The Best Time to Visit Delhi, India

India › Best Time for a Visit to Delhi
Updated: January 13, 2022

See Also

• Top Hotels in Delhi
• Delhi Airport Lodging
• Where to Stay in Delhi

When is the Best Time to Visit Delhi?

• Map showing Delhi hotel locations and surrounding neighborhoods

The optimal time to visit Delhi is in February, March, October, or November. These months avoid three significant factors: extreme heat, heavy rains, and dense fog/smog, with average temperatures ranging from 15°C to 33°C. These months are shoulder season, so airfare and room deals are available.

• The optimal time for sightseeing endeavors involves avoiding the extremes of heat (April, May, and June) and monsoon rains (May through September), which could impact travel plans if roadways and railway tracks become saturated with water. From mid-November through the end of February, rainfall is negligible, but daytime temperatures are surprisingly cool. During this time, fog can also hinder sightseeing and travel by train or plane, while pollution haze can be unpleasant (and potentially hazardous for those with asthma). Therefore, the best times are the transitional months: February, March, October, and November.
• Optimum Conditions for Observing the Climate: November to March represents the cool (sometimes severely cold) dry winter season when precipitation is negligible and temperatures are notably lower (especially at night) than other major Indian urban areas. Although fog can impact travel preparations and air pollution is commonly poor, it remains a decent time to visit. Superior however are the months between the chilly wintry fog and sweltering heat (February and March) and following the monsoon season (October and November).
• Best Time for Honeymoons: October to March. These calendar months keep away from the uncomfortable heat which precedes the monsoonal rain, though fog and/or air pollution could be an issue during winter.
• Best Period for Nightlife: October through May. The pockets of evening entertainment around the city are best experienced during the dry season, when monsoon rains typically remain absent.
• Most Frugal Timeframe: June to September. Not remarkably, the most affordable hotel costs and, potentially, air tickets are amid the monsoon period when heavy rain can make visiting troublesome.

Delhi Travel Seasons

• High Season (December to early February): The dry and cool days, which may remain brisk until midday, understandably attract more visitors than the warm and wet seasons. However, fog can disrupt air or rail travel and pollution could be off-putting. The Indian capital gets busier than most other Indian cities over the Christmas/New Year period, when booking lodgings and tickets before arrival is advised.
• Shoulder Season (late-February, March, October, and November): These months avoid the hot period when temperatures soar excessively, as well as most of the monsoon when flooding can be an issue. Days and nights remain pleasant, if somewhat warm and humid, and some rainy days should be anticipated. With reduced fog and air pollution by March, as well as fewer tourists than high season, these 4 months offer the most comfortable time for traveling.
• Low Season: (April to September): Usual temperatures in Delhi can peak at dangerous levels of 45°C in May and June, forcing some affluent locals to head to the cooler towns in the northern hills not far away. The heat is then relieved by the monsoon rains which can occasionally flood the poorly-drained streets and disrupt travel plans.

Delhi Weather by Month

• Delhi Weather in January: The mild and dry winter continues as surprisingly frosty winds blow in from the Himalayas. The coldest month of the year: daytime average temperatures are a fairly cool 20°C and a very cold 8°C overnight. The main factors are the almost-daily fog, which can affect train and air travel and last until mid-morning, along with the cough-inducing smog that can blanket the city.
• Delhi Weather in February: Mist commonly covers the city overnight (sometimes impacting plane and train travel) and lifts mid-morning to expose the smog, which can be unpleasant and a potential health risk for some. Still a cool 11°C at night, but marginally warmer during the day at 24°C on average.
• Delhi Weather in March: The cool nights, dense fog, cold winds, and smog start to fade as winter ends, and average daytime temperatures rise significantly to about 30°C. Still very little rain.
• Delhi Weather in April: The start of the uncomfortable hot season as daily highs noticeably rise to 37°C and nights to a balmy 23°C. Build-up to the rainy period also increases humidity, though rainfall remains the second-lowest of the year. Occasional thunderstorms and dusty winds make travel fairly uncomfortable.
• Delhi`s climate in May: It swiftly becomes the hottest month of the year, with daily averages reaching a scorching 40°C (and often higher), and humidity providing little relief overnight. The only good news is increased breezes, while storms on the horizon threaten (yet rarely deliver) rain.
• Delhi Weather in June: Slow start to the wet season and still an unpleasant 39°C on average, with an equal-highest overnight average of 28°C. Three times the rainfall of the previous month, but not enough to affect travel plans yet.
• Weather Conditions in Delhi During July: The monsoon rains should have reached this city by now, allowing temperatures to decrease slightly during the day and night, but no major difference is seen. Second highest monthly rainfall total (183mm), but much lower amounts than what coastal metros like Mumbai receive (700-800mm). Delhi also does not experience cyclones like Kolkata does, however streets can get waterlogged quickly after downpours.
• Delhi Weather in August: Slight increase in the monthly rainfall from July to a year-high usual mean. Daytime temperatures have descended to 34°C, but are still a hot and sticky 27°C overnight. Flooding is now a significant problem throughout the poorly-drained roads, such as areas near some high-end hotels.
• Delhi Weather in September: Rainfall decreases as the monsoon season nears its end, but average daytime temperatures still hover around 34°C. The humidity that causes clothes to cling should have reduced by this time.
• Weather in Delhi for October: Remarkable decrease in average rainfall as the wet period concludes: from 121mm in September to barely 12mm in October. Average daytime temperatures still hover around 33°C, but become noticeably cooler at night to 21°C.
• Delhi Weather in November: The dry and, often, chilly winter starts promptly. Usual daytime temperatures drop 5 degrees to a more agreeable 28°C and as low as 14°C overnight (so pack a jumper). Easily the driest month of the year and very little rain until June, but fog is now increasingly prevalent, which can affect travel by train and air.
• Weather in Delhi, December: The second coldest month on average sees daytime highs of approximately 22°C (though residents sometimes find this chilly) and overnight lows down to 9°C (frequently causing complaints). Fog often forms in early mornings and late evenings, while smog regularly blankets the city.

Delhi Holidays, Events, and Festivals

India has the world’s second-largest population of Muslims (following Indonesia). Dates for these 4 major festivals vary annually as per the Islamic calendar. Each is a public holiday when some government offices and tourist attractions may close.

• Eid-al-Fitr – The conclusion of Ramadan is celebrated with up to three days of feasts, music, and dance at mosques and in people`s homes.
• Eid Mulid-un-Nabi (Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday) – Celebrated with spiritual services and processions.
• Muharram/Ashura – Commencement of the Islamic New Year.
• Eid al-Adha/Zuha (Bakr-Id) – Commemorates Ibrahim`s willingness to sacrifice his son. Mainly goats are ritually slaughtered and shared with family, friends, and those in need.

Delhi in January

• New Year’s Day (1st) – Celebrated by friends and family. Generally some shows around the city.
• Lohri (13th) – Traditional harvest festival dedicated to fire and the Sun God and celebrated by Hindus and Sikhs. Public holiday so some government offices and tourist attractions may close. “Til rice” or sweet rice mixed with jaggery and sesame seeds is the traditional dish of the festival.
• Makara Sankranthi (14th or 15th) – Similar to Lohri but celebrated more in western India and Varanasi, marking the end of winter with widespread kite flying.
• Army Day (15th) – Honoring fallen soldiers and the transfer of authority from Britain at Independence. Celebrated at India Gate with more fervor than elsewhere across the country.
• Vasant Panchami (variable, January/February) – Hindu ceremony where devotees dressed in yellow place academic materials and instruments before Saraswati, the Goddess of Knowledge, seeking blessings as spring arrives.
• Guru Govind/Gobind Singh Jayanti (date may vary) – Honors the birth anniversary of a revered guru in Sikhism. Some businesses close for the day.
• Republic Day (26th) – Commemorates India adopting its constitution on January 26, 1950. Huge processions in Delhi, less formal displays elsewhere. National holiday when government buildings and many tourist spots close.
• Beating the Retreat (29th) – Part of the Republic Day celebrations with a ceremony outside the Presidential Palace.
• Martyr’s Day (30th) – Anniversary of the demise of Mahatma Gandhi, the founding father of modern India.

Delhi in February

• Garden Tourism Festival (mid-February) – 3 days of cultural activities and horticultural exhibits at the Garden of Five Senses.
• Delhi Flower Show (timing varies) – Colorful and exotic flower arrangements and displays spread across numerous parks. An international horticultural exhibition is also part of it.
• (Maha) Shivaratri (changeable, February/March) – Day of fasting devoted to Lord Shiva, with ceremonies held in temples. Public holiday, some government offices and attractions possibly closed.
• Holi (changeable, February/March) – Vibrant celebration of the onset of spring. Almost everyone – including unsuspecting foreigners – has colors and powders tossed on them.
• Thyagaraja Festival (end of February to early March) – Major cultural festival with traditional music and other events across the city over multiple days.

Delhi in March

• Chaitra Navratri (variable, September/October) – The start of the new year according to the Hindu calendar. The 9th night is celebrated as Rama Navami.
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• Mahavir Jayanti (date varies, March/April) – Celebrates the birth of Lord Mahavir, Jainism`s most revered teacher. Colorful rituals at temples and offerings to those in need. Public holiday, when some government workplaces and attractions may shut down.
• Easter (changeable, March/April) – Celebrated by the Christian minority. A few businesses may close on Good Friday.

Delhi in April

• Vaisakhi (usually 13th or 14th) – Another festival related to the onset of spring, as well as the start of the New Year according to the Sikh calendar. Abundant music, dancing, wrestling, and wearing of traditional costumes.
• Ambedkar Jayanti/Bhim Jayanti (14th) – Honors the birth of late Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, a leading historical figure. Public holiday, when some government offices and tourist attractions may close.

Delhi in May

• Vesak/Buddha Purnima (changeable, April/May) – Solemn events held at temples to commemorate the birth and passing of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. A public holiday, when some government workplaces and attractions of interest for visitors may close.

Delhi in June

• International Mango Festival (changeable June/July) – Celebrating the beloved fruit over 2 days at Talkatora Stadium, with hundreds of mango varieties to sample.

Delhi in July

• Raksha Bandhan/Rakhi (dates vary, July/August) – A Hindu celebration emphasizing familial bonds, especially between siblings. Commonly called Brother-Sister Day, sisters tie colorful bracelets (Rakhis) on brothers’ wrists who give gifts in return.

Delhi in August

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• Parsi New Year (17th August) – Celebrated by followers of the ancient Zoroastrian religion. The Parsi Fire Temple is near Delhi Gate.
• Janmashtami (variable, August/September) – A celebration commemorating the birth of Lord Krishna with ritual offerings, fasting by devotees, and decorations adorning buildings. It is a public holiday, so some government services and attractions may be closed for the occasion.
• Ganesh Chaturthi (changeable, August/September) – Celebrations last up to 10 days honoring the birth of the highly esteemed elephant-headed God, Ganesha.
• (Haryali/Hartalika) Teej (variable, August/September) – 2-day celebrations for the arrival of the monsoon season and marriage of Goddess Parvati to Lord Shiva. Lots of dancing and praying, mostly by women and girls.

Delhi in September

• Navaratri (changeable, September/October) – Nine days of passionately celebrating the battle of Goddess Durga over a demon. Lights and fireworks everywhere in the city, as well as colorful parades and cultural events. The 9th day is Dussehra.
• Dussehra (changeable, September/October) – Celebrates the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana, and the general fight of good over evil. Praying at temples, offerings of exceptional food, and burning of Ravana’s effigies. Public holiday, when some administration offices and tourist attractions may close.
• Phool Walon ki Sair (changeable, September/October) – Traditional festival celebrated by Hindus and Muslims, especially flower sellers, in Old Delhi.

Delhi in October

• Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti (2nd) – Sombre event commemorating the birth anniversary of the nation`s founding father, Mahatma Gandhi. National holiday when all government offices and many attractions close.
• Karaka Chaturthi/Karva Chauth (changeable, October/November) – Paying homage to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, this occasion fosters kinship and togetherness. Fasting by married women and unique rituals also intend prosperous and healthy lives for their spouses.
• Diwali/Deepavali (variable dates, October/November) – A significant 5-day festival of lights, candles, and fireworks. Travel volumes increase as it is commemorated by Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs. There may be closures or restrictions at some public sector locations and tourist sites on the day designated as a holiday.

Delhi in November

• Guru Nank Jayanti (changeable) – Celebrating the birth of the Sikhism founder, Guru Nanak, marked by prayers and parades over 3 days. Public holiday.
• Qutub Festival (date varies, November/December) – Cultural event and food stalls held at the Qutub Minar monument. Organized by the tourism department and lasts over 3 days.

Delhi in December

• Delhi International Arts Festival (subject to change) – A 10 day event featuring dance, music, painting, and cultural activities across the city.
• Christmas Day (25th) – Celebrated by all Christians and most visitors. Public holiday, when some government offices and tourist attractions may have restricted hours or be closed.
• New Year’s Eve (31st) – Celebrated by most residents of India, especially those with higher incomes, and all visitors. Fireworks shows take place in some parts of New Delhi.