India in March: what to expect

March is the transition month. The north is still pleasant in the mornings and warm by afternoon; Rajasthan is dry and clear; the Himalayan hills are comfortable at lower altitudes. The plains and the south-west coast are already hot, and Kerala and Tamil Nadu turn hot and humid.

Rain is limited. The main monsoon is months away, but the northeast and parts of Kerala can see pre-monsoon showers late in the month. Ladakh and Spiti remain cold and high-pass roads are still closed.

March sits between the December–February peak and the April–May low season. Crowds are medium and prices are medium: flights and hotels are easier to book than in January or February, and the big Rajasthan and Kerala routes are still busy but not packed.

Holi is the exception. Domestic travel spikes around the festival, and trains and hotels on popular routes fill up. If your trip overlaps Holi, book transport and accommodation well ahead.

The headline event is Holi, celebrated across northern and central India with coloured powder, water and street parties. The date follows the Hindu calendar and moves each year, usually falling in early-to-mid March. Expect transport to be busy and some businesses closed on the day itself.

Rajasthan also has its usual round of fairs and temple festivals, and the northeast starts its spring festival season. Exact dates change every year, so confirm locally before planning around an event.

Rajasthan is the safest bet: Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Jaisalmer are dry, clear and warm, with cool desert nights. The Himalayan hills work well at lower altitudes — Rishikesh, Shimla and Darjeeling are mild — while Ladakh and Spiti stay cold and the high passes remain closed.

In the south, the coast and the plains are hot. Shift to hill stations such as Munnar, Kodaikanal or Ooty, or to the beaches of Goa and the Konkan, which are still in their dry season. Tamil Nadu and Kerala are hot and humid, so plan sightseeing for early morning and evening.

The northeast — Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal — is at its best in March, before the monsoon.

Pack for warm days and cooler mornings and nights, especially in Rajasthan and the hills. Light cotton clothes, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen cover most of the trip. Add a light jacket or fleece for hill stations and desert nights.

Bring a refillable water bottle, oral rehydration salts and a basic first-aid kit. If your trip overlaps Holi, pack clothes you do not mind staining, or buy cheap whites locally.

February is the best all-round month: pleasant in the north, dry in the south, with high crowds and prices. April turns hot on the plains, with hill stations and Darjeeling becoming the escape. May is the hottest month on the plains and best avoided outside the Himalaya and Ladakh.

If you can move your dates, February gives you the same routes with better weather; April and May are cheaper but much hotter.