The best time of the year to come to Rajasthan is between October and March. The monsoon rains break in the south between May or June and reach Rajasthan in July, lasting until early September. May and June are very hot with temperatures in the forties. Normally coastal and mountainous regions receive more rain. This season in Rajasthan the monsoon has been exceptional with locals claiming these are the best rains for well over eight years!
Delhi and the surrounding areas experience fog (sometimes quite heavy) from mid-December to mid-January but this burns off quickly once the sun rises. In mid-winter the nights can get really cold, occasionally reaching freezing point. May and June are the hottest months and July and August are dominated by the monsoon. Following the rains the deserts of Rajasthan become green and the Aravali Hills look stunningly beautiful. If you want to see tigers the game reserves in the north normally open from November to May (Ranthambore opens a month earlier in October) However the best time to see a big cat is between April and May when it is hot and the lack of foliage means less camouflage or the wild life.
The hills are best visited between March and October except in July and August when it rains. There is frequent snowfall from December to early February. Ladakh and Kashmir generally miss the monsoon rains so the months of July and August provide warm days and cool nights, a perfect time to travel.
Calcutta, Mumbai and the coast (Orissa, Gujarat and Goa) are hot and humid throught the year, however the winter months are cooler, especially inland. The monsoon is from June to August.
November to April is the best time to visit the south. It remains hot throughout the year and visitors to the hill stations only need light pullovers in the winter. If you plan on swimming in the sea, the months of December through to February are ideal. The monsoon is at its peak on the west coast between June and August. Rain on the East coast falls from October to December.
