India in December

Rajasthan, Kerala and Goa at their best; book the Christmas–New Year week far ahead.

• Northern plains · Delhi, Agra, Varanasi, Amritsarsmoke haze

  Dense fog delays trains and flights in Dec–Jan; smog peaks in November; 45 °C in May–June.

• Rajasthan · Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Jaisalmerbest weather

  Desert nights are cold in Dec–Jan; the monsoon is light but humid; Udaipur's lakes are fullest after it.

• Himalayan hills · Shimla, Rishikesh, Darjeeling, Sikkimcool

  Landslides close roads in July–August; October–November gives the clearest mountain views.

• Ladakh and Spiti · Leh, Nubra, Pangong, Spiticool

  High desert above 3,000 m: roads over the passes open roughly June–October; winter is –20 °C.

• Goa and the Konkan coast · Goa, Mumbai, Gokarnabest weather

  Beach shacks open November–April; Mumbai gets over 2 m of rain in the monsoon.

• Kerala and the south-west · Kochi, Alleppey, Munnar, Varkalabest weather

  Two monsoons: the big one June–August and a second burst October–November.

• Tamil Nadu and the east coast · Chennai, Madurai, Puducherry, Mamallapuramrainy

  Opposite rhythm: the north-east monsoon and cyclones hit October–December; January–February is the easy window.

• Northeast · Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachalcool

  Meghalaya is among the wettest places on Earth; permits needed for Arunachal and parts of other states.

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• Christmas and New Year big impact

  25 Dec – 1 Jan

  Goa beds triple in price; Rajasthan and Kerala hotels full.

Crowds · India

High

Prices · India

High

High-price month: see what to book ahead.

• Layers: a fleece or light jacket
• A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Rated best or good this month

• Rajasthan

  Best weather of the year (Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer)

• Goa and the Konkan coast

  Best weather of the year (Goa, Mumbai, Gokarna)

• Kerala and the south-west

  Best weather of the year (Kochi, Alleppey, Munnar, Varkala)

• Mumbai

  Best months: Nov–Feb (dry, lower humidity, most comfortable for walking)

• Jaipur

  Best months: Oct–Mar (cool, clear skies, comfortable for fort visits)

• Agra

  Best months: Oct–Mar (cool, clearer skies for photographs of the Taj)

• Varanasi

  Best months: Oct–Mar (cooler, comfortable for early boat rides)

• Kolkata

  Best months: Nov–Feb (cool and dry, best for walking)

• Bengaluru

  Best months: Oct–Feb (mild and dry)