India in March

Warming fast; Holi in the north; the south turns hot and humid.

• Northern plains · Delhi, Agra, Varanasi, Amritsarbest weather

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

• Rajasthan · Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Jaisalmerfine

  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, Sikkimfine

  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, Varkalahot

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

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

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

• Northeast · Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachalbest weather

  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.

• Holi big impact

  4 Mar 2026; 22 Mar 2027 (check)

  Colour thrown in the streets from morning to early afternoon; shops shut; wear old clothes or stay in. Strongest in Mathura, Vrindavan and Varanasi.

• Eid al-Fitr

  ~10 Mar 2027 (lunar, check)

  End of Ramadan; Old Delhi, Lucknow and Hyderabad busy with feasts; some Muslim-run shops close.

Crowds · India

Medium

Prices · India

Medium

• Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and sunscreen
• Layers: a fleece or light jacket

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Rated best or good this month

• Northern plains

  Best weather of the year (Delhi, Agra, Varanasi, Amritsar)

• Goa and the Konkan coast

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

• Northeast

  Best weather of the year (Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal)

• Delhi

  Warm; Holi some years.

• 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)