
In the spring it gets warmer, fruit trees bloom in the foothill valleys, but at night the temperature can drop to 0 degrees. When deciding when it is best to go to India in the spring, you should stop your choice at the end of March. If you do not rise high to the mountain passes, the weather is very pleasant and you can comfortably move between the villages.
From May to June, all hotels will be packed with tourists, places in restaurants can not be found, and the cost of any service increases several times.
Seasons in Nepal
In this amazing state, you can visit all climatic zones in a month, from the tropics on the plain to the Arctic cold near the peaks of the Himalayas. Before deciding what time it is better to go to India to Nepal, it is worth deciding on the purpose of travel: sightseeing, pilgrimage tour or mountain trekking.
For traveling in Nepal in order to enjoy the beauties of nature, the jungle and waterfalls, the time from September to November and from March to May is well suited. In spring, rhododendrons, the national symbol of Nepal, begin to bloom. To see a carpet of flowers, you do not need to climb high, 2000 meters will be enough. But in spring the sky is often cloudy, snow-capped mountain peaks are not visible and a piercing wind blows. But in April you can celebrate the New Year on the Nepalese calendar.
In autumn, from September to November, it is most pleasant to travel in Nepal. You can get to the high mountain monasteries, take a mountain hike or fly a paraglider. However, you need to be prepared for the influx of tourists on popular routes, pre-book accommodation and arrange with a guide.
Hiking and Rafting in the Himalayas
For thrill-seekers, an interesting time when it is better to go to India can be the winter season, from November to January. Of course, it’s cold, they often turn off the electricity and without a sleeping bag you can freeze at night. But there is an opportunity to go along mountain routes and see the majestic Himalayas without crowds of tourists. You can go to the "low", up to 5000 meters, mountains. For example, in the Langtang area or at the foot of Annapurna. Experienced travelers in December even made their way to Everest Base Camp.
And rafting fans should come to Nepal in May, when the water in the deep mountain rivers warms up and rafting is accessible even to inexperienced travelers. But in September, rafting on the rivers is also possible, but only for experienced athletes. After the rainy season, the water level in the mountain rivers is very high, so rafting on them is difficult and dangerous. But how many water adventures!