Good Time to Visit

Weather

India has a hot, tropical climate, with variations from region to region. It is very hot from March to May, when it becomes dry, dusty and somewhat unpleasant. Monsoon weather occurs in most regions in summer between June and September, with rains coming in from the south-west. The west coast is subject to rain throughout the year, particularly in the south, where humidity is high. There are cyclones and storms on the south-east coast (especially October to December), with high temperatures and humidity during the monsoon season. India is coolest from December to February, with fresh mornings and dry, sunny days.

Visitors are advised to bring light- to medium-weight clothing in the summer, with warmer wear for winter and on cooler evenings. Waterproofs are advisable during monsoons.

For a more detailed look at the Indian weather in different regions of the country, see Climate in India.

Festivals

There are a wealth of colourful festivals in India, many celebrated irrespective of caste and creed. Holi, the Festival of Colours, in March, is a definite highlight. It's all great fun, with people throwing coloured powder and water at each other, although it can get rather rowdy. In autumn, the festival of lights, Diwali, is celebrated with particular enthusiasm in northern Indian, with fireworks being lit, together with candles and oil lamps. There are three national holidays, and other sets of holidays (varying between nine and twelve) are officially observed in the individual states.

Public Holidays

The following table shows the public holidays celebrated in India. It should be noted however, that only the secular holidays of Republic Day, Independence Day and Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday are universally observed; other public holidays in India tend to be observed on a strictly regional basis.