Visiting India in August
Weather and climate guide
The rains aren’t over yet, but it’s not quite as wet as July. Goa and Kerala see around half as much rainfall this month as last month, although you won’t escape the downpours if you visit the south of India in August. Although Tamil Nadu is slightly rainier this month, it’s still drier than its neighbours, and temperatures have dropped to a comparatively cool 35C in this hot corner of the country.
Central India
August is still a bad time to visit central India and Mumbai, with high humidity, monsoon storms and the national parks closed for the time being. In Rajasthan, Ranthambore is still closed too, but while you won’t be doing any tiger-spotting, it’s still much drier here and temperatures have started to drop from the summer peak – it can still be as high as 35-38C in Jaisalmer, Delhi and Agra, while Jaipur sees most rain this month. If you’re willing to brave the humidity and the showers, it’s much quieter this month as the weather keeps most tourists away from the Golden Triangle.
Himalayas
The trekking season is in full swing in the Himalayas still if you venture far enough north to find sunshine. Dharamsala is wet but Manali and Srinagar are drier this month, so trekking is still a possibility. The mountains around Ladakh are a great option still, with the area escaping the monsoon. Make the most of the weather to discover the remote Nubra Valley with its white sand desert and fruit trees, as well as monasteries tucked away high in the peaks, while the roads to Leh also remain open for the summer.
Festivals: On August 15, India celebrates Independence Day with a national holiday, parades and a flag-raising at Delhi’s Red Fort. Expect celebrations at all major cities and across the country as a whole.
Kerala’s snake boat races take place on the second Sunday in August, with boats up to 100 feet long competing in the backwaters. It’s one of several events in the state this month along with harvest festival Onam.
Ganesh Chaturthi, a 10-day festival dedicated to Ganesha, takes place in August (or September), with colourful processions and special ceremonies at temples.
Krishna Janmashtami also takes place this month (or August) celebrating the birth of Krishna, with dance, songs and depictions of scenes from Krishna’s life, plus eye-catching human pyramids.
Best for: Exploring Ladakh, Rajasthan without the crowds, festivals
Or perhaps you’re thinking of travelling on another month..?
View the best time to visit India by region or by month:
January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December
| Region | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North East India | ● 15°C 🌤️ |
● 17°C ☀️ |
● 21°C ☀️ |
● 25°C 🌦️ |
● 28°C 🌧️ |
● 27°C 🌧️ |
● 27°C 🌧️ |
● 27°C 🌧️ |
● 26°C 🌦️ |
● 23°C 🌤️ |
● 19°C ☀️ |
● 16°C ☀️ |
| North India | ● 14°C ☀️ |
● 17°C ☀️ |
● 23°C ☀️ |
● 30°C 🌦️ |
● 35°C 🌧️ |
● 34°C 🌧️ |
● 32°C 🌧️ |
● 31°C 🌧️ |
● 30°C 🌦️ |
● 27°C ☀️ |
● 22°C ☀️ |
● 17°C ☀️ |
| North West India | ● 18°C ☀️ |
● 21°C ☀️ |
● 26°C ☀️ |
● 34°C 🌦️ |
● 39°C 🌧️ |
● 37°C 🌧️ |
● 35°C 🌧️ |
● 34°C 🌧️ |
● 32°C 🌦️ |
● 29°C ☀️ |
● 24°C ☀️ |
● 20°C ☀️ |
| South India | ● 26°C ☀️ |
● 27°C ☀️ |
● 29°C ☀️ |
● 32°C 🌦️ |
● 33°C 🌦️ |
● 30°C 🌧️ |
● 29°C 🌧️ |
● 29°C 🌧️ |
● 29°C 🌦️ |
● 28°C ☀️ |
● 27°C ☀️ |
● 26°C ☀️ |
Legend:
● Good weather
● Average weather
● Poor weather
A few of our favourite India holidays
