Visiting India in November

You’re spoiled for choice as you look north too; fascinating culture at the UNESCO World Heritage site temples of Hampi or the face of modern India in Bangalore, the intriguing cave temples near Aurangabad or the vibrant colourful bustle of Mumbai. If you’re hoping to spot tigers, Bandhavgarh National Park is open once more, as is Ranthambore National Park.

And temperatures could hardly be better for sightseeing around Rajasthan and the Golden Triangle, dry, sunny and hovering around the high 20Cs. It’s busier this month but still a good time to visit highlights including the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort at Delhi and other well-known sites around Agra and Jaipur. As well as the more-visited forts at Jodhpur and Chittorgarh, you can head to quieter sites including Bikaner, or even check in at Barli or Chandelao. In the Thar Desert, temperatures have dropped to around 30C this month if you’re hoping to visit Jaisalmer.

Escape some of the crowds in the countryside too, exploring more of rural Rajasthan; watch the scenery on a train ride through the countryside, see less-visited corners such as Bundi, or get a taste of the area’s heritage with a fairytale Rajasthani Palace or trip to the ornate merchant houses known as havelis.

The weather in the north-east is similar to central India, with hot dry days and hardly a cloud in the sky, ideal for visiting Kolkata and Varanasi before heading into the hills or up to the Himalayas. It’s cooler around the tea plantations in Darjeeling, which is perfect for trekking amid the last of the autumn colours here and in Sikkim – the views of the snow-capped peaks and mountain lakes are spectacular. Shimla and Srinagar are similarly tempting this month, although all will get chillier by evening – lower altitudes such as Rishikesh are a good option if you prefer things a little warmer. There’s more wildlife spotting to be done in Assam too, at Kaziranga National Park, which has great conditions for seeing the animals this month. In the mountains, Ladakh and Leh are off the cards with snow closing roads and making trekking difficult or even impossible, although you can still explore the foothills of the Himalayas at Dharamsala.

In the south, there’s plenty to tempt you to Goa and Kerala where temperatures hover in the low 30Cs. For cooler days, head up to the tea plantations around Munnar and the hill stations of the Western Ghats where the greenery is still lush and there are clear days for walking. Bird-watchers will find great conditions to see the different species at Thattekad Bird Sanctuary this month too.

Or revel in the glorious sunshine as you hit the beach at Kovalam or Marari, then relax some more in the backwaters – choose a cruise in one of the traditional houseboats, or see another side of life here at a backwaters homestay. Save some time to discover the colourful cultural melting pot of Cochin, or get a taste of everything with a journey through Mysore and the tea plantations to Fort Kochi. If you venture further off the beaten track to the idyllic white sand beaches of the Andaman Islands off the east coast of India, they’re hard to beat for snorkelling, diving and downtime.

Festivals: Diwali (or Deepavali) is India’s largest festival and usually takes place in October or November. The Hindu festival of lights sees some spectacular firework displays, plus candles and other illuminations to brighten the dark.

Celebrate the victory of good over evil this month (or September) with the Hindu festival of Dussehra. Expect enthusiastic re-enactments of Rama’s life story finishing with effigies filled with fireworks being set ablaze.

Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday is also celebrated on October 2 with a national holiday, marked with prayers and ceremonies across the country.

Best for: Exploring without the crowds, the hill resorts, trekking, Rajasthan and the Golden Triangle, beaches in Goa and Kerala, festivals

View the best time to visit India by region or by month:

January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December

 

Typical Monthly Climate in India

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