When to go to India
India has five seasons; spring, summer, monsoon, autumn and winter.
The monsoon hits different regions at different times as it sweeps from the Indian Ocean to the Himalaya, affecting north and central India from May to September. In the south the monsoon generally lingers into October.
There are advantages to be gained by travelling off-season - particularly in Rajasthan which is largely dry - as hotels are better value and monuments are quieter.
The western ranges of the Indian Himalaya are also generally best visited during this time to escape the heat and rains on the plains. Between October and March the daytime temperature ranges between 25C – 30C, falling in the evening and overnight to between 18C – 22C. After the monsoon, the air is dry, making the heat more bearable and reducing the humidity.